This concerns the plastic safety bumper on my Mazda and plastic bumpers in general. Mine is a safety hazard and in danger of breaking off. I believe it to be a defective product. I have a Mazda6 touring plus which is ten months old, with less than 12,000 miles. My bumper began cracking two months ago. The rip went from the top of the bumper to the bottom. In time, the rip has expanded to a fourth of a bumper. I am using shipping tape to hold it in place. Shipping tape! the bumper is so brittle, it's useless as a safety bumper. I get no satisfaction from my dealer, ramsey Mazda, ramsey N.J.or from Mazda headquarters. They tell me the crack may have occurred when I went over a pothole or safety bumper and suggest I ask my insurance company to pay $1300 for the replacement cost. I believe this should be covered by warranty. More important, bumpers of this sort should be banned. They are a safety hazard and should be replaced with a solid bumper or better quality. I have owned many cars over the years and I have never heard of a bumper ripping or flaking. Updated 07/05/11

- Paramus, NJ, USA