What's happened to 'COVID cars'? Funny you should ask.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, automakers faced supplier shortages that disrupted car production, leading to vehicles being assembled with missing components or systems. The author wonders if these "COVID cars" have a higher rate of needing repair and if their value is affected. They also question how used-car buyers can identify if a vehicle has missing components. While dealerships can see the original equipment list based on the vehicle's VIN, passing on this information to buyers may not be a priority. It is difficult to determine if COVID-era cars have a higher incidence of repairs due to the diverse way VIN-level service data is collected and aggregated. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Automotive News is the property of Crain Communications Inc. (MI) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)