Quote:
Originally Posted by strat61caster
What dozen parts have fallen off? I'm genuinely curious. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, I'm saying that no safety inspection doesn't mean you'll be pelted with bumpers and hubcaps.
Come to think of it, I hit a bump in my girlfriends car and the hubcap popped off, and I've seen another hubcap pop off a different car, so I've actually seen two parts fall off cars.
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I agree hubcaps don't count. It used to be so common it was a lucrative business to sell singles.
Well I got hit by the complete taillight assembly for a very ratty Neon (in Ontario but Michigan plates). It fell off the car two ahead of me bounced over the guy in front and hit me square on the front bumper. I had no place to go and a panic stop would have got me rear ended.
What I have seen fly off consists of a mirror, a hood, a rear window (that was spectacular), a bumper, a windshield wiper assembly (not just a blade), a wheel, a transmission (yes the whole thing fell right out on the road I have no idea how) and a few other assorted parts that I do not remember what they were.
Now would inspections have prevent these particular parts from flying off? No, probably not but you can bet you butt that if the cars were that bad then they would have failed for other reasons.
I have personally had the whole door skin fly off a car I was driving. Back in the bad old broke days I drove $100 Junkers and the wife got the fancy $500 cars. The old rotted to death 80 Citation I drove decided to shed it's rear passenger door skin on the highway once and the rust was probably the very least of that cars issues.
It happens on a very regular basis even where there are inspections though since $50 can get you the cert if you know the right people.