Half Bad Paint

[DBuchheit]

I'm concerned that the paint on one half (passenger side) of my truck is soft.

My truck is only 6 months old and I have several dozen scratches on the passenger side. Most run lenghtwise with the truck, except some near the wheel wells that radiate out. The paint at the intersection of the body and rear wheel well on the passenger side is going fast. The paint on the driver's side is holding up well. I mean this thing has more scratches on the passenger side than all of my old Ford F150 had on it after 13 years.

I don't live in the country and don't travel bad roads where I might come in contact with brush on the passenger side. I don't use the truck for hauling. I'm extreamly careful where I park. So I can't figure out anything that might be tearing up my paint.

The only thing that I can figure out is that the paint is soft on the passenger side and grit from the road is tearing it up.

Has anyone run into this situation? Or have any suggestions?

I'm going to take it to the dealer Monday to have the body shop manager look at it. If nothing else, I'll be on record with the complaint should the paint prove to be bad later.

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2001. 5 Intense Blue 2500 QC, SLT, 5. 9L 24v Cummins, 4x2 Auto, 3. 54/LSD, 155 inch WB, Agate, Trailer Tow Group, Sliding Rear Window, Line-X over the rail, Leer Cab Height Topper.

[This message has been edited by RamBoat (edited 01-13-2001). ]

 

[Whitmore]

Originally posted by RamBoat:
Update!

It seems I was wrong about the scratches on one side of the truck #ad
. With the sun being so low and the light so directional, I initially only spotted them on the one side. After viewing the truck in a different light, I found that I had a lot of scratches on the driver's side too.

I just now got back from a chat with the body shop manager at my dealership. At first he didn't seem to think Dodge would be too open to doing anything. He said that they would have no way of knowing what happened to the truck to cause scratching. That is not exactly an unfair statement. But, when he saw that I only had 3,000 miles on the truck he said, "wow, you don't have many miles on it". I told him that my concern was that the truck would look like c**p after a couple of years at this rate. He said he'd have the district manager look at it to see if something could be done. He wrote it up as "paint seems to be scratching and chipping very easily". At least I have that much if I continue to have more trouble. One thing that was odd is that he thought he wouldn't have much trouble getting Dodge to cover the many, many, many stone chips that I already have #ad
.

As added insurance, I'm going to get a friend who owns a well respected body shop to look it over and give me his opinion.

I'll post more this story unfolds.

I too had problems with the truck I ordered. My truck showed up in only 28 days and its paint was bad, there was something between the paint and clear coat that gave it the oil sheen look and it was so horrible the dealer and I couldnt agree on a reasonable fix so I got my down money back and went to next town and got one off the lot,although it wasnt exactly what I wanted but close. the other dealer still has my order in sitting on lot , dont know what he did to fix her if anything at all #ad
#ad




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Whitmore
30D 80743

 

[TomGolden]

Hey Ramboat,

I have noticed a similar problem on my truck. I have a 2001. 5 Patriot Blue, and everytime I wash/wax it, usually at least every other week, I notice a few new chips in the paint. I don't have any scratches, just a growing number of chips. I heard someone once tell me he thought the Patriot Blue was known for chipping off very easily.

Has anyone else heard anything about any of our various colors being prone to chip. scratch easily, and if so, do we have any recourse?

Thanks,
Tom


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Get outta the way: The Cummins is Cummin'!

Tom Golden
Godzilla: Patriot Blue 2001 2500 SLT QC 4X4 LWB ETH/DEE, Tow & Camper packages, 3. 54 Ltd. Slip, 4 wheel disc ABS, Isspro EGT/boost gauges, black SmittyBilt nerf bars, TDR decal, Jack antenna ball
2001 Zinc Yellow SVT Mustang Cobra on order
NRA Life/CRPA/El Dorado #26 F. &A. M. of California

 

[Rambunctious]

My 2001 longbed Has many chips generally around the wheel wells. It is white in color the local dealer does not seem really concerned. Go figure? At least the problem is being documented. Also I installed splash guards front and rear from Geno's.

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2001 QC 4x4 LB 5spd ISB stock for now!!

 

[DBuchheit]

Update!

It seems I was wrong about the scratches on one side of the truck #ad
. With the sun being so low and the light so directional, I initially only spotted them on the one side. After viewing the truck in a different light, I found that I had a lot of scratches on the driver's side too.

I just now got back from a chat with the body shop manager at my dealership. At first he didn't seem to think Dodge would be too open to doing anything. He said that they would have no way of knowing what happened to the truck to cause scratching. That is not exactly an unfair statement. But, when he saw that I only had 3,000 miles on the truck he said, "wow, you don't have many miles on it". I told him that my concern was that the truck would look like c**p after a couple of years at this rate. He said he'd have the district manager look at it to see if something could be done. He wrote it up as "paint seems to be scratching and chipping very easily". At least I have that much if I continue to have more trouble. One thing that was odd is that he thought he wouldn't have much trouble getting Dodge to cover the many, many, many stone chips that I already have #ad
.

As added insurance, I'm going to get a friend who owns a well respected body shop to look it over and give me his opinion.

I'll post more this story unfolds.

------------------
2001. 5 Intense Blue 2500 QC, SLT, 5. 9L 24v Cummins, 4x2 Auto, 3. 54/LSD, 155 inch WB, Agate, Trailer Tow Group, Sliding Rear Window, Line-X over the rail, Leer Cab Height Topper.

 

[46mech]

RamBoat,
What you need to do is call D/C Customer Service and make a formal claim to them. I was getting a run-around from the dealer I bought my '95 truck from and the day after I called D/C, I got a call from the dealer to bring my truck in.
What I find depressing is, that this is happening on even these new trucks and dealers don't feel a responsibilty to push D/C to help.