Poll for Those with Paint Blistering / Bubbling Defect

[kitkat]

The good news is that they are all being replaced under warranty, with no questions asked (in the UK at least).

The issue is, how long can they realistically afford to do this at £5k+ per car, and will the replacement doors actually solve the issue or just kick the issue into a post warranty time period.

I'm afraid it's the second one

 

[Gooner]

I'm afraid it's the second one

I don’t disagree. We’re starting to see a fair few vehicles that have build dates post the supposed door “fix”. Whilst the build date doesn’t necessarily dictate the date that the components were produced, it wouldn’t make sense for them to use doors that they know may be an issue if a fix was already in place.

 

[R35_J]

Is there any record of anyone having their doors replaced and having the issue again? Or is it too soon to know?

 

[kitkat]

I don’t disagree. We’re starting to see a fair few vehicles that have build dates post the supposed door “fix”. Whilst the build date doesn’t necessarily dictate the date that the components were produced, it wouldn’t make sense for them to use doors that they know may be an issue if a fix was already in place.

The fix was never official, just dealer to customer to forum -- total nonsense.

 

[ADC]

I don’t disagree. We’re starting to see a fair few vehicles that have build dates post the supposed door “fix”. Whilst the build date doesn’t necessarily dictate the date that the components were produced, it wouldn’t make sense for them to use doors that they know may be an issue if a fix was already in place.

You're crediting the left hand with knowing what the right hand it up to here... silly rabbit

This is literally the only issue that really bugs me. If my "forever car" starts blistering years from now, and outside warranty, I'm going to be incredibly miffed. I encourage (read: humbly beg) third parties to start developing ideas for (CF?) door skins and rear quarter panels now... I fear there will be a market for them.

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

You're crediting the left hand with knowing what the right hand it up to here... silly rabbit

This is literally the only issue that really bugs me. If my "forever car" starts blistering years from now, and outside warranty, I'm going to be incredibly miffed. I encourage (read: humbly beg) third parties to start developing ideas for (CF?) door skins and rear quarter panels now... I fear there will be a market for them.

Should be extremely simple to create a mold to create more fiberglass outer door skins.

 

[Gooner]

You're crediting the left hand with knowing what the right hand it up to here... silly rabbit

This is literally the only issue that really bugs me. If my "forever car" starts blistering years from now, and outside warranty, I'm going to be incredibly miffed. I encourage (read: humbly beg) third parties to start developing ideas for (CF?) door skins and rear quarter panels now... I fear there will be a market for them.

Same for me - it’s also my forever car and the risk of paint blistering (again) is a real thief of joy!

 

[Man.v.Cars]

Same for me - it’s also my forever car and the risk of paint blistering (again) is a real thief of joy!

Paint blistering is the least of owners problems. Mines been at JCT600 for 5 1/2 weeks with no end in sight, a first start problem that has now been diagnosed as requiring a replacement ECU and a new engine wiring harness. Main screen repaired, reversing camera replaced, all brake pads replaced, tail light replaced, wiper motors replaced, seat belts replaced, HVAC repair, A pillar airbag fasteners, module in the airbag system replaced, various pipes and hoses checked and reconnected and 2 doors on order not due until February 2025.

Certainly not my 'forever car', its gone when the doors get done and has 10 months of warranty left to run.

 

[Nick in Sydney]

Paint blistering is the least of owners problems. Mines been at JCT600 for 5 1/2 weeks with no end in sight, a first start problem that has now been diagnosed as requiring a replacement ECU and a new engine wiring harness. Main screen repaired, reversing camera replaced, all brake pads replaced, tail light replaced, wiper motors replaced, seat belts replaced, HVAC repair, A pillar airbag fasteners, module in the airbag system replaced, various pipes and hoses checked and reconnected and 2 doors on order not due until February 2025.

Certainly not my 'forever car', its gone when the doors get done and has 10 months of warranty left to run.

Ouch sounds like you got a real lemon. It seems to be incredibly variable-- I've had my Emira for about 18 months and never had an issue (touch fiberglass). There seem to be some Emiras with tons of problems and others with no faults at all.

 

[Man.v.Cars]

Ouch sounds like you got a real lemon. It seems to be incredibly variable-- I've had my Emira for about 18 months and never had an issue (touch fiberglass). There seem to be some Emiras with tons of problems and others with no faults at all.

Jeez, don't mention 'fibre glass', I've been reading a thread on here that went into the complexities of the difference between traditional fibre glass and the Emiras fibre infused plastic (composite) doors/hatch/rear 1/4.

 

[NoelT]

Mine goes in for a service, to have the heater fan replaced and to sort blistering on a door on Thursday - wish me luck!

I'm not going to take a courtesy car because I'm picking up a new Eletre on the same day, yes, I know, the dark side is calling me, but the tax benefits on an electric company car in the UK are to good to pass up!!

 

[Nova]

This is making me nervous. The first NA cars are one year old. I guess I should wish my car a happy birthday. Just hoping that it doesn't suffer from raging hormones, develop acne, and start back talking (lights, error messages, etc).

 

[Tomwa]

Should be extremely simple to create a mold to create more fiberglass outer door skins.

