Most drivers never see this part. However, it plays an important role in how crash energy is managed. That is why it deserves far more attention than it usually gets.

What Is a Bumper Reinforcement?

The bumper cover is the painted plastic piece you see from the outside. Behind it sits a structural part commonly called the bumper reinforcement, bumper rebar, or impact bar. In a rear-end collision, that part helps absorb and distribute crash energy.

In practical terms, that means the bumper reinforcement is part of the system that helps protect the vehicle structure and the people inside it. That basic role is consistent with federal bumper rules and broader rear-impact safety research.

The Real Problem We Found

In the case discussed in our video, a customer came to Nylund’s Collision Center after another shop had already repaired her vehicle. On the estimate, most of the replacement parts were OEM. The exception was the aftermarket bumper reinforcement, which appeared to be the one part that mattered most in a rear impact.

When the part was inspected from underneath the vehicle, the weld quality looked visibly suspect. Some welds appeared irregular, and others did not match adjacent welds. According to the discussion in the transcript, this part was installed even though it raised obvious questions about how it would perform in a future crash.

That is the issue consumers need to understand. A repair estimate can look reasonable on paper while still including a decision you were never fully informed about.

Why Weld Quality Matters

A structural part is only as trustworthy as the way it was manufactured. If a bumper reinforcement does not deform and transfer forces as intended, it may not perform the way the vehicle was originally engineered to perform.

That does not mean every non-OEM part is automatically unsafe. It does mean that safety-critical parts deserve a much higher level of scrutiny than most consumers are led to believe. In this case, the concern was not theoretical. It was visible.

Where Insurance Enters the Picture

One of the most striking details in this case was the apparent cost difference. According to the transcript, the move away from OEM for this part represented about a $100 savings.

That should concern any vehicle owner. Why? Because a small savings on paper can create a very large question about crash performance later.

Insurance companies and insurance-recommended shops often make decisions based on cost controls, parts programs, and estimating rules. Consumers may assume those decisions are being made in their best interest. Sometimes they are. Sometimes they are not. The safest response is to ask better questions before the repair is completed.

A Word About CAPA Certified Parts

Some aftermarket parts are marketed as CAPA Certified. CAPA states that its certification process includes factory review plus testing for fit, finish, coating performance, and weld integrity.

That matters because it gives consumers a clearer picture of what CAPA certification is supposed to mean. At the same time, certification language should never stop a repairer or a vehicle owner from evaluating the actual part in front of them. A label on a box is one thing. The condition of the installed part is another.

How to Protect Yourself After a Rear-End Collision

If your vehicle is being repaired after a crash, slow the process down just enough to understand what is going on. Start with these steps:

1. Ask for a copy of the estimate

Do not rely on verbal summaries. Read the line items.

2. Look for parts descriptions

Check whether the estimate says OEM, aftermarket, recycled, reconditioned, or CAPA Certified.

3. Pay special attention to safety-related parts

Not every part carries the same level of risk. Structural parts deserve extra scrutiny.

4. Ask direct questions

Ask the shop which parts are non-OEM and why they were selected.

5. Get clarification in writing

If a part choice was influenced by an insurer, ask for that explanation in writing.

6. Seek a second opinion when something feels off

A second inspection can reveal issues you would never notice on your own.

Questions to Ask Before You Authorize Repairs

Use these questions with the shop and the insurer:

• Is this bumper reinforcement OEM or aftermarket?
• If it is aftermarket, who chose it?
• Was I told about that choice before ordering the part?
• Is this part considered structural or safety-related?
• What documentation supports using this part on my vehicle?
• If I want OEM, what is the price difference?
• Will the repair invoice clearly show what was installed?

Why Nylund’s Takes This Seriously

At Nylund’s Collision Center, we believe consumers deserve clear answers, not vague assurances. We are not interested in alarming people for the sake of drama. We are interested in helping drivers understand how repair decisions affect vehicle safety.

This is also why we continue producing The Airing of GRIEVEances. The goal is simple: show real examples, explain what they mean, and help Colorado drivers ask smarter questions before a bad repair becomes a dangerous one. The underlying concern in this week’s episode was not cosmetic. It was whether a critical rear-impact part would operate as designed if that vehicle were struck again.

The Bottom Line

An aftermarket bumper reinforcement may be hidden, but its job is not minor. If a structural part behind your bumper raises obvious quality concerns, that is not a detail to brush aside. It is a reason to stop, ask questions, and make sure your vehicle is being repaired the way it should be.

If you have concerns about a recent collision repair, contact Nylund’s Collision Center. We will help you understand what is on your vehicle and what questions you should be asking next.

