Paint is ruined, and warranty is gone

[Flip-Side]

I have always been concerned about the horrible paint quality on the vibe. I decided since I have had enough of the run around, I wanted the maintenance records that my dealer (McElveen) had on my complaints from the past year and a half. Woops! There are no records showing I complained about the paint. Especially not the 3 times I went in and talked to the manager about the problem. So my stupid self, with no records of my complaints, is stuck with no proof.My car now has about 45,000 miles on it, no GM warranty(I have a 3rd party warranty now), and the paint is horrible. I live in South Carolina and have RUST ON MY CAR! Thats what I get for being out of the country for 7 months this year. >:[ Anyone have some ideas on what I may be able to do?

[tnpartsguy]

Contact Pontiac Customer Assistance. Don't take NO for an answer. If someone tells you know, ask for their supervisor, write letters, just don't let it go. I am concerned about my paint too, yesterday I found MANY paint chips in the hood, front fascia, and roof, and many in the windshield too. Are the Vibes THAT aero sensitive that they get pelted more than normal?

[Raven]

I don't know what it is. Maybe I'm just used to driving pick-ups. It seems that every time I meet a truck or larger vehicle on the highway, I get nailed with at least 1 stone. The windshield is broken in 3 places and has enough pits to look like a relief map of the moon. It's an '04 and is a total rock magnet.

[PEDALS]

Paint Question.when i put my bike rack on the back of my vibe the foam covering the metal on the rack took all the paint off the part of my trunk it was touching. i went to the dealer and they said because it wasn't a factory rack they wont cover it. i had the rack on my sunfire for years and had no problems. should this be something that is covered by the dealer??

[ColonelPanic]

Whereabouts are you finding rust? You're still covered under the corrosion warranty, *but* the rust has to eat all the way through the metal before they'll do anything about it. I'd say call GM, state your case, maybe they'll do something out of good will for you... Good luck to you, I hope somebody can help you out!I've got some rust on mine too.

[Flip-Side]

Quote, originally posted by PEDALS »Paint Question.when i put my bike rack on the back of my vibe the foam covering the metal on the rack took all the paint off the part of my trunk it was touching.Trust me...its the paint. I have the same problem with my cargo carrier I use on the roof rack. The hatch bumps it a bit, and while I expect some scratches(even though I use a foam pad), paint is flaking off down to the primer. Other chips on my vehicle are down to the metal and have started to rust. The hood is terrible, and there are paint flakes missing from my rear bumper. My wife set 2 gallons of milk on the bumper, and the chunks of paint just broke off. Pathetic. I love the vibe, but jeez...I would have paid GM extra just to use decent paint.Thanks for the input everyone. I'll try to call the Customer Assistance line again, and be a little less nice about it this time.

[Mavrik]

maybe its only the canadian Vibes that have an extended rust through warranty that extends beyond the 3 year 60,000km/36,000mile limit.But the rust has to be from the inside out, any surface rust due to stone chips etc does not count.

[chilipeppervibe]

Hey, all...first off, i'm a newbie here, so plz forgive me if i'm replying late, or even incorrectly. my fiancee bought an 04 vibe new in Dec of 03, and everything has been going great. i know that has nothing to do with this topic, but i'm getting there.if you look in the owner's manual, there is a section regarding the paint. i'm not sure the exact length, but i believe the paint is covered for 6 yrs/60K miles. i would definitely check that out if i were any of you. the bike rack issue might not be covered, but that rust issue should be covered. anyways, thanks for having a great site.

[Mavrik]

the paint warranty is for rust or bubbles forming under the paint. Stone chips that then rust and lift off paint does not count, discolouration from foreign materials on the car like bug guts or bird turd not covered either. It has to be caused by a defect of the paint itself. Saying the car did not have thick enough paint on it to begin with (common argument) does not work. GM has yet to admit the paint is to thin and probably never will due to the costs they would have to be hit with to repaint everyone's Vibe.

[kharman]

most of you may already know this, but if you don't...here it is...despite making otherwise fine automotive products, GM paint jobs have always been, always are and always will be crap...earl schieb does a better job with his $99.95 jobs....that's just the way it goes...i complained about my paint job after only having my vibe for a year...the dealer actually laughed at me....oh well...

[Flip-Side]

Well I talked to the hotline, and the dealer to no avail. The vibe just has sub-standard paint. Just so everyone knows, there is not base coat/clear coat on GM cars today. Just primer, and then super cheap and thin PPG paint. It's a family car, so I am not (removed) about the condition of my car, but I don't want the thing to rust to pieces before I finish paying it off. If I want the vibe to have better paint, I'll just have to strip it down and get a decent paint job elsewhere. Thanks GM! I will never again purchase another new vehicle from you. Ever. I mean, at least Saturn uses awesome paint and you would figure GM might wise up a little.

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by Flip-Side » The vibe just has sub-standard paint. Just so everyone knows, there is not base coat/clear coat on GM cars today. Just primer, and then super cheap and thin PPG paint. .sorry but,All GM assembled vehicles have basecoat/clearcoat and that it is TOYOTA run assembly not GM. GM only is there in nameplate.SO to correct you it should be: The vibe just has sub-standard paint. Just so everyone knows, there is not base coat/clear coat on TOYOTA cars today. Just primer, and then super cheap and thin PPG paintQuote, originally posted by Flip-Side » Thanks GM! I will never again purchase another new vehicle from you. Ever. I mean, at least Saturn uses awesome paint and you would figure GM might wise up a little.again "Thanks TOYOTA! I will never again purchase another new vehicle from you. Ever."

[Flip-Side]

I don't like editing my past posts, just adding new ones for corrections. Scherry2 is right though. As the NUMMI plant website says, there is a clear coat on every color except white. NUMMI uses a toyota assembly line. I was just convinced that my pro-painter friend was correct about GM paint, and jumped to conclusions before thinking of NUMMI(Toyota and GM venture). I believe Scherry2 has also had good luck with getting his car repainted, so there is hope for those of you still under warranty. That still does not explain why I scratched my paint just yesterday when I waxed my car. I was upset I added a new foot long scratch with a gentle glide of a finger, and it just does not make any sense. I have waxed every vehicle my family has owned, and I have never scratched the paint with such a gentle touch. I mean, I had blue paint on my fingernail...and I could not detect any clearcoat so I assumed what my friend said was right. I'm gonna check on this some more, and perhaps we can find ways for future vibe buyers to inspect the paint before they buy. Someone pass the Rustoleum...LOL."Thanks NUMMI! I will never buy another new car from you again."Thanks to Scherry for ruining my rampage.