For quite some time now, I've been documenting the distressing phenomenon of dozens of relatively new white cars losing large chunks of their paint. This issue isn't limited to a single manufacturer; it affects cars from seven different brands. With recent news of Honda owners filing a class action lawsuit and Hyundai owners complaining about the same problem, it's high time we delve into this matter. I reached out to PPG, the largest automotive paint supplier, and another paint engineer to seek answers.

The White Car Paint Peeling Conundrum - What's Behind It?

Hyundai's White Paint Peeling Woes

My brother Ben brought the issue of white paint peeling to my attention. He purchased a brand new 2017 Hyundai Elantra, only to find that its white paint started flaking off, revealing what seemed like bare e-coated metal. This was shocking as his car was only five years old. It turns out that Hyundai owners across the board have been facing this issue. Numerous people in the Reddit thread have been complaining about their Hyundai's white paint peeling off for no apparent reason. Hyundai was forced to issue a warranty extension for certain Elantra, Sonata, and Santa Fe Sports models due to this problem. The extension covers vehicles where "the white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling in various areas, commonly on the hood, fender, and roof." Here are some examples: a 2016-ish Elantra with the whole car peeling, another Hyundai with similar issues, and a newer 2017-ish model seen on the highway. It's clear that this is a widespread problem affecting Hyundai vehicles.

Honda's Paint Peeling Saga

Now let's turn our attention to Honda. Owners have filed a class action lawsuit against American Honda Motor Company for 2013+ Hondas with allegedly peeling paint. The lawsuit alleges that some white paints used in these vehicles are of poor quality, leading to finishes that "inevitably fail, peel, delaminate, bubble, and flake." There are numerous examples on the internet, such as on the Ody Club owner forum and Reddit. The cars covered include the Acura MDX in White Diamond Pearl paint, the Honda Odyssey in White Diamond Pearl or Taffeta White paint, the Honda Pilot in Taffeta White paint, the Honda Fit in White Orchid Pearl or Bellanova White paint, and the Honda HR-V in White Orchid Pearl or Bellanova White paint. I've seen Hondas with peeling paint on the streets as well. For instance, on the back of a Honda Pilot, primer is showing, and on the leading edge of a Honda Accord's hood, there is flaked-off white paint. The comments section on The Drive also shows that this is not a new phenomenon.

Experts' Insights on the White Paint Issue

A little over a year ago, I reached out to PPG, the world's largest auto paint supplier. They were surprised to hear about the issue and said it's not usually related to formulations. Their coatings are formulated to be robust and meet industry specs, lasting the lifetime of a car. They use fully-approved pigments and have longstanding knowledge from working with OEMs. Regarding delamination (the flaking/peeling), they believe it could be due to applying film build that is too low at the plant. Film build refers to the thickness of each layer applied, and it's an industry standard. There's a film for primer and a film for base coat. The actual thickness depends on hiding power, which is how well it covers black and white. Each color space is tailored to ensure the coating stack meets requirements.Pittsburgh-based Color Styling Manager Misty Yeomans also agreed. She was surprised by the question as they hadn't received similar inquiries. She spoke with her European colleagues and said if it were a coating-related issue, they would have heard about it. White is the most common color, which could skew perceptions. She noted that automotive coatings are complex with multiple layers and a "cross linking" technology. To address issues, one would need to go back to the manufacturer. There is consistent weatherability testing, including tenting in Florida for five years and adhesion tests.However, I believe the flaking isn't solely due to damaged vehicles being repainted. My brother's brand new Hyundai Elantra had delamination issues without any crash involvement. And the Hyundai I saw had widespread delamination; it couldn't have been repainted from bumper to bumper.

Toyota's White Car Repainting Initiative

Toyota has offered to repaint over 1.7 million white cars. This Customer Support Program covers vehicles with the original factory Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. The condition occurs when sunlight degrades the adhesion between the factory-applied paint primer coat and the base metal electrodeposition layer, causing the paint to peel. The primary coverage is until December 11, 2022, regardless of mileage, and the secondary coverage is applicable for 10 years from the date of first use. Toyota is repainting the cars with the same color to ensure better adhesion. It's unclear if the paint has been reformulated or if the application methodology has been adjusted. Plastic body panels are not covered as they don't have a base metal electrodeposition layer.I chatted with an engineer with years of paint experience for a major OEM. He suggested that with a shiny paint coat, most light reflects back, but some UV can get through. Clear coat has additives to prevent this. If UV gets through the paint, it could affect the stuff under the paint. He mentioned GM's issue in the 1980s and 90s where the UV-resistant e-coat layer wasn't sufficient, leading to paint peeling. It's possible that a similar issue could be affecting white painted Toyotas, Hondas, and Hyundais. Maybe there's a primer or e-coat issue. At the moment, it's not clear what exactly is causing the breakdown of the adhesive properties of the paint stack above the e-coated body, but it's evident that white cars are facing a paint issue that non-white cars aren't. And this has been happening for years.