Are CAPA Certified Parts Better than OEM Replacement Parts?
Filed under: Aftermarket Parts, Auto Parts, CAPA Certified Parts, Ford, Headlamps, Original Equipment (OEM), Recalls
I recently visited an auto parts website called partstrain.com to shop for replacement headlight assemblies. I have a 1997 Ford Taurus with the nagging oxidation problem on the plastic headlight lens that Ford has allowed to continue for years. I located the assemblies for $65.15 each and was going to make the purchase. That’s when I noticed that they also listed the same part, from the same aftermarket manufacturer, with a CAPA statement in the description. The price for this part was $125.00 each. The only difference I could find in the descriptions was a letter “Q” at the end of the Sku number. All other numbers were the same.
I entered into a live chat session with their customer service and asked for the difference between the two items. The representative would not say that the CAPA part was made better or contained higher quality material. He would only say that either part would be a perfect fit. He would not say why the so called CAPA part had a price that was double the other part.
Is it common for the CAPA parts to cost so much more? Would the CAPA part eventually cloud over like the original factory part did? Or, do you think that this site may be using the CAPA name to collect an additional 100% profit on their parts? If the CAPA parts really are so superior, I would shell out the extra to keep my family safe at night.
Thank you for your time. I would appreciate your opinion.
Don
Cincinnati, OH
David Williams writes:
To make sure I gave you the latest information I contacted one of CAPA’s board members. Here is a compilation of what I learned during that conversation as well as what I know from personal experience of having tested and tried numerous CAPA certified parts during my years in the body shop business.
Vehicle lighting has within the past year been added to the CAPA menu. Replacement CAPA certified parts are supposed to be equal in every way to the factory parts they are replacing - the same fit, finish, material composition, etc. Therefore, if Ford upgraded specifications to allow for a non-fogging lens, CAPA specifications would automatically upgrade to reflect the same non-fogging materials.
But I haven’t heard of such an upgrade and I seriously doubt that on a 1997 model car Ford has any plans to change materials to provide a headlamp lens that won’t fog. On the other hand, if new OEM headlamps last as long as the old ones did before the lenses begin deteriorating this will probably be the last time these lamps will need replacing.
Historically there have been problems with CAPA certified parts in that they haven’t always measured up to OEM parts they were designed to replace. Even CAPA will not claim that parts they certify are superior to OEM. At best they claim equality. But, that hasn’t been my experience. I have rarely found CAPA certified parts to be equal to original carmaker’s parts, and the deficiencies have often been relatively easy to spot.
While the CAPA organization has willingly decertified parts proven to be inferior, there has never been a means of tracking where sold parts actually ended up, which made it impossible for CAPA to effectively recall parts and get them out of circulation when they had known flaws and defects. Moreover, there have been instances where unscrupulous parts vendors shipped low quality replacement parts in CAPA boxes to make it appear the parts inside were CAPA certified, and cases where bogus CAPA seals with fake numbers were affixed to lower quality, cheaper imitation parts. As a buyer you must beware when purchasing any aftermarket part to be sure you are getting the quality you paid for. A lesser level of scrutiny is needed when buying OEM replacement parts.
While body shop personnel can usually tell the difference in part quality almost immediately with little more than a cursory inspection, most consumers would not be capable of catching an inferior knock-off replacement part sent to them by a vendor. You should be aware that while lighting may in fact meet the DOT requirement and bear the visible DOT embossed stamp on the part, manufacturers such as Ford often build parts to far exceed the minimal level the government mandates. If you receive a part built to the federal standard safety standard it may still be grossly inferior to the part used on the manufacturer’s assembly line. Unlike fenders and hoods that are often easy to inspect, lighting can be inferior in unobvious ways. One example is when the prisms built into the back side of a lens bounces light differently than the car maker intended, even though on the outside the lamps appear the same as the OEM parts they are designed to replace.
CAPA certified parts usually cost less than OEM parts, but more than aftermarket parts not bearing the CAPA seal. I applaud you for not allowing cost to be the primary factor in making your decision. And, if it will influence you in any way, it should also be noted that Ford does not recommend the use of aftermarket parts. The company believes the interests of vehicle owners and collision repairers are best protected when genuine Ford replacement parts are used.
My personal opinion is that you can’t go wrong staying with OEM replacement parts, most of which can be purchased from Ford dealers coast to coast. You might even get a great deal since the parts you are replacing are nearing obsolescence. With aftermarket - CAPA certified parts included - there is a huge chance that you will get parts of lesser quality than the OEM parts you are replacing, and virtually no chance that you will get a better quality part than the ones manufactured and sold by Ford. So, I’d suggest erring on the side of caution and sticking with what is certain. Even though we know the Ford parts aren’t perfect, they’re consistent and designed as the most suitable replacement for your car.
Thanks for asking a great question, Don!
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