A new warning is out for drivers: steer clear of fake car parts. In the past year, one in six drivers bought a counterfeit car part, which could put them—and others—at serious risk.
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) just launched a campaign called Fake Always Breaks to raise awareness of the issue. After surveying 1,400 people, the IPO found that 15% had unknowingly bought counterfeit parts in the last year. Among them, a quarter purchased fake car batteries, and nearly 20% bought knock-off tyres or wheels.
Sure, these parts might seem like a cheaper option at first, but they don’t go through the same safety testing as the real deal. And when it comes to things like batteries and tyres, this is a huge deal. Counterfeit batteries can short-circuit or even explode, while fake tyres could seriously affect your car’s grip and braking. Even airbags are getting copied—London police recently seized 500 fake Mercedes airbags. These fakes, sold for as little as £25, are dangerous because they probably won’t inflate in a crash or could go off randomly.
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey explained, “there's a real possibility that they won’t inflate during a road traffic collision, or will deploy in error.”
She continued, “Counterfeiting a device designed to save lives demonstrates the lengths that criminals will go to make money and their disregard for the safety of the people who will end up using these products,”
And don’t think you’re immune to buying a fake just because you’re careful. Nearly half of the people who bought counterfeit parts thought they were buying the real thing, only finding out later through service checks or after the part failed.
As the weather gets colder and driving conditions become trickier, it’s more important than ever to avoid fake parts. The IPO’s Director of Enforcement, Miles Rees, pointed out that it is “illegal to sell and very dangerous to motorists and other road users”.
“As we enter the darker, colder, icier months, driving can become more hazardous,” he said. “This is why it is now more important than ever to highlight the dangers of fakes to motorists and help make every journey as safe as it can be.”
Ever had an issue with fake car parts? Share your story in the comments below!
