Why Are Some Car Parts So Hard to Find?

Car parts can be as easy to find as a needle in a haystack.

Steven Lang | 

Jun 20, 2023 | 4 min read

Shutterstock

I recently spent $7,000 on an automobile. That money didn't purchase a decent and still-running car, however. No, that money only bought a pair of headlights for a 2019 Volvo S90.

I placed the headlight order (a dealer-only item) nearly a year ago. At the time, the Volvo dealership parts manager couldn't give me even a rough estimate on when the lights might arrive.

If that sounds like a long, expensive wait to you, it may be even more disappointing to learn that, for some vehicles, it's increasingly difficult these days to find certain parts. Unfortunately, factors including supply chain issues make some used cars extremely difficult to repair.

Supply Chain Issues and a Chip Shortage

COVID restrictions hindered the manufacture of auto parts globally, affecting availability for both new and used cars.

Additionally, a semiconductor (or micro) chip shortage contributed to a reduction in new-car production of around 20 million vehicles. New-car prices have risen by nearly 30% over the last three years, which has likely contributed to increased demand for used automotive parts.

The Internet and Dealerships Don't Have Everything

Junkyards and auto-recycling centers often stock thousands of parts — but that doesn't guarantee that the exact one you need will be available. Online databases such as Car-Part.com can show where the used part you need might be in stock, but even popular online retailers such as eBay and Amazon have issues with counterfeit parts. If you see a rare auto part for sale that dealers no longer offer, it may not be the real thing.

Although it might seem reasonable to assume that your local auto-parts store will have whatever you need for your vehicle, newer or more advanced parts, such as adaptive headlights on a late-model Volvo S90, often are available primarily from branded car dealerships, meaning there are simply fewer places to get them.

Part of why it can take a while for non-dealership aftermarket parts — particularly safety-related components — to be sold for newer vehicles is the complexity of the regulatory process. Getting approval for new automotive technologies can be a lengthy and complicated endeavor; the manufacturers that develop these parts also tend to file legal patents, adding another layer of time, effort, and cost to secure licensing rights.

Use Technology and Fellow Enthusiasts to Your Advantage

One thing that can help you find the right parts is knowing where to look. Online sites including eBay, Craigslist, Amazon, and Car-Part.com can offer a cornucopia of used auto parts.

If you own an older vehicle, chances are there is an online site that caters to your specific model. By searching for your exact vehicle online and adding the words "enthusiast forum," you may find a place where car owners with your same car type are selling the parts you need.

Discontinued Brands and Less-Popular Models Present Challenges

Another issue that can make used-car parts difficult to find is the fact that manufacturers often do not offer replacement parts once a vehicle is out of warranty.

In some cases that warranty time can be as little as three years. Owners of vehicles made by discontinued brands in particular — such as Saturn, Saab, and Pontiac — can be victims of this limited supply of replacement parts.

For example, when my used-car dealership business bought a 2004 Saturn L300 sedan with 60,000 miles on it, we found that many of the exterior parts and engine components weren't available. To get the vehicle running again, we had to create our own air intake for the engine using generic clamps and hoses.

Another time, my dealership purchased a Volkswagen with a V8 engine that required a fuel pump module no longer available at the dealer. To get the part, I had to contact a friend 600 miles away who went to a salvage yard to pull the part from a junked car. These kinds of solutions, which rely on a certain level of mechanical expertise, are not always possible for the average vehicle owner.

Steven Lang

Steven Lang is a special contributor to Capital One with nearly two decades of experience as an auto auctioneer, car dealer, and part owner of an auto auction. Some of the best-known auto publications turn to him for his expert insight. He is also the co-developer of the Long-Term Quality Index, a survey of vehicle reliability featuring over two million vehicles that have been inspected by professional mechanics.