Tests show certified aftermarket bumpers to be a viable alternative

The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) has just approved a voluntary certification standard that would allow copycat bumpers to match dimensions, material, and construction of original automaker parts and be identified as such. The Insurance Industry for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently conducted a test of certified bumper beams, as well as those that don't meet this new CAPA 501 certified structural bumper parts standard, to determine the differences in cost and crashworthiness. And the results from the tests show that aftermarket bumpers built to the CAPA standards can make comparable replacements for original equipment parts.

While choosing an aftermarket car part for vehicle repairs may be a cheaper option for consumers and insurance agencies, there have been some open questions about their ability to protect and minimize damage. Cosmetic items such as fenders and grilles don't affect a vehicle's ability to withstand an impact, but bumpers help protect the vehicle and affect how crash energy is distributed. In a previous blog, we showed that even in a low-speed crash, an aftermarket bumper can shatter into pieces (see video). Ford also noted "alarming differences" between two non-OEM aftermarket parts they tested over the summer compared with OEM versions.

2008 Dodge Ram with original bumper
Photo: Courtesy of IIHS

To better understand the implications for using aftermarket components, the IIHS tested a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 fitted with a CAPA-standard aftermarket bumper in front crash tests at 5 and 40 mph. The results showed that the damage in both low- and high-speed tests was the same with the certified CAPA bumper as with the Dodge bumper. The cost for repair was similar, as well.

The Institute then tested two vehicles equipped with an aftermarket bumper that didn't meet CAPA's standard. In a 2009 Toyota Camry, the aftermarket bumper proved stronger than the original with a similar cost of repair to the Toyota bumper, but the damage was different. The Toyota bumper buckled and had damage to the bumper cover and outboard edges. The stronger aftermarket bumper didn't buckle, but it crushed the ends of the bumper support. Being stronger is not necessarily better, as such a part would not react like an OEM component, which may lead to unforeseen implications.

These limited IIHS tests prove an aftermarket bumper that replicates the original can work properly in a crash. This new CAPA 501 standard is good news for consumers looking for choices with replacement bumpers, yet not wanting to risk the integrity of their vehicle. IIHS considers this standard a step in the right direction, and it hopes CAPA can extend these standards to other aftermarket parts.

In general, consumers should insist on replacement parts built to original-equipment specifications, and standards such as CAPA certification can make it easier to identify quality components.

 —Liza Barth