Update: I'm just waiting on NCDS to get back to me with a hearing date. It should be sometime within the next 30 days.

A large portion of my case will be based around this and other blog sites showing that the problem is widespread and many (though not all) feel there is an issue with the paint on these cars.

The second part will be showing evidence of past paint recalls from major car manufacturers such as Ford, Dodge and Mazda. I have found some major cases in which the company had no choice but to allow customers to bring their cars in to be repainted because the paint was either defective, or, in Dodge's case, applied improperly, leaving out in fact the anti-chip primer component of the paint.

I had been hoping to get more statements in writing from bodyshops, but it's been difficult for the obvious reason that most shops are not willing to take time and money from their business to come to my hearing and testify as a witness. I've received some mixed reactions, some agreeing with Toyota that the chips are just normal from rock impacts- but the majority of body shop specialists I've spoken with have concurred that this amount and severity of chipping and fading occuring on a car that is 6 months old is not to be considered a normal thing. Some have even gone so far as to say that perhaps because I bought the car the first month it was out, that there is a possibility that the paint was not "mixed" correctly in the first few batches produced by Toyota.

I am always willing to talk about this issue if anyone would like to do so, and am still accepting pictures. As always, I appreciate everyone's input on this issue.

 

I'm going to eagerly watch this as my gf is about to buy a TC and the sales guy he's never heard of this problem which I don't know if he's tellin the truth or just tryin to make a sale. I wish you the best of luck with this and hope it turns out for the best for everyone.

 

Well, time to add my new paint issues to this thread.

I now have two nice pockmarks down tothe metal in my hood from a stray pebble. (Which none of the Scion dealers in town have touch up paint for...smart) Also have numerous smal dings on the leading edge of the hood which seem to increase weekly.

Curiously, the front body around and below the headlights/grill shows many dings, but I think the plastic body panel may be the reason the paint gets marred but does not chip off, like the hood. Could be wrong of course. I hate to say it, but I have never in all my cars/trucks had so many paint dings, particularly since most of my cars I owned for 3+ years...and the dings in my tC are in 3 months...

 

does anyone know if the Echo or any other sall toyota is like this?

 

OK.. Now I went to school for autobody for 4 years. worked in a body shope for a few years.. I KNOW what Im doing and/or talking about..

Now.. Everyone is complaining about paint chips right?.. Now as far as this goes there isnt much you can do about this other than limit your driving and the roads you drive on. Cuz chips are caused from "objects" flying up off the road.. and/or from the sky " some ppl are crazy.. so yea" and you HIT it doing anywhere from AVG. 30-60 MPH. Now this will chip your paint if the object is big enough.. There is a way to prevent it somewhat. And that is YES..... A better clearcoat application from the factory.. The paint itself isnt the problem.. Its the thiness of the clearcoat.

Todays manufactorers are painting there cars by computer controlled robots/machines. Yea they can be applied a little better but FACE THE FACT... EVERYTHING IS CHEAPLY MADE IN TODAYS WORLD!!!!.

I also have problems wit my paint too.. I have major scrathing on my pass. side door, drivers door, bottom of bumper.. And also a "PAINT" defect in the drivers door.. Not caused by cheap clearcoar..
But ppl understand. Scion is not going to recall thousands of cars and repaint everyone of them. As much as I think they should.. Consdering.. FORD just recalled.. hundreds of thousands of vehcile in the past 2 weeks..

Also.. the interior of the TC.. idk bout the xb, and xa owners. But I found that the interior scrathes very very easily as well. Now that results in a concern for me and fellow owners as well. You damn near whipe your car down inside and out. and its all scrathed up.. It plain out sux and I am very upset/mad myself..

But . there is a difference in scrathes/dings/chips/peeling

I also noticed "SMASH". That on your bumper there is a pretty big mark on it.. Looks like a big chip and the bumper has an imperfection in it now. That is not caused by improper painting..Something big that flew up on the road.
I am not sayin you are not right at all.. I looked at the pics. I know its not right, But take into consideration that some..some are respectable from road debris. And as well as others..

My suggestion to keep your car as best as possible....
1) wash and wax often. Rinse car very well before washin. Do not rub hard while washing. wash car very lightly. then rinse rinse yoru rag and car. then rewash again at normal rubbing power. To prevent from rubbing "DUST" into your paint and gettin them nasty swirl marks.." my car is full of em.. caused my thin/soft clear coat" Yet 9/10 cars have this anyway
2) Even if you are a professional detailer.." ive done it for years" DO NOT TAKE A BUFFER TO YOU CAR. You will most likely end up wit a bad result. Unless you are EXTREMELY carefule
3) Go to your local body shop and have the front of your car recleared. Most body shops will do this at a reasonable cost. and if you have any scrathes/dings.. expect to pay a little more if you want them removed.
4) Do Not remove your vehicle from the driveway unless its on a flat bad.. "WHAT ELSE ARE WE GOING TO DO"

I will try to get some pics of the imperfections of my car up asap as well as some other things done/ and maybe some poss. mods as well..

