'Is That Thing Made Out of Gold?:' Mechanic Gets Hired to Replace Window Switch. Why's It Cost $1,287 at NAPA?

Automakers and repair shops are facing a new reality as a result of tariffs. 

The US government introduced a 25 percent tariff on a wide range of imported auto parts, including engines, transmissions, powertrain components, and key electrical modules, this March.

The effect of these tariffs is seen in a viral video by @sparkscarcare, a mechanic who runs a TikTok account about their work. The mechanic sought a new window switch—the dial that makes the window go up and down—for a customer’s 2011 Toyota Avalon. What he discovered is that NAPA Autoparts has jacked the prices of these previously affordable items up to over $1,000 in some cases.

Napa Jacks Up the Price of Previously Affordable Window Switches 

@sparkscarcare starts his video with a caption that reads, “These tariffs are getting out of hand,” with a laughing crying emoji.

“Alright, I had to make a video on this cause this is just insane,” he continues. “We got an ‘11 Toyota Avalon here, diagnosing the driver's window switch.”

He determines that the Avalon needs a new window switch and goes to a computer to look up the part.

”Bumper’s got one,” he says before balking at the $493 price tag. “Oh, looks like NAPA's got one,” he continues. “Let's see what they got it for.” 

@sparkscarcare then shows the price at autoparts dealer NAPA: $1,287.57. 

“Excuse me, what is that thing made out of?” he says.  “Gold? This thing better come with a guy to install it, and he better rub your feet when he's done.”

Are Tariffs Really to Blame for the High Price of Window Switches?

@sparkscarcare’s guess about tariffs is a safe one, as the cost of autoparts has gone up big time, excluding some parts that are exempted under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). 

The logic of Trump’s tariffs is that America will favor domestic production over foreign production. The idea is that the autoparts market has evolved to spur manufacturing growth and make us self-reliant. It was favored by proto-MAGA pundits like the late Lou Dobbs, who regularly promoted the idea on his Fox Business show.

"I always say 'tariffs' is the most beautiful word to me in the dictionary," Trump said in January at a rally. "Because tariffs are going to make us rich as hell. It's going to bring our country's businesses back that left us."

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But the auto industry has become distinctly global over the last few decades, and that means that the practical impact of tariffs is that everything is becoming more expensive, particularly for popular foreign cars like those sold by Toyota. Trump argues that this is a short-term pain. However, that assurance is unlikely to make it any easier to spend over a grand on a vehicle-specific part that, in most cases, should cost one-tenth of that price, according to a more general search on AutoZone.com.

Motor1 reached out to @sparkscarcare for more information about the video by email and will update when we hear back.

 

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