Paint woe's 2013 Crosstrek XV

I finally talked my girlfriend into buying a subaru. I love how this cross-over handles and everything.
But the one issue i have with this car is a ridiculous amount of paint chips. The car even has a 3m bra, but it does nothing to protect the hood. I've seen atleast 15-20 paint chips ranging from 1/2cm by 1/2cm to 1cm by1cm.

The car has extended warranty, whats considered enough to go to Subaru and complain?
I do understand that this could be classified as wear and tear, but on a car with 24,xxx miles. This seems absurd, by the time it gets to 100k the hood will have huge spots in it.

I've never had a car this new chip/peel spots away like this.


Appreciate the advice as i've never really dealt with warranty before.

 

I'd go in and have it looked at at least. You never know where it goes

 

I have the extended warranty through Subaru for 7 years/7xxxx. I feel it's not chips as much, but flaking because it's not exposing the metal, but only the gray primer coat. Which dealership is best for warranty? The car was bought through Minnetonka but Walser is closer. Do I schedule a appointment? Like I've said, never had a car with warranty.

 

I've decided that the first thing i should do is go to a paint and body shop to see what they say prior. It basically seems like a super uphill battle because SOA just wants to claim outside source from what i've read online. So i'll see what the body shop says then go from there.

 

Subaru's warranty says there is no coverage against deterioration of paint or any other materials. I think you have a good plan of attack though, see what the body shop has to say first and come loaded.

Mike

 

I think I have less than 10 chips on the front of my 2013. And I have 35,000 miles. I did the additional paint protection package from St. Cloud Subaru when I purchased the car last year.

Good luck!

 

Update:
After waxing the car thoroughly and detailing it over the weekend. I've decided to seriously pursue my woes.

Not the best pictures due to the light. The white specs aren't a reflection. They are instead missing top coat/ base coat with the primer showing.

This is all down the doors and on my hood. I have the 3m clear bra everywhere. It even had the outer coat extra protection done. My fiancé drives like an 80-year-old woman, sucks that the car I talked her into getting is turning out like this.

 

Does the car go on gravel roads regularly? The stuff on the doors is what I would expect from even 30 MPH on gravel. Anything on the front of the car will be from highway traffic...regular commutes in the metro area. The amount of crap on the highways is amazing. The car in front of you just hast to drift a little to the shoulder (think cell phone use) and it kicks up all the stones and sand that have collected there. Following too close (admittedly hard to not do in heavy metro traffic) only contributes. I doubt you will get anywhere with a warranty claim. I have heard good things about Dr Color Chip, but never tried it myself. Good luck.

 

Get some Rally Armor or Gorilla flaps on there, will cut down on a lot of it.

 

Unless you call going to a state park a few times a year as regularly. This is excessive for a car with 40k miles.


When washing it, I saw some flakes of paint on the ground from the car. Sure I expect some chips, but when one is on the back of my trunk. Something is wrong.


The paint specialist at the dealership hasn't seen a Cross trek with this many chips and agreed that it was extremely excessive. It really looks like someone took a sand blaster with walnuts and went to town.


The local Subaru rep will be coming to look at the car in the near future when an appointment is set up. Honestly, if they won't do anything. I'll stay away from buying another Subaru.


I car very much about my cars. I clay bar, wash, wax, vacuum, and do all the maintenance. What’s the point of all the effort if it still looks like **** due to crappy sub-par paint that isn't built to last?

It just makes this commercial seem like an oxymoron.



Also, I bought some rallyarmor mudflaps in hope they actually fix the paint.

 

Well, maybe there is actually something wrong with the paint to primer bond. Hopefully Subaru will agree. Cosmetic issues are usually looked upon as owner neglect or abuse. Good luck and I hope things go in your favor.

 

Won't fix the existing damage.... might as well keep track of all the areas that take damage and put clear bra on there post fix.

 

Correct, I didn't say it would fix it, it will cut down on how much crap from the road touches the sides of your vehicle in the future.

 

my 2013 WRX started growing rust around the gas cap starting in 2015. paint either wasn't applied correctly or uniformly from the factory as i can't imagine how i could damage it in that area. i took it to the dealer and someone came out and looked at it and said it wasn't covered, forgot whatever the garbage reason they gave.

that was my first and last subaru.

 

Maybe you couldn't find the hole with your nozzle and chipped the paint.

 

yes, that's exactly what happened. I'm sure this guy here too started throwing rocks at his car and chipped the paint to try to scam subaru too.

 

I've heard that Subaru's are known for not having the best-quality paint. Do most owners end up doing a car bra, especially if buying new?

 

I was being a little tongue in cheek with that reply.

Subarus in general have $hitty paint...I know 'cause I have one. I just know that getting a manufacturer to admit to a paint issue (unless it is a wide spread deal like the delaminating clear coat many years ago that a lot of companies had issues with) and correct it is next to impossible.

 

Update: I went to the dealership on 8/22 in the morning before heading to work. Guy looks at it and is dumbfounded by the amount and location of chips. I have them on my spoiler, tailgate ect.... He then proceeds to tell me to come in to meet their paint specialist before they contact the subaru rep. Paint-Specialist agrees that there is an issue/defect with the paint.


I wait 2 weeks, call the service rep to see whats going on with scheduling an appointment with the subaru rep. He tells me that he will be coming in today at some time and that i will receive a call to bring my car in while i'm at work that day....

I wait 2 more weeks and send a email to the service rep who tells me that the SUBARU REP will not even make an appointment to meet me. I guess his time is too important to see me.

Before i end up spending hours on the phone with SOA of how poor this customer experience is and how disappointed i am with my 2nd subaru. I took my car to a paint shop to make sure I had some sort of "Expert" opinion of the issue. He states either there is a a defect with the top coat or I've driven my car through a desert sand storm on multiple occasions. "Which he chuckled at..."

I personally wouldn't go to white bear Subaru or any affiliate. While i understand the Subaru rep isn't their own fault, the level of communication was **** when i'm the one having to call back.

 

Yes, the paint is super thin on Subarus. Does not take much at all to chip them all the way down to the primer or past. My 10 has the clearcoat delamination thing going on, a couple of spots smaller than a dime on the hood.

 

You mentioned you had the "outer coat protection" done. Typically that is a 3rd party vendor and you may have a case with them more so than with Subaru. I would investigate that plan as those are sold to you usually to help prevent this type of stuff.

 

Since you have on record that the dealership's own paint specialist and a local body shop both think there is a defect with your paint. I'd say you have at least a small chance of pleading your case with SOA. Just make sure to do it in a polite and professional manner.

BTW - this wasn't mentioned in previous posts in this thread. But was the Crosstrek purchased used? If so, are you certain there was not bodywork/paint done to the car?

 

SOA blows and can do nothing. Good luck.