Bumper damage to some SUVs can cost thousands of dollars to fix  ALSO: Complete crash test results RELATED VIDEO CNN's Aram Roston looks at an analysis of the SUV tests. (June 16) Windows Media 28K 80K Watch the results of the rear-into-pole test Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K 2.1 MB / 28 sec. / 240x180 QuickTime movie Please enable Javascript

June 16, 1999
Web posted at: 1:09 p.m. EDT (1709 GMT)

In this story: Cost of repairs 'Flimsy' RELATED STORIES, SITES

ARLINGTON, Virginia (CNN) -- Even in a minor bumper collision, repairs to a supposedly rugged mid-size sport utility vehicle can be a major expense, an insurance industry group said Wednesday.

After testing six 1999 models, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said only two of the SUVs had less than $5,000 damage in four impacts at 5 mph.

The worst vehicle tested, Mitsubishi's Montero Sport, sustained more than $6,000 in damage in the combined tests.

"There was a wide range of damage, with a couple of utility vehicles doing better than the others," institute senior vice president Adrian Lund said in a news release posted on the group's Web site.

Even the SUV requiring the least expensive repairs, the Mercedes ML 320, sustained more than $2,900 damage from the four separate impact tests.

Only two of six 1999 SUV models sustained under $5,000 in damage in low-speed tests

Here are the damage costs from the six vehicles tested:

"This is very different from the rugged image utility vehicle manufacturers are selling. Instead of rugged, a more appropriate description for the bumpers on these vehicles is 'flimsy,'" Lund said.

Federal regulations require that automobile bumpers meet standards for low-speed crashes, but those standards don't apply to SUVs. On some, the bumpers are simply plastic panels attached to the vehicle.

They're not very tough, says auto mechanic Rick Akins. "(SUV owners) think they're tanks, but they're not," he told CNN.

The four, 5 mph crash tests performed by the Institute to measure bumper performance were:

• Front bumper impact into a flat barrier
  
  
• Rear bumper impact into a flat barrier
  
  
• Front bumper impact into a flat barrier, at an angle
  
  
• Rear bumper impact into a pole (similar to those found in some parking lots)

A spokeswoman for the Insurance Institute, which conducted the tests, said the issue is being raised to pressure manufacturers. According to manufacturers, the tests have no bearing on the safety of the vehicles.

Correspondent Aram Roston contributed to this report

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