For Immediate Release

1 May 2005

Re:  Salvage airbags or other salvage Supplemental Restraint System components

• The Coalition of Collision Repair Excellence [CCRE] consists of a national group of very dedicated, independent, and quality minded professionals.  We pride ourselves on our strong mission statements and our ability to continue to retake control of the repair industry from powerful conflicting outside interests, while at the same time we continuing to strive for collision repair excellence for the consumer’s we all serve. 

• Our sponsors have vehemently voiced their concerns in opposition to those groups from outside our industry who are presently engaged in discussions regarding acceptance and promotion of the use of salvage airbags and or other salvage SRS System components.

• We are sure these groups must know that used suspension parts, remanufactured wheels, airbags and airbag deployment units are a few items that, should never be equated in the dollar scheme of profits from the salvaging of a damaged vehicle. No collision repair facility should be required to assume any undue liability for the installation of components not recommended by the manufacturer of that product.

• Most collision repair experts have enough common sense to know these parts are as high up on the safety feature list as you can get, especially with regard to Hi Tech vehicles being manufactured today along with the assurance of additional occupant safety.  Safety and quality minded expert professionals strongly believe that the use of these salvaged parts will prove to be detrimental to consumers, and we should not have to lose lives to prove a point.

• We ask that these people listen to the vehicle manufacturers, who are objecting to their usage based upon strong valid reasons.  There are enough questionable concerns that remain unanswered, when it comes to the approval and the usage of “used-recycled parts” to repair damaged vehicles.

• We strongly object to any further discussion, consideration, or efforts to approve or certify the use of these parts, as we feel it will only mislead and deceive the consuming public.

• We ask that these groups cease and desist the absurdity of this road they are traveling, and suggest that they concentrate on more important industry issues.

Consumers should not be part of an experimental process that could cause unnecessary injury or death.