Resources:

For readers who want additional background, these resources are useful:

• NHTSA bumper standard information
• CAPA certification process
• IIHS rear-impact and whiplash prevention research

The post Aftermarket Bumper Reinforcement Risks After a Crash appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

When you’re involved in a car accident, you want your vehicle to be repaired correctly. So a manufacturer’s certified body shop is a good first place to start looking for a repairer. But not so fast… If the body shop you choose is also in partnership with your insurance company, you may discover a colossal conflict of interest. That’s what happened with a guest who brought his late model Hyundai Tucson to an OEM certified body shop. What he got back “after the repair” was a classic case of an insurance Direct Repair Program (DRP) nightmare.

The car was rear-ended on the driver’s side bumper. To look at the original photos of the damage, it is easy to imagine that it was just a simple bumper job. However, it’s not the job of a body shop (or insurance company) to “imagine”. It is their job to investigate, and properly repair the vehicle.

You would think that the certified body shop would follow the OEM procedures and use OEM parts in every repair. After all, that’s what the whole certification process is all about, right? But unfortunately, this body shop ALSO has a DRP partnership with the insurance company. And the insurance company is the one paying for the repairs. They are also the party who decides how many repairs get steered into that body shop. And so, the dirty little secret of the collision industry is this: the INSURANCE COMPANY holds all the cards and makes all the decisions for their partner body shops. And the shop has to play along in order to continue their partnership.

Instead of replacing the damaged bumper reinforcement with a new, OEM certified part.. the certified body shop was told by the insurer to use a salvaged part from the junkyard. And that part was not only salvaged. It was damaged. As in, it was cracked. It had multiple cracks in the metal. It will never protect the occupants of that car the way it was designed to again. But, in order to save money for the insurer and speed up the turnaround time, the certified body shop did what their insurance masters told them to do. They put an unsafe bumper reinforcement on the vehicle, and delivered an unsafe vehicle to the owner.

This story was illustrated and detailed in an episode of our weekly video series, “The Airing of GRIEVEances”, and may be found here on YouTube.

It is our opinion that a certified body shop has no business establishing a DRP partnership with any insurance company. For the very reasons outlined in this article, it is clear that there is a definitive conflict of interest. And when push comes to shove – most shop owners choose to follow the money and they serve the hand that feeds them. The results, as you can see, can be devastating.

For more information on what a Direct Repair Program partnership is, and why we will never have one here at Nylund’s, we encourage you to check out StopDRP.com and many of our videos that can be found here. You may also find value in this statement put out by OEM1Stop.com. And of course, you may always contact us directly. We are here to serve you.

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When the insurance company decided to repair, rather than total this vehicle, the owner of the vehicle chose to bring it to us. After the most cursory inspection, it was obvious to us that the cost of repair would exceed the value of the car and that this would be a total loss. We disassembled the vehicle and performed a complete inspection. We submitted our estimate and in the end, the insurance company agreed with us that the car was a total loss.

Who Decides Repair vs. Total

Here is the issue we are trying to raise awareness about: the insurance company originally wrote their estimate to repair this 2020 Subaru Outback. Had the car’s owner decided to take it to one of the insurer’s ‘preferred’ shops, it is possible – maybe even probable – that it would have been repaired. Body shops that are in partnership with the insurance companies are compelled to perform the repairs – almost always with aftermarket or salvaged parts – as the insurance company writes them.

The post 2020 Subaru Outback – Should It Be Totaled Or Repaired? appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

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Dear Members of the United States Congress,

I am writing this open letter to express my strong opposition to H.R. 1879 and S. 812, Promoting Automotive Repair Trade and Sales Act of 2017, also known as the PARTS Act. I am especially disappointed in U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and lead sponsors U.S. Representatives Darrell Issa (R-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), with original cosponsors Reps. Blake Farentold (R-TX), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Scott Perry (R-PA) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) who have put their names in support of this bill.

I am the current very proud owner of Nylund’s Collision Center located in Englewood, Colorado.

I oppose the Parts Act for the following reasons:

A. The language of the PARTS Act completely ignores the value of established patent law, specifically as it relates to the investment in design, manufacture and especially safety testing of vehicles that are built as an entire unit to work seamlessly with all other parts of the same vehicle.

B. The language of the PARTS Act suggests that it is against, or ignorant of the safety of the consumer who would – in an effort to save money – purchase parts that may appear to be “similar or the same in appearance to the component part”. Failure of an imitation part that appears to be the same after an accident could put the lives of the vehicle’s occupants at risk.

1. Appearing similar or same in appearance is not the same as being the same.
2. Aftermarket component parts are not subject to the same crashworthiness tests as OEM parts
3. Aftermarket component parts are manufactured, sold and certified as individual parts and have no collaborative data nor accountability to all associated parts of the vehicle which is designed to work together as a whole unit.

