ralper

I was having lunch with a few of my colleagues and of course the discussion wound around to cars. One of them suggested that auto makers are required by law to make and stock spare parts for 7 years. I said that I had heard that too, but I thought it was an urban myth and that its not true.

I did some looking and couldn't find a real answer one way or the other. Does anyone know if there is a law or requirement that auto makers produce and stock spare parts for a period of 7 years? Or, if there is any requirement at all?

Thanks.

skunkworks

I’ve researched this very subject before and can't find anything that says it's a federal law.

gary

Edit: Made text larger for us vintage types.

RMurphy

The closest thing I could find to an answer to your question was this thread:

http://mechanics.stackexchange.com/q...e-for-15-years

In short, it appears that there is no federal mandate, but that at a state level -- in California anyway -- seven years of support for a vehicle would be required if that is the length of the car's warranty period. I am by no means an attorney so I can't claim any level of expertise in interpreting laws.

Emil St-Hilaire

I always thought,it was 10 years after the last production run.

boltonblue

For what its' worth some components are EPA mandated:
http://www.epa.gov/obd/pubs/420f09048.pdf

Pinky

I too thought it was 10 years and then the just ran off of existing stock till it was depleted.

dlq04

A catalog just arrived at my house today from a supplier who can furnish me with 99.9% of every single part for my 60 year old car with almost the very same total production numbers. I think parts will be readily available for long beyond 7 years, 10 years, or whatever number you like.

ralper

I think that's very true, there will always be parts available, but what I want to know Is whether or not there is a legal requirement for the manufacturer to have the parts available for a 7 year period or for any period.