Paintwork cracking

[Brindy]

Hi,

I have a 2013 Leon FR. The paint work on the front near side door appears to have started cracking and the paint is now coming off exposing the metalwork.

I have had the vehicle inspected at a Seat authorized body shop who after they completed a thorough inspection said they have never seen anything like it before. They completed a report for Seat warranty who have refused the claim on the basis I am now outside the 3 year paint warranty.

Has anyone seen anything like this before and know what has caused it? The body shop said the area has clearly never been resprayed or suffered any external contamination due to the localized area that is affected.

Thanks
Brindy

 

[Brindy]

Sorry as I'm new it wont allow me to post a link to show you a picture.

The image is on flickr. com/photos/150090042@N05/shares/4c2588

with the spaces removed

 

[ei2gfb]

is there not a 12 year warranty on paintwork? im due to pick up a 2015 leon fr next week and really hope this isnt a common issue as ive owned a b6 a4 which had the issue of rusting wings

 

[SRGTD]

Anti corrosion warranty is 12 years, but paintwork is 3 years.

 

[Speed-FReek]

Here's an embedded version of your photo. That's pretty bad for a 3.5 year old car. Have you had the car since new (i.e. do you know first hand the history of the car)? What method and products have you been using to clean the car?

 

[nokiauk]

Mines is doing this on the sills where the front of the rear arch is nowhere near as bad as yours, also white and a 2013 model. Seat body shop near me refused claim as over 3 years old.

 

[devJORD]

Did you have any warning signs this is occuring that we could look out for in the future?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

[KoNG]

is this original paint from factory? As this looking to me someone already repaired this? Ive got white 06/2013 and bodywork is without any issue

 

[ukoldschool]

that's been badly repaired, no way that is factory finish

 

[SRGTD]

that's been badly repaired, no way that is factory finish

That was my first thought.

Looks like it might be some sort of incompatibility and reaction between the clear coat (lacquer) and white base coat or the primer coat and the white base coat that's been used, causing it to craze / crackle.

 

[Sonofzelda]

Could be Tang dynasty. I'd get Tony Robinson on to it.
If it's not a repair then it's a disgrace. If it is a repair then it's a disgrace.

 

[Brindy]

Well the bodywork was thoroughly inspected by the seat authorised body shop which I was present for. He had all sorts of gadgets, including one that measured the paint thickness, which was fairly similar all over the vehicle. If it has been repaired then the paint should have been slightly thicker around the effected area to allow for the overlap and blend in?

I just use autoglym shampoo and polish, nothing special. The paint on the sill is fine suggesting nothing corrosive has been spilt on the panel.

 

[Brindy]

Just to add I am the second owner of the vehicle which was bought from a seat dealer who originally sold the vehicle to the first owner.

 

[Sonofzelda]

Suggestions -
- ask vendor to fix it
- resubmit warranty claim as rust damage
- submit insurance claim

Worst cost scenario - new door £1500

 

[SRGTD]

Suggestions -
- ask vendor to fix it
- resubmit warranty claim as rust damage
- submit insurance claim

Worst cost scenario - new door £1500

- ask vendor to fix it worth a try, but if it's a while since the OP got their car, they may not be successful as the vendor is likely to argue that the defect wasn't present when they sold the car.
- resubmit warranty claim as rust damage; I don't think the OP would be successful in resubmitting the warranty claim as rust damage. The Seat 12 year anti perforation warranty covers rusting of bodywork from the inside out. On the OP's photo, the rust area where the paint has come away looks like surface rust, rather than rusting of the door skin from the inside out. Details of Seat's anti perforation warranty (from the website) below;
- submit insurance claim; OP needs to consider whether or not the cost of paying their insurance excess, plus the increase in future insurance costs resulting from the potential loss of no claims discount (if they don't have protected NCD) is worth it.

Whatever the OP decides to do to get this fixed, as there's bare metal exposed, IMO it ought to be sorted sooner rather than later.

Seat Anti Perforation Warranty;
All current SEAT vehicles are fully protected during manufacture against corrosion attacking the internal cavities of the bodywork. This warranty protects against perforation due to rust penetration from within the internal cavities of the vehicle to an external surface for 12 years from the date of first registration.

In the unlikely event of this occurring within the warranty period, a member of the SEAT authorised service network will carry out the required repairs free of charge, whether or not they sold the vehicle to you. The only preconditions are:
- The defect must be reported to a member of the SEAT authorised network as soon as it’s discovered. This must be within the warranty period
- The perforation must have not been caused originally by damage, neglect, insufficient care or maintenance, or by external rusting
- The area giving cause for complaint must not have been previously repaired to a lower level of anti-perforation protection
- A member of the SEAT authorised service network must be advised about any rusting immediately.

 

[salsajoe]

Just to add I am the second owner of the vehicle which was bought from a seat dealer who originally sold the vehicle to the first owner.

This does look like a repair that perhaps the dealer was not aware of? Could have been a scratch that was blended in? This type of cracking is often a reaction to different types of non-compatible paint that do not fully bond. Usually the paint under the finishing coat eventually causes the cracking. Surprised the paint specialist did not offer an opinion but perhaps he did not want to get too involved and wanted the dealer's continuing business - I am always a bit suspicious of the motor trade but that is just me.

 

[csx]

Hate to say it - but that looks a repair to me.
Im guessing that as original - the car was either treated with diamond brite -or supaguard - and someones done a spot repair to a crease in the body line . Sort of chips away method ( not criticizing them - they do as you pay ) and the area painted and lacquer has reacted.
Theres obviously some incompatibility between paint used and original lacquer that it doesn't like and its just re-acted now - maybe the weather change and heat getting to the panel has caused it.
Either way - Seats warranty will not stump up for the cost - they could argue that the whole car should have the same problem - in which case - they would be poohing themselves for an onslaught of claims .
Sorry - doesnt help your situation - Im guessing a good body shop could sort it for around £150