What are ethical issues in auto repair?

Answer 1

There are hundreds of ethical issues.

Personally I think the biggest is safety versus cost. We have the technology to make cars much safer, but if it makes a car too expensive then no one will buy it. So we build cheap dangerous cars instead of expensive safe ones.

Another issue is the companies now have started outsourcing most of their manufacturing, and depend largely on 3rd party suppliers, whereas they only do the assembling.

For example, the gas pedal issue with Toyata, has tarnished the High-quality producer image of Toyota just because it was outsourcing the manufacturing of the gas pedals to CTS of Elkhardt, Indiana

Answer 2

As with any other business, honesty, integrity, and, morals. As with other issues in todays world, people cannot know everything, about everything. Most people do not know vehicles, as well as they think they do. The commen person doen't have any idea what a carburetor is, where it is located, or, even when they went out of use. Anytime an "expert" ha a customers vehicle, the customer is atr the mercy of the shop. There are laws in effect to protect the customer, but, they are antiquanted, at best. Having run two shops, and a dealership garage, I can tell you that good moral practices will produce results. A return ratio in the high 80% region, speaks for itself, in the auromotive trade, anyway. I have also scooped up a good share of the market due to "other" shops, and their sub-standard practices. People are getting "second opinions" these days, and are educating themselves more. I do NOT recommend crossing moral lines. The short term will not exceed the long term. Issues would include, deception of any sort. Examples would include, but not be limited to, "lying" about a needed repair, "creating" the needed repair, "overcharging" for the needed repair, "drawing out" the needed repair, (the front money was used to pay other bills), "not changing" the diagnosed item, (which probably wasn't bad to begin with). I used to insist that my service writters take the customer back, show them THEIR car on the rack, the diagnosed problem, and what a new part will do, correct, or, look like, at least. If their inquisitiveness continues, then, continue the education as far as they desire. THen, I always saw to it that the old part was at least offered, to the customer, in case they wanted to have it verifid. I have found over 27 years experience that the little extra it takes to satisfy the customers need to know, is well worth it in the long term. The new car manufacturers "build in" enough deceptions, and un needed service items already. The current market cannot absorb much more......chuck