Rear Bumper/Rear Fender Panel Fittment/Gap Issue

[pbeyer2010]

2015 2SS/RS
8,800 Miles

So when i was cleaning my new (to me) car the other day i noticed what appears to be a pretty significant panel fitment issue where the rear plastic bumper meets the rear fenders. I included pictures below. Has anyone else had gap issues where these panels meet ? Am i overreacting ? You can see in the third photo where the poor fit appears to have caused chafing of the painted plastic bumper roughly the size of a match head.

To dispel any hearsay, I bought the car from a Chevrolet dealer, i am the second owner, clean carfax no indication of any accidents no body work on record.

First two are Driver Side Rear, Third is Passenger Rear

[Buschman]

Looks to me that someone may have tapped your rear bumper, or someone backed into something. That is not normal, check for scuffs/scratches on your rear bumper and diffuser. I bet you find something.

[ron123]

Originally Posted by Buschman

Looks to me that someone may have tapped your rear bumper, or someone backed into something. That is not normal, check for scuffs/scratches on your rear bumper and diffuser. I bet you find something.

Agree, the car did not leave the factory in that condition. In addition to above, checking the fasteners for signs of tampering and panel paint finish closely may show you if anything was replaced or worked on. Hopefully it was just a minor tap that knocked it out of kilter. There are tabs in that area that interlock to hold the bumper/body panels in place and keep them in alignment, hopefully they are not broken and maybe just popped out of place.
Only a few bolts in the wheel well splash shield connect to the bumper and tabs along the top of the joint in that location.
Thus video shows what holds it all together

The visibility when backing up is not the best in the Camaro, previous owner may have hit something ... the backup camera comes in handy, I rely on it a lot.
Ron

[1110110]

Do you have stock side markers? Those panels need to be loosened to install aftermarket ones, or to change a bulb. It's possible that they just did a poor job if it's not due to an impact.

[pbeyer2010]

Thanks fr the feedback guys. I will have to do some more investigation. Car is 100% stock including side markers.

Hoping this may just require some tweaking and it never saw too much twerking ....

[HDRDTD]

My 2013 ZL1 has that to a very small degree, and it changes with the temp outside. It seems to be a bit more prominent it hot weather and less when it's colder.

[68rssscamaro]

If you look close at the second picture it appears the paint is chipping off 3-4 inches in from the edge? That would tell me either someone hit it, or tried to attempt to remove that area in the past.

[Freddy G]

I think lots Camaros have issue with that fitment, at least both of mine 2011 and 2015 has it. But not as obv as yours. Probably someone tapped your butt.

[The_Driver]

There is a bolt screw right behind the corner edge inside the wheel well. Loosen it and then push the bumper corner back in and then tighten the bolt screw. I had to do that to mine even though it wasn't as bad as yours. Also, before you tighten it back up, fill the chipped area with some paint so it doesn't spread down to the side edge of the bumper.

[Rock-It Man]

That paint peeling looks odd. Was the bumper repainted?

[pbeyer2010]

There are no signs of anything hitting the bumper or it having been backed into something. If it was painted its a good paint job.

My feeling on the paint chip is that the bumper has been vibrating because of the misalignment and caused some sort of chaffing of the paint.

Thanks for the info on the bolt location, i am going to see if i can adjust it that way. Hopefully its that easy.

[LS3Tex]

Originally Posted by Freddy G

I think lots Camaros have issue with that fitment, at least both of mine 2011 and 2015 has it. But not as obv as yours. Probably someone tapped your butt.

Agreed my 2010 ss has the same issue to a smaller degree

[jsc52ss]

My 2011 has that to a very small degree on the passenger side rear wheel. I tried pushing it with very little force but it seems pretty solid. Hahaha thanks for pointing that out now it'll bug me!!!! Just kidding, I say don't worry about it but if it bugs you take it to a LOCAL shop and see if he'll charge you less than a 50 to realign it.

[The_Driver]

Originally Posted by pbeyer2010

There are no signs of anything hitting the bumper or it having been backed into something. If it was painted its a good paint job.

My feeling on the paint chip is that the bumper has been vibrating because of the misalignment and caused some sort of chaffing of the paint.

Thanks for the info on the bolt location, i am going to see if i can adjust it that way. Hopefully its that easy.

Yes, it's that easy.