Repair Shops Continue to Navigate ADAS Challenges

by Anthony Shaheen

Automotive repair shops are grappling with the complexities of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), but new data reveals that most are managing these challenges effectively. A recent survey highlights how shops of varying sizes are adapting to the demands of ADAS-related repairs.

The survey (categorizing shops by number of service bays 1-3, 4-7, and 8+ bays) found that approximately 7% of all repairs performed require ADAS consideration, down from 11% in 2024. Larger shops with 8+ bays report the highest share at nearly 9%, compared to 8.6% for 4-7 bay shops and 3.4% for smaller 1-3 bay operations.

ADAS repairs continue to present significant operational challenges. Calibration steps, specialized tools, and specialized training remain near-universal hurdles each cited by more than 97% of respondents overall, with 100% agreement among both the smallest and largest shop segments. Space requirements are a concern for 67% of shops overall, though that figure drops sharply to 41% among 8+ bay operations. Parts availability from top suppliers, while still an issue for 77% of shops, has improved notably from 96% in the prior year. Unpredictable repair times remain a persistent pain point, cited by 91% of respondents up from 85% in 2024.

Despite these obstacles, shops are turning away 4.2% of vehicles due to ADAS-related concerns, a slight increase from 2% in 2024. Smaller 1-3 bay shops report the highest turn-away rate at 5.5%, while 8+ bay shops turn away 3.1%. Of the vehicles declined for ADAS-related issues, 74% are referred to dealerships, which are generally better equipped to handle the technology.

The data reflects an industry that continues to adapt to growing ADAS complexity, even as the technical and operational demands of these repairs remain elevated.