As you may have heard, Toyota recently issued a massive recall involving several makes of automobile from across the company’s marks. Everything from the Prius and Camry to Lexus models like the ES 350 and IS350 are under order to return to the dealer to take care of a faulty floor matt issue which may cause the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably. The move to recall the 3.8 million cars and trucks came after a recent fatal accident. While the floor mats were technically optional dealer equipment, the crash and recall highlights an important issue when it comes to purchasing a used vehicle: aftermarket equipment.

The aftermarket is a great option when it comes to making your vehicle custom and comfortable, and there are hundreds of excellent companies out there geared toward providing you the absolute best product for your money. That doesn’t mean there aren’t just as many selling low-quality items that may be dangerous or illegal to use. If you have your eyes on a used car with a long list of aftermarket equipment, make sure the parts come from companies you recognize. If they don’t, do a little research to make sure there are no consumer complaints against the manufacturer. If the parts look like cheap Chinese knock offs, you may end up having to replace those bits shortly after purchasing the vehicle.

You should also be mindful of how the products were installed. Did the used car dealer install them? Are they capable of properly installing the aftermarket equipment on the used vehicle? It’s easy to cross a wire when bolting up a new stereo, resulting in popped fuses or even vehicle fires, and larger mechanical parts like intakes, suspension components and brakes should be handled by a qualified professional. If the seller doesn’t know who swapped your parts, you might be better off with a used car or truck a little closer to stock.