Paint bubbles/'rust' - Class action against AM
Discussion
My less than four year old car has ‘rust’ which is there due to a manufacturing issue/design error/god knows what. It should be rectified at no cost to me.
To me, it seems outrageous that AM are wriggling out of their obligation to rectify these issues under the warranty.
I am not a solicitor and have not consulted one because of the cost of taking on a corporate entity.
It amazes me that we are all taking this so quietly.
Is this not a prime example of an issue that should have a ‘class action’ against AM?
To me, it seems outrageous that AM are wriggling out of their obligation to rectify these issues under the warranty.
I am not a solicitor and have not consulted one because of the cost of taking on a corporate entity.
It amazes me that we are all taking this so quietly.
Is this not a prime example of an issue that should have a ‘class action’ against AM?
I guess that a good start would be to find out how many cars/models are affected and in what time-frame? When I got an AM approved paint shop to give me an estimate to re-do both my doors they were aware that there was a problem over a certain time period with corrosion on parts of the door skins on AM's of a certain build time.
There's not been enough time to tell at the moment. 2006 and 2007 cars affected from what I've read, but it's not consistent (which is often the case with bi-metallic reactions - this is what is causing the issue).
As for "class action"....the warranty conditions would need a very careful look. I would guess that the "corrosion" warranty probably involves perforation. Two problems with this (1) it may not be officially classed as corrosion and (2) perforation will likely take quite some time. My 7's paint bubbled on part of the side skin for exactly the same reason. Despite having been used in salty conditions, it took over 10yrs to actually penetrate the skin.
It's possible they licked the problem from 2008 onwards, but I guess we won't know for a year or two....logically, if the issue makes itself known 3-4yrs into ownership, by 2008 or 2009 they should have remedied it (if production started 2005-2006).
I guess AM (or it's warranty people) would be cautious in what it agrees to pay out until it understands the potential scale of the issue.
I've been offered a contribution to the repair, but mine's not bad enough yet to warrant taking the car off the road, and I'm pretty sure I can get it repaired outside the AM network for less than the "assisted" cost.
As for "class action"....the warranty conditions would need a very careful look. I would guess that the "corrosion" warranty probably involves perforation. Two problems with this (1) it may not be officially classed as corrosion and (2) perforation will likely take quite some time. My 7's paint bubbled on part of the side skin for exactly the same reason. Despite having been used in salty conditions, it took over 10yrs to actually penetrate the skin.
It's possible they licked the problem from 2008 onwards, but I guess we won't know for a year or two....logically, if the issue makes itself known 3-4yrs into ownership, by 2008 or 2009 they should have remedied it (if production started 2005-2006).
I guess AM (or it's warranty people) would be cautious in what it agrees to pay out until it understands the potential scale of the issue.
I've been offered a contribution to the repair, but mine's not bad enough yet to warrant taking the car off the road, and I'm pretty sure I can get it repaired outside the AM network for less than the "assisted" cost.
Nigelstn
Yes it would be a good place to start – but AM sure won’t release the figures and most owners with the problem don’t visit AM forums – so it will be impossible to get exact figures of the number of cars involved.
AM are most definately aware of the problem – but realizing the potential cost, are obviously wanting to wriggle out of their liability.
Bogie
I guess as the bulk of us on this forum bought and live in the UK – UK law.
I don’t know how many people would be needed – but lets say 40 off here would constitute a large number, out of lets say one hundred (at most)AM contributors???
Incidentally- I wouldn’t have thought they would use ‘normal’ small scale production error as an argument – that, to my mind is admitting responsibility.
Murph7355
I guess an initial consultation with a specialist law firm would tell us if there was a case against AMs warranty conditions.
To me – as a layman 10 year bodywork corrosion warranty is what it says on the tin – and they are liable.
Incidentally, Oxford Dictionary definition: corrode wear away, desroy gradually, be worn away, decay
We can all get a top quality job done at our own expense, significantly cheaper than AMs inflated spray jobs. The point is, we should not be having to pay this out on cars this young.
Yes it would be a good place to start – but AM sure won’t release the figures and most owners with the problem don’t visit AM forums – so it will be impossible to get exact figures of the number of cars involved.
AM are most definately aware of the problem – but realizing the potential cost, are obviously wanting to wriggle out of their liability.
