Help, I missed this when I took delivery

It seems like there would be an obvious scuff nearby for a crack like that to happen. However there is no way to prove that it happened pre-delivery. If the dealership offers to patch and paint for free, I think that would be more than fair. A new bumper is not likely to happen but you never know.

 

I bet the dealer will fix it. I found a crack in my wheel cover over a month after owning my car. Brought it to the local dealer (not the place I bought it), and they replaced it for free.

 

A wheel cover is cheap. A brand new bumper, not so much. I wouldn't be surprised if they offer to do a partial repair though.

 

Hope it leads to a fix. Just butter them up by saying that you will definitely buy from them in the future and also refer others to them bc they really value your business by fixing it.

 

Hmm...well it sounds like the dealership is willing to help you, "If" Toyota okays it.

So now you are at the mercy of Toyota.

But at least the dealership is trying to get Toyota to cover it.

Let us know the outcome...good or bad.

 

Unfortunately the Prius is so very easy to bump the lower bumpers as it sits very low. Every rental Prii I have driven has had a damaged bumper either front or back bumper from a scrape to trashed lower edge. I have never seen one cracked like yours however.

Mike

 

If you can push the crack together and get it to hold with packing tape or something while you glue the backside with PL400 or some other heavy duty construction adhesive, you stand a chance of doing a self repair that will look decent.

Mike

 

The paint should adhere to the plastic bumper well enough for packing tape to be removed later once an adhesive cures. Otherwise come up with some clamping solution with suction cups and a homebrew wooden frame that holds the suction cups or something along that thought Anything you can come up with that will 100% close the crack then get under the front end and see what you need to do to apply a very strong adhesive to cover the now closed up crack and say an inch around it just in case there is some stressed plastic around the crack. You best rough up the plastic, on the backside of course so the adhesive has something to grab a hold of. Now back to the packing tape, if you go that route, when you remove it pull it slow and keep it flat against the bumper so you are not pulling straight out away from the bumper. That will put the least stress on the paint where it is cracked. Just go real slow and be careful. Warmed up with a hair dryer would make the tape adhesive relax if you want to try that. Just go slow and watch for paint lifting. If it lifts a slight bit, stop and find another way to pull the tape. Now once all is done & repaired, it would be best to take touch up paint and seal the paint crack to keep dust & moisture out.

See how easy that repair is You can do it in your garage. Lock down the E-Brake so the car can NOT move. Put the jack under the car and lift it enough to get under there. But before getting under the car, put something under the tire that will hold the car up in case the jack fails. You don't want to get skinny that way or there won't be a tomorrow to admire your repair Piece of cake Make sure you take pics for all of us to see.

Mike

 

Well I'm glad you are happy with the support you got from your dealer.

When you described your situation I was afraid you were up against it. I held out some hope that perhaps it would simply work out.

But on the positive side, it seems you established a good relationship with your dealer, and it also sounds like you are doing okay with the reality of the crack.

 

EZ, you can do it. One day. Start early Saturday morning and you'll have it done by dinner time. Leave the car sit over night so you don't put any stress on the curing adhesive and on Sunday morning you are set to pull the tape or whatever you used to close up the crack. Then get out the touch up paint and seal it up. Sunday afternoon the paint will be cured and you are all set to go cruise around town

Mike

 

Maybe now, knowing the verdict, do you know a good body shop, or a gear head friend or an auto DIY, who might fix it inexpensively.

The advice to jack up the car and get under it, ven with some protection is a bad idea if you are not 100% comfortable with it.

 

In transit,a scooter sent to me had a crack in the rear fender about the size of the one in your spoiler. I repaired it by applying Loctite repair epoxy putty on the inside which made it stronger than new. This will hold it together and not allow it to get worse This Loctite product is available at any ACE HARDWARE.

 

After seeing how dangerously low it can get to parking blocks, I've trained myself to park the nose 2-3 feet from curbs/parking blocks. Suggest you do the same.