C. The PARTS Act is a blatant attempt to boost the profit margins of the insurance companies and their associated partners, lobbyists and the manufacturers and distributors of aftermarket parts.

1. Under the guise of protecting the consumer’s wallet, no consideration is offered to the actual costs of manufacture.
2. The only beneficiaries are those who stand to gain the most – and they are the insurance companies, manufacturers and distributors of aftermarket parts.

D. Accountability to safety is obfuscated by the pursuit of profits.

1. Who will oversee the manufacturers’ production and at what expense?
2. Where will the money come from to assure the consumer that aftermarket parts are in fact now identical to OEM parts?

The words, “Your Money or Your Life” used to be uttered by muggers in a dark alleyway. Today, they’re being uttered by members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, along with their posse of special interest lobbyists and associations. The consequences in the balance are the same now as they were then.

Please make this letter part of the record of any hearings on H.R. 1879 and/or S. 812.

I urge you to consider the value of life above the value of insurance company profits.

I urge you to vote against H.R. 1879 and S. 812 – and vote for the lives of the people who voted for you.

Note: I am calling upon my own state Senators & Congressmen (Cory Gardner and Michael Bennett / Jared Polis, Mike Coffman, Diana DeGette, Scott Tipton, Ken Buck, Ed Perlmutter and Doug Lamborn) to vote NO on H.R. 1879 and S. 812.

Resources:
Who Should Be Held Responsible?
We Fight Because #YourLivesMatter

Aftermarket-centered PARTS Act back for new Congress

An open letter to Langevin and Whitehouse

The post Open Letter to Congress appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

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The title of today’s Nylund’s Response is:

Say What?!?

The original article states:

Excellent Warranty
Parts manufacturers want their products to flawlessly work on every intended application. A warranty placed on the parts protects against improper fitment or function for months after technicians install the replacement components on the vehicle. Drivers can bring their vehicle back to the shop to report any issues with the way the parts work. At that point, technicians can perform quick repairs or send the parts back in for replacement to rectify the problem. Although outright failure rarely happens, clients and technicians alike appreciate this commitment to excellent from aftermarket parts suppliers.

Are we still talking about AFTERMARKET parts?  There’s only one way to guarantee that parts work flawlessly on every intended application.  And that is to use the parts that were DESIGNED FLAWLESSLY to work flawlessly.  Any change to the design (which is the very definition of reverse-engineered and made-differently aftermarket parts) immediately discounts a part’s ability to work “flawlessly”.

Warrantees do not protect against improper “fitment” (is that a word?) or function. Warrantees pay when cheap, ill-fitting and poorly crafted parts fail. Suggesting that any part is “better” because the manufacturer backs it with a warrantee is like saying “take our word for it… if it breaks, we’ll give you another one.”

Note the shift in responsibility in the next sentence… “Drivers can bring their vehicle back to the shop to report any issues…”. It’s subtle – but this idea is rampant among corner-cutters in the collision industry. It puts the quality control inspection all on the customer and makes the assumption that it’s not “wrong” if no one complains.

The original article goes on to say:

Lower Price
When automakers source body panels and other components from parts manufacturers, they essentially act as an intermediary in the transaction. Having a middleman often drives up the cost for the consumer as the parts change hands several times. Auto body technicians can place an order straight from the aftermarket parts suppliers to obtain the lowest price possible for their clients. The lower price point can eliminate the need for clients having to pay for repairs exceeding the insurance coverage amount. Lower repair costs may also keep monthly insurance rates from rising after making a claim.

Auto manufacturers source their parts from manufacturers who design them to fit perfectly with the overall design and safety standards of the vehicle(s) they are making. Auto body shops (not technicians) purchase parts from distributors (the actual middlemen that the article is trying to suggest increase the cost of the parts) – not from the aftermarket manufacturers.

It is ridiculous to suggest that aftermarket parts are better than OEM because they are “cheaper”. Consider this logic by simply opening up your refrigerator or wardrobe.  Do you purchase the least expensive “everything”? Of course not.  But what about where ultimate safety is concerned?  Do bridge builders, building contractors, or engineers who design our roadways opt for the least-expensive building materials? Such a notion is simply unthinkable.

We wrap up our CONSUMER ALERT on aftermarket parts by addressing the things that really matter.

At Nylund’s Collision Center, we do not have customers… we have guests.  And nothing is more important to us than our guests’ safety and that of their loved ones.  We will not use aftermarket parts on safety related or structural parts – ever. We take our responsibility to repair your vehicle to it’s pre-accident condition very seriously.  We will not cut corners to help insurance companies increase their profit margins.  At Nylund’s… if it isn’t perfect… it isn’t leaving.

