Labor and Parts shortages: Millions of defective cars remain on the roads

Does your car has a safety issue? Parts unavailable to fix millions of cars

Millions of dangerous vehicles remain a safety threat on roads throughout the United States due to labor shortages and because parts are not available to fix them.

Some car owners may not even know there is a government or manufacturer recall for their vehicle. Those who find out they need a repair, aren’t likely to get it done quickly due to shortages of parts. Many have to wait weeks or months for parts to repair their vehicle.

Prior to the pandemic, a repair shop could get easily get necessary parts to fix a vehicle the same day or in just a few days. However, over the past two years, parts are held up at Chinese ports. When they do finally arrive in the United States, they are stuck floating in container ships in the ocean. Labor shortages among dock workers, truckers, and warehouse workers are also adding to the problem.

Labor Shortage = Car Parts Shortage

Some workers quit these jobs due to low pay and other complaints — part of “The Great Resignation.” Others went out sick with Covid-19 or they are resisting vaccine mandates. Fewer warehouse workers also means truckers have to wait around longer to load up their vehicles. This has exasperated shortages of drivers. Since 2019, there’s also been a growing commercial truck driver shortage growing from about 60,000 to 80,000 in 2022.

Indeed, roughly 74 percent of all domestic U.S. freight is moved to its destination by trucks, according to the the American Trucking Association.

The parts shortages affect all makes and models. The global supply chain issues and the impact of the pandemic on workers is only part of the problem. More recently, the Freedom Convoy or trucker protests at the US/Canadian border has also hit the auto industry hard.

Until this week, trucks blocked major border crossings between Canada and the United States for several weeks. This has led production stoppages in manufacturing plants located in both Detroit, Michigan and Ontario, Canada.

The trucks blocked the main routes for delivering steel, aluminum and other parts needed in Michigan and Ontario to build vehicles and replace parts for Ford Motor, General Motors, Honda and Toyota.

Repair Shops

Also, local mechanics and dealership service departments are impacted by the global semiconductor shortage. The lack of production of new cars and trucks has led to consumers buying more used cars or keeping their old vehicles longer. These vehicles need more repairs and parts, placing a bigger burden on the parts supply chain.

Regardless of the reasons why the parts are not available, there is an increased safety issue now that affects everyone who drives on our roads and freeways. Often, owners of these vehicles have to choose between parking their car to wait for parts or risking a serious collision. Many motorists would rather drive the defective vehicle than to remain carless indefinitely.

California Lemon Law

Owners with defective vehicles may find themselves stuck without a vehicle, renting a vehicle or risking everyone’s safety by driving a vehicle in need of repair.

Also, dealerships are not obligated to provide loaner vehicles to customers waiting for vehicle repairs.

However, depending on the car and how serious the recall issue, the vehicle could qualify to be bought back by the manufacturer under California lemon law. This applies to newer vehicles still under original factory warranties. Specifically, the lemon law applies to vehicles in the shop for 30 days or more. Also, vehicles that break down repeatedly for the same issue or are not repairable. Additionally, it applies to vehicles with a major safety issue.

California Lemon Law Attorney James Johnson

If your vehicle has an unrepairable defect, a major safety issue, or is unrepairable due to parts shortages, you may with to seek legal help. Owners with a vehicle is in the shop for 30 days or more could have grounds for legal action.

California Lemon Law Attorney James Johnson will review your case and let you know if it qualifies as a lemon.

We recommend that you obtain an invoice for all repairs and recall visits from the dealership. These documents will support your potential case. Should the vehicle experience repeated issues or become a safety risk, these documents support the Lemon Law Claim. Contact us for a free case review at 800-558-1087.

James Johnson ESQ
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