2011 Pearl White GT - paint chipping at bumper/body joints

[jrtouareg]

I seem to recall some folks complaining that the paint is coming off the plastic bumper where the bumpers and body panels meet. I just noticed today after washing my car that this is happening on the right front bumper corner and right rear bumper where the two parts join together. It seems the paint is coming due to the bumper and body rubbing together. Probably more noticeable on the white car than dark ones as the bumper is black under the paint.

I wonder if anyone else has this problem. I have noticed that Mazdas I have owned seems to have "thin" paint and chip more easily than other cars I have owned.

How is the dealer going to fix this? Its the wife's car and has only 6000 miles on it.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

If they deemed it a manufacturing defect they would repaint it.

 

[table5511]

Yeah, key word "if." There is a thread on VWvortex.com where a very small group of R32's (A souped up Golf by the mfr) had the clear coat fall off all their vehicles, nearly every R32 made at a certain plant had the clear fall off, and VW would not do anything about it. Manufactures don't like to get involved in paint, at all.

If you are having paint come off your bumper @ 6k miles, then is sounds like the paint is not adhering to the primer, and the only solution is to sand & etch the entire bumper (bumper has to be off the car) at a body shop and refinish the entire bumper. Would be 200-300 dollars most likely. I highly doubt the mfr will do anything about it, and there is nothing you can really do to prevent continued flaking except a repaint of the bumper.

 

[knowaczark]

jrt, is it "rubbing" off the bumper due to contact with the body, or is it "flaking" off?

Big difference, and may be corrected at minimal cost/effort if only rubbing. Flaking is a whole diff issue.

In either case I'd be back at the dealer ASAP for correction.

 

[jrtouareg]

jrt, is it "rubbing" off the bumper due to contact with the body, or is it "flaking" off?

Big difference, and may be corrected at minimal cost/effort if only rubbing. Flaking is a whole diff issue.

In either case I'd be back at the dealer ASAP for correction.

Its rubbing off due to contact between the joints. I think the joints are suppose to have a gap between them as the other joints where the paint is okay are not rubbing against each other. I will have the dealer look at it. Like someone said, I don't see how they are going to repair this without messing up the rest of the bumper(s).

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Well Mazda did pay to repaint my MS3's front and rear bumpers when the paint started chipping prematurely. They even paid to blend the panels. Then again I've been a very loyal customer to both Mazda and my dealership. So loyalty does have it's privileges. It's this sort of service that will keep me a Mazda customer for life.

 

[knowaczark]

Its rubbing off due to contact between the joints. I think the joints are suppose to have a gap between them as the other joints where the paint is okay are not rubbing against each other. I will have the dealer look at it. Like someone said, I don't see how they are going to repair this without messing up the rest of the bumper(s).

It is definitely fixable and Mazda should take care of it, no questions asked. Sounds like body panel to bumper gaps was in sufficient.

Not sure how much, if any, adjustment is available to the dealer shop. Might require some sanding/filing if there is no adjustments available. Then re-paint.

The rubber bumper would not concern me. Worn paint on a metal body part would. Then again, my 9 is black.

Keep us posted.

 

[jrtouareg]

Well Mazda did pay to repaint my MS3's front and rear bumpers when the paint started chipping prematurely. They even paid to blend the panels. Then again I've been a very loyal customer to both Mazda and my dealership. So loyalty does have it's privileges. It's this sort of service that will keep me a Mazda customer for life.

I've been this dealer's customer for over 20 yrs, buying a 626, 2 Millenias and this is our 2nd CX-9 plus I just talked the engineering firm I work for to buy 2 CX-9s to have as our fleet vehicles. I've have also bought well over 12 VWs and 5 Hondas from the same dealer owner. They will take care of me one way or another. I'm good friends with the general manager and race motorcycles with the dealer owner.

 

[table5511]

Sounds like the bumper is not secured tight enough on the ends. should be very tight contact so as to prevent rubbing/movement

 

[jrtouareg]

It is definitely fixable and Mazda should take care of it, no questions asked. Sounds like body panel to bumper gaps was in sufficient.

Not sure how much, if any, adjustment is available to the dealer shop. Might require some sanding/filing if there is no adjustments available. Then re-paint.

The rubber bumper would not concern me. Worn paint on a metal body part would. Then again, my 9 is black.

Keep us posted.

Its only coming off the plastic bumper probably due to excessive flexing.

 

[jrtouareg]

Sounds like the bumper is not secured tight enough on the ends. should be very tight contact so as to prevent rubbing/movement

It is very tight is the problem. The two pieces butt up against each other. If I remember correctly, when I installed the mudflaps, I remember seeing that the bumper is clipped to the body panel along the joint between the two. Somehow, the paint is coming off the plastic maybe due to the plastic flexing and the body panel less so.

 

[shodanusmc]

Take it back and show them. Chances are they will pay for the repairs.