GM vetoes part used in radar and ADAS camera and warns of accessories that hinder sensors

General Motors has banned the use of used, refurbished or off-market parts for repairs to its vehicles’ driver assistance systems (ADAS). In an official statement on post-collision repairs released at the end of July, the automaker states that only new and genuine components can be used in these services — the use of any other type is, in the company’s words, strictly prohibited.

The rule applies to radars, cameras, sensors, control modules, wiring harnesses, brackets and other fastening parts of ADAS systems in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models. Components recovered from scrap, recycled, refurbished, remanufactured or coming from the aftermarket are all off the approved list.

The argument is technical: used or non-original parts may have been manufactured or handled improperly, which compromises the reliability and, especially, the calibration of the sensors. Therefore, in addition to genuine parts, GM requires that its official repair and calibration procedures be followed to the letter.

Accessories and modifications are also in the crosshairs

The automaker goes beyond spare parts and warns that a series of accessories can interfere with the operation of the systems: protective films, wrapping, insulfilm, hood protectors, bicycle racks, roof racks and light bars. As Carscoops noted, the alert has an embarrassing component — GM itself sells several of these items as factory accessories.

Changes to the suspension, steering, wheels and tires complete the list. Non-genuine lift kits and lowering kits change body height and alignment angles, two variables that sensors use as a reference.

GM’s assistance package brings together adaptive cruise control, forward collision alert, lane keeping assist, lane departure alert, automatic pedestrian braking, head-up display, rear cross traffic alert, automatic parking, 360-degree vision, lane centering with hands on the wheel and Super Cruise, an assisted driving system that dispenses with hands on the steering wheel on mapped highways.

What this means for Chevrolet owners in Brazil

The document is addressed to the U.S. repair network, and GM has not published equivalent guidance for the Brazilian market. Still, the topic is not far away: the national line already offers ADAS packages in Equinox, S10, Trailblazer, Spin and Tracker 2027, although Super Cruise is not sold here.

In Brazil, the discussion is also legal. Article 21 of the Consumer Protection Code determines that repair services employ appropriate and new original components — or that maintain the manufacturer’s technical specifications — and, in the latter case, with the express authorization of the consumer. Article 70 goes further and typifies as a crime the use of used parts in repairs without this consent, with a penalty of three months to one year of detention and a fine. In a car whose radar decides when to brake on its own, knowing which part has been installed is no longer a bureaucratic detail.