Contenu
Cars are constructed on a frame or assembled using a unibody structure, according to Carfax Vehicle History Reports. The reporting agency defines auto frame damage as the compromise of "any component designed to provide structural integrity."
History
The earliest car design through the 1980s used a frame to hold the parts and pieces together. A unibody construction is used for modern autos.
Identification
The frame component of a vehicle includes suspension mountings, lower and upper frame rails. The "frame" of a unibody model includes the windscreen, rocker panels, rear window frames and the A, B and C car pillars, according to Carfax.
Considerations
Damage to any of the bolted features on a car is generally considered to be frame damage.
Significance
Frame damage is not always apparent and an auto repair expert must be consulted to evaluate the extent of frame damage after an accident. The Auto Channel reported in 2005 that "hundreds of thousands of cars on the road right now will fail to properly protect" due to damaged or faulty frames.
Expert Insight
Carfax states that damage to the car frame reduces the chance that the auto can protect the driver and occupants during an accident. The agency recommends avoiding purchasing a used car that has frame damage.
