NHTSA Complaint #10241952 — 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX

AS A OWNER OF A BRAND NEW 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX, I WAS RECENTLY HIT BY A BICYCLE RIDER RIDING HIS BIKE IN A OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON A SIDE WALK. HE HIT MY FRONT BUMPER AND THE BUMPER WAS SLIGHTLY DAMAGED. THE BIKE RIDER HAD MINOR INJURIES. THE POLICE ISSUED THE RIDER A CITATION FOR RIDING HIS BIKE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. I WENT TO A LOCAL CERTIFIED AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND GOT MY FRONT BUMPER REPAIRED INCLUDING A PAINT FINISH. THE COST CAME OUT TO BE $500 FOR THIS VERY MINOR DAMAGE. WHY? IT TURNED OUT TO BE SO COSTLY ? BECAUSE NOWADAYS ALL THE BUMPERS--FRONT & REAR ARE BEING MADE OUT PLASTIC BY AUTO MANUFACTURERS TO CUT COST. IF THE BUMPERS WERE TO BE MADE FROM STEEL, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY DAMAGE COST FOR ANY MINOR IMPACT. MY QUESTION TO YOU: WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR OLD REGULATION 10 M.P.H. IMPACT TO BUMPERS TO BE FREE OF ANY DAMAGE? DID YOU CAVE IN TO THE BIG BROTHERS --AUTO MANUFACTURERS, AND YET, THE AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE BEING SHAFTED FOR HIGH COST OF REPAIRING THE CAR. WHY DON'T YOU FORCE THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE ALL BUMPERS OUT OF STEEL? THE FACT IS THE STEEL MILL HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED THE STEEL MATERIAL WHICH IS VERY COMPARABLE TO PLASTIC TO BE LIGHTER, STRONGER AND CAN BE FORMED INTO BUMPERS VERY EASILY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND FORCE THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS TO COMPLY 10 M.P.H IMPACT REGULATION. THANK YOU! *TR UPDATED 09/24/08. *JB