WASHINGTON - The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) is reminding collision repair shops that a program developed by the group can assist them in efforts to trace and recall any aftermarket crash parts deemed unsafe. 

Amid heightened concern about the safety of some aftermarket crash parts, CAPA issued a press release detailing the benefits of its CAPA Tracker. 

Over five years ago, the association developed CAPA Tracker in response to collision repairer concerns about tracing problem parts. In the event of a part recall, the CAPA Tracker can quickly notify every participating shop that installed one of the parts in question. The shop can then alert its affected customers and take any necessary action, CAPA said. 

This program was designed specifically for repair shops that expressed concern that if a problem surfaced with a CAPA certified part, they might have difficulty in determining whether they actually installed that part on a particular customer's car, CAPA said. 

"The CAPA Tracker, launched in 2004, effectively solves this dilemma for shops concerned about safety," said Jack Gillis, CAPA executive director. 

The CAPA Tracker enables specific part tracing, using an individually numbered part identification system incorporated in the CAPA Quality Seal. This allows positive identification of parts in the market. 

With the CAPA Tracker, shops will be notified only if they actually used one of the parts. No general, wide-ranging vehicle inspection is necessary and only those consumers who have the part need to be contacted. 

The CAPA Tracker is a Web-based program that connects the unique CAPA seal number to the exact vehicle on which it was installed. Each repair facility that uses a CAPA part can quickly and easily enter the required information on the Web site using an individual shop code.