Fake Toyota HiLux parts seized at Australian border

Australian Toyota HiLux owners have been warned to be vigilant of counterfeit suspension parts after the Australian Border Force recently intercepted a batch of fake strut spacers.

A common fitment for enthusiasts seeking additional front ground clearance for off-roading, the illegal parts bear what look like official HiLux logos and branding and are even boxed in Toyota packaging, officials said.

If fitted to Australia’s top-selling vehicle, the counterfeit strut spacers pose a risk of ‘catastrophic failure’, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

The latest batch of detected counterfeit car parts have been marketed online by an undisclosed website. It’s not known how many of the bogus components were sold online before the latest shipment was intercepted.

Toyota Australia said the strut spacers have not been tested or evaluated to Toyota standards, “causing potential safety, quality and performance ramifications if installed”.

It has urged affected owners to visit their closest or preferred Toyota dealer to have the parts removed.

The FCAI says the fake Toyota parts are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to counterfeit auto parts in Australia, where online vehicle component sales are booming during the pandemic.

Counterfeit oil filters, air filters, underbody protection, spark plugs, brake pads and many more parts continue to dominate online search results. In 2019, the FCAI estimated up to 60 per cent of online search results for automotive parts took customers to sites offering counterfeit goods.

“These unknown, untested and evidently dangerous parts have no place on Australian roads,” said FCAI chief executive Tony Weber.

“The fact they are being marketed with the logos of vehicle brands is cause for tremendous concern. I applaud Border Force for taking action and removing these items.”

Naturally, the car industry says the only way to guarantee safe, factory-backed parts was to purchase them from a franchised dealer.

However, critics say there wouldn’t be a market for cheaper counterfeit parts in Australia if genuine accessories weren’t so expensive, while the aftermarket industry insists there are many safe non-genuine alternatives in Australia produced by reputable companies.

The FCAI invites consumers, motorists and mechanics to report counterfeit parts via its Genuine is Best website. Each report is forwarded to the car company concerned, as well as the Department of Home Affairs.

“Manufacturers across the industry are sending a clear message to the buyers of counterfeit parts. The criminals marketing these are out to rip you off,” continued Weber in a press release this week.

“Fitting a counterfeit part to a vehicle will have consequences. Once they have your money, the counterfeiters do not care about your safety and the safety of your family.

“Other dangerous parts seized, identified, or tested by Genuine is Best include counterfeit spark plugs capable of causing massive engine damage, counterfeit oil filters that do not filter oil, wheels that shatter in low-speed pothole impacts, brake components containing asbestos and in one overseas case, brake pads made of compressed grass clippings.”