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Chevrolet Impala Paint Problems

185 messages,  Last post on Oct 16, 2011 at 2:21 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Impala Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Impala, Paint, Sedan

Messages Page 15 of 19

#136 of 185 Re: paint chipping [quietpro] by susanm5

Feb 04, 2008 (4:53 pm)

Replying to: quietpro (Jan 19, 2008 4:53 pm)
I had a 2000 Red El Dorado and drove it for 7 years and only had 1 paint chip! I also have a Ford Truck that I encounter the salt truck with all the time and not one chip in 25,000 miles! My Impala had chips at 3,000 miles!

#137 of 185 Chevy SS paint problems start with... by 92735i

Feb 06, 2008 (10:50 am)

I am in the auto body paint business and am in dealership and private body shops all day long. Chevy does not clear the inside of the hood, door jambs, etc. intentionally. This decision is pure cost cutting NOT quality! Clear coat is cheaper than base coat (color) but the cost of materials plus labor and production time is significant.
I was at a chevy dealer yesterday (2/5/08) and body shop manager stated they painted 3 hoods on brand new showroom Impalas. The manager stated the problem appeared like "a blob of bird poop...in the same spot on all three cars..."
 
If there ever was a production problem this is it. My guess is contamination in the production line at GM where a robot or other peice of equipment was leaking fluid or oil of some type and a number of Impalas moved under and through while catching a drop of contamination on top of the clear coat on the same spot of the hood.
 
I am now in the market to replace my 1992 BMW 735i with 257,000 miles on it. I am the original owner. I am an independant sales agent and drive 500-1000 miles a week here out of Chicago across the entire midwest. I need a new car that can handle high mileage with minimal repairs AND drive through snow regardless of how bad the weather is.
 
I was hoping to purchase an American car...I have always driven German or Japanese cars...after reading posts about this Impala which I was leaning towards the SS, and reading posts on the Charger and Magnum....FORGET IT!!!
 
I can't afford a car that has been manufactured with shoddy quality (paint on Impala) with focus on cost cutting....and the Dodge's reportedly having transmission problems and steering rack problems...I know because I bought my wife a brand new Chrysler Town and Country LTD with AWD for safety. They've had to replace tranny, steering rack, water pump, tie rod bushings, sway bar bushings...our van has 68,000 miles.
 
My bimmer has original engine and tranny. No problems with drivetrain. Original A/C compressor, original starter motor, original brake master cylinder, power steering pump, etc.
 
I wonder if I should just spend $5k-$7k to refresh my car and just keep driving it and save $20k or more.
 
Very disappointing on "American made".

#138 of 185 2007 Precision Red Impala by ktr48

Aug 02, 2008 (7:49 pm)

I happened on this site by accident and by chance I have a huge amount of paint chips on the hood of my 2007 precision red Impala. Is this something to head to the dealer about? I just thought we got blasted by a truck or something but could not think of when. I have never had a car this small before so I just thought it was because the front end was so low. If anybody has any warranty info on this please let me know! I hate to mess with the factory paint but the chips look like crap on a new car.

#139 of 185 Re: 2007 Precision Red Impala [ktr48] by stanyh

Aug 07, 2008 (5:01 pm)

Replying to: ktr48 (Aug 02, 2008 7:49 pm)
The newer Impala's have a low hood line. Its an invitation for rocks to fly on. You may easily fix the problem by having 3M plastic molded on the hood.
 
I had a 2004 new generation Toyota Sienna with the same problem. However, notice how the zinc stays on the metal surface on the Impala. Thus the hood may lack the paint, but there is no rust. With the Sienna, the paint chipped of, so did the zinc. Thus the hood rusted.
 
Honda's have a worst reputation. Paint chips very easily.
 
Our roads are much more populated than before, and many roads have much rocks and contaminants on them. The car in front of you has these rocks flying at high speed towards your car. Its tough to keep a car new today.
 
Its certainly not the fault of the manufacturer if rocks fly all over our cars. 3M plastic will help. Even than, rocks will tear the plastic on small areas.
 
GM typically has good automated paint shops. They have had some paint problems in the past on some models, Malibu, Corsica for example. But its rather rare. But the Impala has all good around components for the price paid. $26K Canadian for such an equipped vehicule is good. The Impala is also reliable. Its simply a good familly car that will do well for the dollars invested.

#140 of 185 Re: 2007 Precision Red Impala [ktr48] by susanm5

Sep 18, 2008 (7:40 pm)

Replying to: ktr48 (Aug 02, 2008 7:49 pm)
My Precision Red 2007 Impala SS has chips on the whole bumper and starting to chip on the hood and fenders. It was repainted 3 months after I bought it new for the same problem. I would say that something is defective with this paint!

#141 of 185 Re: Defective Paint on 07 Impala SS Red??? [susanm5] by mkg1

Sep 23, 2008 (5:43 pm)

Replying to: susanm5 (Mar 08, 2007 7:26 pm)
yes I'm having same problem on my precision red 08 impala. the dealer said it was body style and normal stone chips, gm agreed. what know?

#142 of 185 Re: Defective Paint on 07 Impala SS Red??? [mkg1] by robsandi

Sep 24, 2008 (5:57 am)

Replying to: mkg1 (Sep 23, 2008 5:43 pm)
I had my Impala only 3 months before the paint on the hood started to chip off. I was told the same thing that it was normal. But if you looked at my hood you could see gray spots all over it where the paint was gone. I checked the internet and found out I was not the only one with this problem. My advise stick to your guns ask to see the regional manager and tell him you have researched this problem with the red paint coming out of Canada and GM has repainted them. File a complaint with Better Business. They will get back to you and the dealer. You will get action soon after filing a complaint. Also have all these paint complaints available to help you. GM repainted our hood and fenders. Also on these Impalas there was a recall for the back windows that scratched going up and down. They replaced them also.

#143 of 185 Re: Defective Paint on 07 Impala SS Red??? [robsandi] by 92735i

Sep 24, 2008 (7:21 am)

Replying to: robsandi (Sep 24, 2008 5:57 am)
I feel sorry for us consumers who purchased the Impala. I really like the car and it is a value BUT, this is just anothere example of why Detroit is in the condition it's in.
 
The tendency for the front hood to chip is not a paint defect, it is a design issue. The front nose is low and causes the hood panel to be a perfect target for gravel and sand.
 
The paint defect is a production problem (as I described in my original post). Where paint, located high on the hood, seems to crust up like a boil. This appears in the same general area on many Impalas. This appears to be a contamination issue in the production line, thus the consistency of the reoccurence.
 
As for rock chips, the only way to address this on the car is to install either a shield or the clear plastic film over the hood and fenders. Many detail shops and window tinting shops offer this.
 
As for the paint defect, you should explore the BBB or lemon laws, or contact a regional official for GM/Chevy. As for me, I own a Ford!

#144 of 185 impala paint problems by mkg1

Sep 24, 2008 (5:36 pm)

thanks for the heads up... by the way mine is an 07 also. and I looked again today and I have more it's starting on my doors. my car has the measles. It isn' the design. It's the paint.

#145 of 185 Re: impala paint problems [mkg1] by turbotaguy

Mar 25, 2009 (7:43 pm)

Replying to: mkg1 (Sep 24, 2008 5:36 pm)
My 08 Impala SS has severe chips all over the front end (fascia, hood, fenders, pillars). Like many here I thought I was behind a gravel truck, but I am sooo careful I knew it couldn't be.
 
Has anyone really had good luck at a dealer having it repaired?

Messages Page 15 of 19

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