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Vol. 14 / Issue 1 / April 2023
REGIONAL NEWS
Massachusetts Attorney General to Enforce Right to Repair Law
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IIHS Research Scientist: ‘It Seems Calibration is the Weakest Link’ By Abby Andrews Autobody News
A first-of-its-kind consumer survey conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) showed the majority of people who own a vehicle with increasingly popular ADAS features are reporting issues with those features after a repair for any reason—but especially when the repair was the result of crash damage, or a windshield replacement. While the self-reported survey of a sample of about 500 owners in the U.S. cannot say exactly how widespread the problem really is in the entire registered fleet, it’s a clear sign repairers need to invest in the tools and training to perform calibrations, and automakers need to make that information more accessible, said Alexandra Mueller, senior research scientist at IIHS and the study’s designer. “Changes need to be made, and
there are definitely solutions that can be implemented,” Mueller said. The survey, conducted in 2021, sought out owners of vehicles model year 2011 and newer, that had certain popular ADAS features: front crash prevention, which includes automatic emergency braking and front collision warning; blind spot monitoring; and cameras, including those providing rear and 360-degree views. Of the 3,000 owners contacted, about 500 had taken in their vehicles for repairs and participated in the survey; 40% of those said their vehicles were a model year 2019 or newer. Post-repair problems with ADAS were substantially more common among people who had features repaired because of crash damage or in connection with a windshield replacement. About two-thirds of owners whose ADAS feature repairs involved windshield replacement and
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell is moving forward, despite the lack of a decision by a federal court, with implementing the Right to Repair law passed by the state’s voters in 2020. On March 7, Campbell filed a “notice of intent to terminate nonenforcement stipulation” as of June 1, meaning she will take action to implement the law. The Attorney General’s Office had suspended enforcement of the law pending the results of the court case, which has been repeatedly delayed for more than two years. The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition thanked Campbell for her decision. “On behalf of all Massachusetts
independent repair shops and 4,000 members statewide, we thank Attorney General Campbell for standing with the voters and their right to get their car fixed wherever they choose as automakers increasingly try to create a monopoly in the car repair market,” said Tommy Hickey, executive director of the Right to Repair Coalition. “It has been more than two years since Massachusetts voters approved Right to Repair by a 75-25 margin and the Attorney General’s action is a breath of fresh air for consumers and the independent auto repair market. “During this delay, the automobile manufacturers have been unfairly steering new customers to their l CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
REGIONAL NEWS
Car Dealer, Repair Complaints Led NJ Consumers’ Concerns in 2022 By Michelle Rotuno-Johnson Patch
Did you make a complaint last year about a motor vehicle seller or a home improvement company in New Jersey? You weren’t alone— the Division of Consumer Affairs released the top 10 list of consumer complaints made last year, and complaints about motor vehicle sales and repairs topped the list, followed by complaints about home
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 20
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PERMIT #288 ANAHEIM, CA
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Columnist Mike Anderson: My ‘Wish List’ of Changes to Improve the
Collision Repair Industry
Columnist Ed Attanasio: Tesla Owners Club of LA Gets Up-Close Look at Repair Experience at Bistagne Bros. Columnist Stacey Phillips: Mitchell Report Provides Insight into EV
Vehicle Claims, Market Data
Columnist John Yoswick: Attorneys Say Consumer Data Privacy Concerns for Collision Repair Shops are Real
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