OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) automotive parts are in high demand on the illicit market. It is getting more difficult to tell a genuine OEM car from a fake. Being conned by dishonest salespeople is risky in addition to being embarrassing. When put through a pothole test, wheels that weren’t forged by the factory shatter into pieces. Half of all fatal traffic accidents in nations like Saudi Arabia were brought on by the usage of fake parts. 25,400 drivers lost their lives in India in one year as a result of fakes.
Can you identify a safe OEM from a potentially harmful counterfeit? If not, keep an eye out for these three indicators.
1. Fake OEM parts don’t match up to genuine ones
The most commonly exchangeable auto components, such as brake pads, oil filters, and spark plugs, are the focus of counterfeiters. Compare the counterfeit part side by side with an identical genuine part. Examine the material for differences using questions like
Does the packaging’s typography, artwork, texture, and colors correspond to the packaging for the genuine OEM part?
2. Examine the Authenticity Certificate
An OEM part may not always be distinguishable from a fake by eye inspection. Fake auto components must be within a few hundred thousandths of an inch of the genuine part in order to fool the unaided eye. Therefore, the Certificate of Authenticity COA must be examined as the next step. The OEM component or the packaging itself may have this sticker. Each COA includes an own ID label and security code.
Examine the COA thoroughly. It is useless if it was produced by a dealer rather than the manufacturer. There can be no photocopies of this certificate. Request a third party to compare the COA code to the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). Even yet, it can be challenging to learn every trick in the book if you are not an expert.
3. Discover A Reliable Repair Facility
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In This Article...
What do Toyota OEM parts entail?
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts are manufactured by the automaker, in this case, Genuine Toyota Parts, and are the identical components that were used in the construction of your Toyota vehicle.
It is highly likely that your automobile will get brand-new Genuine Toyota parts to replace whatever component broke when you bring it to be fixed at a Toyota Authorized Dealer. You will typically have the choice of using OEM or aftermarket parts if you bring your car to an independent mechanic shop for maintenance or repairs.
The term “aftermarket parts” refers to parts produced by businesses other than the original producer, in this example, Toyota. Aftermarket components come in a variety of quality and price ranges and are designed to replace OEM components. You can be certain of what you’re receiving when you use OEM parts. There isn’t much of a guarantee with aftermarket components. Let’s examine each part type in more detail.
The safest course of action when a part on your Toyota needs to be changed or repaired is to have the work done at a Toyota Authorized Dealer using Genuine Toyota Parts. While there are valid justifications for using aftermarket components rather than OEM components, you should carefully weigh the many benefits that Genuine Toyota Parts offer before making your own decision to have your Toyota fixed.
Consistency and High Quality Genuine Toyota parts are recognized for their superior quality. Genuine Toyota Parts are guaranteed to perform as intended when you replace a part with one.
Simpler to Select When you use OEM parts, selecting the right replacement component is simple. When it comes to OEM parts, there are significantly fewer possibilities, making it simpler to locate the precise replacement. Warranty Compared to aftermarket alternatives, backed OEM parts typically have superior warranties. The Toyota Replacement Parts and Accessories Warranties only apply to Genuine Toyota Parts. Any defects or issues brought on by the use of aftermarket components are not covered by any Toyota warranty.
Cost virtually usually less expensive than OEM parts are aftermarket parts. However, you may end up paying more in the long run if you take into account the inconsistent nature of aftermarket parts and the possibility of having to replace them more than once.
Quality To be honest, aftermarket components have undergone major modifications to raise their general level of quality. Finding high-quality aftermarket components is achievable if you know where to seek and what to look for.
Variety Aftermarket components give a lot more variety and options than OEM parts, which have a small selection. You might find the aftermarket parts you need if you desire a specific impact on the performance of your car. Just keep in mind that Toyota’s warranties DO NOT cover aftermarket items.
How can I tell if the parts I have are genuine Toyota?
You ought to be safeguarded! Toyota created the “NO TO COUNTERFEIT campaign to combat the growing market for Toyota-branded fake parts as a result. This program aims to increase defenses against bogus parts by educating our dealers and devoted clients about them. This website will offer advice on how Toyota vehicle owners can prevent future harm to their vehicles by avoiding using knockoffs. Only Toyota Genuine Parts are dependable, so choose wisely!
Numerous fake Toyota parts have been sold on the market for many years. We have prepared this area to provide you samples and descriptions that can help you distinguish a Toyota Genuine Part from a counterfeit part in order to assist our Toyota customers in avoiding purchasing fake parts.
Package 1.
Even though the packaging initially resembles that of Toyota Genuine Parts, closer inspection reveals substantial differences between the two. Here are some guidelines for figuring out whether the part is genuine or not.
a. The spelling of Logo Packages with a logo that resembles the Toyota logo but contains other phrases or that incorporate the product name are unmistakably counterfeit.
c. The printing is subpar. The caliber of the packaging should remain constant. Verify the printing quality and package color. A shipment is forged if the letters are crooked or if its hue is different from that of parcels from other parts. (However, depending on how it was stored, the package’s color may occasionally change or it may sustain damage.)
c. The logo’s font or size deviates from accepted standards This was created using a font that is distinct from the Toyota logo. You can identify the difference if you closely examine the letters’ shape and thickness.
d. The label’s content or part number is incorrect. The typeface logo is also incorrect. In numerous situations, a part can be identified by looking at the part number label. It is a fake if the letters on the component number label are printed incorrectly or if a different typeface is used to make the logo.
d. Genuine Parts logo on 5% of the screen The current fiberboard package logo has a 5% screen on alternate packages. However, the “MADE IN JAPAN” logo on the part number label indicates that this 5% screen is only for goods made in Japan. A package that lacks this 5% screen is a fake one.
