93 Civic DX sedan. It was a collision hard enough that the drawer beneath the radio opened and sent the coin change I keep there flying. As I got out, I thought I would find the Civic's rear would be partly flattened. I was amazed that externally, the bumper only showed scratches. The exhaust system is intact. Is the integrity of the foam etc. in the bumper compromised, though, after a hard rear-ending?

The police made their report. I spoke with my insurance company (USAA) last night. While only once before (on another car 20 years ago) of several rear-endings have I pursued a claim, this collision was so hard that I am concerned.

 

take off the bumper and take a look at the damage or pop your trunk and take a look under the spare tire.

i got rear ended the same way before... no damage visually from the outside but when i looked under the spare tire, it was dented and pushed up around the tire and it wasnt lying flat like how it should.

 

Thanks NeverLift. I checked everything you listed. The factory shop manual has a single page for directions on how to get the bumper cover and styrofoam absorber apart, and it is dead-on correct in what (easily accessed!) screws and bolts to remove. Everything looks pretty good! I am amazed that the styrofoam absorber is not cracked nor does it appear deformed. At most, the bottom 3/8-inch of the styrofoam has small indentations from where gravel from the road accumulated over the years between the styrofoam and bumper cover. Then the gravel got pushed into the styrofoam some, either from this rear-ending or lesser ones over the years. The bumper beam looks fine.

I guess the styrofoam, the bumper beam, and the car moving some upon collision took the force. Kudos to Honda engineers or whoever sets standards for bumpers. A little more touchup paint here and there; some Armor All, and I think my Civic will be good to go.