(March 1, 2007)--A low-speed crash in a midsize car can result in a high repair bill.

Crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have found most bumpers on midsize cars don't do much to prevent damage in crashes at six miles-per-hour.

That's like the everyday fender benders common in commuter traffic and parking lots.

Only three of the 17 cars tested had damage of $1,500 or less after each of four bumper tests.

They were the Mitsubishi Galant, Toyota Camry and Mazda 6.

Other cars had more than $4,500 damage in just one test.

Two cars, the Volkswagen Jetta and Nissan Maxima, had damage totaling more than $9,000.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety President Adrian Lund says the tests were to measure how well bumpers perform in minimizing damage to headlights, hoods, fenders and other parts that are expensive to repair.

He says they found most "bumpers aren't up to the job."

Click Here For Insurance Institute For Highway Safety Web Site

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