Consumer Law

Today's Incredibly Weak Car Bumpers

By Kemnitzer, Anderson, Barron, Ogilvie & Brewer

Car bumpers in most new cars are incredibly weak. The Insurance Institute of America testers bumpers of 17 cars by crashing them into a barrier at a mere 6 mph resulting in an average cost to repair of $4,500! Luxury cars were the worst offenders; an Infiniti G35 had more than $5,200 in front end damage. According to SmartMoney magazine, some car manufacturers cram electronics right behind he bumpers increasing the risk of damage.

Today's bumpers are plastic lined with energy-absorbing foam and metal. The bumpers are aligned to the car's body for the sake of appearance and to be more aerodynamic to save fuel.

In the 1980s, the federal bumper standards were lowered with test speeds dropping to 2.5 mph from 5 mph and bumpers were allowed to sustain damage so long as headlights and other safety related components were protected.

Insurance companies say 3/4 of all collision repairs involve the bumpers. The tab in 2006 for minor collision repair approached $1 billion.

Full post as published by Lemon Law Blog on October 20, 2008 (boomark / email).