Sens. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) have joined the list of co-sponsors of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, which was recently introduced into the Senate by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.)
.

The Right to Repair Act would require vehicle manufacturers to provide to all repair shops the access codes, repair instructions, tools, equipment, and other information necessary to diagnose, service and maintain their vehicles. Proponents say the legislation would give vehicle owners the freedom to choose repair shops for their vehicles and allow independent repair shops to compete on a level playing field with other facilities. Although much of the discussion involves car owners, the bill would apply to all vehicles, including heavy-duty commercial trucks.

"The top priority of the Right to Repair Act is motoring consumer safety, ensuring that motorists know what is happening with their vehicles," said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). "The bill simply requires that vehicle manufacturers provide car owners and their trusted neighborhood repair shops with the same access to the same safety alerts, technical service bulletins, diagnostic tools and repair information they provide to their dealer network - nothing more, nothing less."

Because vehicles are becoming increasingly sophisticated with virtually every system either monitored or controlled by computers, servicing these vehicle systems to keep them in safe working condition requires ready access to complete and accurate information, tools and software from the car companies.

The House version of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and George Miller (D-Calif.) and currently has 61 co-sponsors.