BRZ Paint Defect
 

Hi team,

I unfortunately find myself in the middle of a dispute with Subaru in relation to a warranty claim for defective paint.

My story is below - if anybody else has experienced an issue with their paint - I would love to hear from you.

I purchased a new Subaru BRZ and collected it from the dealership on 22 Sept 2017.

On 28 Jan 2018 (car is 128 days old) after washing the car I noticed multiple paint defects on the front bonnet where the paint had totally flaked off in no fewer than 15 or so places spaced all over the bonnet and a few places on the roof. To be clear, I wash my car with a foam sponge and purpose made car wash soap and rinse with a garden hose.

I contacted the manufacturer the next day on Monday 29 Jan 2018 and they suggested I take it to a service centre to be looked at.

Since I initially contact Subaru about this issue, 115 days have elapsed. In this period, Subaru have been notoriously slow to follow up, have been dismissive and unkind and I have had to chase them at every stage for feedback. Furthermore, more defects have appeared on the paint work and I now have no fewer than 20 individual paint defects spread over the front bonnet and roof of the car.

The following events have taken place:

Friday 16 Feb:
Initial inspection at Subaru Service centre following which I was referred to the 'preferred repairer' for an 'independent' report on the 'likely' cause.

Monday 19 Feb 2018:
Initial inspection at Subaru's 'independent', 'preferred repairer'. Photo's were taken.

Thursday 15 March 2018:
Subaru received report and suggested further tests be done.

Wednesday 2 May 2018:
Further tests conducted by BASF (total film thickness and solvent test) which were arranged by Subaru. I believe BASF is the paint / coating supplier to Subaru in Japan.

Tuesday 22 May 2018:
BASF report concludes damage is not a warranty issue but could not confirm the cause; however, it offered 'opinion' that some areas were caused by "an unknown aggressive substance such as bird liming" and other areas were caused by "chipping from objects such as stones". It provided no evidence for these 'opinions'.

Basic consumer law states that products must be of 'acceptable quality' and "do all the things someone would normally expect them to do".

I find it impossible to accept that, even if it was 'bird liming', that one would 'normally expect' all the paint to flake off in a dozen places when the car is only 128 days old. Furthermore, I find it impossible to accept that I have numerous 'chipping' from stones when the car has only done 1,200km most of which has been at low speed as I commute from my house to the train station in back streets.

I am convinced there is a a serious issue with paint and I'd be shocked if I'm the only one having problems.

I'm arranging further independent NATA accredited tests at my cost to [1] repeat and cross check the BASF measurements as validation, [2] conduct bond / adhesion tests in accordance with relevant standards to measure the required tensile force to break the coating (bond test) and to see if the coating is peeling or flaking off from the subsurface (bend test).

In order to have something to compare my result to, I will obviously need the O.E. Warranty (or other) specifications - I have requested this from Subaru; however, if anybody on this forum has this data I would greatly appreciate it.

Obviously I'm seeking a full refund as the product has not 'lasted' and has not 'done all the things one would normally expect'. I.e. I should be able to wash my car without the paint flaking off after only 128 days and 1,200km - it's really as simple as that.

Please let me know if there's anybody else out there experiencing paint quality issues or defects - I'd love to hear form you.

Thanks,

Photos would be helpful :)

FYI, Subaru paint is notoriously thin, and prone to rock chips. The first thing I did when I bought mine was get a clear-bra on the front. A lesson learned from my previous Subaru.

Hello staplesja and welcome to our forum ……. :clap:

That's a shame the paint isn't holding up on your car ….. :(

YES ……. some pictures would be helpful.

You might check with some other folks that park at the train station to see if they have had problems with the paint on their new cars (I'm thinking industrial pollution or bird droppings).

Do you garage your car?

Is the paint itself pealing off or is it the clearcoat that is coming off?

Again …… pictures.


humfrz

I also have clear bra on my car. Everywhere else that does not have it chips down to metal REAL easy. Best of luck..

Welcome to the club!



Like most have already said here; judging by only the sounds of things, it doesn't seem like it's normal "wear & tear"...


:needpics:

without pics it is completely worthless to ask if anyone else has these issues, my car had 36k miles on it and basically needed a repaint of the entire front end. subaru paint is notoriously shit and what you may be seeing is stone chips that happen to these cars.

Please do post pics and if possible somehow link me so I come back and see them. I might be able to help you phrase your complaint better.

This!


Yup comes with the territory of owning a BRZ/86...

Not a BRZ owner but a 86 i not long brought my 86 (november 2017 only has 3,500km) and i actually noticed yesterday washing the car i have a few paint chips that would not be caused by rocks.
one is at the front bumber but very small bearly notice it but the other is on the passenger side door handle. Now i dont have any passengers and for a rock to fly up and chip the door handle seems unrealistic, i dont drive far only a five or so minute drive to work and back. :/ hopefully i dont get anymore.

yea pretty expected/normal especially if ya live in a dryer climate with a lot of dirt/gravel which is one of the reasons why I went for Steel/silver on my second 86 :p chips on Hot Lava were a lot more noticeable..

unless you're planning on putting the car into storage in hopes of selling an unmolested 86 in 30 years, i wouldn't worry about it..plus ya can't see the chips from your house :iono: i say skip the clear bra and just get an aftermarket bumper and hood one day ^^

still no pics from OP.

paint chips are a reality of owning a car, but paint peeling/cracking are not.

I have many chips on the side of the car that were caused by rocks that were thrown up. Even have about an inch long groove in the paint just below the rear side window on the passenger side that was caused by a rock big enough that I saw it coming. Cars and trucks can and do throw rocks out at weird angles.

1 and done.

And if OP ever returns, I would suggest him to NOT seek advice from internet strangers, especially without providing useful evidence.

Doesn't need us anyway since he is contacting all of the CSI labs in the country to gather enough evidence of bad paint. That is the only way he can get a full refund for the car due to some paint chips.