The Impala dimpling rear bumper issue

[LosAngeles]

My mother once rented one, and backed it into who knows what, and the corner of the rear bumper dimpled in completely. Absolute concave. This is a thing I'm used to seeing on about 40% of 97-01 Camrys. It makes your car look and feel really cheap and tinny.

What would prompt a carmaker to not fill in the entire bumper end to end to fix the problem? I saw a lesser model yesterday with the similar problem, and I fear the upcoming day my parents' brand new LTZ suffers that silliness.

[aaaantoine]

Cost saving, I guess. But on an Impala? I wonder if the police package has full bumpers.

I've made the recent observation of certain cars that have hundreds of dinks across the bumper. I call these frequent parallel parkers. It looks terrible, but at the same time, I'm not sure if the tack-on bumper strips are any better.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Weight!

[Sixty8panther]

Here's an idea.... don't back up into solid objects. :wink:

[Intrepidation]

Here's an idea.... don't back up into solid objects. :wink:

[carstar]

sounds like the common recyclable plastic bumpers. It's cheap and a good idea, since they get damaged often.

[Robert Hall]

sounds like the common recyclable plastic bumpers. It's cheap and a good idea, since they get damaged often.

Yes...both the front and rear gray plastic bumpers on my Jeep GC are scuffed and cracked..too many times of driving into the wall or backing into posts in parking garages over the years...should replace them I suppose but no big deal. It's too bad the raised bumper guards aren't separate, one of the rear ones is mangled, and both the front ones (and the license plate bracket) are scuffed..

[ponchoman49]

Just wait and see how all these newly designed cars with smooth plain sides with no door protection, that is such a dumb fad these days, are going to look with all the dings, dents and scratches. Used 2007 Camrys, Avalons, Ford 500's, 2005-2007 Monte Carlos etc are showing up on used cars lots full of these dings and look truly horrible. These manufacturers keep finding more and more ways to save money and todays cars really show it with a few miles on them.

[Newbiewar]

My mother once rented one, and backed it into who knows what, and the corner of the rear bumper dimpled in completely. Absolute concave. This is a thing I'm used to seeing on about 40% of 97-01 Camrys. It makes your car look and feel really cheap and tinny.

What would prompt a carmaker to not fill in the entire bumper end to end to fix the problem? I saw a lesser model yesterday with the similar problem, and I fear the upcoming day my parents' brand new LTZ suffers that silliness.

ive done it before in the 98 camry... and it pops right back out

[vonVeezelsnider]

ive done it before in the 98 camry... and it pops right back out

How, Pray, My Cavalier has a dent dimple in the back bumper courtesy of my mother's carelessness.

[the_yellow_dart]

How, Pray, My Cavalier has a dent dimple in the back bumper courtesy of my mother's carelessness.

Either get under the car, see if you can find the inside of the bumper and push, or get something with suction like a plunger or floor tile lifter, stick in on the outside and pull.

[Intrepidation]

Either get under the car, see if you can find the inside of the bumper and push, or get something with suction like a plunger or floor tile lifter, stick in on the outside and pull.

Yup, you can buy a cheap but effective suction cup at the auto parts store.