Car repair delays leave consumers frustrated as parts supply lags

Consumers are experiencing prolonged and frustrating delays in vehicle repairs, particularly with imported cars, due to difficulties in sourcing necessary parts. One owner of a German electric vehicle, purchased in January of the previous year, faced a critical issue just two weeks into ownership when the electric system malfunctioned. After an initial superficial check by the service center, the problem recurred eight months later, causing the vehicle to stop completely.

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The consumer was forced to wait for parts to arrive with the control unit detached, incurring dual damage by paying monthly lease fees for the vehicle.

Diagnosis revealed an insulation error in the high-voltage battery system, requiring part replacement. However, the necessary component was unavailable domestically, necessitating a 40-day wait for delivery from Germany. During this period, the owner was forced to continue paying monthly lease fees for a non-operational vehicle, incurring significant financial hardship. This situation highlights a broader problem of extended repair times and parts procurement issues within the automotive market.

Similar cases are prevalent, with another imported car owner experiencing persistent undercarriage noise after delivery in September 2024. Despite multiple repair attempts and even involving headquarters' technical staff, a frame replacement was deemed necessary. This part, too, required a 70-day wait for supply. While the dealer provided a replacement vehicle, it was of a lower class, causing considerable inconvenience.

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This situation is a chronic problem that has been emerging for a long time, but it is difficult to find a solution.

Recent issues have also arisen from domestic parts suppliers demanding price increases, leading to supply halts. This has caused repair suspensions for vehicles requiring these essential imported parts. The article stresses the need for better inventory management to prevent such disruptions. The situation is particularly acute for imported vehicles, where service centers often have long waiting lists, akin to seeking tertiary care at a university hospital. This is exacerbated by a lack of service center expansion despite increasing sales. The article calls for proactive solutions from relevant authorities to address these persistent issues of parts supply delays and service center shortages, which unfairly burden consumers.

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It is imperative that relevant institutions actively prepare solutions to improve the problems of prolonged repair times and parts supply delays, which unilaterally cause dual damage to consumers.