Bumper Panel Unclipped

[Gclyne]

Hi all,

A section of my front bumper is unclipped and won't stay together. I can clip it back in but it pops out right away. I'm thinking a clip is broken. Any advice for how to fix this?

It's driving me nuts and I don't want to pay a body shop a bunch of coin for a small issue.

Thanks,
Grant

 

[jwmNC]

I've had this issue for years on my 2016, including before and after visits to body shops for a couple of fender benders. Body shop tells me Toyota body panels are very difficult to keep from doing this. Maybe that was an excuse, and I hope someone here can tell us there's a solution.

 

[Leaky2014]

same here

 

[1world1love]

I think there is one clear solution:

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[zoned]

Mine is the same way.

 

[EverywhereBear]

I had this issue on my 08LX a few years ago. The body shop replaced the black bracket that connects the bumper to the fender. I think it was $90.

 

[KShorthairs]

Having helped my buddy at his body shop through the years, I know this happens. Sometimes replacing the bracket as stated above works. Sometimes taking it off, loosening bolts and tightening back up works too. That area stretches over pretty good so it wants to come back out. some bumpers just have plastic tabs holding most of it in. Have to shove hard to get them to lock in place.

 

[grinchy]

The bumper cover has slots cut in it. The bumper retainer has plastic stubs that engage the slots. If your slots are torn out, they won’t retain. If your stubs are broken off, they won’t retain.

It’s easy to unhook the cover and see which is the issue. Broken stubs on the retainer are super easy to fix. Probably a $10 part held on by two or three screws and a clip or two.
The bumper cover though, if torn out slots, means a whole replacement, which means a cover and painting it to match.

 

[bloc]

They don't even need to be torn out. Just the edges rounded.. mine does this, my friend's 13 LX, and at least a half dozen others I've seen in person that I've bothered to check.

design issue IMO

 

[Gclyne]

The bumper cover has slots cut in it. The bumper retainer has plastic stubs that engage the slots. If your slots are torn out, they won’t retain. If your stubs are broken off, they won’t retain.

It’s easy to unhook the cover and see which is the issue. Broken stubs on the retainer are super easy to fix. Probably a $10 part held on by two or three screws and a clip or two.
The bumper cover though, if torn out slots, means a whole replacement, which means a cover and painting it to match.

View attachment 3331658

Thanks for the reply. Do you have any pictures or instructions in how to remove the bumper cover and inspect the retainer?

 

[Gclyne]

They don't even need to be torn out. Just the edges rounded.. mine does this, my friend's 13 LX, and at least a half dozen others I've seen in person that I've bothered to check.

design issue IMO

Bloc- can you tell me how you rounded the edges? I just loosened the bolts of the fender and reinstalled. I then added some foam between the gap to keep pressure on the tabs (and from coming apart).

 

[bloc]

Bloc- can you tell me how you rounded the edges? I just loosened the bolts of the fender and reinstalled. I then added some foam between the gap to keep pressure on the tabs (and from coming apart).

I believe the edges round on their own, especially when the bumper is removed for body work or service.

My front bumper skin was apparently removed to be resprayed at some point and the left front won’t stay attached just like yours. When I’ve had the bumper off for other work I can see the plastic has deformed and made it easier to slide over the tabs in the fender bracket that are intended to prevent what you are seeing.

Adding pressure somehow is probably a good fix.