I need some advice about an issue I'm experiencing with the paint and clear coat on my 07 Type-S. The color of my TL is Nighthawk Black Pearl. I noticed several spots on top of the car where the paint was cracking, maybe the size of a pencil eraser. There are a half dozen or so of these on the roof. After examining the car more closely, I found there are dozens of spots in varying progressive stages. At an extremely close inspection, the spots appear to start under the clear coat and advance until they break the surface, ultimately these dry out and that's when the defined cracking of the paint and clear coat surfaces. The fellow that details my car explain that this was without question clear coat failure due to some defect. Additionally, I had a very respectable auto body shop take a look at these spots. The paint technician honestly could not determine what caused the more advanced spots, but after he looked very closely at the surface of the paint and could see where the paint was (as he put it) "bubbling" up under the clear coat. These dots he was looking at very small dots around the early stage phase. These dots are roughly the size of the tip of pin. After this discovery, he was convinced there was indeed a defect problem with the paint. Has anyone experienced problems with Acura paint defects?

 

I use to paint at a direct repair body shop for Acura. I've seen plenty of paint factory defects and factory imperfections. Some imperfections are considered "acceptable", doesn't really relate to this though. You definitely have defects, could be many different causes, bad materials, process, conditions, exposure, ect. The "bubling"could be rail dust that went unnoticed for a long duration and penetrated through to the metal. Has your car ever been clay bar'd?

I would take your car around to 2-3 different reputable bodyshops and have them document what they find in writing before going to the dealer for a warranty claim. I wouldn't bust it out, or mention documents, unless they give you a hard time or try to deny warranty if it is a factory issue. They may just take care of you right away.

 

Thank you very much, I appreciate your advice. The fellow that details my car, has clay barred the paint... it made a tremendous difference. He is certain it is defect as well and I'm hoping to visit his body shop he recommends this week. I spoke with another reputable body locally. Upon initial look, the tech wasn't certain what cause the issue. However, after looking more closely he noticed these, as he referred to them, "bubbling" spots. I couldn't see them very well. Nonetheless, after which he concluded a defect as well. I've attempted to contact them for such documentation, as of yet I haven't received a response.

I'm surprised you are of the opinion, Acura might take care of it with little reluctance. It must be rather common issue.

Again, thank you for your suggestions. I'm more optimistic now.

 

I would also ask the body shops to measure the thickness with a Mil gauge to document it is factory paint.

 

After 1 month on my NBP 08 TL I noticed white spots on the trunk lid. I waited 3 months since I had to sealant protective before trying to wax and polish out the spots. No luck with that method. Never had that problem with my BMW paint

 

with the TL being made in the USA, the EPA and all those other environmental agencies want water-based paint which is soft, which causes this.

 

Visited the Dealer today and they can't buff out the spots so they told me problably need to get the trunk repainted. Not what I expected after 3 months of ownership. Sales guy is now trying to sell me a 2009. Back to BMW I go.

 

Honda paint is hit or miss, usually it's ok. I'm surprised what they will let go, on more expensive models. They don't apply enough clear on some parts too. Definitely not a consistent clear build, some areas/parts do not have the standard 2 mils of clear.

 

Powerflow...
New owner here with a related question.

We bought a new (08) last Friday. The build date indicates 12-07 so I assume it's been sitting out in the elements for almost 11 months. (hot Texas sun next to a new interstate that's been under construction).

After complaining about a poor job of pre-delivery cleanup, the dealer did run it back through his shop to resolve our complaints.

Upon reinspection we noticed a couple rock chips, one in the middle of the deck lid and another along the left edge of the hood. Though neither is very large, both are "through the paint". Rather than do a touch-up, the dealer wants to make it right by sanding and repainting.

I'm sure they'll do a good job.My concern is what is this going to do to the "gloss"? If allowing them to sand & paint these otherwise minor spots is going to destroy the gloss or depth of shine, I'd rather they not do it.

Your thoughts?
Thanks!!

 

The refinished panels should be just as glossy. They will only apply color to cover the repaired spots and blend out into the surrounding area. Then they will clear the whole panel. I would just make sure that's what they are going to do, not a partial panel spot repair, blending clear into the existing clear. Let them know you prefer quality paint materials and 2-3 clear coats. Don't wax/seal the fresh paint for 30-60 days.

