Aston Martin Quality Control Issues
Discussion
RobDown said:
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2. There's a paint bubbling problem that's been going on for years (and AML seem unable to fix). Doesn't seem to affect all cars but is relatively common around wing mirrors and door handles. Will cost a few hundred pounds to fix if you get it
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Bottoms of doors, edges of bonnets etc.2. There's a paint bubbling problem that's been going on for years (and AML seem unable to fix). Doesn't seem to affect all cars but is relatively common around wing mirrors and door handles. Will cost a few hundred pounds to fix if you get it
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It's poor prep on the paint IMO. If it were an inherent design flaw (as I initially suspected - poor choice of materials, bimetallic or similar corrosion etc) every car would suffer. They don't seem to, but far too many do.
This single issue was the main one I had with my car after 55k miles and 8.5yrs ownership. But it was enough.
Aston's handling of these issues is disgraceful and the CEO needs to get a grip of them, grow pair and stand by the product by fixing issues like this without bs rigmarole. I couldn't care less that other marques also behave in this way. Aston should be aiming higher. The others don't cost 6 figure sums and I'm about as likely to buy a Daihatsu as I am to start cross dressing and change my name to Sharon
DAVIDOXE said:
Am i correct on assumimg the issue is only on the Aluminium panels? (doors/bonnet)
If so its a corrosion issue not necessarily a preparation issue.
Afraid not, it can be anywhere, although certain areas seem most common; around door handles, bottom edges of doors.If so its a corrosion issue not necessarily a preparation issue.
Its just amazing that the process has not been changed. Im assuming they must have tried a few fixes over the years and if it still occurs at random, I wonder if the hands of humans are involved.....
Is the paint shop as clean as it should be? The areas of regular occurrence all seem to be where people may be holding the door. Process management failure?
Certainly I expect Andy Palmer will be receiving some feedback on this topic from the 1000 pre-production cars he has signed off...
Hopefully that will then lead to improvement.
One note: I have been told that AML has switched paint supplier and has changed some paint shop processes...
Certainly I expect Andy Palmer will be receiving some feedback on this topic from the 1000 pre-production cars he has signed off...
Hopefully that will then lead to improvement.
One note: I have been told that AML has switched paint supplier and has changed some paint shop processes...
shunt said:
This thread sort of sums up why I moved on from the marque. Nice to have had one, but I no longer need to make those excuses or wear those rose tinted glasses. I've already done more miles in the F Type in 3 weeks than I did last year in the V8V. Having just returned from a weeks skiing the first thing I wanted to do was take it out for a drive, if anyones red rear lights have failed I have a spare set in the garage open to offers...;););)
You wouldn't get me out of mine for a jag in a million years!You'll come to your senses soon enough.
northernmedia said:
shunt said:
This thread sort of sums up why I moved on from the marque. Nice to have had one, but I no longer need to make those excuses or wear those rose tinted glasses. I've already done more miles in the F Type in 3 weeks than I did last year in the V8V. Having just returned from a weeks skiing the first thing I wanted to do was take it out for a drive, if anyones red rear lights have failed I have a spare set in the garage open to offers...;););)
You wouldn't get me out of mine for a jag in a million years!You'll come to your senses soon enough.
Ok chaps thanks for the honesty. On the grand scheme of things they seem no way near as bad as a tvr, which you'd hope not at their price point. I get the feeling there are just a handful of weak points to note as opposed to spending your whole life screwing the car back together and chasing electrical faults. Compared to the latest news about the Corsa that has a habit of bursting into flames due to an electrical fault with the heater they aren't bad!!
northernmedia said:
shunt said:
This thread sort of sums up why I moved on from the marque. Nice to have had one, but I no longer need to make those excuses or wear those rose tinted glasses. I've already done more miles in the F Type in 3 weeks than I did last year in the V8V. Having just returned from a weeks skiing the first thing I wanted to do was take it out for a drive, if anyones red rear lights have failed I have a spare set in the garage open to offers...;););)
You wouldn't get me out of mine for a jag in a million years!You'll come to your senses soon enough.
