Paint bubbled up

I thought the hood and various other pieces were aluminum. That wouldn't be rust then.

 

The hood is aluminium unless the car has had repairs replacing the hood with an aftermarket unit. These are often steel. Aluminium however does corrode particularly in the presents of salt.

John (Britprius)

 

Almost identical post of yours farther down on the forum list. And the remedy. Here:

Front end corrosion | PriusChat

Lack of paint maintenance (not waxing) causes acid to etch pinhole in paint and water-rust gets under the paint and bubbles paint. Because of this the extended warranty coverage will be a hardsell
imho.

 

Now you've gone and made me wonder if my Prius had ever had any serious panels replaced (since I got it second hand). I just did a quick test with a fridge magnet. Magnet stuck straight away to all four doors and front and rear quarter panels. Then I checked the hood and the rear hatch and sure enough the magnet slide straight off without any force at all. So yep, it checks out ok.

 

I have the same bubbling problem in my 2009. I am the first owner, very well maintained car with not even swirl marks in the paint. Does not seem to be classic rust problem. It seems as if the paint adhesion itself has some issues. The bubbles are in a area where both the front and back of the hood visually looks perfect (meaning no break in the paint surface).

 

Aluminum is especially hard to prime properly.

 

Paint issue anyone seen anthing like this | PriusChat

If I can get mine done at 130k you can too The front of the prius is a know watertrap issue and with salt causes issues according to Toyota give it a bash