Bogie
I guess as the bulk of us on this forum bought and live in the UK – UK law.
I don’t know how many people would be needed – but lets say 40 off here would constitute a large number, out of lets say one hundred (at most)AM contributors???
Incidentally- I wouldn’t have thought they would use ‘normal’ small scale production error as an argument – that, to my mind is admitting responsibility.
Murph7355
I guess an initial consultation with a specialist law firm would tell us if there was a case against AMs warranty conditions.
To me – as a layman 10 year bodywork corrosion warranty is what it says on the tin – and they are liable.
Incidentally, Oxford Dictionary definition: corrode wear away, desroy gradually, be worn away, decay
We can all get a top quality job done at our own expense, significantly cheaper than AMs inflated spray jobs. The point is, we should not be having to pay this out on cars this young.
the warranty is worded "perforation" though ...that could be a get out clause
although quite clearly a lot of owners are experiencing the problem ...of course if you are the 2nd or 3rd owner of an out of warranty car, you wont get much joy moaning about paint bubbles
My car has nearly every panel affected except maybe one wing where I havnt found it yet. Im certainly not going halves with a dealer on their extortionate respray costs.
So how about a list of affected cars and a nice letter to customer services asking for some kind of corrective action FOC ?
Or how about a thread on here, a sticky at the top called "Aston Martin Paint Defect Owners Thread" and we all post up pictures of our affected panels?
And if the affected panels thread is longer than the owners rides threads, then theres definately a PR problem that needs taking care of ....
although quite clearly a lot of owners are experiencing the problem ...of course if you are the 2nd or 3rd owner of an out of warranty car, you wont get much joy moaning about paint bubbles
My car has nearly every panel affected except maybe one wing where I havnt found it yet. Im certainly not going halves with a dealer on their extortionate respray costs.
So how about a list of affected cars and a nice letter to customer services asking for some kind of corrective action FOC ?
Or how about a thread on here, a sticky at the top called "Aston Martin Paint Defect Owners Thread" and we all post up pictures of our affected panels?
And if the affected panels thread is longer than the owners rides threads, then theres definately a PR problem that needs taking care of ....
mine has two spots on the bottom of the door, one quite large, and a small bit around the handle. i took it to Works Service, as i live next door, and they admitted that it wasnt an uncommon fault but as it hadnt perforated they would only offer me a 50/50 split on respraying the door (its an 06 Vantage). £450!! so £900 to spray a door?
My dad has been trying to take it up with them as he was a paint sprayer there until he retired some years back so he knows the people quite well, but he's disgusted with it....
My dad has been trying to take it up with them as he was a paint sprayer there until he retired some years back so he knows the people quite well, but he's disgusted with it....
I would be interested in seeing the outcome of this topic. It does seem to be happening to a fair few people and I am somewhat surprised that a brand such as Aston Martin isn’t making more of an effort to rectify a obvious design fault.
I was doing some research on this yesterday as I too had a topic running and it would seem that some people have managed to have the worked completed free of charge as it should be?????????
Audi admitted to a design fault with the DRC on the RS4 and therefore put out a 5 year free of charge repair / replacement……… That was only effecting around 15-20% of the cars.
I was doing some research on this yesterday as I too had a topic running and it would seem that some people have managed to have the worked completed free of charge as it should be?????????
Audi admitted to a design fault with the DRC on the RS4 and therefore put out a 5 year free of charge repair / replacement……… That was only effecting around 15-20% of the cars.
bogie said:
the warranty is worded "perforation" though ...that could be a get out clause
It's not even a get out clause, it's a statement of fact! Should corrosion be covered; you would think so... but is it... no. The fact they contribute is quite good I think, but if they are ramping up the costs in their own paintshops then in fact you're paying for it all!Is it possible to get it sprayed where you choose and then have them pay half? That'd be a decent solution.
My car is 2006 and is perfect BTW. So it's not all of them by any means.
drcarrera said:
I had a similar problem on my three year old RS4 - paint bubbles on the aluminium doors.
After evaluation at a dealer, it was sorted out and covered 100% by the warranty.
If Audi will do it, why can't Aston?
cost probably ...if they know how many years worth of production are affectedAfter evaluation at a dealer, it was sorted out and covered 100% by the warranty.
