Paint issues? Does Your Car Live in a Garage or Outside?

[John_Matrix]

I’d like to try to better understand why some cars are suffering with paint blistering while
others are not. I think some owners have their cars outside a lot. Perhaps overnight. If the car is exposed to changes of temperature and left in the rain, regularly, is is more likely to exhibit paint issues than a car that is garaged most of the time and mostly used in good weather.
Let’s try and understand the issue a little better.

 

[Jinba ittai]

You may find a correlation with keeping the car outdoors, but so what? You should be able to park a car outdoors. It’s definitely a manufacturing defect, as evidenced by the significantly lower rates of issues on later cars.

 

[John_Matrix]

You may find a correlation with keeping the car outdoors, but so what? You should be able to park a car outdoors. It’s definitely a manufacturing defect, as evidenced by the significantly lower rates of issues on later cars.

I agree. You should be able to park the car outdoors. The issue I have will be shared with many others- my car is a second car, used for fun on nice days. I garage it overnight. I’m in my last year of warranty. If this is a defect that ALL cars will have, then I need it to happen on my car sooner rather than later. I’m not clear if the paint warranty will be honoured past the cars third birthday.
At present, according to the other poll, not all owners have had this issue. IF that’s because those owners are garaging overnight and not exposing to water other than during washing, we need to KNOW that now.
Lots of Porsche 996 had bore scoring issues. Not ALL of them. If this problem is a manufacturing defect effecting ALL CARS, not a few, then I’d like that established as fact. Hence this poll.

 

[Blackthought_]

I agree. You should be able to park the car outdoors. The issue I have will be shared with many others- my car is a second car, used for fun on nice days. I garage it overnight. I’m in my last year of warranty. If this is a defect that ALL cars will have, then I need it to happen on my car sooner rather than later. I’m not clear if the paint warranty will be honoured past the cars third birthday.
At present, according to the other poll, not all owners have had this issue. IF that’s because those owners are garaging overnight and not exposing to water other than during washing, we need to KNOW that now.
Lots of Porsche 996 had bore scoring issues. Not ALL of them. If this problem is a manufacturing defect effecting ALL CARS, not a few, then I’d like that established as fact. Hence this poll.

Good idea on the thread. I’ve thought about the exact same thing. I suspect that MOST owners have a garage and don’t let the car get wet (likely because they don’t daily it). My hunch is that if you leave the car outside, high probability it will experience paint issues

 

[Jinba ittai]

I agree. You should be able to park the car outdoors. The issue I have will be shared with many others- my car is a second car, used for fun on nice days. I garage it overnight. I’m in my last year of warranty. If this is a defect that ALL cars will have, then I need it to happen on my car sooner rather than later. I’m not clear if the paint warranty will be honoured past the cars third birthday.
At present, according to the other poll, not all owners have had this issue. IF that’s because those owners are garaging overnight and not exposing to water other than during washing, we need to KNOW that now.
Lots of Porsche 996 had bore scoring issues. Not ALL of them. If this problem is a manufacturing defect effecting ALL CARS, not a few, then I’d like that established as fact. Hence this poll.

Makes sense. Give it the highest chance of failure while still under warranty. My unscientific understanding is that paint bubbling is rare on the North American / 2024+ cars. You might be onto something with the earlier ones.

 

[allenyao09]

I think the paint bubbling issue is only seen on early production cars

 

[fringe]

While garaging may mitigate paint blistering, vehicles should withstand outdoor conditions without such issues. The reduced incidence in later models suggests a manufacturing defect rather than environmental factors. Owners should ensure any defects manifest within the warranty period to facilitate repairs.

 

[Beachbum]

I agree. You should be able to park the car outdoors. The issue I have will be shared with many others- my car is a second car, used for fun on nice days. I garage it overnight. I’m in my last year of warranty. If this is a defect that ALL cars will have, then I need it to happen on my car sooner rather than later. I’m not clear if the paint warranty will be honoured past the cars third birthday.
At present, according to the other poll, not all owners have had this issue. IF that’s because those owners are garaging overnight and not exposing to water other than during washing, we need to KNOW that now.
Lots of Porsche 996 had bore scoring issues. Not ALL of them. If this problem is a manufacturing defect effecting ALL CARS, not a few, then I’d like that established as fact. Hence this poll.

The 5yr/3yr debate is something that will continue, until someone pushes it with Lotus and wins.
In reality, they do not have a leg to stand on, but I am guessing they will try and say it was an unintended error, that was never meant to be published. Unfortunately for them, the fact it was on their website for 2yrs and they did nothing about it, until late 2024, will mean they will be legally responsible for their website content and it will form part of the warranty for cars purchased prior to them changing the info on their website
I have had a similar issue with a non-car related item and it took 3 months to sort out, but in the end threats of legal action resulted in the manufacturer adhering to the original wording in the warranty. Given this is a Car and for some reason Cars have their own sets of laws in the UK, then I can see it getting messy, but once Solicitors get involved, they will have no choice but to back down, as the legal bills will build quickly and they will be liable for those too

 

[cwfg]

As someone on the fence about buying a used Emira, I would love to know more about this too. It's the potential paint issues that are holding me back right now from pulling the trigger. Pretty much all used cars currently available are these early models and so I have to decide if the risk of future paint issues post warranty is a deal breaker. There isn't enough data at the moment to make a calculated decision. All I can do is ask if the car has already had the work done, or see if it currently presents on the car. Failing either of those, it's a complete gamble with just a year left on the warranty. That makes this a universal problem (for early owners and potential buyers) in my eyes with the added complication that if I (or any used purchaser) bought one now I can't argue that I relied on the 5 year paint warranty at purchase so the odds are even lower of Lotus honouring it in a fight.

