My new CRV is made polystyrene :-(

I don't know what the car bits are called, so hopefully you will know what I am talking about.

The other day, when I opened the door, I noticed a textured pattern on the panel facing the edge of the car door [ie along from the dashboard - where the door is hinged to the car]. The panel is dark grey [my car is grey], and I reached out to touch it to feel the pattern [I thought it was strange to have a pattern on a car bit that is only exposed when the door is open]. I actually poked the panel, and to my surprise it turned out to be polystyrene. Expecting it to be steel [or whatever metal the car is made from], my prodding was a little heavy handed, and I managed to push this panel back into the body of the car [towards the tyres]. I am taking my car to its first service check this week, but thought I would ask you if your cars are the same.

For $40K AUD, I would have thought that the least HONDA could do was use a fabric a little stronger than polystyrene for the bits that are not exposed to public view.

Unless its a safety thing ... and in an accident the door would just compact into the body of the car as the polystyrene would offer no resistance ... but then wouldn't the occupant be crushed?

Would anybody have any idea?

Many thank.

dont be surprised. all cars are like that now.
it's styrofoam i believe. i have it in my crv, my 99 sienna, my 2003 corolla.
my friend's nice high end 2005 volvo v50 is the same way!

if you remove your bumper, same deal - u will see the same stuff inside.
they absorb the shock.

I think you mean polypropelene. They use it as it won't rust and is light weight. Most vehicles have had that for the last 15 years.

I don't know what the car bits are called, so hopefully you will know what I am talking about.

The other day, when I opened the door, I noticed a textured pattern on the panel facing the edge of the car door [ie along from the dashboard - where the door is hinged to the car]. The panel is dark grey [my car is grey], and I reached out to touch it to feel the pattern [I thought it was strange to have a pattern on a car bit that is only exposed when the door is open]. I actually poked the panel, and to my surprise it turned out to be polystyrene. Expecting it to be steel [or whatever metal the car is made from], my prodding was a little heavy handed, and I managed to push this panel back into the body of the car [towards the tyres]. I am taking my car to its first service check this week, but thought I would ask you if your cars are the same.

For $40K AUD, I would have thought that the least HONDA could do was use a fabric a little stronger than polystyrene for the bits that are not exposed to public view.

Unless its a safety thing ... and in an accident the door would just compact into the body of the car as the polystyrene would offer no resistance ... but then wouldn't the occupant be crushed?

Would anybody have any idea?

Many thank.

hhmmm.... i'll go check on my cr-v and i'll get back to you on this.