...two different strength steels, neither of which is repairable.

“So if we have damage to a front rail, we’re going to do a replacement on that part of the rail,” he said. “You can replace just the outer or just the inner, or both, but neither one is repairable. That’s going to be a challenge for the industry, I’m sure.”

The steel used for the rear rails on the TLX offers more opportunity for some repair.

The rail situation is reversed on the 2022 MDX, where it’s the front rails on which shops can do some straightening or pulling.

“We even have a sectioning procedure written for both the inner and the outer,” Kaboos said of the MDX front rails. “It replaces the front 8 inches or so. If there’s damage behind that, then it’s going to be a full replacement.”

It’s the rear rails on the MDX that are made of an ultra-high-strength steel that is non-repairable.

“The nice thing is it’s not a complete rail assembly. It actually comes as a subset. So it’s about an 18-inch piece that you have to replace if that rear rail is damaged,” Kaboos said.