Salvage and Recycled Parts: What Fifteen Manufacturer Entries Actually Say

Short answer: of the fifteen entries the library files under salvage parts, nine are documents written about salvage parts and six are general parts statements filed here as well. Two of those six never mention a salvage or recycled part anywhere. Before you cite a row, know which of the three you are holding.

By Anthony Braswell for Quorum Industries LLC, The Autobody Directory · Updated 2026-08-23 · How this was written, and what the machine may not do

How this page was produced: Researched, drafted and checked with AI assistance under human direction and signed off by the named author, with the tables on this page built from a register by a script. How this site is written

The obvious assumption is that a topic heading means a topic document. It does not, and this is the topic where that matters. A library index is a filing decision, not a manufacturer statement. If you look up "does Mazda allow a salvage door", the library will hand you Mazda's parts position statement, and that document recommends Mazda Genuine Parts and never says the word salvage. The honest answer for Mazda is that its published position does not address the question.

These are manufacturer positions, not law. Nothing here says an insurer has to pay for a new part, and nothing here says fitting a salvage part is unlawful. Several states regulate what an insurer may specify and what it must disclose first, and that is a separate question.

The library lists fifteen entries under salvage parts, covering 26 brands. Nine of them are documents written about salvage or recycled parts. Six are general parts statements the library files under this topic as well, and two of those never mention a salvage or recycled part anywhere in them. Fourteen are in the OEM1Stop library and General Motors' is on gmparts.com. Which of those three things you are reading changes what the row is worth.

Three of these are one statement issued a second time under a sister marque's letterhead (Acura under Honda's, Infiniti under Nissan's and Lincoln under Ford's), so fifteen entries are twelve distinct texts.

What the nine actually argue

The nine documents written about this topic do not just refuse the part, they argue. Counted across those nine, the reasons given are the part may not be original (7), exposure to weather (6), no industry standard regulates quality (6), excessive wear on steering or suspension (5), improper removal or transfer (5), mismatch of electrical components (4), not traceable in a recall (4), unknown prior damage to the donor vehicle (4), differences only destructive testing would find (3), fit, finish and alignment (2), flood or fire exposure (2), no published procedure for installing one (2), welding method substitution (2), corrosion protection (1), crash impact loads (1) and noise, vibration and harshness (1). A reason a document does not raise is a reason that document did not raise, and nothing more.

Structural work, restraints and the recall argument

Seven of the fifteen reach structural or welded parts. Four of the fifteen address salvage restraints, and two of those (Ford and Lincoln) address restraints and nothing else, which is worth knowing before you cite one for a salvage fender. Four raise recall traceability: a salvage component cannot be traced if it is recalled later, because the batch and manufacturing information that makes a recall work belongs to the original part and not to the car it was pulled from.

Nine of the fifteen tie the answer to warranty in terms. The rest do not address it, which is not a promise of coverage.

The rows worth reading twice

Honda and Acura never write a refusal about the part. Their statement says the use of salvage parts raises serious concerns and that owners are best served by genuine parts, and it stops there. Nissan and Infiniti open with almost the same paragraph, word for word in places, and then add the sentence Honda leaves out: they do not approve of the repair. Two manufacturers sharing an argument and parting company on the conclusion is worth seeing side by side, because a shop quoting "the manufacturer position" is quoting one of two different things.

Honda's document contains the most concrete mechanism in this topic, and it is not about the part at all. Drill the factory spot welds out of a quarter panel and there may not be enough flange material left to take the spot welds the body repair manual specifies, which forces a MAG plug weld the manual does not call for. Honda's sentence about that is flat: substitution of the specified welding method is never approved. The same document says something quieter that matters as much. American Honda does not publish repair procedures for installing a salvaged part, so there is no procedure to follow even if everyone agrees to use one.

Volkswagen argues about the operation rather than the part. It rules out clipping and partial clipping of structural panels with recycled parts by name, and then rules out body sectioning of any type, with seven stated reasons under it: fit and alignment, corrosion protection, strength and safety of the original design, noise and vibration, water leaks, warranty, and depreciation.

Four documents raise something the parts argument usually skips: recalls. A salvage component carries no batch or manufacturing information of its own, so if the part is recalled later there is nothing tying it to the car it ended up in. Volvo, Stellantis, Ford and Lincoln each make that point in their own words. It is the one argument in this topic that is about the years after the repair rather than the day of it.

