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Defective Paint 2016 Prius (Black)

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Michael A. Saunders, Mar 30, 2017.

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  1. Michael A. Saunders

    Michael A. Saunders Junior Member

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    I have a 2016 black Prius and the paint near the driver side mirror is starting to peal and looking similar to fish scales. This car has only been hand washed by me since the day I took delivery. Never been to a car wash or pressure washed. I live in San Diego and the car is almost always garaged when not in use.

    Has anyone else experienced this?

    Mike S.
    San Diego, CA
     

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    #1 Michael A. Saunders, Mar 30, 2017
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It looks like soap or oil marks (left by water evaporating).

    Initial assessment is not the paint because in the first photo, that marking shows up in both the painted door and the plastic mirror housing - two different painting processes.


    What kind of soap are you using to wash the car?
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Mar 30, 2017
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  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Sprinklers?
     
    #3 JC91006, Mar 30, 2017
  4. robsnyder20

    robsnyder20 Active Member

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    My jaw dropped when I first looked at it but at second look, maybe it is sprinklers (rusty ones at that). Have you tried washing it with dawn or something that would take this off? As an FYI, you will need to rewax anything hit by dawn.
     
    #4 robsnyder20, Mar 30, 2017
  5. Michael A. Saunders

    Michael A. Saunders Junior Member

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    I have been using Meguiar's Gold Class Car wash since my Prius was brand new. I used the same soap on my 2012 Prius with no issues. I am very careful about rinsing with adequate water before drying. The paint issue is very specific to the left side of the car near the driver mirror on the door and also on the front left fender (just ahead of the side view mirror). The right side of the vehicle is perfect with no paint issues.

    I have not used Dawn on the car. Also, the way the paint defect almost complete stops at the leading edge of the door panel and then restarts forward of the "Hybrid" emblem (on the fender) does not seem consistent with the side of the car getting sprayed by a sprinkler. Also, the two areas of concern appear to be spreading over time. I am very careful to not park near sprinklers.
     
    #5 Michael A. Saunders, Mar 30, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 31, 2017
  6. bingee3

    bingee3 Active Member

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    Have a local body shop at least look at it ,, what did they say ,,, to me something has splashed on the car
    ,,, vandalized ?? Beech or ??? Thrown at car ,,,
     
    #6 bingee3, Mar 30, 2017
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If it's s new car, just bring it to the dealer to sort out. There's a warranty
     
    #7 JC91006, Mar 30, 2017
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  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Hmm... something must've been sprayed on it.

    Have you taken it to the dealer? Have them take a look. In addition, have a body shop or someone you know that knows a lot about paint take a closer look.
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Mar 30, 2017
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  9. GotRidofSignUpMessage

    GotRidofSignUpMessage Junior Member

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    Minerals in the water?
     
    #9 GotRidofSignUpMessage, Apr 1, 2017
  10. Michael A. Saunders

    Michael A. Saunders Junior Member

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    I am going to take to the dealership this week to see if it is something they will fix under the warranty.

    By posting on PriusChat I was hoping to determine if other people were having this same issue, which would suggest it was a problem which occurred during the painting process at the factory.
     
    #10 Michael A. Saunders, Apr 1, 2017
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    never seen anything like it. how old is the car? when did you first notice it?
     
    #11 bisco, Apr 1, 2017
  12. priusgto

    priusgto Active Member

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    Hopefully whatever splashed on it hasn't etched into the clear very deep and can be polished out. I wish you luck getting the dealer to do anything about that under warranty but chances are unless you bought it very recently they'll do nothing for you.
     
    #12 priusgto, Apr 1, 2017
  13. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Looks like nuclear fallout to me :whistle: (Fookishima)
    If it's on the paint rather than under it, it should polish out with color restorer, followed up with wax or polymer coat polish.
     
    #13 kithmo, Apr 4, 2017
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I think Tideland makes a good point. For sure consider all the possibilities, but don't latch onto one cause, or exclude the other possibilities.
     
    #14 Mendel Leisk, Apr 4, 2017
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  15. Samprocat

    Samprocat Active Member

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    To me that looks like someone throw sulfuric acid ....someone doesn't like you lot....


    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #15 Samprocat, Apr 4, 2017
  16. vince22

    vince22 Active Member

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    I'm not a paint expert but it looks vandalized to me.
     
    #16 vince22, Apr 6, 2017
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  17. Imaginex20

    Imaginex20 Active Member

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    It looks like water spots. I guarantee if you take a buffer and some cutting compound it'll look like new again.

    Edit: As to why I think it's water spots? The area affected is right near some gaps that water can collect at and it's common after a car wash and the first drive will force the water from gaps to dry on the car causing water spots.
     
    #17 Imaginex20, Apr 8, 2017
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  18. businessph

    businessph New Member

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    #18 businessph, May 31, 2018
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what did the dealer say?
     
    #19 bisco, Jun 1, 2018
  20. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Hard water spots, sprinklers more then likely.
     
    #20 orenji, Jun 19, 2018
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