2021 easily scratched paint

[Titan_Bow]

Hey guys this is my first Toyota and I’m not sure if it’s just me being anal because it’s a new truck or what.
Here’s the deal, I went on a spring bear hunt in Montana and drove on some old logging roads that I had driven two previous years with my Xterra. Both vehicles silver, but man, the 4Runner has scratches now all down the side, I never remember my Xterra showing scratches like that. Ultimately, I’m not too concerned with it, I am going to take my rig to places where it’s bound to get scratched, dirty, etc. It just surprised me how easily it seemed to scratch the paint is all. Anyone else notice this?


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[blackened_offroad]

a quick search will tell you that these trucks are known for having super fragile paint.

 

[Kamalani Mahie]

Yup the paint scratches easily, but it's got some surprising durability. Mine is a midnight black 2015. I have plenty of pinstriping, but I've also been surprised to not have some pinstriping when I thought I did.

 

[SilverFox2020]

Having come from Jeeps its my first Toyota as well and I noticed the same thing. Also I think the interior plastics scratch easily. I keep a king sized blanket in the back to protect the interior, this is the first suv that I have had to do this to.
All that being said I do love the 4Runner and have no plans on getting rid of it.

 

[RichinRidgewood]

Not the best paint I have had on a vehicle. See my thread here

Rubbin' it and Rubbin' it Until it's Really Red

 

[blackened_offroad]

Yup the paint scratches easily, but it's got some surprising durability. Mine is a midnight black 2015. I have plenty of pinstriping, but I've also been surprised to not have some pinstriping when I thought I did.

dunno how you managed that. mine scratches through to the primer if you sneeze on it. between offroading, parking lots, dogs, rooftop cargo box, etc, mine is less than 2 years off the lot, 50k miles, and the paint is completely toast. it's usually so dirty with trail mud that you can't tell, but if I ever have to sell it, I'm going to take a big hit on the paint. same thing with the interior. the dash plastics scratch if you touch them with a feather duster.

 

[hero1234]

My 4Runner chips or scratches if i stare at it to hard. It’s ridiculous.

 

[KarlwithaK]

Has anyone tried a vinyl wrap?

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Welcome to 4Runner ownership

 

[Humble Leader]

If I could clear bra the entire vehicle I would. I have an OEM clear bra on the front and side mirrors and it has done a spectacular job. not a single stone chip or scratch on the hood in 153K miles

always have a touch up pen handy, and an extra one for backup. I have a set of mini paintbrushes as well. wash more often than you normally would. wax 2x per year at least. scratches and chips will happen, no biggie, just try and fix them up as best you can

 

[ahtoxa11]

Every forum for every vehicle I've owned in the last 10-15 years has complained about poor paint quality. I think that modern paints are all pretty much the same -- likely a limitation of chemical makeup of paints in order to reduce pollution and/or chemical waste. That and some cost savings measures are also a factor, I'm sure. For every manufacturer.

 

[rageandlove]

Every forum for every vehicle I've owned in the last 10-15 years has complained about poor paint quality. I think that modern paints are all pretty much the same -- likely a limitation of chemical makeup of paints in order to reduce pollution and/or chemical waste. That and some cost savings measures are also a factor, I'm sure. For every manufacturer.

This. There are a small number of paint vendors (e.g. DuPont) that all manufacturers use. Toyota doesn't brew up it's own paint.

Also, the upside of soft paint is it buffs easily. Every year I take my 4Runner to a good detail place and it comes back with 95% of the pin stripes (and I have a lot some years) no longer visible.

 

[DallasTRDPro]

I gave up on trying to keep the 4R scratch free. Started with all the chips in the hood from going to Moab in the first week along with a nice big chip in the windshield. Then some old man flung his door into my door and chipped the paint. Then my dog jumped out the window and scratched the whole top of the door. Still got offered more than I paid for the Pro.

 

[enyce]

So is the paint on my '15 trail. Welcome to the club.

 

[cbaty08]

Yep. Took delivery with 4 miles in April and it has scratches in the clear.

Took it back and they installed MORE SCRATCHES.

Took it back for them to polish it once more, and while better than the last visit, it still is nowhere near what new paint should look like.

F-ing dealerships man.. even told them for 2 months up until delivery to not detail it and phuk it up!!!

They told me "the owner said we can un-do the deal".. sure, so you can sell it as a used car for even more? hahahaha riiiiight

Suffice to say I have to fix it myself.

 

[91foxbody]

Every forum for every vehicle I've owned in the last 10-15 years has complained about poor paint quality. I think that modern paints are all pretty much the same -- likely a limitation of chemical makeup of paints in order to reduce pollution and/or chemical waste. That and some cost savings measures are also a factor, I'm sure. For every manufacturer.

I work for one of the OEM's and can confirm that paint is often limited by VOC's and other harmful stuff. Paint ain't what it used to be, but it's not necessarily a bad thing considering how awful some of the common thinners/etc. used to be.

OP: My ~6 month old Super White scratches if you look at it wrong. I hate it, but it's a fact of life with a truck that spends a lot of time on the highway or off road.

 

[Kamalani Mahie]

dunno how you managed that. mine scratches through to the primer if you sneeze on it. between offroading, parking lots, dogs, rooftop cargo box, etc, mine is less than 2 years off the lot, 50k miles, and the paint is completely toast. it's usually so dirty with trail mud that you can't tell, but if I ever have to sell it, I'm going to take a big hit on the paint. same thing with the interior. the dash plastics scratch if you touch them with a feather duster.

I have noticed it chips easily on the door edges. I've done some paint touchup there.

 

[blackened_offroad]

Then my dog jumped out the window and scratched the whole top of the door.

yep. I have this on three out of 5 windows, and the driver door has dog scratches from a farm dog out in the backcountry in Arizona trying to say hello.

 

[HEAVY WT]

Bird Poop has not been kind to my Super White. But it hides my Sierra Pin Stripes for the most part. But agreed, my old Acura had crap paint, but this is even softer. but the rest of the vehicle is amazing! The scratches are battle scars. Enjoy them!