[HondaN600]

Looking for some advice from the group in regards to body repairs.
My 2020 was struck in a parking lot recently by a lifted pickup with a lethal looking tow hitch while he was backing out of a parking space. Claims he didn’t see me.
Took it to my Honda dealer for evaluation.
I asked the estimater what method would be used to make the repair.
He said he would pound out the damage. I asked him if the door skin should be removed and he said I could chose that method too his words were “six of one half dozen of the other.”
Why would I chose to have them knock out the gouge, fill the imperfections and most likely just paint the lower portion?
Don’t know if you could tell by the photo but the door has been skewed as well, doesn’t close easily. He said that he would adjust it back into place.
I didn’t say anything but afterwords thought that hinges should be replaced.
Would love some thoughts and opinions on what to ask for.
I feel terrible that my sorta new Passport got nailed.

 

[NotcherBiznas]

Try taking it to an independent collision repair shop, they would have the most experience. Also would recommend you ask around, get a referral on the repair shop from others in your area. I don't know that they'll say much different, but ideally they would know the correct solution.

 

[storm303]

Highly suggest finding an independent body shop with many years in business and solid reputation and reviews.

My reasoning is that dealers are not body shops, even though many have a small body shop. From what I can tell, they mostly fix cosmetic problems on their own new and used inventory and it only needs to look right, not be right. Also, prices at a dealer are almost always ridiculous. For some repairs like recalls or big teardowns you might want a Honda master technician doing the work, but in most cases an equivalent or better skilled tech can be found elsewhere for less.

Did you get an insurance payout? There may be specific shops they want you to go.

 

[HondaN600]

Highly suggest finding an independent body shop with many years in business and solid reputation and reviews.

My reasoning is that dealers are not body shops, even though many have a small body shop. From what I can tell, they mostly fix cosmetic problems on their own new and used inventory and it only needs to look right, not be right. Also, prices at a dealer are almost always ridiculous. For some repairs like recalls or big teardowns you might want a Honda master technician doing the work, but in most cases an equivalent or better skilled tech can be found elsewhere for less.

Did you get an insurance payout? There may be specific shops they want you to go.

Where we live, our Honda dealership has a separate (from the dealerships lot) large fully equipped body shop. Another Honda Dealership farms out their work to a body shop across the road from their location.
Ive just taken it to where we bought the car. I’m taking it to the other body shop tomorrow to get their take.
I just wanted to get some support from y'all that I should want the skin replaced instead of pounding it out. I’ll see what the next guy says.
The ramrods insurance company notified us that they will pay for the damage.
We have an appointment for their adjuster to inspect our cars damage.

 

[PNWGarageDad]

The door skin repair vs replace takes lots of knowledge , with a good bodyguy and with parts availability/cost. If they repair the door skin, request pictures before it goes to over to paint, this will show how big or small the area was worked. They will need to detrim and blend the front door and will have a few hour repair on the door shell. Did it damage the rocker?

 

[HondaN600]

The door skin repair vs replace takes lots of knowledge , with a good bodyguy and with parts availability/cost. If they repair the door skin, request pictures before it goes to over to paint, this will show how big or small the area was worked. They will need to detrim and blend the front door and will have a few hour repair on the door shell. Did it damage the rocker?

Thanks.
The rocker appears to be fine.
The gouge, the lower black plastic trim and crooked door which I am skeptical that they can just loosen and readjust.
Front passenger door looks untouched.
Thanks for the tip on getting photos to show before paint condition.👍🏼

 

[PNWGarageDad]

White is a hard color to match and since the damage is so close to the front door, they will blend it. You should think about collecting diminished value and rental car.

 

[Tadakatsu]

Use the link below to find your nearest Honda certified body shop/collision center, that is where I would start. You do not necessarily need to use them, however, it is more likely that they will not only use Honda approved parts and methods for any potential repair but they will likely try to fix it to being as close to factory spec as possible to include potentially replacing the door panel instead of repairing the damage panel (which is what I would prefer if it were me).

