Question: Parts Availability after 2011?

[Z33Fan]

Here's one for the folks working at automakers:

I (for lots of reasons) have to keep my truck in good working order until approx. 2013, which after the announcements is at least two years longer than production.

Should there be reason to worry, or do manufacturers typically keep a number of parts available for a certain number of years after production on a model stops?

Thanks in advance for the replies.
-Z33Fan

[Eticket]

I have been in the auto industry for many years and you have nothing to worry about parts will be avalible well after they stop production. Their are wharehouse all over with OE parts for cars that have been out of production for decades.

[54warrior]

Isn't there some kind of 10 or 20 year law that the mfg's must provide parts for???

[HudsonValleyTitan]

Originally Posted by Z33Fan

Here's one for the folks working at automakers:

I (for lots of reasons) have to keep my truck in good working order until approx. 2013, which after the announcements is at least two years longer than production.

Should there be reason to worry, or do manufacturers typically keep a number of parts available for a certain number of years after production on a model stops?

Thanks in advance for the replies.
-Z33Fan

You can still get DATSUN parts! I wouldn't worry.

[PSNissanFleetMgr]

I'd say you have nothing to worry about. And, I'll be trading mine in come 2012 for a Dodge Titan 1500. So who cares? LOL

[Derwud]

Originally Posted by 54warrior

Isn't there some kind of 10 or 20 year law that the mfg's must provide parts for???

Yes, they must have parts for cars for up to ten years after production. I'm sure by then there will be plenty of Titans in the junkyard.

[miketan]

The domestic manufacturers like GM are pretty good for about 10-15 years. After that, they start discontinuing parts like crazy. The aftermarket "restoration type" places pick it up and then sell certain OEM parts through their outlets. After more time passes, you reach a "no man's land" where you can't get it from either place except from the junkyards.

As for the import manufacturers, they're usually a lot better. When I had my old '88 yota PU, I was surprised by the amount of OEM parts still available from Toyota. Seatbelts, dashpad, door panels, seats you name it, they could still get it. However, the price on some items were pretty steep. A GM car of that vintage would have nearly everything discontinued by now except for generic mechanical or tune-up parts. In fact, you can't even get the correct size SBC A/C Delco PF-25 oil filter anyomore. You have to get the much smaller PF-454 filter or go with a Mobil-1 version.

[Timmyo2L]

kinda off topic but I used to work at a huge warehouse that bought all of GM's, ford's, mitsu's, cat's, harley, and some others old parts that they didnt want to warehouse anymore, some of that stuff was 5-30 years old. you could find alot of neat stuff like, engines, turbo's, lights, door panels, you could pretty much build a car. the parts were marked up big time, I know that they would buy the parts for pennys per pound, and the automakers could use the loss as a tax write off, its all a scam.