Auto body shops face months-long waits for parts amid supply chain breakdown: ‘Very frustrating’
Bobby & Steve’s Auto World manager Gary Derusha said delayed shipments are 'just stuck'
Car repairs delayed as body shops face supply chain backlogs
Gary Derusha, manager at Bobby & Steve's Auto World in Minnesota, describes the frustrations of being unable to locate necessary parts and stresses the importance of maintaining vehicles to prevent break downs.
The supply chain crisis rages on — and it could be coming for your car next.
American auto body shops are experiencing much longer wait times for essential car parts.
Gary Derusha, manager of Bobby & Steve’s Auto World in Eden Prairie, Minn., joined "Fox & Friends" on Friday to share his thoughts about the hold-ups.
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"It’s very frustrating," he said.
Bobby & Steve's Auto World manager Gary Derusha joined "Fox and Friends" on July 8, 2022, to discuss supply-chain issues and more. (Fox News / Fox News)
Derusha revealed that one of the most difficult parts for mechanics to get their hands on are catalytic convertors, often stolen from vehicles.
The body shop manager said one customer was on a catalytic convertor wait list for three months.
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He mentioned that there have also been issues with some Chrysler [now called Stellantis] products such as oil filters — and there are "up to 60,000 national back orders."
Derusha explained that the "problem with the supply chain" happens most frequently when parts are required to come in from dealerships.
A mechanic checks the tires on a car. (Lauren A. Little/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images / Getty Images)
But there’s no tracking exactly where these shipments are being held up, Derusha said.
"They’re just stuck."
"You’ve got to be proactive and not sit back … You have to get on the phone and start calling around."
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In Derusha's experience, even after a part is tracked down, there's sometimes an added premium to get it shipped.
This happened in a recent case when his son, Dan, finally nailed down a part in Atlanta, Ga.
A mechanic works underneath a lifted vehicle at Bobby & Steve's Auto World in Eden Prairie, Minn. (Bobby & Steve's Auto World / Fox News)
"But the customer was thrilled — the fact that we were able to find it and then be able to get his car back on the road," he said.
Derusha shared that even though he’s unsure of a solution to the problem, Bobby & Steve’s Auto World will continue sticking to their philosophy of "yes is the answer — what’s the question?"
A mechanic works on a car at Bobby & Steve's Auto World in Eden Prairie, Minn. (Bobby & Steve's Auto World / Fox News)
"We just have to be patient and work together to get it figured out, to get your car back on the road," he said.
Derusha encouraged drivers to keep up with routine maintenance on their cars, such as oil changes, to prevent major breakdowns from occurring.
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"Your second-largest investment next to your home is your vehicle," he said.
"So we need to maintain them."