If it is an insurance claim just know that whoever your insurance company might recommend will likely be a service provider that will save the insurance company the most money, results that satisfy you are not guaranteed. Please know that as your vehicle was a parked vehicle, the driver that hit you is 100% liable for damages and that cannot be disputed by the other driver's insurance provider. In my opinion you should be able to use this to your advantage and get them to pay for replacement and painting of a new door panel. I would go out of my way to not settle for anything less as you were in no way at fault whatsoever. I would want my vehicle restored to factory spec even if new parts are required to make that happen.

I would be very concerned about that spot rusting even after being repaired, if the currently damaged door panel is to be repaired. It would definitely be more susceptible to corrosion in the future. Also unless they replace the actual door panel, do not expect that it will look quite right no matter what they do to "fix" it. Considering that it is right next to a crease they will likely be a wavy look to it that simply cannot be fixed to visually look like factory spec.

https://owners.honda.com/collision/certifiedbodyshop/

 

[BigJosh]

Stop taking vehicles to dealer for anything other than warranty work or accessory installation.

DO NOT take to dealer for body work, that's not their specialty.
DO NOT take to a large chain body shop either.

You can also claim on your insurance, that will most likely result in best repair, subrogation will happen and your insurance rates should not suffer.

 

[HondaN600]

Stop taking vehicles to dealer for anything other than warranty work or accessory installation.

DO NOT take to dealer for body work, that's not their specialty.
DO NOT take to a large chain body shop either.

You can also claim on your insurance, that will most likely result in best repair, subrogation will happen and your insurance rates should not suffer.

Well, this may be true where you live but when we resided in Central NY, we bought all our earlier Hondas from one dealer and if there was a ever any body damage to any Honda vehicle in the family, their service was outstanding from service writer, to body man to shop mgr.
Now living in North Carolina I don’t know if this will follow suit.
As far as the process about working with the ins. companies, I’ll leave that to my better half who just retired from the insurance business after 30 + years. She’ll know what is what.
Thanks for your input.

 

[14v6]

Hope the waits in NC are short. I hit a deer (Albany, NY) and from beginning to end with minor damage took about 1.5 months.

The adjuster explained to me that body shops have differing opinions about paint. Some want to blend the whole side while some will end at the seam. If that door is salvageable, my guess it will visually have the best results. Another consideration may be to get the accessory body side mouldings they go in that area will visually help to break up the blending.

 

[carpayments4life]

1. Notify the responsible party's Ins. Co. Most of them will accept your photos and will cut you a check. The check will be about 20% less than the cost to repair, so don't cash it right away.

2. Take the car to an independent body shop, for an estimate. While you are there...ask them to bend the top of your door, so it doesn't leak. That's all they will do to the top anyway. Re-twisting hoods, hatches, and doors is very common and is an accepted practice. You can roll down the window and re-twist it yourself. If you don't like your results, let the body shop work on it, as part of the original repair.
2a. There is nothing wrong with your hinges and nothing will be done to them.
2b. Buy some Honda matching touch up paint, for $15, for the chipped paint.
3. Finally, pocket the Ins. Co. pay out.

Back to the original Insurance check.
Ins. Co. expect small accidents to go unrepaired, so they reduce the pay out by 20% and wait for a body shop to contact them, for additional payment. If no actual work is done, the Ins. Co. saves money.

Let us know how much the Ins. Co. says the repair will cost.

 

[HondaN600]

1. Notify the responsible party's Ins. Co. Most of them will accept your photos and will cut you a check. The check will be about 20% less than the cost to repair, so don't cash it right away.

2. Take the car to an independent body shop, for an estimate. While you are there...ask them to bend the top of your door, so it doesn't leak. That's all they will do to the top anyway. Re-twisting hoods, hatches, and doors is very common and is an accepted practice. You can roll down the window and re-twist it yourself. If you don't like your results, let the body shop work on it, as part of the original repair.
2a. There is nothing wrong with your hinges and nothing will be done to them.
2b. Buy some Honda matching touch up paint, for $15, for the chipped paint.
3. Finally, pocket the Ins. Co. pay out.

