Car repair access fight shifts from parts to software
A federal repair bill would force automakers to share data and tools, as advocates warn software controls could limit independent service.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
Lawmakers and repair advocates are pressing automakers to give vehicle owners and independent shops broader access to diagnostic tools, repair data and software. The fight matters because modern cars, especially electric vehicles, can route key maintenance information through manufacturers rather than local mechanics.
Patent records show BMW filed a 2024 application with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office for a screw design shaped around its logo. The filing says the screw is intended to resist removal or tightening with common tools and to block use by “unauthorized persons.”
BMW has not put the patented screw into production, according to the report. Still, the filing has become an example for advocates who say automakers are trying to control more of the repair process.
Federal bill targets repair data
The Repair Act, introduced in 2023 and reintroduced in 2025, would require vehicle manufacturers to give owners and independent repair facilities the same diagnostic and repair information and tools provided to franchised dealers. The bill would also give the Federal Trade Commission enforcement authority against companies that do not comply.
Automotive YouTuber ChrisFix, whose channel has more than 11 million subscribers, has promoted the measure online. He said consumers should be able to choose where their vehicles are serviced, warning that dealer-only repair options could push prices higher.
Repair advocates say the debate now extends beyond wrenches, parts and manuals. According to repairact.com, automakers can restrict access to vehicle repair data, which can steer owners toward dealership service departments.
Bill Hanvey, chief executive and president of the Auto Care Association, said repair shops have adapted to new technology in the past but now face limits on the information needed to service vehicles. Hanvey said many electric vehicles send maintenance and repair data back to the manufacturer, where it is not made available to consumers.
A Congressional Research Service report said many automakers limit outside access to software because of competitive concerns. The report also found that consumer prices for motor vehicle maintenance and repair have risen faster than prices for parts, new vehicles, used vehicles and overall consumer goods, and said the increases may reflect supplier power in a concentrated market.
Security concerns complicate access
Automakers and technology suppliers have also raised security issues. Louay Abdelkader, director of product management at QNX, said AI-driven vehicles require a balance between owner access and protection of vehicle systems and data.
Hanvey argued that limiting repair access can raise costs for owners, saying aftermarket work can cost up to 36% less than dealership service. A study commissioned by the Auto Care Association found that 51% of independent repair shops reported sending as many as five vehicles a month to dealerships because of vehicle data restrictions.
The risks can become more visible when a manufacturer fails. Fisker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2024, less than a year after it began deliveries of the Fisker Ocean SUV.
Before the bankruptcy, Cristian Fleming and other owners formed the Fisker Owners Association to keep the vehicles operating. Fleming, now the group’s chief executive, said owners saw the company’s trouble coming and organized because they needed a way to support their cars.
The association negotiated access to Fisker operating systems in bankruptcy proceedings, worked with independent experts to reverse-engineer software, coordinated parts sourcing and created maintenance guides. According to the group’s website, Fisker owners now have access to components, tutorials, maintenance guides and feature updates, and 19 U.S. shops can service Fisker vehicles.
Fleming said he expects the broader fight over vehicle autonomy to resemble the Fisker experience. He said owners should have a voice in the vehicles they have purchased.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.