What is a cracked bumper?
The plastic has split, not just bent. The crack will keep growing from its ends as the bumper flexes.
What kind of repair does it need?
Plastic welding, filling, then painting. The crack is fused from behind, smoothed from the front and painted with a flexible paint. That works well for a short crack in sound plastic. A crack through a mounting point, torn or missing plastic, or damage over a sensor usually means a new bumper cover. Broken mounting tabs can hide behind a bumper that looks fine. Some shops rebuild them, others replace the cover.
The crack is welded or bonded from behind. The front is filled and shaped, then painted. Ask for a repair price and a replacement cover price. On a bad crack they can be close.
What to do next
Get a repair quote and a new bumper quote, and compare them. A big crack can cost more to fix than a new bumper painted and fitted. If the damage is over a parking sensor, radar or camera, the cover is usually replaced, and the sensors are recalibrated afterwards.
Sources
- I-CAR RTSindustry training body
Body filler and glaze is not meant to flex the way that plastic does, therefore the material would crack
- KH Automotive Collision Repairrepairer
Crack under 6 inches, away from mounts Repair V-grooved, plastic welded, reinforced from behind, refinished.
- Autobody Newstrade media
Most shop owners and estimators see that broken tab and immediately replace the bumper on their estimates.
Not sure what your car damage is?
Point your phone at it, or describe it. The answer in seconds, $8 AUD.
Check it