Hi Lou,
I have a Mercedes-Benz C350 4matic coupe, which I bought in 2013. It has always been kept in the garage during winter, regularly serviced, has 92,274 kilometres, no rust and is in great shape except for the paint.
The clear coat is peeling extensively on the hood, the driver’s side rear pillar and several other smaller patches. I showed it to my dealer several years ago, at which point it was less extensive but got no joy. They took photos and checked the paint thickness but still did nothing.
A Google search reveals that C-class models produced between 2004 and 2018 with this colour paint had faulty clear coat finish and several large lawsuits were settled in the U.S. with compensation paid to owners.
I recently contacted the Mercedes-Benz Canada customer assistance centre who told me they would look into it, provided me with a reference number, then came back to me with a short email saying my vehicle is too old and nothing could be done. Do I have any other recourse?
Brendan K – Moncton N.B.
While I may not be a body and paint technician, I think I can answer your question.
Throughout North America and Europe, laws began to shift in the 1990s, becoming enforceable between the early 2000s up to 2010 with regards to regulating, limiting or banning solvent-based paints to reduce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and improve air quality. It was this paint switch that threw many auto manufacturers into legal troubles as the water-based paint was peeling because of adhesion problems.
Most modern vehicle’s use two-stage paint from the factory commonly called Base/Clear where the car is painted with the colour first and, after it dries, the clear coat is applied. The issue is the base coat coloured paint is water based but the clear coat is solvent based.
Two-stage paint significantly reduces VOCs and still allows for the harder clear coat for better durability.
However, in most cases where there is peeling on vehicles made around these years, UV radiation penetrates through the clear coat layer and causes the weaker water-based paint layer to fail. Once this paint starts to break down, the clear coat has little to adhere to and lifts and peels. Most manufactures have now figured out the right formulas and application processes to minimize paint-based warranty repairs. In your case with your vehicle being from 2013, it will have paint that is problematic as described above.
South of the border is a litigious environment where class action lawsuits are the norm. However, us friendly Canadians rarely get upset enough to band together and hire a legal team and sue. So, to answer your recourse question, while you can certainly hire a legal representation, chances are the cost to repaint is likely the cheaper option.
Lou Trottier is owner-operator of All About Imports in Mississauga. Have a question about maintenance and repair? E-mail globedrive@globeandmail.com, placing “Lou’s Garage” in the subject line.
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