Volvo adds a point about what you can even know. Whether a salvage part is original, aftermarket or already reconditioned cannot be determined until it arrives. The order does not tell you, and neither does the yard.

Stellantis is two positions in one document. A short one on salvage parts generally and a long one on restraints, and the restraint half is the most specific writing in this topic: a change to a seat back cover, its material, thread, stitch design, or the features that guide a deploying airbag into position, can change how the bag arrives, and those differences can only be found by destructive testing.

Ford's and Lincoln's entries here are restraints documents. They say nothing about a salvage fender or a salvage door. If you are answering the general question for a Ford, their general parts position is a different statement and it is on the aftermarket page.

What this page is not saying

We are not saying an insurer must pay for a new part. Whether one is owed on a given claim depends on the policy, the estimate and your state's rules on parts specification and disclosure. Our unfair claims settlement practices survey is where the state-law side lives.

We are not saying that a manufacturer with no salvage document permits salvage parts. Two of the entries here point at documents that never mention one. That is silence. It is not approval, and it is not refusal either.

We are not claiming the seven verbs are equivalent. "Raises serious concerns", "is not validated" and "prohibits" are three different instruments and we have not flattened them into one.

We do not claim a recycled part is unsafe. What is on this page is what each manufacturer published and the reasons each gave. Whether those reasons hold for a particular part on a particular car is a judgement this page does not make.

We are not reproducing the documents. Each statement is its author's copyright. What is on this page is the position each takes, short quotes showing the coding is theirs rather than ours, and a link.

In their own words

One short quote per document, enough to show the coding above is theirs and not ours, with a link to the document. Read the document, not this page, before you rely on it in a file.

American Honda Motor Co. (Acura), 2016-07 (the document gives a month, no day), on Acura. The document

American Honda recognizes the importance of recycling, however the use of salvage/recycled parts to repair collision-damaged vehicles raises serious concerns about quality, suitability, safety and warranty.

American Honda does not publish repair procedures for the installation of salvaged/recycled parts.

The Honda statement under the Acura letterhead. The two differ only in the marque name and in the date of the publication each supersedes, June 2008 for Honda and July 2008 for Acura.

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda), 2016-07 (the document gives a month, no day), on Honda. The document

American Honda recognizes the importance of recycling, however the use of salvage/recycled parts to repair collision-damaged vehicles raises serious concerns about quality, suitability, safety and warranty.

American Honda does not publish repair procedures for the installation of salvaged/recycled parts.

The one document in this topic that never writes a refusal about the part. It says the use of salvage parts raises serious concerns and that its owners are best served by genuine parts, and it stops there. What it does refuse is a method: substitution of the welding the body repair manual specifies is never approved. The mechanism is spelled out, and it is the most concrete argument in this topic. Drill the factory spot welds out of a quarter panel and the flange may not have enough material left to take the spot welds the manual calls for, which forces a MAG plug weld the manual does not allow. It also says plainly that no repair procedure for installing a salvaged part exists to follow.

Audi of America, 2018-12-04, on Audi. The document

Audi does not support the use of aftermarket, alternative, reverse-engineered, or remanufactured collision parts for the repair of structural components of any Audi vehicle involved in an accident.

Not a salvage statement. The library files this manufacturer’s general parts position under salvage parts as well, and the document does name salvage or recycled parts among the categories it refuses.

FCA US LLC (Stellantis), 2025-12-01, on Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Ram. The document

FCA US LLC does NOT approve of the use of salvage or recycled parts in the event that collision repairs are necessary.

Compromised crush zones caused by previous repairs.

FCA US LLC does not support the use of any supplemental restraint system (SRS) component, seatbelt component or any other occupant protection component that has been removed from a vehicle previously damaged, flooded, burned, scrapped or removed from use for any other reason.

Additionally, salvage components are not traceable should a component recall be required in the future.

Two positions in one document, one on salvage parts generally and a longer one on restraints. Its restraint argument is the most specific in this topic: a change to a seat back cover, its material, thread, stitch design or the features that guide a deploying airbag into position, can change how the bag arrives, and it says those differences can only be found by destructive testing.

