Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

June, 2005

Automotive Paint Chipping

Q. I have a 2005 Toyota Tacoma truck and at 5000 miles I noticed what I consider to be excessive chipping of the paint. I have counted over 200 easily seen chips on the hood, doors, rocker panels, etc. No off-road driving and I live in a major metro area in the east. My gut feeling is that the paint is not bonded properly but when I took it to arbitration I lost my case because I could not prove it and Toyota attributes it to outside influences (stones). The Toyota representative measured the paint and it was within spec. Is it possible that the factory paint is not bonding properly or is this normal for newer paint technology? Is their any way to test the paint?

A. From what you've said in your email it is possible that you have a bad paint job that is not related to your use of the vehicle. There are tests that can be done by an outside laboratory. Where are you located? We are abler to perform such tests, but it would only be worth you while if you lived in or near the San Francisco Bay Area. Otherwise, you might be able to locate a paint lab in a nearby large city.

Pleas get back to me if I can assist you further.

Best wishes,

Ron Joseph