2009 Subaru Impreza Diesel Paint Problems

Shadow Dancer · 18-04-2010 9:32pm #1

Hi,
I'm looking for people's opinions on this. I'm having problems with the paintwork on the rear sil area of my car. I bought it new in March 2009. Less than a year later, I noticed that a lot of paint was damaged at the bottom of the car at the rear. The probem is on the same areas of the rear on both sides of the car. I've posted some pics.

So, I was at a Subaru main dealer, and I showed it to the service manager. He sent photos to Subaru Ireland. They in turn said they sent them to the factory. End result, they said it was down to stone chipping (from driving on loose surfaces). And as a result it wasn't covered under warranty. I was recommended to get some mudflaps. That statement peed me off a little, as there are mudflaps on it front and rear.

So, in your opinion, do you reckon this is fair comment by Subaru. Now, I know the roads are terrible recently. I'm not saying I never drive on loose surfaces, but a lot of my driving is on National roads and Motorways. None of the other cars at home are suffering from this kind of damage.

The car also came with some plastic protectors over the paint. They just cover a small area of the car near the rear. Even the paint under these are marked too.

So, what do you think?
And as well, does anybody have any reccommendatios on repairing the affected areas.
Thanks a lot!

Mr Benevolent · 18-04-2010 9:38pm

Arrgh! Please resize those photos, my eyes hurt just looking at them. Or at least put in a pic that's in focus!

guil · 18-04-2010 9:45pm

Confab wrote: »

Arrgh! Please resize those photos, my eyes hurt just looking at them. Or at least put in a pic that's in focus!

x2 ya would need a 32'' monitor to see them

squod · 18-04-2010 9:49pm

Lets hope they sort that out before next year so.

Owen · 18-04-2010 10:02pm

Wow, even on my dell 30" monitor, I still ended up scrolling.

Can you get some photos in a normal size and in focus and we can try to help?

TomMc · 18-04-2010 10:03pm

I have something similar on my car. Does it look as if the blue paint (basecoat) has come off in patches, yet the clearcoat on top looks relatively OK. Not stonechips you can feel but as if some of the blue paint flecks have all but disappeared underneath the clearcoat. It only happens on painted plastic parts not metal ones and it is far more noticeable straight after you wash the car, so when wet?

Shadow Dancer · 18-04-2010 10:09pm

sorry guys about the big pics! :eek:

No, it the paint on the metal that's affected. Thanks!

bladebrew · 18-04-2010 10:14pm

some parts of it look like stone chips but at the bottom of the third pic it actually looks like the paint has bubbled:eek:, it must be a chemical reaction with the paint or something,

i assume its not supposed to have that "bubbly" look?!

edit: oh crap, bubbling look is normal,

TomMc · 18-04-2010 10:17pm

By the way I have mudflaps on mine, front and rear and this still happened. I had an oil leak some time back, and assumed this had probably been the route case of the problem. But now I'm convinced that painted plastics have such a thin coat of paint, this is going to happen sooner or later. Most Jap cars have pretty crap paintwork anyway, but this is definitely Subaru's achilles heel. Waxing (too late now) would slow down the deterioration but it isn't going to prevent the problem, in the long run. I'd kick up a fuss as it shouldn't happen so soon on an '09 - and if you can show them that the paint has lifted (underneath) without the outer clearcoat been damaged (still perfectly smooth to the touch), you may have a case.

TomMc · 18-04-2010 10:24pm

bladebrew wrote: »

some parts of it look like stone chips but at the bottom of the third pic it actually looks like the paint has bubbled:eek:, it must be a chemical reaction with the paint or something,

i assume its not supposed to have that "bubbly" look?!

That bubbly look is normal. It is only underneath the skirts, anti-chip coating of sorts (supposedly:rolleyes:). But the paint lifting above it (white patches) is what I'm talking about. That is all plastic. And the section above that again is metal (door/hatch panel) and I'm surprised it has been damaged as well. Stone chipping may be the route cause but it still shouldn't do that. Of all the cars I have had down the years, it only ever happened with my Subaru.

bladebrew · 18-04-2010 10:41pm

TomMc wrote: »

That bubbly look is normal. It is only underneath the side skirts, anti-chip coating of sorts (supposedly:rolleyes:). But the paint lifting above it (white patches) is what I'm talking about. That is all plastic. And the section above that again is metal (door panel) and I'm surprised it has been damaged as well. Stone chipping may be the route cause but it still shouldn't do that. Of all the cars I have had down the years, it only ever happened with my Subaru.

sorry:o i just remembered i was washing my car last week and it has the same bubbled look at the side,:o it just looked strange close up,
it actually looks like you went rallying in it, i drove over some recently filled in potholes a few days back and could actually hear the the stones bouncing off the car but it barely made a mark on the car,
could a paint finish be that flawed though,

TomMc · 18-04-2010 10:53pm

Flawed indeed. The strange thing is that the clearcoat will look fine in most places, just the odd chip as with any car, but the colour underneath looks awful. It is weird, stones hit the paint, they loosen or remove some of the colour coat / metallic flakes, yet the clearcoat on top remains relatively unmarked.

Lex Luthor · 19-04-2010 9:49am

I cant see any pics but I must go out today and check the leggy and see if its got the same problems...

2009 Subaru Impreza Diesel Paint Problems

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