Front Hood Vibration

[123373]

I have a 13 year old Nissan Maxima with hood flutter and no paint cracking at 230,000 miles, so at least my experience shows this condition will not cause the paint to crack. Sky active is Mazda's version of weight saving meaning thinner and lighter materials. My is a 2014 built in February and the hood flutters. The one I test drove was a 2014 with hood flutter. It's not just a Canada thing!

 

[MikeM.]

I have a 13 year old Nissan Maxima with hood flutter and no paint cracking at 230,000 miles, so at least my experience shows this condition will not cause the paint to crack. Sky active is Mazda's version of weight saving meaning thinner and lighter materials. My is a 2014 built in February and the hood flutters. The one I test drove was a 2014 with hood flutter. It's not just a Canada thing!

230,000 miles and no stress cracks - that shows how tough modern paint is. People complain that modern paint is "thin" without taking into account that it is also tougher and more resistant to chipping, peeling, cracking and environmental fallout than the "thick" paint used decades ago.

 

[paris1]

People complain that modern paint is "thin" without taking into account that it is also tougher and more resistant to chipping, peeling, cracking and environmental fallout than the "thick" paint used decades ago.

Amen brother! Every internet auto forum I have ever been on is rife with this same lame complaint about Japanese paint jobs. And the other one that drives me absolutely bonkers is the unwritten law that auto manufacturers source the worst possible tires to use in OE applications (and how you're absolutely crazy if you don't throw them away within the first 100 miles and replace them with a tire that costs a minimum of twice as much from Tire Rack!).

 

[CX-SV]

Agreed, the usual internet outdated hearsay about thin paint, OEM tires, BMW ultimate driving machines, superficial judgment about sheet metal thickness, use of plastics, "thin" motor oil, etc. does get old...

 

[TreyP]

Tell it to my paint cracked hood. Better check yours before you get too uptight about internet hearsay.

 

[MikeM.]

Tell it to my paint cracked hood.

It's difficult to help or determine the source of your situation without photos of the damage.

Apologies if you have already posted photos in another thread.

 

[CX-SV]

Tell it to my paint cracked hood. Better check yours before you get too uptight about internet hearsay.

Sorry, but I didn't mention "paint cracked" hood when listing examples of "internet hearsay" and for good reason because based on your actual experience with such an event it certainly doesn't qualify as hearsay. A picture would be helpful please. And thanks for reminding me to check hood for paint cracking, I will do it later today.

 

[TreyP]

I actually plan to make a video of the cracks when time and weather allow. I'm not sure if they will show up or not, but if so I will be posting it.

 

[TreyP]

based on your actual experience with such an event it certainly doesn't qualify as hearsay.

I appreciate that.

 

[MikeM.]

I actually plan to make a video of the cracks when time and weather allow. I'm not sure if they will show up or not, but if so I will be posting it.

A video would be good if the cracks are actively migrating ;-)

Otherwise, a still camera generally offers better resolution. Most cheap point and shoot digital cameras have a macro mode (often uses a flower icon to activate). Most camera phones have crappy image quality (although some of the more recent offerings are a big improvement). But, even a cheap point and shoot is worlds better, especially for this kind of damage that sounds like it's hard to see.

 

[TreyP]

I'm thinking video because the lines are thin, yet long. So to show the whole crack with a camera would require distance, which would make the lines not show up. It's a vicious circle. A video can be close up and move along the line to show the entire length. We'll see though, maybe I'll try both.

 

[gene91671]

I have a 2014 CX5 and while test driving i noticed this. It's more annoying that anything else i guess. If you press down on the hood it feels very thin

 

[madar]

Pulled my hood insulator off today to check if there were any broken glue spots between the hood frame and the sheet metal as was stated somewhere else on this forum. I found only one. At the time I did this it was 76 degrees out there coming off a 90 degree day in the sun and the glue was very flexible so I can see why my hood flexes. Think I'll just not worry about it and just enjoy the vehicle..

 

[TreyP]

I finally got around to taking a few pics of the cracks developing in the hood. They are definitely not scratches because they have grown a lot longer over time. One side was around 4" when I first saw it, and now it runs nearly the entire length of the hood front to back.

 

[Bopper]

Those lines look identical to the lines that were left behind by the protective plastic sheet glue that my car shipped with. I panicked when I first discovered them on my white paint. I immediately put some spit on my finger and started to rub, it came off with some elbow grease. I am not doubting that you have cracks, they just look identical, and in the same exact spot on both sides of the hood.

 

[TreyP]

Those lines look identical to the lines that were left behind by the protective plastic sheet glue that my car shipped with. I panicked when I first discovered them on my white paint. I immediately put some spit on my finger and started to rub, it came off with some elbow grease. I am not doubting that you have cracks, they just look identical, and in the same exact spot on both sides of the hood.

Yeah, I've washed it around 4 times already. I wish it was that easy for me. Who knows though, maybe a buffer would take them out.

 

[madar]

Those are the same exact markings I saw on my co-workers hood. He said they appeared during winter.

 

[MikeM.]

Yeah, I've washed it around 4 times already. I wish it was that easy for me. Who knows though, maybe a buffer would take them out.

TreyP, a buffer make them less noticeable but will not remove them.

You either have a valid warranty claim or there is evidence of prior damage that could initiate such a problem in which case it would not be covered by warranty. The pictures are not sufficient to tell which would apply.

Photo 2 looks like the hood has a dent (or it could simply be an optical illusion cause by the lighting and reflection). Photo 3 is upside down. Once I oriented it properly (using my car to assist) I am troubled by the large gap between the hood panel and adjacent panel. I doubt it left the factory with such a large gap.

If the hood doesn't have evidence of previous trauma, take it into the dealer and file a warranty claim. If it is due to other damage then you have the option of replacing it at your expense or living with it. Hopefully it is a defect covered by warranty and not due to some kind of trauma or damage that occurred when the car was parked in public which weakened the hood, leading to the cracking happening as it was driven due to the compromised hood. Only a professional inspection can distinguish the difference.

 

[madar]

If it's other damage, an insurance claim could be opened...been there, done that. But I'm seeing 2 exact same instances here, too coincendental, but I'll wait until the jury's out.

 

[TreyP]

No, there is no other damage, no dents.

Mike, picture 3 is a shot straight down onto the right side of the hood. The headlight is in the upper right.

I'm quite sure Mazda will do something for me, even if it is buffing out the damage. I've seen deeper marks than these buff right out. My concern is whether the marks will reappear over time. Also, if I were to just leave them (which I won't) they would probably develop rust eventually.