V70: Body Iced up Tailgate causing bumper damage

[Jill Davis]

A couple of days ago I noticed a black mark about 4" long on the top of my bumper where the tailgate comes down and had rubbed it. On further investigation I noticed there was a slight bulge in the top of the bumper at this point and there was a similar piece of rubbed paintwork on the bottom edge of the tailgate. This was puzzling as there is absolutely no damage whatsoever anywhere else on the car. So I took it to my dealer as it is still under warranty and asked for his opinion about my theory that the damage had been caused by the tailgate being iced up and when opened electronically the strain of trying to open when stuck with ice had pulled up that section of the top of the bumper. I am afraid I was just told that that could not happen and that I had somehow caused it myself and should take it to a bodyshop because it certainly was not going to be put right by them under warranty. I have no other explanation and am just curious to know whether anyone has ever come across this sort of ice damage before and if so what their dealer said/did about it so that I can perhaps have another attempt at getting them to put it right before the guarantee runs out in March. Thanks for reading. Jill Davis

[H20 VOLVO]

I agree with the dealer. The tailgate would have cut out well before it had enough power to do that damage. With strong winds, mine will stop. If it was iced to the bumper, it would have stopped.

It's a safety cut-out and all manufacturers have it.

I suspect someone has bumped into the back of you in a car park or something.

[Jill Davis]

Thank you so much for explaining that to me. As there was no damage on the vehicle I could not think of any other explanation! At least it has put my mind at rest that my dealer is not just pulling the wool over my eyes. A second opinion has been very useful and I thank you.

[tt82]

If bumper and tailgate were cold enough to ice together, then the cold bumper would be brittle and more likely to crack, rather than deform. I would suggest either the complete opposite, heat has caused the bumper to warp, or it's accident damage.

(I know a few people who have damaged their cars and tried to hide/deny it to loved ones. Are you the sole driver? Could another person have backed into a pole/bollard/fence and be deny it? This is the most logical reason for the damage.)

A few pics might also help peoples opinion.

[GrantA]

Originally Posted by Jill Davis

A couple of days ago I noticed a black mark about 4" long on the top of my bumper where the tailgate comes down and had rubbed it. On further investigation I noticed there was a slight bulge in the top of the bumper at this point and there was a similar piece of rubbed paintwork on the bottom edge of the tailgate. This was puzzling as there is absolutely no damage whatsoever anywhere else on the car. So I took it to my dealer as it is still under warranty and asked for his opinion about my theory that the damage had been caused by the tailgate being iced up and when opened electronically the strain of trying to open when stuck with ice had pulled up that section of the top of the bumper. I am afraid I was just told that that could not happen and that I had somehow caused it myself and should take it to a bodyshop because it certainly was not going to be put right by them under warranty. I have no other explanation and am just curious to know whether anyone has ever come across this sort of ice damage before and if so what their dealer said/did about it so that I can perhaps have another attempt at getting them to put it right before the guarantee runs out in March. Thanks for reading. Jill Davis

Jill, IMO, and as H20 Volvo has said, someone has driven into the back of your car or, as t82 said, the "other person" who drives your car has had a bump and either not noticed it (I find that hard to believe) or just denying it. From what you describe it sounds like a single point of contact and, if there is another driver of your car, they have reversed into a bollard, gate post, lamppost or something very similar. The plastic bumpers fitted to these cars do deform if struck, sometimes the "dent" springs back out other times it doesn't.

[Jill Davis]

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. As I am the sole driver and there is no damage or marks anywhere else on the bumper and I have a towball fitted it is still a bit of a mystery but as I now know that however it happened icing up was not a factor I will have to either leave it as it is or pay for repairs.

[Jill Davis]

Just thought you might be interested to know that I took my car into a bodyshop for his opinion and a quote and he was in no doubt that when the bumper was removed to fit the towbar it was not put back correctly, causing a slight bulge which ultimately caused the tailgate and the bumper to be too close together and rub the paintwork. At last someone has come up with a plausible explanation. I had no idea the bumper had to be removed to fit a towbar otherwise I would have mentioned it to the dealer. As they fitted it I shall be returning to them with this report. Watch this space. So no ice, no bumps, just poor workmanship by the looks of it.