Ford Motor Company (Ford), 2025-10-01, on Ford. The document

The use of salvaged, aftermarket, remanufactured or reverse-engineered restraint parts is not validated by Ford Motor Company and may compromise the designed safety and functionality of the SRS system.

The use of salvaged, aftermarket, remanufactured or reverse-engineered restraint parts is not validated by Ford Motor Company.

Ford Motor Company original equipment parts carry full manufacturing and batch information, ensuring swift, accurate recalls if ever needed. Used or non-Ford Motor Company original equipment parts lack this vital traceability.

Any vehicle damage or failure directly caused by the use of such components will not be covered or warranted under Ford Motor Company’s warranty or extended service plan.

The library files this under salvage parts and the document is about restraints. It says nothing about a salvage door or a salvage bumper, so a reader arriving here for the general question is reading a document that does not answer it. Ford’s general parts position is a separate statement and it is on the aftermarket page.

Ford Motor Company (Lincoln), 2025-10-01, on Lincoln. The document

The use of salvaged, aftermarket, remanufactured or reverse-engineered restraint parts is not validated by Lincoln and may compromise the designed safety and functionality of the SRS system.

The use of salvaged, aftermarket, remanufactured or reverse-engineered restraint parts is not validated by Lincoln.

Lincoln original equipment parts carry full manufacturing and batch information, ensuring swift, accurate recalls if ever needed. Used or non-Lincoln original equipment parts lack this vital traceability.

Any vehicle damage or failure directly caused by the use of such components will not be covered or warranted under Lincoln’s warranty or extended service plan.

The Ford restraints statement under the Lincoln letterhead, same date.

General Motors, 2026-06-18, on Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn. The document

GM does not approve and strictly prohibits the use of salvage, recycled/used, or non-Genuine aftermarket parts on Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles.

Any damage, failure, or non-performance arising from the installation or presence of non-GM (aftermarket, salvage, recycled, reconditioned, or other) parts, accessories, or modifications is NOT COVERED under the GM New Vehicle Limited Warranty or any GM service plans.

Not a salvage statement. The library files this manufacturer’s general parts position under salvage parts as well, and the document does name salvage or recycled parts among the categories it refuses.

Hyundai Motor America, 2016-05, which is the date the library gives the file because the document carries none, on Hyundai. The document

HYUNDAI DOES NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF COUNTERFEIT, GREY MARKET, AFTERMARKET , IMITATION , RECYCLED COLLISION REPAIR PARTS, ALTERNATE OR OTHER NON-ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PARTS.

Not a salvage statement. The library files this manufacturer’s general parts position under salvage parts as well, and the document does name salvage or recycled parts among the categories it refuses.

Infiniti Americas, 2016-09-15, on Infiniti. The document

INFINITI does not approve of the repair of our vehicles with salvage parts or assemblies.

INFINITI’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty, and Limited Warranty on replacement parts do not apply to any parts other than genuine original equipment parts.

The Nissan position under the Infiniti letterhead, three months later and carrying its own bulletin reference.

Mazda North American Operations, 2024-12-06, on Mazda. The document

Mazda North American Operations strongly recommends using Mazda Genuine Parts for all maintenance and repairs to mechanical, electrical, body panels, safety, and structural components (includes repairs due to collision damage).

the Mazda parts warranty applies only to Mazda Genuine Parts

Not a salvage statement. The library files this manufacturer’s general parts position under salvage parts as well, and the document never mentions a salvage or recycled part at all. A reader arriving here for the salvage question is reading a document that does not address it.

Mercedes-Benz USA, no date in the document and none in the filename, on Mercedes-Benz. The document

Mercedes-Benz does not approve of the use of aftermarket or third-party replacement parts.

their use may cause other related components to not be covered under warranty should a failure occur

Not a salvage statement. The library files this manufacturer’s general parts position under salvage parts as well, and the document never mentions a salvage or recycled part at all. A reader arriving here for the salvage question is reading a document that does not address it.

Nissan North America, 2016-06-20, on Nissan. The document

Nissan North America DOES NOT approve of the repair of our vehicles with salvage parts or assemblies.

Nissan North America’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty, and Limited Warranty on replacement parts do not apply to any parts other than Genuine Nissan original equipment parts.

