At a certain point, many Toyota Camry sedans get konked in either of their rear corners. Due to the car’s bumper design back there, pretty much regardless of the model year, the corner inhales itself. The effect leaves an unappealing sucker punch for anyone trapped behind one in traffic to stare at. Why are so many of these vehicles plagued by the “Camry Dent”?

Imagine kicking in a large, pliable plastic trash can. It’s that easy.

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There’s basically enough empty space behind the bumper corners – and not enough panel reinforcement – that the plastic hauls inward upon impact. It’s just an easy-to-bullseye crumple zone.

Start looking, and you’ll find it really is a common sight. While the Camry Dent seems most frequently graced upon 2002 to 2006 models, you’ll find them pummeled into newer versions, too – even 2022 models.

Some Camry Dents are deep with a rippled rim. Popping it back out might crack the plastic, and you’d need a new bumper cover.

Moreover, if you let a dent sit for too long and try to pop it out without proper technique, you might get the dent out, but end up with fractured paint.

Repairing or replacing and painting a rear bumper cover might run anywhere from $500 to $1,200, based on my time preparing collision estimates at a repair facility.

For newer model-year owners, the bill might hover too close to your insurance deductible to make filing a claim worth the hit.

When I see the dent on older Camrys – sedans from the 5th gen, for instance, which are 20+ years old at this point – I can understand why folks would leave it without repairing it. I just consider it a badge of Toyota’s mechanical longevity. Beauty fades, and all that. But if you want to take a crack at a cheap fix…

You can remove the Camry Dent™ yourself with common household materials