2. Parts
Do not be fooled if, by chance, the package resembles that of a Toyota Genuine Part. You might still have bought a fake component. This will enable you to identify some of the market-available components that are being offered as fake goods.
Oil Filter 1. (Compact-Type)
a. The filter element or the way the filter paper folds can be used to establish whether an oil filter is genuine or not.
Genuine compact-type oil filters come in two varieties: the crystal type, which features a filter element folded into a recognizable shape, and the recently created molded unit type. By examining each sort of element via the hole in the bottom, you can tell which components are genuine and which are fake thanks to their unique properties.
b. The relief valve on the compact-type oil filter manufactured in Thailand can be recognized.
The newly created filter paper for the compact-type oil filters manufactured in Thailand has a daisy-shaped element with folds radiating out from the center and is comprised of high efficiency fiber. This makes it more challenging to recognize the new filters from imitations, which include radial folding parttern elements.
Oil Filter 2. (Conventional Type) The daisy-shaped element is also used in the typical Genuine oil filter. Since it is challenging to identify authenticity by examining the element, look at the outside to reach your conclusion.
a. Many times, imitation components are not painted all the way to the outer shell’s lower rim.
b. The typography of the TOYOTA logo on the fake parts is incorrect; terms like “USE FOR JAPANESE CAR” are included that are not typically there.
3. Contact Point for Distributors
Contrary to Genuine Parts, the contact surface of counterfeit parts lacks a shine. Distinguishing a portion depends on whether or not it sheens.
Four. Air Filter
A lot of fake parts lack the TOYOTA logo, component number, and supplier name (DENSO) printed on the filter.
b. In imitation parts, the area where the filter paper and frame converge is poorly completed.
Who provides parts to Toyota?
At its annual supplier business conference, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. (TEMA) gave special honors to DENSO, Johnson Controls Inc., and MAHLE (ABM). The awards honor vendors who went above and above what the business expected of them in various categories.
“Toyota is more dependent than ever on its suppliers’ dedication to flexibility and continual development as it ramps up its efforts to improve quality, according to TEMA President Tetsuo Agata. “To ensure that our clients receive the best possible product, our supplier partners collaborate with us.
ABM, which is now in its 14th year, enables TEMA to talk about business goals with direct suppliers in advance of the upcoming fiscal year. Around 800 people from all around North America attend ABM, which is held at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Kentucky. There are around 63,000 Toyota-related supplier jobs in the United States alone, spread over 38 different states. Additionally, Toyota spent nearly $25 billion in total on components, products, and services in North America last year.
Suppliers who exhibit quality in their manufacture, performance, delivery, warranty, and service are recognized.
AWARDS FOR VALUE-IMPROVEMENT Suppliers who exhibit value and cost competitiveness are recognized.
Awarded to vendors who exhibit leadership in terms of safety, quality, affordability, and the environment
Suppliers who display exceptional overall performance are given the Total Exceptional Achievement for Manufacturing Award.
Regarding Toyota In 1957, Toyota began doing business in North America, where it now has 14 manufacturing facilities. More than 2.05 million vehicles were sold at more than 1,800 Toyota, Lexus, and Scion dealerships in North America in 2009. Toyota directly employs more than 40,000 people in North America, and its investment in the region, which includes sales and manufacturing operations, R&D, financial services, and design, is presently valued at more than $23 billion. More than $25 billion in parts, materials, products, and services are annually purchased by Toyota from North American vendors. Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Sienna, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra, Venza, and the Lexus RX 350 are among the 12 automobiles that Toyota now manufactures in North America.
What distinguishes an OEM from an OE?
When it comes to car body, several distinct terminology are employed. The list appears to go on forever and includes OEM, OE, aftermarket, alternate, and more. In a previous post, we discussed what MOPAR means. What distinguishes OEM from OE is one of the most frequent queries from automobile owners.
Original equipment manufacturer is referred to as OEM. the initial equipment is OE. OE parts are all of the original parts that the car was first created with and are the parts of the vehicle as they are made in the factory. Everything else is not an OE part once the car leaves the factory.
Is OEM identical to original?
A third-party producer who makes products for the aftermarket is the antithesis of an OEM. An OEM is something manufactured particularly for the original product, whereas an aftermarket item is something that a consumer might use in place of an OEM.
Let’s take the scenario where someone needs to change their car thermostat, which ABC Thermostats specifically designed for their Ford Taurus. They might purchase the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) part, which is a replica of the ABC thermostat they originally used when the car was made. Or they may purchase an aftermarket component, a replacement made by a different business. In other words, a replacement is an OEM if it also originates from ABC Company; otherwise, it is an aftermarket item.
Although aftermarket equipment can be less expensive than OEM products, its quality or lifespan may be significantly reduced.
Typically, buyers choose an aftermarket product over a generic one because it is more accessible or costs less. Even while aftermarket components might work with the original product, there might be a sizable loss in performance or product quality.
On the other hand, occasionally aftermarket suppliers produce a certain item so expertly that consumers become familiar with it and actively seek it out.
The success of Hurst Performance, a company that makes gear shifters for cars and is based in Warminster Township, Pennsylvania, serves as an illustration of this. Hurst shifters gained such a reputation for being exceptionally effective that customers really preferred them to the original component.
Hurst shifters eventually gained such a high level of confidence from major manufacturers that they were included in their own factory designs, thereby making Hurst an original equipment manufacturer.