If it's done right, should have no problems.

 

Yeah whatever Honda's painting method is for Milano Red, R-81 really isn't right. They do a solid color as a tri-coat, and don't apply enough of the clear top coat. Then you have paint systems like BASF RM, that recommend to do it the right way, as a 2 stage w/ 2 mils of clear. The tri-coat color can be matched with acceptable results using the standard 2 stage method, for pure solid colors.

One situation we had to do a complete warranty refinish of a 1st gen MDX because it rolled off the truck in three different shades of blotchy metallic blue. I totally agree, it's all about approaching the factory properly.

 

Just to be clear on a point, if I may, since many people don't know; Please do not confuse shine or luster with gloss.

IE., on a bright but otherwise partly cloudy day, with proper gloss you should be able to look directly into the paint and see a perfectly sharp & clear reflection of the clouds. If not, then the gloss is defective and/or it's obvious the car has been repainted.

During production, automakers commonly use a device called a Glossmeter to verify quality control during the painting process. By contrast few if any body shops even know what the instrument is.

 

I purchased a brand new 2009 Acura RDX last year. I noticed last summer that the paint on the hood on the car had some sort of "flaws" in the paint under the clearcoat. They appear to be flecks about a half of a centimeter in length. If you touch the paint where these imperfections are you cannot feel them, it is smooth which is why we assume it is under the clear coat. I assumed that this was something that with time would disappear. WRONG! The car was garage kept until I recently purchased a new 2010 MDX so the car now sits outside. Since it has been sitting in the sun for the past few months, it has dramatically gotten worse. When we first purchased the car they were only visible when the car was clean and it was sitting in the sun; now, it has gotten much much worse and has practically began to make a pattern in the hood. On further inspection I noticed that these flaws were also on the front fenders and the roof of the car. I called the dealership that we purchased it from (in South Western PA) and requested that someone take a look at this car immediately. When the service department inspected the car they told me that they had never seen anything like this before!! We received a phone call from the dealership yesterday that we needed to take the car to their body shop so they too could inspect the paint on the car. When we took it yesterday the manager of the body shop told us that he, in 15 years of doing this job, had never seen anything like it before!! He also wrote an estimate to repair the car for $3200.00!!! At Acura's expense (hopefully) they would literally tear apart my brand new car which by the way only has 10,000 miles on it. They would have to take out the headlights, the sunroof, the header, and antenna in order to strip the car back to bare metal start repainting process!! This is crazy! We ran into another man at the body shop that said he had in fact seen this once before years ago but the car was two or three years old. The owner of this car did not notice the problem until the paint completely cracked and flaked off. We assume if we do not repair it now, this will eventually happen as well. I called Acura Client Services yesterday and they took all of my information. The car is black on black. Please if anyone has had a similar problem please respond back. I need to know if this is a nationwide problem or just an isolated case - which I know is NOT THE CASE!!

 

I have a 2005 TL with NBP paint with the exact same issue. The paint is smooth but there are what looks like white cracks in some spots. I took it to the dealer but they claimed it was environmental damage and not covered under warranty. There are a couple other threads about this problem.

 

I have a 2007 ASM TL-S with the same issue. I have been scratching my head trying to figure out what's going on. I guess it's time to go to the dealer for a talk =(

 

Had my 04' TL in for the same paint issue 2 years ago (still under warranty) and they claimed it was "environmental" not a factory defect. I have had many cars and literally live at a bodyshop and have never seen this crap on anything from BMW, MB, Ford, GM products ect. My car is NBP and it really sucks to look at it and see all these flaws. Acura knows they have a problem, but once again do not want to take care of it.

 

Have you noticed your spots getting worse?

 

I wouldn't say they are getting much worse, just more numerous. My care looks great from 10 feet away, I hate getting close to it because these defects hit you right in the face. Acura has/had paint issues, they just run and hide until the warranty is up and tell you there is nothing they can do. I'm sorry, but a "luxury brand" should have better paint than this. I had a 2003 Audi A4 before the TL, and the paint on that thing was flawless from the factory, 10 times that of the Acura. I like my car too much to get rid of it, so I will just live with it until 100,000 miles then sell (about 4-5 years yet).