Lexus ES 350 Paint Problems

I have a 2006 RX330 and about 2 years ago I noticed the clear paint bubbling on my driver side mirror and peeling. I called lexus dealership and told them what was happening and the guy on the phone told me that should be covered by my warranty. So I brought the car in and they changed their minds and they accused me of PEELING THE PAINT MYSELF! After long arguments over the phone with me and than sticking my husband on them they ordered me a replacement. I knew a guy that worked there (who at the time was a sales manager) and I told him what happened with them accusing me and treating me poorly. He was the one who took care of the problem for me but he said that they were paying for it out of their pocket as a favor to him since I knew him and it wasn't covered by warranty. I'm sure I am still known as the b!tch at the dealership.
Fast forward to now and it's happening again in the mirror that was replaced and also on the passenger side mirror as well as all of the door handles. This looks ridiculous! There has got to be something we can do about this.

Replies to this message:

kenb757 (Aug 02, 2010 9:13 am)

#55 of 83 Re: ES 350 2008 Obsidian Black other paint problem [hafaithve] by kenb757

Aug 02, 2010 (9:13 am)

Replying to: hafaithve (Aug 01, 2010 12:57 pm)

And this is why you bought a Lexus? Are you sure you didn't buy it from a Yugo dealership?

#56 of 83 ES350 Rust and Paint problems by roadster8

Sep 06, 2010 (9:55 am)

I live in Canada but weather is no different than Northern US. I have a white 2007 ES350 and had a 3M clear shield applied to the hood before delivery so have not had stone chip problems. But the car started to show rust when it was brand new in areas protected by trim, like under window molding, behind door handles, in the water channel under the trunk lid and on the trunk lid itself. Both rear doors and the trunk channel have been repainted under warrantee (there were roughly 20 different rust spots) but Lexus refuses to acknowledge that the car has an inherent problem. Two mag wheels also had to be repainted due to paint bubbling. I've been driving Lexus for 15 years but this will be the last. I hope someone manages to show them that they cannot advertise "Perfection", charge premium prices then stick consumers with inferior product.

#57 of 83 problem windshield moldings by lldevil

Sep 17, 2010 (10:50 pm)

I purchased my 2008 IS 250 new here in Phoenix, Arizona. My service advisor, whom I adore said I should purchase the clear bra for the car. I haven't and my black paint has held up pretty well considering? I may check again. I went through the recall for the floor mats and gas pedal. No big deal. Had my valves serviced three times now for getting clogged? Always use premium. Now I only use Shell premium gasoline and all is good, just like they said! I do have a question. I just recently had to have my windshield replaced. At first glance, it looked like the glass company just did a horrible job! The moldings around the sides of the windshield is all cracked and glued back together and the moldings around the bottom of the windshield is cracked, rotting and coming away from the car. It literally crumbles in your hands. Come to find out the moldings around the windshield are just bad. Defective? The car is only two years old and well taken care of. So, new moldings are being ordered and replaced. I am curious if anyone else has this problem? And, are the rest of the seals around the windows in the car going to start to crack and rot too? I'm kind of bummed.

#58 of 83 Lexus ES 330 by elijesse

Sep 28, 2010 (9:11 pm)

I have a 2006 ES 330, color is Black Garnet Pearl...it looks like Black Cherry..very pretty color. I purchased it 12 months ago..at that time, the paint was fine, no dings or chips. I have noticed in the past few months chips of paint missing on the hood and bumper. The car appears to have a cloudy finish now. I wash it weekly and take very good care of it...I have also noticed loud "road noise", I noticed that the seal around the windshield is cracking and I wonder if the noise I'm hearing is from the windshield. After reading the other comments posted about dark colored Lexus..I feel certain I am on my own in dealing with the paint issues, but what about the seal/seals....I bought a Lexus becasue i wanted quality, I was very unhappy with my previous domestic and wanted to have a quality vehicle...I'm staring to think this was not a good idea. Any suggestions.

