2013 63 plate Leon - Paint laquer failure

[thomo]

Hi,

I have a 63 plate 1.6 diesel Leon.

Cleaning the car this morning and i noticed black marks on the front bumper, closer look and its paint peeling away.

The whole area looks and feels like the laquer is completely gone. The paint work in that area feels like snake skin and visibally looks a rough texture.

6 months past the 3 year paint warranty of course!

I believe its a manufacturing issue and the paintwork has failed, thus the product is not fit for purpose - in warranty or not!

Any advice on who first to contact regarding this and my best course of action?

Thanks

 

[SRGTD]

Hi thomo.

How long have you had your car? Have you had it from new?

The snakeskin effect and rough feel suggests there has been some kind of reaction between the plastic bumper and the paint.

Many years ago, I repainted some of the plastic parts on a car using aerosol (rattle can) paints and there was a reaction between the paint and plastic that was very much like you have described; crackle/snakeskin effect and dull rough texture.

Is it possible that your bumper has been repainted at some point?

 

[thomo]

Hi,

Yes I know the full history of the car....by this i mean it was a company car built from new, that i then brought from the company at the end of its 3 year life.

No paint jobs on it that I or the company have ever been aware of.

 

[SRGTD]

If Seat agreed it was a manufacturing defect, then it's likely it would've been covered under warranty if it had happened and been brought to their attention within the 3 year paintwork warranty period.

You could still get them to inspect it, and if they agree it is a manufacturing defect, see if they will contribute towards the cost of getting it repaired as a good will gesture (more likely if the car's been serviced /maintained by Seat throughout it's life). Don't be surprised if you're unsuccessful though.

 

[salsajoe]

AS SRGTD suggests - worth getting a dealer to look at it. From your description it sounds as though someone might have scraped the bumper if the black is showing through - so not just the lacquer coming off. It may have been done when new - before you took delivery perhaps? Not unheard of! To paint plastic bumpers successfully requires a sealant coat before the colour is applied - I have done this successfully in the past and used OEM rattle cans for the colour - good match on a small area but a solid colour not metallic etc.

 

[140 PS SE]

Its not uncommon for cars to get marked during transit or have minor defects that need rectification during pdi. But not all dealers have a paint shop and when they don't its farmed out to a local body shop, probably the cheapest and generally cheap means crap.

I would suspect this is what has happened to yours.

After over 3 years you have no chance of getting it done under warranty unless you can prove that no repairs have been carried out since delivery and also get an expert to show it had rectification work carried out post manufacture.

 

[camel2469]

Yes I know the full history of the car....by this i mean it was a company car built from new