Paint Issue - 2017 TRD Premium

[fireforeffect]

My 2017 TRD Premium in metallic gray scratches easier than any vehicle I've ever owned. In fact, I pulled the small dealership advertisement sticker on the tailgate with my finger nail when I first purchased the vehicle that completely removed the paint. The dealer claimed I used a tool which caused the paint to be removed, despite no scratches anywhere else where the sticker was, just a area of paint cleanly removed.

Fast forward to today, I am getting really fed up with the issue. Does anyone experience their vehicle scratching easily. Any tips on how to proceed? The vehicle is still under warranty.

 

[ForRun]

You need a good coat wax, preferable ceramic. Most vehicles do. I put mine on in the 1st week, run it through a crappy carwash with brushes at least once a week and not a scratch

 

[TRD84Runner]

My 2017 TRD Premium in metallic gray scratches easier than any vehicle I've ever owned. In fact, I pulled the small dealership advertisement sticker on the tailgate with my finger nail when I first purchased the vehicle that completely removed the paint. The dealer claimed I used a tool which caused the paint to be removed, despite no scratches anywhere else where the sticker was, just a area of paint cleanly removed.

Fast forward to today, I am getting really fed up with the issue. Does anyone experience their vehicle scratching easily. Any tips on how to proceed? The vehicle is still under warranty.

Sorry to hear about your issue! Based on what your saying it sounds like poor paint adhesion or prep in that area or that body panel as paint should not simply flake off or peel up. I would personally monitor that area but in the meantime apply a quality coat of sealant and top coat of sacrificial wax. I have a 2019 TRD P in the metallic gray and have not noticed anything out of the ordinary with the paint. I do try and often hand wash with the two bucket method during the summer and apply sealant and wax twice a year, in winter I utilize a self serve car wash and only use the sprayer portion to remove the salt and sand from the body as I had fluid film applied under it to ensure a long life. Keep tabs on the section your having with and if necessary reach out to Toyota if the situation gets worse. Best of luck in your travels!

 

[Fargone]

Barcelona Red scratches if I breath on it. Here are a few of the many ways I have scratched the paint on mine: Getting into the truck and brushing lightly against the door jamb. Unlocking the truck with the key and lightly brushing the rest of my keys along the door. Leaning over the hood to clean the windshield with a squeegee. Using a power washer with the green ("safe for paint") nozzle on. Driving through tall grass. Not branches mind you, not sagebrush, GRASS. Taking anything off or putting anything on the roof rack results in at least one scratch and a dent, every time.

 

[Anonymous4Runner]

Got any pictures of your issue?

There isn't a recall program for metallic colored 4Runners because there is one going on for Blizzard Pearl where the paint was defective due to random peeling on the body.

To prevent or at least slow down your issues, I would look into getting coating done. It's not cheap and it is definitely not worth it if you plan to keep the 4R for few years versus 'for life'. If you do plan to keep it for life then I would suggest you looking into Modesta coating that can only be installed by certified installers or CeramicPRO. CeramicPRO is more common at detailing shops but there's a select few that carries Modesta. I'm very satisfied with the results of Modesta coating on the body and wheels that was coated as well.

Sorry to hear about your issues, metallic gray was one of my top colors when I was looking to upgrade to my current Limited 5th gen!

 

[Mutant138]

It's called toyota. Reliable but not known for paint quality. Not to mention new paints have to meet EPA regs. AKA none of those delicious chemicals to help adhesion.

 

[arehman11]

All new cars have terrible paint. My 17 is still looking pretty good but I also keep it sealed and only go through a touchless wash but the MGM paint doesn't scratch too easily. My wifes 17 Estoril Blue BMW on the other hand, scratches if you look at it and swirls when drying after washing with even a super fine expensive MF drying towel.

 

[17KT4R]

Feel your pain. I've got the Midnight Black and its certainly a chore keeping that relatively scratch free although I've got a couple permanent ones in the clear coat for sure on both front fender lips, probably people walking by it and their cell phone case clips it when the truck is dirty. Silly things like that. The clear coats are thin. I haven't experienced any paint issues that I can see.

At any point I park in the boonies rather than sandwhich between vehicles to avoid dings (metal ain't so tough either). Person at work opened their car door next to me and it escaped from their hand in the wind ( I was in it ), seemed like it just touched the door but it poked a fair size dent into the lower quarter ( a Civic Door ). They paid for the Doctor Dent guy to remove it, can't tell now its perfect but seemed like a tiny touch, no scratch either just pushed in the metal.

Winter time with all this brine on the road drying like corn flakes to the side of the vehicle makes it feel like 120 grit sandpaper. I've gotta keep on top of that at the pressure wash every couple of days or again, someone breaths on it and you may as well wipe it with 120 grit.

I did know all this prior to buying (read up here actually) and all I've been doing is polish and wax in the spring / fall and touchless automatic washes of course through winter. It's an urban commuter vehicle 90% of the time but goes camping in Northern Ontario few times per year and has been through tight trails where brush or trees have come across the sides / roof, nothing heavy duty like serious guys are doing of course - anyway point being I don't have the pinstripes from that but of course the vehicle wasn't caked in mud at the time either so what can I say.

I see my neighbor washing his dirty Mercedes GLK with what looks like a shop broom and a bucket of straight water during the winter. I've seen that thing under the streetlights and it barely has a swirl mark in the clear coat. Just saying ... there's a difference. Guy at work has a Black Rav4, one year old, takes it through the brush car wash and the clear coat looks pretty swirled up alright, like it would need a serious machining to get that out. Just the way it is with Toyota I guess.

 

[Hans Moleman]

I think my MGM paint resists scratches pretty good. I can't see any swirls at all when all try to look at all angles and different lighting. Then ironic thing is the plastic headlight and taillight have swirls. My wife gives the paint a good beating because she is always flinging her purse that has metal pieces against the paint when she is around it.