#59 of 83 paint chips lexus 350 es by brina5

Sep 29, 2010 (1:39 pm)

Help , my paint gets worse everyday . First oil change , I told my dealer and he said that is the curse of the Lexus Paint . Wow, that made me feel great . So of course they will not paint the car . He said it was just road conditions too . Bull ,I had a 11 year old Honda , Only had a few chips in paint , no dings in the paint . Makes me sick for the money I paid . Honda had 237000 miles . What can we do from here ? Is ther a lawsuit for this going on ?

#60 of 83 Paint problem vs design of ES 350 by renee22

Feb 01, 2011 (2:57 pm)

My blue ES 350 had hundreds of chips on the hood. I had Lexus of Carlsbad auto shop repaint it and within months there were hundreds more. I took it to an excellent independent auto body shop and had it repainted at my own expense. Within 2 weeks there were chips already forming. I went back to the shop and he pointed out there were also a myriad of chips in my windshield and in the paint of my rear view mirrors. He feels that the design of the car with the front dipping down allows for debris to come up and chip the paint and other parts of the car.
I'd be glad to join in a class action lawsuit also.
I had bought a 2006 ES 350 and had a loud thunk sound at various times. After taking it to the dealership many times, they finally admitted they could not fix it. The head mechanic said that most of the 2006 ES 350s had this problem. So I had to buy a newer car, the one I have now, a 2007 ES 350, which was not in my budget. And now I have the paint problem.
I had a 1995 Lexus for 14 years and had no problems whatsoever. That is why I spent the money to buy another Lexus, and I have nothing but problems!!!

Replies to this message:

draperysewer (Feb 01, 2011 4:04 pm)
- draperysewer (Feb 01, 2011 4:12 pm)
- qtgrits (Jun 21, 2011 5:26 pm)
  - sberger (Jun 22, 2011 6:02 am) and 2 more...

#61 of 83 Re: Paint problem vs design of ES 350 [renee22] by draperysewer

Feb 01, 2011 (4:04 pm)

Replying to: renee22 (Feb 01, 2011 2:57 pm)

I started this thread three years ago on the paint issue. I have appreciated the comments that others are experiencing the same. Thank goodness I leased this vehicle and it was a happy day Friday when I turned it in and picked up my very fun to drive Buick LaCrosse. I was so disappointed in the quality of this 2008 ES, when compared to 3 other ES models that I have leased or owned. I felt the quality had declined with my 2008 model. In the last few months it developed a very annoying rattle up by the locking mechanism of the sunroof. It does not rattle all the time but when it does, it isn't pleasant. My Michalin tires lasted less than 24,000 miles. I paid for regular rotations. Either the dealer never actually rotated them, but collected the money, or they are inferior. My right front had barely any tread and the left front wasn't much better. At no charge the dealer did exchange the fronts and rear tires. The rear tires weren't real good but they definitely had more tread. I finally was able to ignore the paint issue and just count the days until turning it in. Yesterday I bumped the door frame edge of my new car with a metal pan. I nearly died thinking I had made a knick on my 4 day old car. I was so relieved it didn't even scratch it. I wrote Lexus numerous times with no response. Lexus requested that I send one question to the General Manager, Lexus US. Paint was it. I never heard back sadly. Maybe they don't care or maybe they think they can ride on previous quality image. Good luck to you all. For you that own the vehicle...go for it on what ever compensation you can get.

Replies to this message:

draperysewer (Feb 01, 2011 4:12 pm)
qtgrits (Jun 21, 2011 5:26 pm)
- sberger (Jun 22, 2011 6:02 am)
  - Kirstie@Edmunds (Jun 22, 2011 7:00 am)

#62 of 83 Re: Paint problem vs design of ES 350 [draperysewer] by draperysewer

Feb 01, 2011 (4:12 pm)

Replying to: draperysewer (Feb 01, 2011 4:04 pm)

A final thought on the car design. There may be merit to the design being the problem, but I don't really buy it. My 2002 was a very similar front and never had the chipping issue. This is not the only vehicle with a sloping hood design. I guess you would have to ask owners of other brand models if they experience the same.

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