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Bubbling Paint Issue on Hood

216K views 539 replies 201 participants last post by  peterweb 
#1 ·
Found a paint bubble on our less than 1 year old Pacifica. Our local dealer is waiting on Chrysler to approve the repair. Hoping for a fast turn around to get this fixed before it gets worse.
 

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#2 ·
I'm sorry to see this! Please keep us posted on the repair.

Kori
Chrysler Social Care Specialist
 
#7 ·
FYI In 2016 I had corrosion blisters starting on the leading edge of the hood on my two year old (at the time) 2014 Chrysler T & C and the service department of my local Chrysler dealership took pictures and sent them to Chrysler. Chrysler then approved my repair and furnished me with a brand new hood, which the dealership then painted for me ahead of time. The color didn't have to be blended into the fenders because my T & C was black... All I had to do was show up one morning and they swapped out my blistered hood with the new one and I was on my way home in 30 minutes. I was very impressed with Chrysler Customer Service and the performing dealership!
 
#8 ·
Our paint issue was addressed by the dealer as well. They submitted the pictures to Chrysler and got approval to complete the repair. It took a week (not sure why the delay) but we are happy that Chrysler fixed the problem with no questions or run around. Kori, "ChryslerCares", assisted with get follow up on our issue and the handling of our case with our assigned support representative and the dealership was very positive. Good luck with your issues and if needed use the forum resources to escalate.
 
#9 ·
I'm so glad to hear this was addressed! :grin2:

Kori
Chrysler Social Care Specialist
 
#10 ·
Paint Bubbling

I have had my Pacifica since 8/2016, so it is an early build, and other then a sensor for the stow 'n Go auto seat feature I have been trouble free. With that being said I am pretty fanatical about keeping my cars washed, waxed, quick detailed, polished, clay barred etc......yes even my minivans. 0:)

NO move to this weekend, I washed the van and as I was drying it off I noticed 2 pea size paint bubbles on the front edge of the hood, the crazy thing is I know these were not there last weekend when I washed it as I would have noticed. I am going to make an appointment with the dealer, but wanted to ask to see if anyone else has had an issue and I hope it is taken care of under warranty. I have never had this happen to any car I have owned, much less one that is only a year old. Pics attached and feedback welcome.
 

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#14 ·
I have had my Pacifica since 8/2016, so it is an early build, and other then a sensor for the stow 'n Go auto seat feature I have been trouble free. With that being said I am pretty fanatical about keeping my cars washed, waxed, quick detailed, polished, clay barred etc......yes even my minivans. 0:)

NO move to this weekend, I washed the van and as I was drying it off I noticed 2 pea size paint bubbles on the front edge of the hood, the crazy thing is I know these were not there last weekend when I washed it as I would have noticed. I am going to make an appointment with the dealer, but wanted to ask to see if anyone else has had an issue and I hope it is taken care of under warranty. I have never had this happen to any car I have owned, much less one that is only a year old. Pics attached and feedback welcome.
Hi stratusrt,

If you need further assistance during your dealership appointment please send us a PM with your VIN and let me know.

Andrea
Chrysler Social Care Specialist
 
#11 ·
Looks like the aluminum is beginning to galvanize under the paint. I'd take it in and have it fixed under warranty. They'll probably end up replacing the entire hood as aluminum is very difficult & expensive to work with to cut and sculpt.
 
#13 ·
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#17 ·
I had no issues with paint match, because it was black and my hood came out looking like new. The quality of the job has a lot to do with the skill level of the collision shop employees working on your vehicle and whether or not the dealership has a quality spray booth for painting. Good paint techs will make sure of paint match (blending into adjacent panels if necessary) and maintaining a factory-like texture in how they spray the base coat/clear coat. The spray booth controls the environment (temperature, lighting, ventilation etc.) for painting and helps keep dirt from ending up in the paint surface...
 
#21 ·
I have the same issue in two places on my 2017 bright white. Seems Chrysler has this problem on aluminum hoods both on the Pacifica and other models. Hopefully my dealer will address the issue when I go in armed with all these previous cases. They obviously have a problem here.
 
#24 ·
I noticed just the other day I’m having the paint bubble/peeling issue on the edge of my front bumper cover (on the left side where it meets with the fender). I wonder what the remedy for this would be. Will they replace the bumper cover? I’d prefer not to have the adjacent fender sprayed with new paint if they decide to send it to the body shop.
 
#27 ·
I have a friend who owns a Ford Explorer, and is having the same issue with rust blisters on the leading edge of the hood.
I wonder how many other makes and models are having this problem, what causes it and what are the manufacturers doing about it.
Anyone?
 
