Are You Really Getting Genuine Toyota OEM Parts Other Than From The Dealership?

Interesting video. Especially how hard it is to tell the difference between OEM and counterfeit parts. DIY'ers watch out for these common everyday counterfeit parts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVA4RYql9KU&t=94s

 

After viewing this video, I checked my recent order from an online Toyota dealer, and the spark plugs I received could have been the exact counterfeit plugs used in this video. I have received the order and the (4) 90919-01191 spark plugs were packaged in a small box with the dealers name. As in this video, the DENSO printing on the plug is faded just like the counterfeit in the video. Also, the engraving on the ring is exactly like the counterfeit , including the Made in Japan stamping. Everything noted as "wrong" that I could find, matched the video example of a counterfeit part. I received these from a Toyota dealer. Am I to assume that there is no sure way to get genuine Toyota parts? I am sending a note to the dealer to ask for their explanation of their parts versus the video. If I believe this video, any Toyota part that says "made in Japan" is likely counterfeit.

 

That's troubling if a dealership is knowingly selling counterfeit parts. Did the sparks plugs have an old parts number? Are your spark plugs Iridium tips like he was demonstrating? Are the spark plugs he's showing the same spark plugs as your model of vehicle? Is yours a V6 or 4 banger?

I had my trusted Mechanic do a first 1,000 mile oil change on my 2020 TRD V6. He used a factory oil filter as per my request. He held the box up for me to see but I was far away so I could't examine up close nor did I care to as I didn't know at the time there are counterfeit OEM parts out there. I don't know if he purchased from a dealer or parts store. Hopefully he got it from the dealership. Since watching this video I don't know if it's a genuine OEM oil filter or he got or a flimsy counterfeit one like he shows in the video.

I never even considered this as an issue until I watched his video.

When you go out of your way to purchase quality expensive OEM parts that meet stringent requirements, you want the real deal. Not some fake counterfeit crap.

I'm interested to hear what your dealership has to say.








Counterfeit oil filter is on the left or his right. Very cheap and squishy. OEM (on right or his left) one is quality made and not squish-able at all.

 

The plugs were the exact same part, the current number for my Tacoma, 90919-01191, iridium. As I said, the plugs visually were identical to the supposed counterfeit ones, markings and all. I hope to hear from the dealer in the next day or so. I would like to contact the person who made the video, but to do that, I have to join google/facebook, or some other company wanting to sell my information.

 

He has a email contact that he provided in the video description. "Questions? Comment or email thecarcarenut@gmail.com please note that it takes me sometime to get back to you via email but I always will in the end".

 

Thanks. I will send my info to him and see what he thinks.

 

After watching the video, I was worried about Toyota filters that I had purchased from my local Walmart. Never paid that much attention to it before but Walmart was selling the real deal. The oil filters were marked on box made in Taiwan. I couldn’t squish them and the A6 filters don’t have the extra o’ring nor the plastic drain piece in the box. So now I’m feeling better. Thought I had put junk in my vehicles. Now I’m just wondering about some spark plugs that I have purchased from Rockauto. They were way cheaper than from dealer but again I didn’t pay that close attention to them. Guess I’m going to pull a plug or two and look closer at them next time I’m off just so I know I have the correct parts installed.

 

Just received this reply to my concern from the dealer parts manager:

" I am sorry you are having concerns, we obtain all of our parts straight from the Toyota warehouses in order for them to be "counterfeit" or as Toyota refers to them "Gray parts" all Toyota dealers would be using them. I assure you I would never purchase/sell Gray parts, as that is highly unethically and very detrimental to the dealer. I hope this has put your mind at ease and if you have any further concerns please do not hesitate to reach out."

I am going to get one from a local dealer and compare them. If they are the same as the ones I received, it makes me wonder where the Carecarenut obtained his OEM part, which is so different than mine, to compare to the reported counterfeit one. I will update with my findings.

 

This is scary

 

Looking around e_Bay and A_mazon it would appear that they are the biggest culprits of counterfeit OEM parts. Here is one example from e_Bay. It fits his description exactly. They have sold almost 1,200 counterfeit OEM in-cab filters.



Toyota is aware of this but it’s like playing whack a mole. https://pressroom.toyota.com/podcast/17-whack-a-mole-brand-protection-counterfeit-parts/

Here is an sample excerpt from the October 2019 article;

“Kelsey Soule: [00:01:33] Okay. So, today we’re going to talk about something that I think a lot of people don’t know about. It’s definitely something I didn’t know about until we scheduled this interview. And that is on the topic of brand protection for Toyota and counterfeit parts.”

“Joe Cammiso: [00:02:01] Sure. I’m Joe Cammiso. I’m Brand Protection Manager. I work in the Service Parts Division. And our jobs primarily is two components – fighting counterfeit auto parts and, also, grey market parts. But I think this discussion will focus on the counterfeit stuff, the fun stuff.”

“Teena Bohi: [00:04:05] Right? They’re looking for a genuine Toyota part or a genuine Lexus part that’s cheaper than they can buy it at the dealer. And maybe some of those people install them, you know, on their vehicles themselves. But we’ve found that increasingly, the independent repair facilities are also buying these parts online.

“Joe Cammiso: [00:04:24] And they’re unsuspecting consumers also because they don’t—nobody really understands the proliferation of these things-“

“Teena Bohi: [00:04:43] Yeah, unfortunately, a lot of people don’t find out, right? They buy a part, let’s just say a spark plug, they install it in their car, they buy a set of spark plugs, and install them in their car, and they fail prematurely. They thought they bought Toyota product-“

“Kelsey Soule: [00:04:58] Right.”

“Teena Bohi: [00:04:59] … that failed prematurely. Now, in their mind, there’s damage to the Toyota brand. They may never know that those parts were counterfeit.

So buyer beware!”

 

The concern I have with the video that started this thread is, the presenter pointed out potential "flags" that would indicate the spark plugs were counterfeit. I found that these "flags" were in fact, identical to the genuine OEM plugs from Toyota. I bought a second plug locally, and it too had the same "flag" details:
The plugs and box both said "made in Japan" that the presenter indicated was questionable. The printing on the plugs themselves was light on the top line, DENSO Iridium, and darker on the bottom line

$57 SK20HR11 ---- IRIDIUM PLATINUM power pack Spark Plugs -- # 3421 ----- 6 PCS NEW

SK20HR11. I wonder where he got the supposed OEM plugs that were different in these aspects. Toyota assured me all of their plugs looked like the ones they sold me. This is a buyer beware world, but also beware of false prophets. Best bet, always buy from the dealers. They are higher, but they do sell genuine OEM parts.

 

When I need oem parts I always get them from Toyota