2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Paint job

[Dale]

1996 Driftwood color. Has anyone expierienced paint problems. (not chipping, we all have a small chip here and there) If you look at my truck from 5' away and a little armor-all you could put it in a car show. If you get close you can see that underneath the clear coat the color is disintegrating (the only word I can think of) it's almost a rust or light brown color and it looks like its been sanded. My friends say that it is not right. Took my truck to a local reputable auto body and paint and they said its perfectly normal. I told them that it has been garaged half its life. They said it's still normal. Took it to the local dealer and the manager said all the grays are doing it, you will have to get it repainted. (DA !). I have had a 67 mustang, 72 chevy truck, 65 beetle, all fixed up. All original paint except for the Beetle. Currently I have a 00 suburban, 92 mazda, and my 96 Dodge cummins. The dodge looks the worst. I have treated all my cars to good brands of cleaners and wax. Thanks for any input.





1996 Driftwood, #6, 4" exhaust, intake, finely tuned, b&d brake, air bags, stock 180 horse 440 tq, now 280 horse 500 tq. 135,000 mi. I love it

 

[Andy Morrison]

Just send your thanks to the EPA for forcing the auto industry to use worthless water based paint.

My truck is black and almost all the paint hac peeled off the roof and the hood is starting to do the same thing.

Guess I'll wait for warm weather and get it painted.







Andy

 

[Dale]

It figures, EPA, must be the same group that chokes out the engines. Anyway thanks for the reply. I still am looking for a way out since I think that not all of this is the consumers fault. This is like the mileage topic - some people get 22 mpg some get 14 mpg. SOme people's paint falls off some dont. Have a nice one, cool truck! Dale

 

[y-knot]

I know how you feel, i have one that suffered the same fiat. The official term Dodge cooperate likes to use is" Paint De-Lamination".

I think there are thousands that have had the same thing happen to there trucks. Dodge never was known for great paint jobs to begin with, so this is nothing new. The third gen trucks are already complaining about thin paint, which is very easy to nick, scratch, or chip. Godd only knowns what they will look like in another 3-5 years? There are also steps you can go thru to get Dodge to help with the cost of repair. First step is to go to your local dealer and tell them of the problem. If they are a good dealer they will assist your in the process, otherwise you will have to write to Dodge and get yourself a file number. I am fortunate enough to have a great 5-star dealer that worked with me on the problem, other have not been so lucky.

Don't for a minuet think you are in for a free ride, many have made those comments on other post and it is simply not the case. I started the paper work trail last July(2003), and got a final answer in late February, about 8 months. My truck is in the Body shop as we speak(?), the roof, rear fenders and hood (these was taken care of my me getting an aftermarket hood) had to be taken down to the bare metal, they were then sealed,primed. base coat and clear coated. I plan on keeping my truck for as long as it or I am able to drive, so the cost of the repaint was worth it to me. For others I feel it would not be practical. The bill for the job is in the low $5000. 00 area, and it will not be finish till next week, hopefully it will not grow much more. After it was all said and done, Dodge agreed to pay me $600. 00, this was there part of the responsibility. The actual way they compute the amount, is to offer 50% toward the affected areas. My affected areas came to 1200. 00 so they paid 600. 00. Obviously The rest of the truck needed to be painted, so I had to pick that part up. Now I would many will ***** that $5,000 is to much to pay for paint, and yes there are places such as Maco that would charge 1/8th of that amount. I didn't want my truck to look like that, I wanted a showroom finish (better I hope), and It cost money. They dis-mantled the truck, taking every nameplate, door handle ,bumpers, grills, mirrors, everything even glass off the truck. I also sprung for the steel cowl induction hood, which after figuring labor to fix the old one, was not much at all. Like I said this will be my last Dodge vehicle, I plan on keeping this one till it's dead, so it was worth it to me.

 

[krs]

The problem with paint can and has been taken far beyond the early stage Dodge offers-Dodge fixes a percentage-owner pays the bulk. One person who was a member here, Illflem, detailed the process through which he obtained a complete strip off and repaint of his entire truck at no cost to him. The bill that Dodge paid, at a shop of Illflem's choosing, was a little more than $6000.



In his descriptions of the process were laid out a long story of offers and threats with bluffing that the company tried to get him to accept a lesser settlement and whenever he posted about it he stressed the need for the owner to persist no matter what, right up to the day of court trial.



It's a real shame that Bill is no longer here to post to this question.

 

[Dale]

thanks y-knot, It looks like I opened or reopened a can of worms, lets see what happens

 

[Dale]

Thanks KRS, I would like to here illflem's story. I am not expecting a big battle with the dealer but like many other dodge owners I really want to keep my truck for a long time. Dale

 

[krs]

Dale,

You have to be either the original owner OR have obtained the vehicle while it was still in warranty. See this link:http://www.theinfomaniac.net/infoma...StepByStep.html



Make NO AGREEMENTS with Dodge whatsoever if you MIGHT be eligible to do this thing.

 

[Dale]

Wow KRS, thanks alot I am reading word for word. Dale