#29 ·
Not excusing the paint problems, but it must be difficult to prep, prime & paint all the different exterior body materials: plastics, steel, aluminum (did I leave any out?) and have them all look the same...AND to keep looking the same over time.
 
#30 · (Edited)
This is a general aluminum/paint adhesion conversation from 1997. Some cars seem OK. I wonder if all mfrs. do this. Is aluminum new to FCA?
--------------------------------------------------------
Q. We are evaluating the possibility of installing a new powder paint line for aluminum extrusions and are having some doubts about the proper pretreatment for paint. Can anyone help?
Guillermo L [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Mexico City, Mexico

(1997)
A. Proper pretreatment for aluminum castings and extrusions takes place in at least a 5 stage pretreatment system. The system would consist of the following stages:

  • stage 1: Alkaline cleaner (aluminum-safe, or mild etch)
  • Stage 2: Fresh Water rinse
  • Stage 3: Iron Phosphate solution containing fluoride
  • Stage 4: Fresh Water Rinse (Recirc DI Optional)
  • Stage 5: Fresh Water Rinse (Virgin DI optional)
Choice of cleaner depends on alloy and soils to be removed. The fluoride is the key. It etches the aluminum surface to provide for good paint adhesion. Reduce the stages and you reduce the chances for success.


Craig Burkart
- Naperville, Illinois


(1997)
A. Guillermo, the suggestion Craig Burkart gave you is a very good one. Remember that aluminum does not accept a conversion coating. You must clean the metal and etch it for best adhesion. The D.I. water will help you to rinse any residual contamination from the substrate prior to the next step I.E. E-coat/wet spray/powdercoat, etc. By using a D.I. virginal rinse, the substrate is left in a slightly acidic state the powder just loves to stick to. You could also use reverse osmosis water if you like. The other area of interest to you may be in making sure the grade a casting/extrusion is compatible with the cleaning chemicals to prevent increase cleaning demands or multi chemicals to alleviate problems such as smutting. Bob
 
#33 ·
I'm having trouble defining smutting in aluminum, but it seems similar to oxidation.

https://www.finishing.com/224/96.shtml

"A. It is not "necessary", it is a readily available cheap desmut chemical. Proprietary desmut/deoxidize chemicals are available, but at a higher cost. Most of them work better because they do two functions. Probably the most effective deoxidize desmut is a mixture of sulfuric/nitric/ammonium bifluoride. Effective, but slightly nasty."
 
#35 ·
I did a search, and it appears that Fiat has partnered with Henkel to do this. The Chrysler/Henkel PDF was corrupt, and the web page wasn't there.

This is a page regarding the Fiat/Alfa Giulia, I assume it's the same process. They speak of a combination steel/aluminum pre-treatment process, and I don't see aluminum surface etching as a separate thing. I have no knowledge other than this:

"Henkel announced it will partner with Fiat Chrysler to save weight and improve process and material performance on Alfa Romeo’s Giulia. Henkel and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) are set to discuss their close cooperation in the development of groundbreaking new treatment processes applied to the latest version of the Alfa Romeo Giulia. Both companies plan to share the podium at Surcar 2017, an international meeting on automotive body finishing taking place in June in Cannes, France.

The new Giulia has a body that is 90 kg lighter than a comparable all-steel body. This was reportedly achieved by the use of light metals in combination with new process materials and application technologies. To reduce weight and improve performance, FCA is using aluminum to account for 45% of car body weight. It has adopted a groundbreaking acoustic package to enhance passenger comfort while saving more weight.

The Bonderite two-step metal pretreatment process was developed by Henkel for multi-metal bodies with very high aluminum contents (up to 80%), suggesting to provide superior corrosion performance while reducing investment- and processing costs. The dip-coating process uses zinc phosphate in the first step to treat the steel, followed by an aluminum treatment in the post rinse.

“Aluminum can be eaten up by the acids normally used to phosphate steel, so there is a need to find a balance in the treatment process,” said Manfred Holzmueller, sales director transplant OEM business at Henkel. “Corrosion performance is equal to tricationic Zn-Phosphate, but the bonderite process generates 30-50% less sludge, consumes fewer chemicals, and creates less surface roughness that demands rework. Lower operating temperature also saves energy.”"

https://www.adhesivesmag.com/articl...at-chrysler-to-improve-alfa-romeo-performance
 
#36 ·
Interesting article @bradly1101. I didn't look at the link you included since you said it was corrupt.
"Groundbreaking new treatment", but does it hold up over the passage of time and different atmospheric conditions? Could this be why so many hoods on FCA vehicles are having paint bubbling problems???
 
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