If Audi will do it, why can't Aston?
probably some kind of poor process control in paint shop ...someone touching the panels before/during paint process with greasy/contaminated fingers
Has this problem been seen on newer cars painted via the robotic system at Gaydon or do they all date back to the manual spray system days?
I'm guess the problem is caused by some sort of contamination that encourages the Al to oxides whilst under the paint.
IMHO you haven't got a hope with a Class Action. Just not enough data on the problem.
Has any one ever won one against a car company for some thing similar?
Alfa's rust buckets?
I'm guess the problem is caused by some sort of contamination that encourages the Al to oxides whilst under the paint.
IMHO you haven't got a hope with a Class Action. Just not enough data on the problem.
Has any one ever won one against a car company for some thing similar?
Alfa's rust buckets?
mikey k said:
Has this problem been seen on newer cars painted via the robotic system at Gaydon or do they all date back to the manual spray system days?
I'm guess the problem is caused by some sort of contamination that encourages the Al to oxides whilst under the paint.
IMHO you haven't got a hope with a Class Action. Just not enough data on the problem.
Has any one ever won one against a car company for some thing similar?
Alfa's rust buckets?
I won against nissan but it did take 8 months.I'm guess the problem is caused by some sort of contamination that encourages the Al to oxides whilst under the paint.
IMHO you haven't got a hope with a Class Action. Just not enough data on the problem.
Has any one ever won one against a car company for some thing similar?
Alfa's rust buckets?
I don't think it is contamination but where the steel framework touches the aluminum skin.
main points
1, around the edge of each outer door handle,
2, bottom edge of doors,
3, top edge of windscreen usually towards the outer edges
4, where the roof meets the rear screen and the pillar running down along the rear screen there is a join point,
5, front underside of bonnet
6, along the edge of the front wing where it meets the bonnet,
these are the main areas to check in many cases they are quite small and not easily noticed until pointed out,
1, around the edge of each outer door handle,
2, bottom edge of doors,
3, top edge of windscreen usually towards the outer edges
4, where the roof meets the rear screen and the pillar running down along the rear screen there is a join point,
5, front underside of bonnet
6, along the edge of the front wing where it meets the bonnet,
these are the main areas to check in many cases they are quite small and not easily noticed until pointed out,
rick-derby- said:
main points
1, around the edge of each outer door handle,
2, bottom edge of doors,
3, top edge of windscreen usually towards the outer edges
4, where the roof meets the rear screen and the pillar running down along the rear screen there is a join point,
5, front underside of bonnet
6, along the edge of the front wing where it meets the bonnet,
these are the main areas to check in many cases they are quite small and not easily noticed until pointed out,
Thanks as ever Rick!1, around the edge of each outer door handle,
2, bottom edge of doors,
3, top edge of windscreen usually towards the outer edges
4, where the roof meets the rear screen and the pillar running down along the rear screen there is a join point,
5, front underside of bonnet
6, along the edge of the front wing where it meets the bonnet,
these are the main areas to check in many cases they are quite small and not easily noticed until pointed out,
I have a roadster so at least there's no need to worry about the roof ones!
Surprised at 5 & 6 as those are "composite" parts!
"Surprised at 5 & 6 as those are "composite" parts! "
exactly - its not corrosion...well i dont think it is, i just think its something under the paint/between coats that shouldnt be there
difficult to claim against warranty with a plastic car
Lotus have/had similar issues with their paint over the last 7-8 years...not sure how different their process is, but its low volume non robot production (or was)
could be as simple as someone picking up and moving the panels with the wrong gloves on ...Im sure the factory QA people must know, otherwise theyd be turning out every car like it now still
..but they cant admit to anything, of the floodgates will open with thousands of owners turning up at dealers to get imaginary stuff inspected...and some not so imaginary
exactly - its not corrosion...well i dont think it is, i just think its something under the paint/between coats that shouldnt be there
difficult to claim against warranty with a plastic car
Lotus have/had similar issues with their paint over the last 7-8 years...not sure how different their process is, but its low volume non robot production (or was)
could be as simple as someone picking up and moving the panels with the wrong gloves on ...Im sure the factory QA people must know, otherwise theyd be turning out every car like it now still
..but they cant admit to anything, of the floodgates will open with thousands of owners turning up at dealers to get imaginary stuff inspected...and some not so imaginary
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff