Lack of spare parts poses major problems for consumers
Missing spare parts: ADAC demands right to availability
Modern cars need spare parts – but more and more often these are not available. Even young used cars spend months in garages because important components are no longer produced. The ADAC criticizes the increasing shortage of spare parts and calls for a legal right to the availability of spare parts.
Supply chain problems as the cause
According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) and the Association of International Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (VDIK), global supply bottlenecks are to blame for the shortage of spare parts. Manufacturers minimize inventories in order to operate more efficiently. However, this strategy makes them susceptible to disruptions. If spare parts are missing, workshops are often unable to help – they are dependent on the manufacturers’ production.
No legal regulation for spare parts supply
For consumers, this means long waiting times without support. Lawyer Silvia Schattenkirchner from ADAC Verbraucherrecht criticizes: “There is no legal framework. Consumers are left to fend for themselves.” Particularly problematic: manufacturers do not cover the costs of replacement mobility. Car dealerships would have to provide rental cars, but often cannot afford to do so.
Liability for material defects ends after two years
Within the first two years after purchase, the liability for material defects applies: dealers must procure spare parts and install them free of charge. When buying a used car from a dealer, this period is only one year. If the part is not available, the purchase contract can be rescinded or the price reduced. But how long a repair may take is not regulated. Once the liability for material defects has expired, consumers are left without a legal claim. A spokeswoman for the VDA refers to a “voluntary commitment” by manufacturers to keep spare parts in stock – but there is no guarantee.
ADAC demands statutory spare parts obligation
The current rules are not enough. Neither the VDA nor the VDIK answer the question of how consumers can be better protected. The ADAC is therefore calling for a legal obligation to provide spare parts for at least 12 to 15 years – similar to household appliances, for which the EU has stipulated a supply obligation of up to ten years since 2021. To date, there are no legal requirements regarding the duration and speed of spare parts supply. Politicians must act to protect consumers. Cars should also be covered by the new EU directive on the “right to repair”. This would oblige manufacturers not only to supply, but also to repair.
Conclusion: A lack of spare parts means that even new cars are at a standstill for months. Liability for material defects only helps in the short term, after which consumers are on their own. The ADAC is therefore calling for a statutory spare parts obligation of 12 to 15 years and for cars to be included in the “right to repair”. This is the only way to prevent vehicles from remaining unusable due to missing components.
