According to USA Today, Ford has called out certain aftermarket parts as inferior to its own original manufacturer equipment, and argued that what it calls the lower-quality materials and/or construction pose a safety risk to consumers -- who often don't even know that aftermarket parts are being used during a repair or maintenance.

Of course, Ford has a financial stake in pushing its original parts (it sells upwards of 24,000 replacement components). In the opposite way, so do the insurance companies -- which often insist that aftermarket parts be used, to keep costs down -- and, of course, the aftermarket parts manufacturers themselves. Then again, the results of crash-safety, rollover and other government-mandated tests are based solely on vehicles equipped with the manufacturer's original parts, and many buyers strongly value that safety information when making a purchase.

What do you think? When your vehicle is in the shop, do you ever consider the aftermarket parts that may go into your car during a repair or maintenance? Do you insist on original manufacturer equipment?