Stripped Out License Plate Hole

ahduckit said:

Wow! Aren't they supposed to screw into the dimples anyway.

Click to expand...

GT Pony said:

Has anyone discovered that they have a stripped out license plate mounting hole on the rear fascia? I think the dealer over torqued one when they put their license plate frame on the car.

I imagine I could find a slightly larger screw for the license plate/frame. It's just plastic that the screw goes into, so if the screw tears out the plastic from over-torque, your "screwed" so to speak.

Is there any kind of aftermarket product, like a metal insert with threads available to fix something like this? The only other fix would be to have the whole rear fascia replaced.

Pretty disappointed when I discovered this after I removed the dealer frame before the first wash job. And to top it off, on the left side hole you can see where the guy installing the screws actually missed twice, and even drilled through the fascia all the way through (lower red arrow) on one of the misses. :frusty:

Click to expand...

opensesame said:

You need to get that looked at professionally, wont cost you much but if you don't it will start rusting. (Paint over the exposed metal)

Click to expand...

GT Pony said:

My salesman just happened to call me today to see how the car was doing, and I told him about it. I'm probably going to take it in tomorrow and, as he siad the general manager of the dealership will be there. He said bring it in for them to see. I looked closely at the right side hole and it does look like the threads that the self tapping screw created are stripped out, due to over tightening the screw with an electric driver is my guess. Keep power tools away from rookies!

I would like a whole new fascia, but then I'd have to trust that someone would actually know what they are doing with installing a new one. I'd rather put it on myself, but I doubt they would let me.

Other option is maybe there is something the stripped out hole could be filled with and then drilled and re-tapped with the license plate screw. Will see what they are willing to do for me. It is discouraging to get a new car and find some non-sense like this. :doh:

Click to expand...

GT Pony said:

Is there any kind of aftermarket product, like a metal insert with threads available to fix something like this? The only other fix would be to have the whole rear fascia replaced.

Click to expand...