The post Consumer Alert Part IV Aftermarket Parts appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

The title of today’s Nylund’s Response is:

Facts Don’t Lie

The original article states: Here are the main characteristics that make aftermarket parts just as good, or better, than OEM.

Optimized Design

Automakers frequently have to issue recalls to handle widespread issues regarding parts originally installed on their vehicles. When this happens, new parts may be created to circumvent the defect causing issues for vehicle owners. Aftermarket parts suppliers will work the optimized design into their products to avoid the issues that cropped up immediately after the original release of the vehicle. Therefore, by the time a vehicle needs collision or vandalism repairs, the aftermarket parts feature the upgraded design that lacks flaws found in the original components.

Fact: Given the number of parts of on a vehicle, original manufacturer’s recalls aren’t really all that “frequent”. They do happen occasionally, and when they do – the manufacturers redesign, engineer and test the parts that are then replaced at no additional expense to the vehicle owners. Aftermarket manufacturers do not have access to this information.

Fact: Aftermarket parts are ALWAYS reverse-engineered from the OEM parts.  They are, by their very definition, less than 100% accurate copies of OEM parts.  They cannot be 100% the same – that would violate patent laws.

Fact: Aftermarket parts do NOT fix flaws discovered in OEM parts.  They simply (poorly) copy OEM parts.

The original article states:

Extensive Testing

Aftermarket parts go through an extensive testing process to ensure the components work, fit and look as expected. The parts testing process includes usage in real life situations to really put the components to the test. Aftermarket parts manufacturers may also sponsor motorsports participants to further test components in high stress situations. Aftermarket parts manufacturers also listen to their clients to determine if each item requires additional design upgrades. Clients often have brand loyalty to specific aftermarket parts producers, which drives them to provide feedback on an ongoing basis.

Fact: Just saying that aftermarket parts go through extensive testing is at best misleading and unsubstantiated, and unthinkably irresponsible.  Feedback from people who purchase aftermarket parts (“brand loyalists”) is nowhere near the documented safety testing that manufacturers put OEM parts through before producing a safety-rated vehicle.

Fact: Aftermarket parts rarely work, fit or look as expected.  They often require body shop technicians to alter original parts in order to be made to fit at all.  Examples of new holes drilled into structural parts, mis-aligned or altogether missing mounting brackets, and wrong sized parts are abundant in every shop that uses aftermarket parts.

In our next article, we’ll tackle the remaining two “reasons” that the original article states that make aftermarket parts better than OEM.  Stay tuned…

The post Consumer Alert Part III Aftermarket Parts appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

The title of today’s Nylund’s Response is:

Are You Flippin’ Kidding?

The original article states: Aftermarket parts manufacturers create components that meet or exceed quality metrics used by the manufacturers.

Wrong. Nope. Incorrect. Invalid. Untrue. Irresponsible.

We have made this case over and over, but for the record, let’s bang this drum one more time.  Aftermarket parts – by their very definition – ARE NOT and CANNOT BE manufactured to meet or exceed quality metrics used by the manufacturers.  Vehicle manufacturers patent their parts, which prevents ANY OTHER part – no matter how similar – to be exactly the same. With that in mind, it stands to reason that ALL OTHER parts cannot fit as well, and do not respond to impact and/or collision stimulus in the same way as the original part.

Example: The front bumper of a vehicle often houses airbag or other safety deployment sensors.  These sensors are calibrated to work specifically with the bumper and are timed within a 1/100th of a second. Think that doesn’t matter much? Take a look at this video.

When it comes to the safety of our guests and the integral structure of their vehicles, we here at Nylund’s Collision Center will NEVER compromise by using cheaper, ill-fitting aftermarket parts.  Cutting costs at the expense of safety just to increase the insurance company’s profits isn’t just wrong… it’s unthinkable.

Here is the next outrageous statement from the original article: In fact, it’s not often known that automakers frequently source their main components from outside manufacturers, and then label them with their own brand before selling the items in the parts department.

In fact, the above statement has absolutely nothing to do with whether aftermarket parts are better than OEM parts.  The origin of OEM parts isn’t in question.  They could be manufactured in Detroit, Michigan or Tokyo, Japan and it would have no impact on the actual issue being discussed. The question is – are knock-off parts as good (or better) than the ones specifically designed to work together with all other parts on your vehicle. (Spoiler alert: they are NOT.)

Please consider the following photo as we provide tangible proof of the insanity of thinking that aftermarket parts are the built to meet or exceed original manufacturer’s metrics:

Here is the Nylund’s Collision Center official Position Statement on the use of aftermarket parts.

In our next article, we will address the other Denver body shop’s assertion that aftermarket parts are actually “optimized” to circumvent original flaws in OEM parts.

The post Consumer Alert Part II Aftermarket Parts – Nylund’s Response appeared first on Nylunds Collision.