I am not to worried bout the paint on my car as well as I am at the same time. BUt hoping to get a body kit so.. in the future it will be painted right.

 

klasse all-in-one mostly hides the minor scratches i have, mostly lower rear quarter panels. i have clearshield paint protection film, but it does not go over the leading edges so chips on the edge of the hood would still happen (knock on wood) but it is better than nothing. there are already two combat wounds on the clearshield that saved the paint on the hood.

 

My 2000 Celica had a ton of rock chips on the front by the first two years I had it. Probably 30-50! That was part of the reason I got rid of the damn car; I didn't want to fork over major $ to get a 2 year old car repainted.

My 94 MR2 has always had a ton of rock chips on the front. And it looks especially crappy because it is black.

However, my 94 Integra had maybe one or two chips at the most. My boyfriend's 2000 Integra has none. Both of those cars have been driven to California and back at least once.

I think Toyota has had an issue with their paint quality for a while now, and its just getting worse.

 

Wow Smash you do have a good amount of dings and chips. I do agree with you 100% about the paint being abnormally soft and thin. I have a 'garage queen' and am very careful when driving yet I have a number of small dings on my bumper. I've owned over a dozen different cars and none have had paint so fragile. IMO, it is not just the thin clearcoat but also the softness of the paint.

I really hope that your efforts pay off and Scion does something about this problem. Good job!

 

[quote="scionman05"]OK.. Now I went to school for autobody for 4 years. worked in a body shope for a few years.. I KNOW what Im doing and/or talking about..

Now.. Everyone is complaining about paint chips right?.. Now as far as this goes there isnt much you can do about this other than limit your driving and the roads you drive on. Cuz chips are caused from "objects" flying up off the road.. and/or from the sky " some ppl are crazy.. so yea" and you HIT it doing anywhere from AVG. 30-60 MPH. Now this will chip your paint if the object is big enough.. There is a way to prevent it somewhat. And that is YES..... A better clearcoat application from the factory.. The paint itself isnt the problem.. Its the thiness of the clearcoat.

I agree w/ you about the clearcoat being thin but it is also due to the paint itself being extremely soft. Probably just above talc on the Moh scale. lol So small debris which would not damage a harder paint will ding our paint.

But . there is a difference in scrathes/dings/chips/peeling

My suggestion to keep your car as best as possible....
1) wash and wax often. Rinse car very well before washin. Do not rub hard while washing. wash car very lightly. then rinse rinse yoru rag and car. then rewash again at normal rubbing power. To prevent from rubbing "DUST" into your paint and gettin them nasty swirl marks.." my car is full of em.. caused my thin/soft clear coat" Yet 9/10 cars have this anyway
2) Even if you are a professional detailer.." ive done it for years" DO NOT TAKE A BUFFER TO YOU CAR. You will most likely end up wit a bad result. Unless you are EXTREMELY carefule
3) Go to your local body shop and have the front of your car recleared. Most body shops will do this at a reasonable cost. and if you have any scrathes/dings.. expect to pay a little more if you want them removed.
4) Do Not remove your vehicle from the driveway unless its on a flat bad.. "WHAT ELSE ARE WE GOING TO DO"

Good advice on washing technique but where did you get the "Do not take a buffer to your car" stuff? While a rotary buffer should only be used by a professional detailer or someone w/ detaling experience, a random orbital buffer is totally safe to use, even for a novice. As with hand polishing, just make sure you are using the appropriate polishing/compounds.

 

I'll help fix your paint if I can do you.

 

uhhhhhhhhh nevermind. sorry.

 

I had it happen on my xA and my dad said it was normal...ha he was WRONG!!! Hmm...glad to know i'm not insane.

 

 

Tried some flint mica touch up paint , looks good. A little 3M 39009 should take out what is left of the touch up.

 

** UPDATE **

My arbitration hearing will be 2 weeks from today, Wednesday, March 16th.

Wish me luck!

 

Good Luck Smash. . .Keep us posted!

 

Good luck and def. keep us posted. I am very interested in knowing what they are giong to do or plan on doing. MAke sure you bring up at your meeting about all the complaints and your not the only one

 

GOOD LUCK SMASH. ive been waiting for someone to go ahead and do something about this whole paint issue. This is the main reason why i havent bought the car yet. Im scared too. I dont want thing chipping right after i drive it off the lot. U ROCK SMASH. "dont let the basturds grind ya down" Fight toyota to the death if u have too. Dont give up. .......................ooh yeah your pretty cute, wish i lived in VA

: )

 

I will be goin to the dealer on behalf of Clear coat Flaking off the Pass Rear door lower sill

 

I'll put a bug in the ear of the scion dealership here in town. I'll let you know if they have had issues w/ the paint jobs on tC's, SSM in particular.

Good Luck on your case and keep us updated.

-Red