Brand new Cupra - peeling paintwork or what?

KagnuS

Active Member
Jun 4, 2018
18
17
UK
So I've had the car for just over a month and done around 1100 miles. Pretty happy so far.

However, the other day I've noticed a small area where it looks like the paintwork is peeling off. It is at the driver's side, next to the rear light cluster at the joints of the two body panels.

The body panel has a curvature where to me it looks like a defect in the preparation of the surface before painting. So it looks like the paint is not adhering to the metal properly.


72u2xf.jpg


30uzord.jpg


2psggw0.jpg



It doesn't look bad and is barely noticeable, but if you look closely - you can see it. I am just worried that this could come up as a big charge at the end of the lease.


What are your thoughts?
Would this be considered external influence (i.e. a stone chip) and therefore not covered under SEAT warranty?
Should I take it to the dealer or am I just worrying too much?



Cheers!
 

JACUPRA280

Active Member
Jun 18, 2015
932
55
Somewhere
So I've had the car for just over a month and done around 1100 miles. Pretty happy so far.

However, the other day I've noticed a small area where it looks like the paintwork is peeling off. It is at the driver's side, next to the rear light cluster at the joints of the two body panels.

The body panel has a curvature where to me it looks like a defect in the preparation of the surface before painting. So it looks like the paint is not adhering to the metal properly.


72u2xf.jpg


30uzord.jpg


2psggw0.jpg



It doesn't look bad and is barely noticeable, but if you look closely - you can see it. I am just worried that this could come up as a big charge at the end of the lease.


What are your thoughts?
Would this be considered external influence (i.e. a stone chip) and therefore not covered under SEAT warranty?
Should I take it to the dealer or am I just worrying too much?



Cheers!
 

LouG

Active Member
Dec 1, 2017
1,319
481
Nelson, New Zealand
That's not a vulnerable area for stone chips, and it's obviously peeling away from the panel. It has to be a painting flaw. Contaminant on the surface before it was painted?
Easily fixed under warranty
 

SRGTD

Active Member
May 26, 2014
2,388
1,279
So I've had the car for just over a month and done around 1100 miles. Pretty happy so far.

However, the other day I've noticed a small area where it looks like the paintwork is peeling off. It is at the driver's side, next to the rear light cluster at the joints of the two body panels.

The body panel has a curvature where to me it looks like a defect in the preparation of the surface before painting. So it looks like the paint is not adhering to the metal properly.


72u2xf.jpg


30uzord.jpg


2psggw0.jpg



It doesn't look bad and is barely noticeable, but if you look closely - you can see it. I am just worried that this could come up as a big charge at the end of the lease.


What are your thoughts?
Would this be considered external influence (i.e. a stone chip) and therefore not covered under SEAT warranty?
Should I take it to the dealer or am I just worrying too much?



Cheers!

I’d get it in to the dealer to rectify under warranty; it shouldn’t be like that. Incidentally, the panel wth the problem area (bumper) is plastic, not metal.

I’d say it’s unlikely to have been caused by stone chip damage, based on the location of the peeling paint (I’d think it’d be very difficult, and very unlucky for a stone to hit right on the almost recessed area where the bumper meets the quarter panel). Other possible causes of damage;
  • the bumper may have been damaged when the car was in transit from the factory to the dealer and has been resprayed - surprisingly, not that unusual for brand new cars to be damaged while in transit. If the area of any damage wasn’t prepped correctly prior to respray, then the paint may not adhere properly to the plastic bumper, resulting in it peeling off.
  • the bumper could’ve been damaged when the it was fitted to the car on the factory production line and the damage not picked up during quality checking in the factory or dealer PDI prior to delivery to you - unlikely, as I dare say you’d have noticed before now when washing your car (if you wash it yourself) and factory QC / dealer PDI should have picked this up.
  • the supplying dealer may have damaged the car during PDI. Again, unlikely as I dare say you’d have noticed it before now.
The dealer will be able to check the paint thickness on the bumper near the peeling area wth a paint thickness gauge - this will confirm whether or not the bumper has been repainted.

Otherwise, it could be as you suggested - poor prep of the bumper prior to painting in the factory.

You could just buy a touch up pencil and carefully touch on the area. However, you shouldn’t have to do this, and there’s a risk that the edges of the peeled area could peel further, so it would be best to get the dealer to sort it under warranty.

Good luck; hope you get it sorted OK. Let us know how you get on.
 

Nora2004

Active Member
Oct 15, 2017
176
80
It's a common problem so getting it repaired under warranty won't be an issue! I've been lucky, 8 months in and I've not experienced this!
 

Lmbarrett83

Active Member
Sep 8, 2017
1,538
619
Sheffield
That is very unlikely to be stone chip damage especially with the shape and location of it.

Definitely take it to the dealership for a warranty fix first.

You can be surprised at just how reasonable they can be. I've got white worm on an alloy after 30 months of leasing and the dealership are replacing under warranty.
 

dieselface

Active Member
Jul 1, 2010
647
3
Secondary damage at point of fit. Get the claim raised asap and within 3 months of build so martorell are charged for it.
 

KagnuS

Active Member
Jun 4, 2018
18
17
UK
Thank you all for the replies. I will contact the local dealer and get it sorted under warranty. I will let you know how it all works out!
 

RadCordy

Active Member
Aug 2, 2002
342
6
Visit site
I did similar damage to that on a skoda with my pressure washer. They fixed it under warranty even though it was pretty much my fault!
 
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