Contact: Steve Nantau
734-523-1305
snantau@ford.com

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“CLIP” REPAIR PROCEDURE NOT RECOMMENDED

NOTE TO EDITOR: The use of front or rear “clips” to repair major damage to a vehicle is a
practice among collision repairers and insurance companies, which pay for the majority of
collision repairs. The practice involves replacing an entire section of a vehicle with a similar
section from a “donor” vehicle – most frequently one that has been declared a total loss. This
Statement has been developed to answer frequent questions about “clipping” that Ford Motor
Company receives from collision repairers.

DEARBORN, Mich., February 28, 2005 – Ford Motor Company does not approve the use of
“clips” to repair collision damage to vehicles.

The use of a “clip” to repair collision damage voids Ford’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty and
any variety of Ford’s Extended Service Plan, as well as Ford’s new vehicle service part and
corrosion warranties for each part in the “clip.” Use of a “clip” also voids any variety of Ford’s
Extended Service Plan, new vehicle service part warranty and corrosion warranty for any damage
to individual components, assemblies or systems on the original vehicle caused by individual
components, assemblies or systems in the “clip.”

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Ford strongly recommends that repairers and insurers considering the use of a “clip” carefully
check state collision repair laws and regulations to determine whether the vehicle must be retitled as “rebuilt” or “salvage” if the “clip” procedure is used. Ford also strongly recommends
that repairers advise and obtain the written repair authorization of the vehicle owner, in advance,
if the “clip” procedure is to be used and re-titling is required.

Ford has adopted this position because it cannot be confident “clip” repair procedures return
vehicles to pre-accident condition. Because every “clip” repair is unique, it is impossible to test
whether the repair technique affects the safety, performance or durability of the vehicle. Other
factors weigh heavily in this position, including:

• Hidden damage to individual components, assemblies or systems in the “clip” that may not
   be readily apparent to the repairer.
• Improper removal techniques and exposure to weather that may degrade the performance
  characteristics of individual components, assemblies or systems in the “clip.”
• Mismatching of individual components, assemblies or systems. Individual component,
  assembly and system modifications occur throughout the production life of new-model
  vehicles. It is possible a “clip” component, assembly or system will not be compatible with
  the vehicle it is being used to repair.
  Ford recommends that only genuine Ford replacement parts be used for collision repair to      protect all parties – vehicle owners, repairers and insurers – involved in the collision repair  process.

Ford also is working diligently to control the cost of major collision repairs. After research and
testing, it has developed several frame sectioning procedures – and unique frame sectioning
repair parts – that have been proven not to affect the safety, performance or durability of the
repaired vehicle. Ford recommends repairers and insurers consider these procedures as a
practical and cost-effective alternative to “clipping.”
February 28, 2005 # # #

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