Buy Subaru Legacy Bumper Covers

Subaru Legacy bumper covers-also called bumper skins, fascias, or shells-protect the metal bumper beam, hide sensors, and give the car its smooth front or rear look. They're molded from tough plastics like polypropylene and thermoplastic olefin that bend on small hits, weigh little, and paint easily. U.S. rules set bumper height, and newer Legacy models add radar windows for driver-assist tech. Painting, cleaning, and recycling are all straightforward when you know where to look.

Overview

The bumper cover is the colored outer panel you see at each end of the car. It clips to brackets over a foam or plastic energy absorber and a steel or aluminum beam. Good covers keep road splash away, cut wind drag, and let airbags sense crashes correctly. Plastic designs became common because they cut weight and resist denting better than steel skins. (SAE International, SAE International)

Generations

• 1989-1994 (Gen 1) - Simple covers with no radar or parking sensors. (Wikipedia)
• 1995-1999 (Gen 2) - Wider grille opening; some wagons added fog-lamp holes.
• 2000-2004 (Gen 3) - Smoother one-piece front fascia and first use of plastic energy absorber. (Wikipedia, Subaru Parts)
• 2005-2009 (Gen 4) - Clip-in lower lip makes swaps easy. DIY videos show 10 mm bolts and pop clips. (YouTube)
• 2010-2014 (Gen 5) - Covers start to hide radar in the grille (EyeSight add-on). (I-CAR Tech Support Portal)
• 2015-2019 (Gen 6) - Rear covers may have cutter lines for park-assist sensors.
• 2020-2025 (Gen 7) - Clear windows for adaptive cruise radar; last Legacy year is 2025. (Car and Driver)

Materials

Most Legacy covers are injection-molded PP or TPO plastics. These resins flex in cold, absorb low-speed hits, and weigh less than steel. SAE papers show TPO made straight in the reactor for better strength. (SAE International, SAE International) A test series proved molded thermoplastic bumpers survive abusive scuffs better than painted steel. (SAE International)

Fitment Guide

1. Match the year and trim. Sensor, fog-lamp, and tow-hook cut-outs moved by generation.
2. Check sedan vs. wagon. Wagons share front skins but rear shapes differ.
3. Confirm paint code. Subaru stamps it on the driver-side door jamb; videos show how to read it. (YouTube)
4. Look for technology windows. EyeSight and blind-spot radar need smooth, paint-thin areas with no metallic fillers. (I-CAR Tech Support Portal)
5. Replace broken clips. Subaru uses plastic pawl clips that can be re-used if not cracked.

Installation Steps

1. Open the hood and pop the grille clips.
2. Remove 10 mm bolts and under-tray screws. (YouTube, YouTube)
3. Pull the cover forward; unplug fog-lamp wires.
4. Transfer grills, marker lights, and foam absorber.
5. Line up tabs and push until you hear clicks.

A helper keeps paint from scraping the fender.

Safety & Tech

U.S. bumper rules cap bumper top height at 20 inches on passenger cars. (NHTSA) High-trim Legacys hide adaptive cruise and lane radar modules just behind the plastic. Any filler thicker than 0.5 mm or metallic paint can block those signals, warns I-CAR. (I-CAR Tech Support Portal)

Paint & Finish

Covers ship in primer. Scuff with 600-grit, spray adhesion promoter, lay base coat, then clear. 3M guides advise feather-edge scratches and use flexible filler for gouges. (3M, 3M Multimedia) Keep heat lamps below 140 °F so plastic won't warp.

Care Tips

• Wash with pH-neutral soap to save clear-coat.
• Apply a non-abrasive sealant every quarter.
• Fix small cracks using plastic welding rod and 80-grit prep. (3M)
• Replace damaged energy absorber together with the cover for proper crash energy control. (Subaru Parts)

Recycling

The EPA lists car bumpers as common items that can be recycled into new products. (US EPA) Clean plastic covers go to polypropylene recycling streams; metal clips are separated with magnets. Many body shops join take-back schemes to cut landfill waste.

Common Problems

• Paint flake from rock chips-touch-up soon to stop rust on the metal beam.
• Broken tabs-repair with two-part flexible adhesive and a mesh patch. (3M)
• Sensor error after crash-calibrate EyeSight cameras when a new fascia is installed. (I-CAR Tech Support Portal)
• Warping from low-grade aftermarket plastics-quality PP/TPO resists heat. (SAE International)

Related Parts

Energy absorber, reinforcement beam, mounting brackets, splash shield, wheel-well liner, and grille inserts all meet the bumper cover. Replace any bent or cracked pieces for a level fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a bumper cover?
A: It's the outer plastic shell that hides the steel bumper and makes the car look smooth.

Q: Is a bumper cover the same as a fascia?
A: Yes-fascia, skin, shell, and cover are all common names.

Q: Does the cover absorb impact?
A: Only a little. The foam or plastic absorber and the metal beam behind it absorb most crash force. (Subaru Parts)

Q: Can I reuse my old clips?
A: If they're not cracked and still grip tight, yes; brittle clips should be replaced.

Q: How do I find my color?
A: Check the paint code sticker on the driver door; it's a four-digit code starting with letters. (YouTube)

Q: Why won't my parking sensors work after painting?
A: Metallic or thick paint blocks the waves. Use OEM-approved flexible base and keep layers thin. (I-CAR Tech Support Portal)

Q: Are Subaru Legacy bumper covers interchangeable between years?
A: Usually only within the same generation because grille shape, head-lamp size, and sensor holes move. (Wikipedia)

Q: Do I need to align my radar after replacing the front skin?
A: Yes; the EyeSight or radar module must be recalibrated so safety features work right. (I-CAR Tech Support Portal)

Q: What plastic is the cover made of?
A: Most are polypropylene-based thermoplastic olefin (TPO) that flexes and resists dents. (SAE International)

Q: Can the old bumper cover be recycled?
A: Yes; clean PP/TPO can go into plastic recycling programs. (US EPA)

Helpful Links

• Subaru technical info portal for repair manuals: techinfo.subaru.com
• U.S. safety rules: safercar.gov
• I-CAR plastic repair resources: rts.i-car.com
• EPA recycling basics: epa.gov/recycle
• 3M bumper repair how-to hub: 3m.com collision repair

These pages offer deeper reading without pointing shoppers to rival parts stores.