Does a Missing Front Fender Have Any Impact?
2 Answers
Car fenders do have certain impacts when missing, as they serve a protective function for the vehicle body. Below are the roles of car fenders: Protecting the Paint: Fenders can protect the car's paint. Since car tires have tread patterns, sand and stones on the road can be squeezed through the gaps between these patterns while driving. At high speeds, these particles can be flung up, causing significant damage to the paint. Therefore, having fenders is necessary. Protecting Mechanical Components: Fenders can protect mechanical structures. When driving on roads, various road conditions are encountered. In bad weather or poor road conditions, mud and water are often splashed up. Without fenders, this debris can enter the vehicle's mechanical components.
Having driven this car for decades, I can tell you that a missing front fender is no small matter. It's the first line of defense against mud and gravel. Without it, driving in the rain means mud splashes directly onto the car body, quickly corroding the paint and leaving spots that cost money to fix. Even more dangerous are gravel stones on highways—when they fly up, they can injure pedestrians or hit following vehicles, leading to serious accidents. I once witnessed a case in my younger years where a missing fender caused a stone to crack a windshield, leading to disputes with the insurance company. My advice: don't tough it out. Temporarily secure it with a rope or replace it as soon as possible. Safety is no trivial matter—check for loose screws during regular car washes. Prevention is always better than repair.
