Buying a vehicle is an investment, and car safety is paramount. In the question of assets versus liability, vehicles fall under liabilities. Car damage, whether minor or major, is hectic to deal with and costly to repair. To get the most value for your money, it’s essential to practice good habits that prolong the life of your car. So when driving, be careful when maneuvering bumps to avoid causing damage to your car.

The leading causes of damage to vehicles are collisions and scratching, which create dents and scrap off car paint. Slamming car doors is discouraged, making people wonder if slamming the trunk can also damage your car. Here’s what you need to know about slamming your trunk and how it affects your car.

Why do people slam trunks?

Unlike car doors, slamming the trunk is normal for many. It’s just how people have always done it―but what’s the real reason behind it? Early cars required a little bit of force when closing doors and trunks to get them to latch. Even though cars today don’t need much force to latch, the slamming habit seems to have been passed down through generations, especially for trunks. 

Transitioning between cars is another reason why people slam doors. “Old habits die hard.” If your previous car had a latching problem, you’d find yourself still slamming the trunk of the new car out of habit.

A user on Reddit stated that some people resort to slamming due to the weight of the door. If they’re used to a lighter door, they’ll naturally use more force to close a heavier one, thus slamming it. Whatever the reason for slamming your trunk, it’s important to note that you might cause trunk damage that might cost you hundreds of dollars to fix.

How does slamming your trunk damage your vehicle?

As Car Roar highlights, slamming your trunk once in a while won’t cause severe damage. However, the more you do it, the higher the risks of breaking or wearing down car parts such as hinges, latches, and rubber frames. Broken and worn-out parts will either have to be repaired or replaced.

When the trunk door is forced into place, the paint around the edges rubs off, exposing the metal. The exposed metal is prone to rust, making it challenging to repair. The repair process for car rust is complex and will cost you hundreds of dollars.

Slamming your trunk exposes the rubber gasket inside your trunk door to rapid wear. The rubber gasket keeps air out of the car, reducing road noise. When the rubber is worn out, air seeps into the car’s interior, increasing road noise as you drive. Over time, the trunk will get harder to close, causing extensive damage.

Damaged latches are the most expensive to repair or replace. The latch secures the trunk door in place, keeping it from opening while you’re driving. A broken latch can cause it to open while you’re on the road, especially when you hit a speed bump, and items in the trunk could fall if they’re not secured.

How to deal with a faulty vehicle

In some cases, people get into the habit of slamming trunks due to faults with the car. If you find it hard to push your trunk door or the trunk flies up once it’s open, then that could indicate a fault from the manufacturer. Manufacturer faults are fixed with a recall if the lease is still valid. If you bought a second-hand vehicle or your lease is expired, a mechanic should fix the faults. 

Every vehicle has a vehicle identification number (VIN). According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), enter the VIN on the NHTSA website to check for recalls whenever you purchase a vehicle.