The photograph above is worth a brief explanation. It shows a pair of Mercedes-Benz sedans, both with brand-new brake pads. The white car has genuine brake pads; the brown one, counterfeit pads labeled as real.
The car with counterfeit parts has a considerably longer stopping distance. That’s a safety issue.
But counterfeit parts are growing more common.
Mercedes-Benz reports, “In 2023 alone, the authorities seized more than 1.6 million Mercedes-Benz counterfeits in over 740 raids worldwide. The number of raids increased significantly by almost 20 percent compared to the previous year.”
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Fake parts seized included paper air filters, wheels built out of weaker-than-specified metals, and ineffective brake pads. The parts look like the real thing and sell for slightly cheaper prices.
“The counterfeiting industry generates enormous margins and has the structures of organized crime,” explains Renata Jungo Brüngger, Mercedes-Benz’s head of integrity, governance, and sustainability.
In the U.S., federal authorities have recently warned of a spike in sales of dangerous counterfeit airbags. They can look authentic enough to fool the technicians who install them and put drivers and passengers in danger.
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Mercedes fights back with its own investigative team, the company says.
“The brand protectors at Mercedes-Benz check offers on websites, investigate indications of counterfeiting, and conduct intensive research to identify the factories of the counterfeiters.” They alert law enforcement when they think they have identified a source of fakes.
How You Can Protect Yourself
To detect counterfeit parts, Mercedes says, use a little common sense. Whether you’re buying parts to make a repair in your own garage or getting a quote from a repair shop, if a price seems suspiciously good, be suspicious.
Related: Feds – Here’s How To Spot Counterfeit Airbags
“Typical alarm signals to identify potential counterfeit products are significantly lower prices, abnormalities in product quality or sales via dubious (online) sources,” the company says.
But Mercedes warns that spotting counterfeits from online photos may be impossible. The best defense may still be to rely on a trusted repair shop with a strong reputation in your community.