The opening paragraph is the Honda one almost word for word, and then it adds the sentence Honda leaves out: it does not approve of the repair. Two documents sharing an argument and differing on the conclusion is worth seeing side by side. The dates disagree by four years, the document headed June 20, 2016 and the library filing it as 8-7-20.

Rivian Automotive, 2026-04-28, on Rivian. The document

Rivian does not recommend the use of aftermarket parts on any Rivian vehicle.

Rivian does not recommend the use of any salvaged, used, or recycled part that is a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) component.

Failures caused by an aftermarket part are not covered under warranty.

Not a salvage statement. The library files this manufacturer’s general parts position under salvage parts as well, and the document does name salvage or recycled parts among the categories it refuses.

Volkswagen of America, 2026-03-05, on Volkswagen. The document

VWoA does not support the repair of Volkswagen vehicles with recycled vehicle parts or assemblies. This is of particular concern for any parts and assemblies that are welded, riveted, or bonded to or part of the vehicle structure during the manufacturing process.

VWoA does not approve the replacement of structural panels, members, or assemblies on Volkswagen vehicles (e.g., clipping or partial clipping) with recycled parts.

Damage to (or failure of) a Volkswagen part caused by body sectioning or improper repair is not covered under the Volkswagen New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

The one document in this topic that names clipping and body sectioning and rules them out by name, with seven stated reasons under it: fit and alignment, corrosion protection, strength, noise and vibration, water leaks, warranty, and resale value. Where the others argue about the part, this one argues about the operation.

Volvo Car USA, 2022-02, which is the date the library gives the file because the document carries none, on Volvo. The document

Volvo Car USA does not approve of the use of Salvaged or recycled replacement parts because there is no way to determine if parts have been previously damaged, heated, burned, or involved in a previous collision or flood loss.

Salvage/recycled parts are not traceable should a recall occur.

It makes an argument the others do not, that you cannot tell what a salvage part even is until it arrives: whether it is original, aftermarket or already reconditioned is not knowable from the order. No date appears in the document; the date shown is the one the library gives the file.

What we could not read, and how the shared rows work

Six rows here are not separate readings. They point at a PDF already read for the aftermarket comparison, and their coding, their quote and their warranty reading are taken from that register by link address at build time rather than read a second time. Two pages on this site cannot say different things about one sentence, because the build refuses if they disagree.

General Motors' document is a scan with no extractable characters, and Rivian's extracts thousands of tokens of which four fifths are single letters. Both were rendered to page images and read by hand for the aftermarket comparison, and both rows here carry that reading.

Mercedes-Benz carries no date at all, in the text or in the filename the library gives it.

Two documents are filed under a date the document contradicts. Nissan is the wider of the two, four years: the document is headed June 20, 2016 and the library files it as 8-7-20.

We have not read the underlying repair procedures. Honda's statement that no procedure exists for installing a salvaged part is Honda's; we have not checked a body repair manual to confirm it.

This is one topic out of eleven. The same library holds separate statements on aftermarket parts, wheel reconditioning, scanning, airbags, glass, clearcoat blending and more.

Sources

• The OEM1Stop position statement library, read 2026-08-22, 109 distinct documents across eleven topics. Fourteen of the fifteen entries here came from it.
• General Motors' parts position statement, hosted by GM at gmparts.com, read 2026-08-23 from the page images.
• The fifteen documents themselves. Every one is linked in the section above.
• 17 U.S.C. s 102(b), s 103(b) and s 107, read 2026-08-23 at uscode.house.gov, and US Copyright Office Circulars 14 and 33, read the same day at copyright.gov. These are why this page states positions and quotes briefly rather than reproducing documents.

Every claim in the tables is generated from data/oem/salvage-parts-positions.json. The build refuses if a coding is not carried by its quote, if a shared row has drifted from the aftermarket register, if a row claims to be shared when the library does not file it under both topics, or if this page states a count the rows do not support.

Related

• Aftermarket, salvage and recycled parts: what seventeen manufacturer position statements say
• Can a damaged wheel be repaired? What sixteen manufacturers say
• Pre and post repair scanning: what fifteen manufacturers actually require
• Salvage airbags: what twelve manufacturer entries say, and what two say about the law

Corrections

• 2026-08-23. First publication.

General consumer information: not legal, insurance, or financial advice. Requirements, coverage, and practices vary by state, policy, and manufacturer.

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