Gm paint sucks

15silverado · September 5, 2016

Is it just me or is other people having the same thing happen to their trucks? If you just bump and I mean bump the paint with a hard object it chips the paint and will leave a ding or dent. I know things aren't built like they used to be but wtf!!! I use my truck like a truck not just a people carrier. For example I was picking up a chain to put it in the bed and it bumped the tailgate and put two nice little dents in it and another time I opened my driver door in the garage and it bump a piece of bar stock and it chipped the door edge. I know stuff will happen but it doesn't even have hit the paint very hard like if you breathe on it it just chips. I have a 05 and a 97 f250 and they take a beating and nothing happens just maybe a scratch.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · September 5, 2016

The only place I have that problem is the edge of the door from opening it and if it hits anything like a fence it usually chips. But, that's no a huge deal to me since I figure it's thin there and it's no big deal to use to fix it at a spot that you don't really notice.

LongrangeLauber · September 5, 2016

Mine is the same way, just another way manufacturers cut corners to cut costs for themselves and then hike up the price for the consumer, ridiculous IMO

15 Z71 · September 5, 2016

Yeah my 15 same way,im real careful now. My 06 paint was really good. But I do aree paint is super thin now.

nfisherman · September 5, 2016

I agree. We bought a Honda Odyssey about the same time as my Sierra. The paint on the Odyssey is much better. The GM paint is thin and chips way too easily.

OldBlue61 · September 5, 2016

A lot of the changes to the paint is because of the switch to water-based paints. Believe me, GM is not hardly the worst. My 2011 VW GTI looked like it had been through a sandstorm after the first winter - all the chips in the paint were ridiculous. Unfortunately it's become the norm for all cars/trucks today, with the switch to environmentally friendly paints.

2016 Sierra Owner · September 6, 2016

I'm with you there. I've had my 16 just over a month now. Our babysitter lives a mile down a gravel road and as slow as I try to drive it. I have 3 rock chips in both my lower front doors and I can't count how many in the back of the bed area behind the rear wheels. It really sucks!!

15 Z71 · September 6, 2016

I'm with you there. I've had my 16 just over a month now. Our babysitter lives a mile down a gravel road and as slow as I try to drive it. I have 3 rock chips in both my lower front doors and I can't count how many in the back of the bed area behind the rear wheels. It really sucks!!

I know it does suck. When my truck was new the bridgestone A/T's picked up rocks like crazy. I hated hearing them ping off the truck. I put some weather tech mudflaps on helped a ton. Do you have any on your truck?

OldBlue61 · September 6, 2016

I put some weather tech mudflaps on helped a ton. Do you have any on your truck?

I put them on mine. Hope they help.

TJay74 · September 7, 2016

Blame it on the EPA and the water based paints they require because of the VOH's. Our Lincoln vehicles had the same issues in regards to paint just as our GM issues. Our Audi though has been doing well so far, no chips in the paint and the front end looks pristine still, helps that it was made in Germany where the EPA cant reach and the good urethane paint is still used.

2016 Sierra Owner · September 7, 2016

I know it does suck. When my truck was new the bridgestone A/T's picked up rocks like crazy. I hated hearing them ping off the truck. I put some weather tech mudflaps on helped a ton. Do you have any on your truck?

None yet but, I need to look at getting some.

CounterMeasure · September 7, 2016

Blame it on the EPA and the water based paints they require because of the VOH's. Our Lincoln vehicles had the same issues in regards to paint just as our GM issues. Our Audi though has been doing well so far, no chips in the paint and the front end looks pristine still, helps that it was made in Germany where the EPA cant reach and the good urethane paint is still used.

I disagree. Sure, new formula paint is not as durable as older mixes, however, it has a lot to do with how the manufacturer mixes and applies it. For example, I had another vehicle bead blasted back to bare metal, primed and painted with water-based paint. The shop that did is very reputable, and they put a lifetime warranty on the paint. There isn't any orange peel like my Denali because they *gasp* actually took their time to shoot the paint and buffed the paint like manufacturer's used to do instead of seeing how fast a robot can get panels through a paintbooth. I had it done about 6 months before I had bought my Denali, and that paint is holding up much better. Not even a single rock chip even though its my son's daily driver, meanwhile, my Denali's front end looks like a teenager's face.

Silverado Steve · September 7, 2016

Yes, its a combo of water based paints and car manufacturers who rush the water based paint curing process in order to not slow down the assembly line. Unfortunately more and more manufacturers are cuttting this corner. Youre never going to beat a quality paint job from a reputable paint shop. GM is not in the car painting business, just pump out as many cars as they can, keep that assembly line moving to keep their costs down and profits up.

I disagree. Sure, new formula paint is not as durable as older mixes, however, it has a lot to do with how the manufacturer mixes and applies it. For example, I had another vehicle bead blasted back to bare metal, primed and painted with water-based paint. The shop that did is very reputable, and they put a lifetime warranty on the paint. There isn't any orange peel like my Denali because they *gasp* actually took their time to shoot the paint and buffed the paint like manufacturer's used to do instead of seeing how fast a robot can get panels through a paintbooth. I had it done about 6 months before I had bought my Denali, and that paint is holding up much better. Not even a single rock chip even though its my son's daily driver, meanwhile, my Denali's front end looks like a teenager's face.

TJay74 · September 8, 2016

I disagree. Sure, new formula paint is not as durable as older mixes, however, it has a lot to do with how the manufacturer mixes and applies it. For example, I had another vehicle bead blasted back to bare metal, primed and painted with water-based paint. The shop that did is very reputable, and they put a lifetime warranty on the paint. There isn't any orange peel like my Denali because they *gasp* actually took their time to shoot the paint and buffed the paint like manufacturer's used to do instead of seeing how fast a robot can get panels through a paintbooth. I had it done about 6 months before I had bought my Denali, and that paint is holding up much better. Not even a single rock chip even though its my son's daily driver, meanwhile, my Denali's front end looks like a teenager's face.

Hate to tell you this, but none of the GM plants ever "buffed" the paint on any new vehicles unless there was a factory repair. I worked in a GM plant for 2 years, my dad was the Manager over plant maintenance for 30 years at this plant. His guys were the ones who fixed anything that broke down in the plant. I have been all over the GM plant here in OKC, never once saw anyone buffing the paint. The process for painting has been all automated since the 1990's.

The vehicle chassis and body parts are ran thru a galvanizing / rust proofing bath, then once dried they go thru the automated paint process where the primer, base coat and clear coat are applied. Then after that the vehicle starts the process of having the rest of the parts put onto the vehicle. From start to finish it only takes about 24 hours to build a vehicle in a GM plant.

Paint quality took a nose dive once the EPA got involved and forced the paint process to change. Say what you want, but water based paint and clear is the cause of the issues. Most shops will use the water based paints, but they use the urethane clear coats as they are more durable than the water based clear coats.

Silverado-Hareek · September 8, 2016

The biggest thing that worries me is rust. All vehicles are using thin water based paints these days so if GM is right in there with the rest of them, it doesn't bother me as much as if they were making an inferior product. I'm actually looking forward to the 2018 change to aluminum though so we don't have to worry about rust anymore on the body. Now if they could just powdercoat or properly paint a frame.......