NHTSA Complaint #10235832 — 2008 DODGE CALIBER

MY COMPLAINT IS NOT FOCUSED ON THE AUTO MANUFACTURER. IT IS DIRECTED TOWARD THE AUTO INSURANCE INDUSTRY, AND IN PARTICULAR NATIONWIDE INSURANCE BASED IN COLUMBUS, OH. I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT, AND A NATIONWIDE CLIENT REAR-ENDED MY NEW 2008 DODGE CALIBER. IT WAS LESS THEN 1 WEEK OLD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND HAD FEWER THEN 300 MILES ON IT. NATIONWIDE PROMPTLY AGREED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BY REPLACING THE BUMPER. HOWEVER, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE COMPANY'S POLICY IS TO REPLACE THE BUMPER WITH A REFURBISHED PART, OR A PART MADE BY A COMPANY THAT MAY NOT BE LICENSED OR REPRESENT MOPAR, THE PARTS COMPANY THAT SUPPLIES DODGE REPLACEMENT PARTS. I AM VERY CONCERNED NOT ONLY ABOUT LOSING VALUE FOR MY BRAND NEW CAR, BUT ALSO THAT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS COULD BE POTENTIALLY COMPROMISED BY THE USE OF POSSIBLY INFERIOR PRODUCTS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A GOVERNING BODY FOR THESE TYPES OF PARTS KNOWN AS CAPA, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERY PART IS CERTIFIED BY CAPA, NOR COULD I FIND A CERTIFIED PART LISTED FOR THE REAR BUMPER OF A 2008 DODGE CALIBER. THIS IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE, AND NATIONWIDE MUST REPLACE MY BUMPER (AND ANY UNSEEN DAMAGED PARTS) WITH GENUINE MOPAR-SUPPLIED PARTS TO RESTORE MY VEHICLE TO ITS ORIGINAL, SAFE, OPERATING CONDITION AS IT WAS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE HASN'T EVEN BEEN FULLY BROKEN-IN YET. *TR