I'm observing this bubbling and peeling and can't figure out if it's the clearcoat (bad) or some bodacious shell-coat type wax from the car wash months ago that's now self-shedding. I flicked at the edges with my thumbnail - which peeled back some & I also popped the bubbles - then tried Turtle Wax Polishing Compound ... but that only seemed to taper the edges at the top and around the bubbled areas rather than remove the peeling layer. WDYT?
That does look like peeling clear coat or may be even re paint from a repair. Did you buy the car new? John (Britprius)
Let me guess, you use a carwash, never hand was the car and it's parked outside summer and winter. I say that because the clear coat on your 9 year old car is toast.
We bought the car used - I know it had been through a hail storm in NJ several years ago. It has only been through a car wash a couple of times since we have owned it & hand washed a few times. OK re. the clearcoat - only the hood is affected.
Sorry about that, repaint is an expensive proposition or you can just drive it, depending on how long you intend to keep it. My wife keeps saying to me "It's just a car don't bother to fix it, it still drives!" and I guess she's right.....
Yea, that's clear coat. Even under the worst possible environmental conditions, factory Toyota paint, nor any even half way decent repaint, would do that. How long ago did you buy the Prius?
For what it's worth, I'm having same problem with roof; problem has just started spreading to one door and hood (on the sun side when car is parked in its usual spot). Already had the spoiler repainted due to alligatoring. Car is blue - 2008, bought new, parked outside in CA. I've had paint fade after 20+ years, but never had a coating peel. The body shop, which is recommended by the Toyota dealer, commented that this type of deterioration should not happen. I went to the dealer last month; the response from Toyota relayed by the dealer was that they were not seeing any pattern, so they were not responsible. It was suggested that it was probably vandalism. Looks ugly; car is otherwise great performer. Repaint is very expensive - Blue Book trade in value WITHOUT paint problem appears to be about $5,000. Repaint estimate for roof alone is $2,000. I will try Toyota directly at the customer experience number (1-800-331-4331) and see what they say. I'll let you know the results. I wonder what a mild rubbing compound would do to make the problem less visible.
Our experience tells us your wife is right. We had the same bubbling and peeling problem with the 2002 Buick Rendezvous we had prior to our first Prius. The car was run through car washes and always parked outdoors in Southern California. We kept it clean but the clearcoat peeling made it look pretty poor. We gave the car to our son who lives in the desert. Our daughter in law uses it every day and the appearance doesn't bother her. She's just happy to have a car that works.
My 2006 Blue Prius has started to bubble on the roof. It is spreading to the plastic piece above the hatch. I contacted Toyota. They sent me to the dealer. The dealer sent me to have the paint measure and inspected. A special device was use to prove it was the mfg. paint job. Now I am waiting to hear back from corporate. Everyone says this is new. Shouldn't be happening. Grumblings from Toyota that it is not under warranty anymore. Not letting it go.
A vehicle that has baked in the california sun for 10+ years is going to fade, peel, etc. Not sure why you would be under the assumption that any paint should last indefinitely, especially under extreme conditions.
A car spends most of its life parked. Well ours does lol. Before you jump to conclusions in this case, maybe questions should be posed: was it garage stored, what's the miles, has the car previously been repainted? The latter happened with a brand new car of ours, damaged in transit. Paint was pealing right away.
