Many moons ago, before I even made the first payment, I was rear-ended while driving down the interstate. It did about $4k worth of damage to the rear gate, spare tire mount, and driver's side rear quarter panel.

Fast forward to this Friday. I take the Liberty into CarMax to get a starting point of how much I could get for it. Obviously, I knew that being in an accident would affect the amount offered. What I wasn't ready for though was what they told me.

The saleswoman said they would've given me almost twice as much if it hadn't been in the accident and if there was no frame damage. I was skeptical and she brought over the appraiser. The appraiser stated that he noted frame damage and went into a routine about the strength of a Coke can before and after it had been stepped on, and how much weaker it becomes after being crushed and fixed. He then compared the Jeep's frame to the Coke can and said if I was to be rear-ended again that it would cause more intrusion into the passenger compartment.

I reviewed the invoice from the body shop and it appears they did something to the frame, but I can't tell exactly what. I have also googled vehicle frame damage (and searched here) and what CarMax told me seems somewhat legit.

Where my concern comes in is not so much about the appraised value of the Jeep. I am more concerned about the safety of it since I now have two young children.

So, my first question is: How much of a line did CarMax feed me, or is there some truth to it? Secondly, if true, do I really have much to worry about?

TL;DR: If the frame on my Jeep has been repaired, how safe is it?

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2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

CarMax does not sell cars that have a history of accidents. They offered you half because they're going to wholesale it.

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2006 CRD http://www.UtahPowderCoatings.com/ http://www.gorecon.com/ I'm kind of a big deal.
RL rear bumper, ARB front bumper, Mile Marker winch, Power Tank, Skids by Mopar & Skid Row, RL Super Skink Sliders, 235/85R16 MTR, Air Flow Snorkel, DTT, 4.10 gears, Frankenlift II, Katskin leather, JL Audio stereo, Rosen video.

Yes, CarMax did explain their vehicle damage and wholesale policy.

Now, had you read my post, you would have seen that I was not as concerned with the amount offered. My concern is with the structural integrity of the rear of my Jeep.

Again, I would like to know how much of an issue a frame repair is related to the structural integrity of the Jeep if rear ended again. Even though I understand there may be a minimal chance of this.

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2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Hard to tell without seeing how bad it was damaged. But it will make the frame weaker just not sure how much weaker. I had a 95 Volvo that I bought wrecked front passenger side. My son and I repaired it including putting it on a frame machine and my wife drove it for years. Then a few years later she hit someone that pulled out in front of her pretty much in the same spot. It did push it in just a little bit more than it was the first time. But you just don't know was this hit harder than the first time, or not as hard. So it depends on how much damage there was to the frame. Was it crushed or just bent a little? If it was just bent a little then I would not worry about it. If it was crushed and they pulled it out then it would be a lot weaker. Hope that helps.

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2003 KJ Renegade, 5 speed, frankenlifted,Al's a Arms 4.5,Moabs 245/75/16 BFG KM2's, custom rock rails, full Mopar skids, Hella ff220 lights,Hd cooling,Front DTT,Riddler diff cover,Rola safari rack,Cobra 29 peaked & tuned.

Pastafari Alum, Pink shovel recipient

Kskj:

Thanks for the info. On the paperwork from the body shop, it says, "pull unibody." I'm not sure what that meant/entailed. The CarMax appraiser said he saw non-factory welds. As I don't really know what to look for to determine factory vs. non-factory, I'm not much help. Also, the accident was 8 years ago, so it's possible the adjuster could've mentioned something about the frame that I don't remember.

I realize pics of the damage would probably help, but they're lost to the sands of time.

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2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

I can tell you if only $4000 damage was done there was not that much damage done to the uniframe structure,more cosmetic damage then anything.If it was bad then a 1/4 panel replacement would have been done,and if bad enough that would severly degrade the structure it would have been totaled.It does not take much damage to see big $$$ for the repair nowday's.The rear gate along was most likely $1000 of that bill alone.My KJ had $5500 hail damage,no body panel replacement besides the hood was involved.


I wouldn't worry about it as it was rear end damage,anything short of a high speed rear end and you'll be fine but then again any vehicle hit in the rear in a high speed rearend will suffer major damage.

$4000 is not a lot of damage nowadays. That would add up pretty quick. I had a Honda Civic several years back that got hit on the passenger front quarter by someone. $3000 insurance fix and there was no frame damage. All panels, hood and paint.

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2006 Liberty CRD Limited

Provent @ 43,000 km
SEGR in progress
SAMCO Sport hoses @ 48500 km
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac LT225/75R16