1999 Mercury Mystique

THE DASHBOARD RECEDED FROM THE WINDSHIELD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE VENT SECTION ACROSS THE DASH CURLED, THEREFORE THE COVER WOULD NOT STAY. THIS CAUSED A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER ABOUT A RECALL RELATED TO THIS FAILURE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND REQUESTED A REPAIR KIT. *SCC *NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT BY AN 18-WHEELER TRUCK. THE MOST OBVIOUS PROBLEM IS THAT THE BUMPER IS SO ROUNDED THAT THE TRUCK'S FENDER RODE UP ON THE BUMPER AND DID MOST OF THE DAMAGE TO THE TRUNK/TAIL LIGHT AREA. I BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE I DO NOT BELIEVE ANYONE HAS LOOKED INTO THE PROBLEM OF LARGE ROUNDED (PLASTIC) BUMPERS AND THEIR ABILITY TO ABSORB IMPACT. UNLESS HIT EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE, THE OTHER BUMPER WILL EITHER RIDE UP OR BELOW THE ROUNDED BUMPER CAUSING MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THIS IS MUCH MORE SERIOUS THAN TESTING PREVIOUSLY DONE WITH BUMPERS HITTING A FLAT WALL OR A POST STICKING OUT OF THE GROUND. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TESTING DONE SHOWING THE EFFECTS OF A ROUNDED BUMPER HITTING A ROUNDED BUMPER, JUST SLIGHTLY HIGH OR LOW. I BELIEVE THE RESULTS WOULD BE MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE, EXPENSIVE AND ASTOUNDING. THE DAMAGE INCURRED BY MY VEHICLE SHOWED NO DISTORTION OR COMPRESSION OF THE BUMPER AT ALL, A LOT OF SCRATCHES, BUT THE MOST DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE TRUNK/TAIL LIGHT AREAS. STUDIES NEED TO BE DONE ON THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF LARGE DECORATIVE ROUND BUMPERS.