However the front end is peppered with rock chips from all the dump trucks dropping crap on the freeways. I don't think any paint can resist all of the rocks on the freeway unless you have a paint protection film.

 

[mteolus]

My 2017 TRD Premium in metallic gray scratches easier than any vehicle I've ever owned. In fact, I pulled the small dealership advertisement sticker on the tailgate with my finger nail when I first purchased the vehicle that completely removed the paint. The dealer claimed I used a tool which caused the paint to be removed, despite no scratches anywhere else where the sticker was, just a area of paint cleanly removed.

Fast forward to today, I am getting really fed up with the issue. Does anyone experience their vehicle scratching easily. Any tips on how to proceed? The vehicle is still under warranty.

Probably should have given the car back to the dealership at that time. Pulling a sticker off shouldn't cause the paint to peel off unless you heated it up too much with a heat gun first. That's probably indicative of the rest of the paint too.

 

[Heavy_GD]

, I pulled the small dealership advertisement sticker on the tailgate with my finger nail when I first purchased the vehicle that completely removed the paint

I'm not calling you a liar, but...

Put a sticker over it and like others said hire a professional detailer to coat the truck.

 

[cb1111]

This thread can be found of every other forum on the internet. Just replace "Toyota" with any other brand. Most of the threads say that their (BMW, Audi, MB, VW, Chevy, Honda, Acura Ford etc.) paint is far inferior to their previous (often Toyota) cars.

That said, if the paint was actually removed when the dealership sticker was removed, then there is an issue with that particular car that needs to be addressed by Toyota - but - :worthless

 

[ForRun]

It's called toyota. Reliable but not known for paint quality. Not to mention new paints have to meet EPA regs. AKA none of those delicious chemicals to help adhesion.

Does EPA exsist in Japan? I would think they could care less

 

[Mutant138]

Does EPA exsist in Japan? I would think they could care less

Does not matter if they are importing cars to the us. They must meet our regs.

Also car people from japan will tell you they are not know for good paint jobs even aftermarket.

 

[GripT4R]

Should have bought a kia.

 

[cb1111]

Does EPA exsist in Japan? I would think they could care less

Does not matter if they are importing cars to the us. They must meet our regs.

Also car people from japan will tell you they are not know for good paint jobs even aftermarket.

I think you'll find that Japan has very strict environmental laws. The EPA doesn't care how the car was painted if imported, but the Japanese equivalent of the EPA does.

 

[fireforeffect]

Thanks everyone with the responses. I went to my local dealer (bought the vehicle when I was stationed in Fort Campbell), and they said that its normal "wear and tear".

Additionally, since ownership (September 2017), I've had the following warranty repairs:
-Water/fluid leak from below the glove box
-Side mirror cover came dislodged on highway and was replaced
-Rubber trim on roof that intersects with windshield came dislodged
-Rubber trim that runs near the roof rack came fully loose
-Paint damage from sticker removal

I feel like all these issues within two years of ownership is strange and perhaps this car was not manufactured properly. Can anyone suggest a course of action? I feel like this might be a lemon. Any advice is appreciated

 

[cb1111]

Thanks everyone with the responses. I went to my local dealer (bought the vehicle when I was stationed in Fort Campbell), and they said that its normal "wear and tear".

Additionally, since ownership (September 2017), I've had the following warranty repairs:
-Water/fluid leak from below the glove box
-Side mirror cover came dislodged on highway and was replaced
-Rubber trim on roof that intersects with windshield came dislodged
-Rubber trim that runs near the roof rack came fully loose
-Paint damage from sticker removal

I feel like all these issues within two years of ownership is strange and perhaps this car was not manufactured properly. Can anyone suggest a course of action? I feel like this might be a lemon. Any advice is appreciated

You can always call a lemon lawyer if you feel strongly about it. A lemon lawyer will cost you nothing. If you settle (manufacturer throws money at you to shut you up) then the lawyer gets a portion. If it results in a buyback, then the manufacturer pays the lawyer.

 

[t0y0ta4R]

Thanks everyone with the responses. I went to my local dealer (bought the vehicle when I was stationed in Fort Campbell), and they said that its normal "wear and tear".

Additionally, since ownership (September 2017), I've had the following warranty repairs:
-Water/fluid leak from below the glove box
-Side mirror cover came dislodged on highway and was replaced
-Rubber trim on roof that intersects with windshield came dislodged
-Rubber trim that runs near the roof rack came fully loose
-Paint damage from sticker removal

I feel like all these issues within two years of ownership is strange and perhaps this car was not manufactured properly. Can anyone suggest a course of action? I feel like this might be a lemon. Any advice is appreciated

The lemon laws are printed in one of the owner manuals for each state and outline your rights. Some states are much easier to work with than others but good luck either way. That said, I agree with most that the paint on vehicles today is not what it use to be. It almost seems like they put the thinnest amount on just to get it out the door. I've also seen fairly expensive vehicles with the same problem so it's not necessarily a cheap vs. expensive model situation. Every detailer I've been too says all paint is imperfect and needs some type of correction even from the factor.

 

[cb1111]

The lemon laws are printed in one of the owner manuals for each state and outline your rights. Some states are much easier to work with than others but good luck either way. That said, I agree with most that the paint on vehicles today is not what it use to be. It almost seems like they put the thinnest amount on just to get it out the door. I've also seen fairly expensive vehicles with the same problem so it's not necessarily a cheap vs. expensive model situation. Every detailer I've been too says all paint is imperfect and needs some type of correction even from the factor.

Lemon laws don't cover the paint, but the other issues may rise to the level of a lemon law case.