Paint Issues?

[Mickey]

For those with paint issues heres something from TundraHQ.com about paint.
Tundra Paint Quality PetitionPosted by admin (Jason) in July 25th, 2008 Posted in: Tundra Recalls

Rick, one of the admins of FriendSite.com (a pretty cool social network, btw) created a paint quality petition. Here’s what it says:

Many people on numerous Toyota Tundra discussion forums have complained about the 2007 and 2008 Toyota Tundra paint quality.

They put forward to Toyota that the failure to apply sufficient layers of paint, coupled with the lack of a clear protective coat on a truck does not provide the quality of product that Toyota usually provides, nor the quality of product we were expecting to purchase. We petition Toyota to look into the matter and to respond to each of the respondants in the petition with a resolution. Once this petition reaches a sufficient amount, I will present this to Toyota for their review and go from there!

Toyota has been known for top quality paint for decades, so Tundra paint problems are out of character for sure. Still, not a month goes by when a Tundra owner doesn’t tell us about a patch of orange peel or a paint irregularity - some sort of “paint problem.”

Now when we say “paint problem,” we’re not talking about paint that scratches “too easily” or paint that is “too thin.” Ask any professional detailer and they’ll tell you that Toyota’s paint is thicker and easier to buff scratches out of than any domestic truck. If you think your paint is scratching too easily or that it’s too thin, you’re doing something wrong. When properly taken care of even the cheapest paint job will look good for years. Just drive down the road and you can see that for yourself.

“Paint problems” are defined as bubbles, orange peel, contaminants in the paint, discolorations or poor color matches, and plastic painted parts not matching the rest of the vehicle.

Scratches are tough to characterize as a paint problem. First of all, most people don’t understand that touching a clean car with an oily finger can cause a scratch in any paint job. Human skin has a knack for picking up little bits of dust and dirt, and while it seems difficult to fathom, it can (and does) scratch paint. Automotive paint is usually just a few microns thick - any thicker and it would cost more, weigh more, and lack the reflective properties we’ve all come to appreciate.

Cotton towels (like the ones in your bathroom), automatic car washes with brushes, and even slightly dirty terry-cloth towels or chamois will all scratch your paint job. Same goes for the snow brushes and gloves you use in the winter time to clear off your vehicle.

In other words, just about anything can scratch your truck.

However, if you wax your paint job regularly, your chances of damaging your finish are dramatically reduced. One good solid coat of wax every 3-6 months (depending on how often you wash your truck) is good enough to prevent most incidental scratches. Anyways…

Unfortunately, we’ve never documented much in the way of paint problems. An occasional photo here, some complaints their. Paint, like a lot of aspects of building a new car, is complicated. A lot can go wrong. Out of 300k new trucks, it stands to reason that some percentage has had paint problems. There are certainly stories of paint with bubbles, paint peeling, etc., but never in any large enough volumes to warrant investigation.

Our friends at Toyota dealerships say the same - none of them have seen a Tundra with a paint problem (or even a complaint). Our sampling is not very scientific, but it’s been a good indicator in the past.

In other words, we’ve never seen anything to indicate the problem with Tundra paint is widespread. It’s more likely a handful of unlucky trucks. To those people who have been unlucky enough to buy one of those trucks, you have our sympathy.

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[algolfer69]

Congrats on becoming MR. 4000.

[Mickey]

Why thanks Agolfer69. IBTO all the way. Really appreciate it.

[Deznutjob]

The last paragraph pretty much sums it all up Mic, I thought the same thing as time has gone by for me without a single paint issue.

[Mickey]

Originally Posted by Deznutjob

The last sentence pretty much sums it all up Mic, I thought the same thing as time has gone by for me without a single paint issue.

I just came across it and I thought since I don't have the issue but others do to pass on this information.

[blackdemon]

This is some good info. I might be posting some more complaints, since it appears this summer the paint is kind of rubbing off when it comes close to my white shack door?? I notice some black marks yesterday, so I'm not letting the door's edge touch the shack any more.

[ttundra2007]

I thought I was the only one. After a good examination of the truck I found 2 dings, they say paint bubbles and two spots with crap under the paint. took it in to get paint estimates and still never heard back from them, that was 2 weeks ago. On top of that the truck is an 07, but I bought it "brand new" and I got rust in many places under the truck, they say it's "expected" here. Is this right? thanks

[FirstToy]

Thanks Mick.... 4K... man that would take me years :0

[Mickey]

You're at 500 congrats to you...You'll be there in no time.

[Mickey]

Originally Posted by ttundra2007

I thought I was the only one. After a good examination of the truck I found 2 dings, they say paint bubbles and two spots with crap under the paint. took it in to get paint estimates and still never heard back from them, that was 2 weeks ago. On top of that the truck is an 07, but I bought it "brand new" and I got rust in many places under the truck, they say it's "expected" here. Is this right? thanks

The paint bubbles and things in the paint are ligit issues. Take a copy of what I got off Tundraheadquarters.com about the paint issues.