A FEW MONTHS AGO, I BUMPED A PICKUP TRUCK - AT PERHAPS 2 OR 3 MPH. AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, BUT MY CAR SUSTAINED OVER $4,000 IN BODY DAMAGE FROM THIS VERY MINOR INCIDENT. YESTERDAY, I CAME BACK FROM THE STORE AND FOUND THAT SOMEONE HAD BACKED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CAR WITH AN SUV OR SOMETHING, AND THE WHOLE LEFT FRONT OF THE CAR IS PUSHED OVER ALMOST TWO INCHES TO THE LEFT. THE PAINT IS BARELY SCRATCHED! NO GLASS OR PLASTIC IS BROKEN, BUT THE FRONT OF THIS CAR IS JUST ASTONISHINGLY FRAGILE. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, CARS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE 5 MPH BUMPERS SO VERY MINOR PARKING LOT INCIDENTS LIKE THESE DON'T RESULT IN HUGE DAMAGES. THIS THING IS SO DELICATE THAT SO MUCH AS LOOKING AT IT HARD RESULTS IN SERIOUS DAMAGE. I DON'T THINK THE REQUIRED 5 MPH BUMPERS ARE DOING ANYTHING AT ALL AND ARE COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE. YOU COULD TOTAL THIS CAR BY RUNNING INTO IT WITH A SHOPPING CART, AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
NHTSA ODI 10903441