A simple bumper repair on a modern vehicle may not be as simple as it seems. New technologies like blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and other advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) utilize sensors behind the bumper covers. The ability for these sensors to be able to see clearly, normally requires special caution when considering a bumper repair. Many OEMs have different levels of warnings when it comes to repairing bumper covers with ADAS. So, what does Tesla say on the subject?
Tesla has a Front Bumper Fascia Repair Guidelines document includes a list of vehicles equipped with radar sensors behind the front bumper. Some repair considerations stated in this document include:
- "Repairs in the radar area are not allowed."
- "Repairing the front bumper fascia outside of the radar area is allowed."
- "Do not remove the base plastic material in the radar area."
- "After refinishing the front bumper fascia, the paint thickness in the radar area must not exceed 300 microns (12 mils)."
This document is in the vehicle-specific collision repair manual under the Parts Repairability Guidelines area.
Always reference the vehicle-specific body repair manual before performing any repairs to ensure a complete, safe, and quality repair.
For additional Tesla information, check out the Tesla OEM Information page.
Additional I-CAR Collision Repair News you may find helpful:
- ADAS, Calibration, And Scanning Article Hotspot
- Bumper Cover Repair With ADAS
- Collision Information Website Access: Tesla
- Locating ADAS Information: Tesla
- Where Do I Find Other Types Of Information In Tesla?

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