Back to the original Insurance check.
Ins. Co. expect small accidents to go unrepaired, so they reduce the pay out by 20% and wait for a body shop to contact them, for additional payment. If no actual work is done, the Ins. Co. saves money.

Let us know how much the Ins. Co. says the repair will cost.

Took the Passport in this morning to our desired bodyshop.
Believe it or not, it has gone fairly smooth other than the long ass wait to get the car in the shop but that was to be expected.
Nationwide Ins., the insurance company for the other party, was real nice to work with. No hassle, quick to respond sent the check directly to our bank and set us up for a rental that went very smoothly.
Their recommended shops quote was just a little less than what our preferred body shops quote was. Our body shop will negotiate with the ins. comp for the difference.
Both estimates recommended door skin remove and replace.
Supposed to be in the shop for 5-8 days.
We're hoping that the actual work goes just as smooth.
The estimate was $4,500.

 

[JLH]

Took the Passport in this morning to our desired bodyshop.
Believe it or not, it has gone fairly smooth other than the long ass wait to get the car in the shop but that was to be expected.
Nationwide Ins., the insurance company for the other party, was real nice to work with. No hassle, quick to respond sent the check directly to our bank and set us up for a rental that went very smoothly.
Their recommended shops quote was just a little less than what our preferred body shops quote was. Our body shop will negotiate with the ins. comp for the difference.
Both estimates recommended door skin remove and replace.
Supposed to be in the shop for 5-8 days.
We're hoping that the actual work goes just as smooth.
The estimate was $4,500.

We've been waiting for nearly 2 months for a new fender & both right doors on our '15 Forester. No OE parts available available anywhere & no ETA the last time our insurance company checked. At least it's drivable after the Kamakazi deer ran into the side of us... Hope yours works out well!

 

[HondaN600]

We've been waiting for nearly 2 months for a new fender & both right doors on our '15 Forester. No OE parts available available anywhere & no ETA the last time our insurance company checked. At least it's drivable after the Kamakazi deer ran into the side of us... Hope yours works out well!

Wow! Yeah, at least your car is drivable!
Is there a water seeping-in issue with yours?
I had to make room in the garage to house mine even with just a lower dent. The impact tweaked the door all the way up and water comes in around the glass frame.
Thanks. I hope all goes well too.
Hope your parts show up soon!

 

[JLH]

Wow! Yeah, at least your car is drivable!
Is there a water seeping-in issue with yours?
I had to make room in the garage to house mine even with just a lower dent. The impact tweaked the door all the way up and water comes in around the glass frame.
Thanks. I hope all goes well too.
Hope your parts show up soon!

Fortunately, the damage is cosmetic only, no water ingress, no safety issues or anything like that. Yours sounds much worse.

Optical illusion on both pics shows little to no damage on the front door which is actually creased badly in 3 places.

 

[HondaN600]

Fortunately, the damage is cosmetic only, no water ingress, no safety issues or anything like that. Yours sounds much worse.

View attachment 14418 View attachment 14419 Optical illusion on both pics shows little to no damage on the front door which is actually creased badly in 3 places.

How did that happen?

 

[JLH]

How did that happen?

We had a deer come out of a road ditch & ran right into the side of us. It was at the end of a bridge & I never even saw it coming. Just a quick thud, thud... $5,800 in damage.

 

[HondaN600]

All better now.

 

[IanGrahamd]

From the sounds of it, the estimator you spoke with seems to be suggesting a "quick fix" approach to the repairs. Pounding out the damage and filling the imperfections may not address the underlying problem and could result in a less than satisfactory repair.
As for the skewed door, I would recommend having the hinges checked and potentially replaced. In addition, I would suggest that you ask for a complete and thorough repair that addresses all the damage, not just the visible dents and scratches.
And if you feel the need for legal advice, Houston Accident Attorneys would be a good option. They will work to ensure that you are properly compensated for the damages.
Glad your car is fine now! Stay safe!