AMDBSVNick said:
A mate of mine was at a MD last week and one of the GT8's in the showroom had paint bubbles 
The dealer shouldn't have allowed it on the floor with this. Sounds like Aston has a problem with their paint preparation and booths, they are not as clean as they should be. I wonder if cars kept in wetter climates are more prone to this problem than cars kept in drier low humidity climates? There is zero excuse for this problem after all these years, but I would say Aston feels it's acceptable because it's less expensive to fix these cars with this issue, than to overhaul their paint system. V8 Vantage GT said:
...Aston feels it's acceptable because it's less expensive to NOT fix these cars with this issue, than to overhaul their paint system.
My edit above.A few people have had these things sorted under warranty, but I believe it's a VERY small minority.
The best Aston usually offer is a "contribution" if you use an Aston paintshop. The quote after "contribution" is typically what it costs to get it sorted at a paint shop that knows how to paint a car but with no Aston link.
It's definitely cheaper to take that approach than to sort out your processes. At least in the short term. IMO QC issues like this will cost them dear in the long term (I think they already have/are). Especially with their volume aspirations. The more you sell, the more you will come across people who are not prepared to put up with this nonsense. The more will spread the word that Aston have a nice product BUT...
Murph7355 said:
A few people have had these things sorted under warranty, but I believe it's a VERY small minority.
The best Aston usually offer is a "contribution" if you use an Aston paintshop. The quote after "contribution" is typically what it costs to get it sorted at a paint shop that knows how to paint a car but with no Aston link.
It's definitely cheaper to take that approach than to sort out your processes. At least in the short term. IMO QC issues like this will cost them dear in the long term (I think they already have/are). Especially with their volume aspirations. The more you sell, the more you will come across people who are not prepared to put up with this nonsense. The more will spread the word that Aston have a nice product BUT...
The best Aston usually offer is a "contribution" if you use an Aston paintshop. The quote after "contribution" is typically what it costs to get it sorted at a paint shop that knows how to paint a car but with no Aston link.
It's definitely cheaper to take that approach than to sort out your processes. At least in the short term. IMO QC issues like this will cost them dear in the long term (I think they already have/are). Especially with their volume aspirations. The more you sell, the more you will come across people who are not prepared to put up with this nonsense. The more will spread the word that Aston have a nice product BUT...
Having used this forum for some time, I have read many contributions about the dreaded bubbling paint.
Until today, I thought it had only occurred on cars, after they have been in use for at least some time.
SHOCK OF SHOCKS - Now there is a reported sighting of bubbling paint ON A BRAND NEW GT8, in a main dealers showroom.
Instead of our hope that this long running problem had been solved on later cars, it appears that it might be getting even worse.
Let's hope for Dr. Palmers sake, that Mr Andrea C. Bonomi does not use the internet.
Jon39 said:
Having used this forum for some time, I have read many contributions about the dreaded bubbling paint.
Until today, I thought it had only occurred on cars, after they have been in use for at least some time.
Jon39 said:
Having used this forum for some time, I have read many contributions about the dreaded bubbling paint.
Until today, I thought it had only occurred on cars, after they have been in use for at least some time.
SHOCK OF SHOCKS - Now there is a reported sighting of bubbling paint ON A BRAND NEW GT8, in a main dealers showroom.
Instead of our hope that this long running problem had been solved on later cars, it appears that it might be getting even worse.
Let's hope for Dr. Palmers sake, that Mr Andrea C. Bonomi does not use the internet.
I see that as good news though Jon - the only way this gets fixed imho is if Andy Palmer is personally embarrassed when the first DB11s come back with paint bubbling and he's on the final inspection.
Maybe we should start a petition to send to Andy about this, it should really have been sorted after all this time...
Maybe we should start a petition to send to Andy about this, it should really have been sorted after all this time...
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