 

[harleyujoe]

I know even after manufacturing they sit at port for weeks even with plastic they are still getting weathered to some degree
and dealers do not have them inside for a week or two before picking up....And washing them still getting wet ..
These new paints they use today and it could be the enviroment of acid rain and such over time that could be breaking down paint life..
It's is something over time with those that are outside and not garaged....
Than the few who drive their Emira's all year round even in snow will be nice over time to hear how their paint is holding up..

 

[Beachbum]

As someone on the fence about buying a used Emira, I would love to know more about this too. It's the potential paint issues that are holding me back right now from pulling the trigger. Pretty much all used cars currently available are these early models and so I have to decide if the risk of future paint issues post warranty is a deal breaker. There isn't enough data at the moment to make a calculated decision. All I can do is ask if the car has already had the work done, or see if it currently presents on the car. Failing either of those, it's a complete gamble with just a year left on the warranty. That makes this a universal problem (for early owners and potential buyers) in my eyes with the added complication that if I (or any used purchaser) bought one now I can't argue that I relied on the 5 year paint warranty at purchase so the odds are even lower of Lotus honouring it in a fight.

It makes no difference when you buy it, it is effectively the date Lotus sell it to the first customer that is relevant.
You can and should say, that the car you bought, was bought with the understanding that it had a 5yr warranty, as that was Lotus was offering when they sold it.

 

[KJWEmira]

My Emira was FULLY PPF'd, always garaged, never used in the wet or winter (ok, I was caught in one or two showers)...I also had the official indoor cover, but only used it once..

The car was an early 2022 model & it took 18 months for the blistering to appear - FYI it was a very hot & sunny day for the UK when it did finally appear.

 

[jp129]

My Emira was FULLY PPF'd, always garaged, never used in the wet or winter (ok, I was caught in one or two showers)...I also had the official indoor cover, but only used it once..

The car was an early 2022 model & it took 18 months for the blistering to appear - FYI it was a very hot & sunny day for the UK when it did finally appear.

How did the blistering present itself with PPF?

 

[KJWEmira]

I agree. You should be able to park the car outdoors. The issue I have will be shared with many others- my car is a second car, used for fun on nice days. I garage it overnight. I’m in my last year of warranty. If this is a defect that ALL cars will have, then I need it to happen on my car sooner rather than later. I’m not clear if the paint warranty will be honoured past the cars third birthday.
At present, according to the other poll, not all owners have had this issue. IF that’s because those owners are garaging overnight and not exposing to water other than during washing, we need to KNOW that now.
Lots of Porsche 996 had bore scoring issues. Not ALL of them. If this problem is a manufacturing defect effecting ALL CARS, not a few, then I’d like that established as fact. Hence this poll.

Hi @John_Matrix
The below is what Lotus sent to me as I was told by my Dealer that extending the warranty after 3 years would not cover the bodywork & paint.
The dealer also said this is an inherent issue from previous models and was raised as a concern at the time of building, but upper management didn't want to do anything about it.
It's the same company in France manufacturing the body panels too - well, so I was told.

I've outlined the important bit in Red. A bit sneaky in my opinion......

 

[KJWEmira]

How did the blistering present itself with PPF?

@jp129 - I’ve attached a couple of photos

 

[cwfg]

Hi @John_Matrix
The below is what Lotus sent to me as I was told by my Dealer that extending the warranty after 3 years would not cover the bodywork & paint.
The dealer also said this is an inherent issue from previous models and was raised as a concern at the time of building, but upper management didn't want to do anything about it.
It's the same company in France manufacturing the body panels too - well, so I was told.

I've outlined the important bit in Red. A bit sneaky in my opinion......




View attachment 61458

Interesting. So does Lotus view the issue as a “corrosion” problem covered by the 8 year warranty as it’s in fact not the paint, but the panel… “inside to out”. That could change things quite a bit

 

[ADC]

I think the paint bubbling issue is only seen on early production cars

If only... on my Feb 2024 build, first blister appeared a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Man.v.Cars]

Interesting. So does Lotus view the issue as a “corrosion” problem covered by the 8 year warranty as it’s in fact not the paint, but the panel… “inside to out”. That could change things quite a bit

I've had the argument with them over that too, they say its not 'corrosion'. My last email laid out the Consumer Protection Act 2015 and inherent faults covering for up to 6yrs. They admit there is a fault and will fix so they really don't have a leg to stand on. Not heard back from them.