I recently purchased an '06 TL w/ A-SPEC, a few days after getting the car I went to wash it to get any dust off of it, and I noticed two spots on the hood where it looks like the paint was chipped and touchup paint was applied, and then on the rear quarter panel near where you fill the car with gas, there is a small spot (1/16" to 1/8") where it appears like there is an extra chunk of paint.

I've seen the identical look to the extra paint on my other car when it was repainted; eventually it chipped off and it had to be repainted because there was some kind of particle on the paint during painting. The dealer told me the same look on the new TL, is industrial fallout, where the paint is a hardened bubble, as if there was dust underneath during the paint process.

The spots on the hood look as if rocks chipped the paint, and a very small amount of touchup paint was applied. I've applied touchup paint to my other car from rock chips, and it looks identical to this, which is why I assumed they did such. Suggesting that to the dealer received a response of they go over each and every car in their lot everyday twice and that there is no way these spots existed on the vehicle prior to me picking the vehicle up; they have I'm guessing over 150 vehicles in that lot between the various acura's they stock - that's a lot of vehicles to look over with very closely everyday. I forgot to ask what they do if they do find it on the vehicle.



I bought a 1998 Honda Civic and a 1998 Honda Accord back when they first came out, which are a much cheaper car than the Acura - I still own both. I haven't ever seen this type of stuff pop up out of nowhere, and those cars are 9 years old!

I took the car back to the dealer yesterday (the dealer is an hour drive from where i live, otherwise I would've went sooner) to show them the paint defects, and they told me it is a matter of Industrial Fallout, and that any car can have this happen. I understand it isn't the dealers fault and I'm not looking to give them a hard time - this ought to be a responsibility of Acura, not the dealer. Nonetheless, this isn't a cheap car, and when I spend this much on a car, I expect it to not have paint pitting and bubbles within days of getting it. Acura states having protectants and such from the factory, as follows (from the Acura website)

If the car experiences industrial fallout when I have the car for only two days, then it is most definitely not resistant, and at this rate, will have more pits than you can count within a year. Oddly enough, I have not seen any additional pits appear.

I don't believe what I'm seeing is industrial fallout, and I realize I need to get a second oppinion from a body shop that is not affiliated with Acura/Honda (for the reason of they may give the answer of industrial fallout to avoid putting liability on Acura)

Have any of you experienced this happening? Is it worth pushing, or is it really just part of having a black car? My Accord was a dark green pearl, nearly black - never saw this happen.

At this rate, the paint on this car will be pitted to the point of an eyesore within a year, if this is a case of industrial fallout.

I appreciate you reading the long post, and am eager to hear what you think!

Thanks,

Dan

 

Wow, I think I posted too long of a message for anyone to read it and reply.

I went to a honda dealer's body shop this morning (not affiliated with where i purchased the car), and they told me it is touchup paint and definitely not industrial fallout. I called Acura Care, but they told me it is the dealer's responsibility to take care of the issue and there is absolutely nothing they can do other than put a note in the system regarding the problem for future reference.

After being told it is industrial fallout by the sales person and the sales manager both, I'm wondering what the best thing to do would be to get the problem resolved. I was happy with the dealer experience there for everything prior to this, so hopefully I'll be able to get them to take care of it without too much of a hassle. Businesses true colors show when there is a problem.

 

Woulda
Coulda
Shoulda

Wasn't the car detailed and looking pristine when you picked it up? You would think these spots would have stood out during your thorough review of the car BEFORE you signed your life away.

On my last two vehicles, I spent at least 30 minutes reviewing the car while my salesman stared at me in disbelief.

I would suggest approaching your salesman in a calm and courteous manner and ask him what the dealership can do to resolve your issue. If he balks, even the slightest, ask to talk to the sales manager. If he's a prick, ask for contact info for the owner.

 

This was the first new car I've purchased, I looked it over, but obviously not close enough. I admit I should've looked closer and then I wouldn't have this problem.

I talked to the sales person, and the sales manager this morning after my last post; they claim its industrial fallout and that there's nothing that can be done, just as they said on Saturday. I told them I was at a body shop this morning and showed it to them and they too thought it was touchup paint; the sales manager went ahead to say that the person I showed it to must not have known what they were talking about -- I let him know that it was a body shop I and my family have been using for over 10 years on our honda's, and it was two of the body shops painter that gave the oppinion. He was firm on the industrial fallout and said they would never use touch up paint on a vehicle.

I contacted Acura Customer Care, they said it's not their responsibility to handle paint issues and to contact the general manager of the dealership. That is the next step, but I'd like to be well prepared to defend myself.

In one spot on the vehicle, it looks like the paint was chipped, and there was an extremely thin amount of paint applied on top, in the other two spot, it appears there is touchup paint and it bubbles above the paint, two different looks, yet the sales manager & sales associate both claim it is "industrial fallout".

Dan

 

I noticed after washing my vehicle the first time, it had a gritty feel to the paint. My detailer where I work at called it "fallout." I purchased a clay bar (Mothers) with the required spray and used that over the entire surface of the car. It was as smooth as glass after that. Then of course I waxed it. I've seen it happen before so I didn't take it up with the selling dealer. Hate to hear of your experience and I would certainly bring that to their attention.

 

Here's what I think:

I think your car was damaged by who knows what during transit. The detail guy noticed it and brought it to someone's attention who made the decision to apply touch-up paint and then wait. They wait until you notice and then give you some BS about "industrial fallout".

They're yanking your chain and they should make it right.

My car had some imperfections when running my hand across the body too, but nothing that I noticed with my eye when I reviewed my car. I clayed my entire car and it was smooth as glass.

I think we're all smart enough guys to know the difference between a rock chip filled with touch-up paint and some slight paint imperfection due to rail dust, industrial fall-out, etc...

 

Contacting the general manager resolved the situation. Perhaps I should've done that prior to contacting Acura Customer Care to place a complaint because of what the sales manager did, but nonetheless, the problem is being resolved and for the moment, I'm satisified.

Dan

 

I detail professionally in an industrial town .. Industrial fallout doesn't look like blobs of added paint. You will have rail dust which is tiny particles that imbed in the paint and can be removed with clay and acidic fallout which will actually bore a minute hole in the paint.

I think someone is pulling your chain...