It's a rather complicated door shape, and molds do not last forever. I would trust a company to produce quality CF parts before FG ones, FG requires all the same processes with just a small difference in material costs, but prices are presumed cheap enough that it encourages cutting corners.

 

[Porter]

Our fearless Administrator has been kind enough to clean up the mess in here, and those involved have been notified.

I want to be really clear for everyone though, as my own contribution to that effort: this forum and entire website is topical, for discussion about the car that we own and/or love. It's not a forum for personal attacks, or other extremely off-topic personal axes to grind.

Let's please keep all discussions topical, civil, and respectful. Straying outside that simple guidance will result in significantly more active and interventionist moderation, which absolutely no-one will enjoy.

Thanks!

 

[Rupes]

Alright, hear me out. I just washed the car yesterday on a cold day. Parked down hill to let the doors “drain.” Went to drive today, rolled down the windows, and they came back up streaked and totally wet. Not entirely unusual for colder temps, but I’m wondering if some additional ventilation would help?

When the windows are down, the airflow to the inner doors is increased. In theory, leaving the windows down for a while might allow them to dry out. Alternatively, blowing a fan across/down each door with the window down would increase this effect.

Some have said this issue isn’t a water ingress issue, but how can it not be? I would do anything to try and prevent this issue, even if it’s slightly inconvenient. What do you think?

 

[Man.v.Cars]

Alright, hear me out. I just washed the car yesterday on a cold day. Parked down hill to let the doors “drain.” Went to drive today, rolled down the windows, and they came back up streaked and totally wet. Not entirely unusual for colder temps, but I’m wondering if some additional ventilation would help?

When the windows are down, the airflow to the inner doors is increased. In theory, leaving the windows down for a while might allow them to dry out. Alternatively, blowing a fan across/down each door with the window down would increase this effect.

Some have said this issue isn’t a water ingress issue, but how can it not be? I would do anything to try and prevent this issue, even if it’s slightly inconvenient. What do you think?

You could be correct, but it will happen eventually. The problem with your suggestion is it could delay the replacement of the doors until you're out of the warranty period and you have to stump up $5k+ to solve the issue.

My car had been in a showroom for 12 months so was not exposed to the elements, within 5 months of me having the car and washing once a week the paint bubbled. Let it happen now rather than later.

 

[NoelT]

Update on my paint blistering. Took the car to the main dealers when I was picking up my Eletre. The salesman told me that the paint blistering is pretty much an issue on all first edition V6 models that they have seen back at the centre. The most common place to check for it is on the lip at the top of the door next to the window rubber. I hadn't noticed it on my drivers door (he pointed it out to me), so both of my doors will need to be replaced (the passenger door has blistering below the handle) and they will re apply PPF afterwards. This is turning out to be a really expensive issue for Lotus.

On another note, I love the new Eletre. Super luxurious and drives very well for such a big car. Makes a superb contrast to the Emira in many ways, not least Dark Verdant vs Calloway Green. I'll post a side by side shot when I get the Emira back!

 

[Man.v.Cars]

Update on my paint blistering. Took the car to the main dealers when I was picking up my Eletre. The salesman told me that the paint blistering is pretty much an issue on all first edition V6 models that they have seen back at the centre. The most common place to check for it is on the lip at the top of the door next to the window rubber. I hadn't noticed it on my drivers door (he pointed it out to me), so both of my doors will need to be replaced (the passenger door has blistering below the handle) and they will re apply PPF afterwards. This is turning out to be a really expensive issue for Lotus.

On another note, I love the new Eletre. Super luxurious and drives very well for such a big car. Makes a superb contrast to the Emira in many ways, not least Dark Verdant vs Calloway Green. I'll post a side by side shot when I get the Emira back!

View attachment 55634

It does seem odd that it is affecting cars in the exact same places, mine mirror yours for placement.

As for the Eletre, I had the R version for a couple of days Quick

One of the dealership drivers told me of a story this year of a customer who bought an Eletre being contacted by a Chinese phone number, he ignored it and thought nothing of it until he found his windows partly down the next morning. Turns out Lotus China hadn't updated the sale on their system and the internal sensors of the Eletre basically said someone/something was trapped in the car and so they dropped the windows down remotely. Records were updated but it goes to show the control new electric cars hand over to central command.

 

[Rupes]

You could be correct, but it will happen eventually. The problem with your suggestion is it could delay the replacement of the doors until you're out of the warranty period and you have to stump up $5k+ to solve the issue.

My car had been in a showroom for 12 months so was not exposed to the elements, within 5 months of me having the car and washing once a week the paint bubbled. Let it happen now rather than later.

I thought about that too. But if the new doors are the same as the old ones (we have recent build dates with bubbling), replacing the doors within warranty means the new ones will also bubble post-warranty. Seems like there’s really no escaping it unless you try and mitigate it yourself.

 

[Man.v.Cars]

I thought about that too. But if the new doors are the same as the old ones (we have recent build dates with bubbling), replacing the doors within warranty means the new ones will also bubble post-warranty. Seems like there’s really no escaping it unless you try and mitigate it yourself.

No guarantee that the recent builds didn't receive doors that were from the older batch.