Why Is My Car’s Paint Peeling?

You take much pride in your car’s appearance, and wash, wax and detail it faithfully. In fact, you even picked up some touch-up paint, and have been applying it to rock chips and scratches when they appear. But recently you’ve noticed some small areas on the front bumper and hood where the paint is starting to peel, and you’re concerned. Even when keeping a car’s painted surfaces detailed, certain factors can commonly cause paint peeling, or “delamination”. Left unchecked, delamination will ultimately decrease your vehicle’s curb appeal and resale value.

Your Car’s Finish Has Many Layers

Today’s vehicles have glossy finishes created by many layers of coatings, including:

• Primer. The primer serves as a base layer for the paint, assists with paint adhesion, and provides a reliable surface for additional coats; all while protecting the underlying metal.
• Base coat. Several layers of automotive paint are meticulously applied at the factory to give the base coat its unique coloration and look.  
• Clear coat. This final layer provides a hard shell that protects the paint over the years from oxidation (causes rust), minor chips and scratches, and other environmental forces; while preserving the appearance of the original factory paint job.  

What Causes Paint Delamination?  

Delamination occurs when one or more of the aforementioned-layers stop binding to the surface below it. For example, the primer stops adhering to the bare metal. Eventually, this lack of required adhesion can cause small circles of paint flaking, and later for even larger areas of paint to start peeling off. Once that happens, you’ve got a problem. The two main culprits that initiate this paint-peeling cascade are:

• An improperly prepared paint surface

This typically occurs during a DIY paint application, or when the original factory paint job wasn’t done correctly. If you own a vehicle manufactured in the late 1980s to mid-1990s, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors (GM) all experienced production-related issues that caused their vehicles to prematurely experience paint delamination. Improperly prepared body panel surfaces can compromise adhesion, starting with the primer layer.

• A compromised paint seal  

The second major cause of paint peeling is when the clear coat, base coat, and primer seal all get compromised by a deep rock chip, ding, or scratch. Once that occurs, moisture, road salt, and other contaminants begin working their way through the coatings, starting the delamination process. Even a small chip in the clear coat can facilitate serious paint peeling when the area is exposed to additional external forces like high-pressure washing or direct sunlight.  

In addition to noticeable peeling on your paint’s surface, rust can also start forming on the underlying metal, and eventually weaken its structural integrity. And, the presence of paint peeling and rust most definitely lower your vehicle’s curb appeal and resale value!  

Can Peeling Paint Areas be Repaired?

No matter how careful you are, paint peeling is possible on any vehicle- notably if it’s older and/or spends a lot of time in direct sunlight. When you first start noticing delamination, there are some things to consider when it comes to repairing it. To make the best repair decision, consider the following:     

• Is the peeled area deep? A compromised clear coat layer is one thing, but when the paint beneath starts peeling badly, that’s a more serious problem. Once that happens, you’ll need to promptly have the affected area repainted.
• How widespread is the peeling? If the peeling is confined to just a small, coin-sized area, it can easily be spot repainted. But if there are several delamination areas located around the vehicle, your best bet is to have the whole body redone so that it matches.  
• Is the entire body at-risk for peeling? Again, keep in mind that your car may have received a faulty factory paint job which will be apparent over the whole body after a while. Was it made in the early 1980s to mid-1990s by one of the “Big 3” U.S. automakers? Has it been repainted by a DIYer that may not have done the job correctly? If either scenario is true, you may want to have the entire body repainted by a pro before it gets worse.

Paint Restoring Experts are Only a Click Away

When your car’s exterior is experiencing unsightly paint peeling issues, take it to a nearby auto body shop featured within the nationwide Carwise network. Whether it’s just a small touch-up that’s needed or a complete repainting job, technicians there have the right facilities, application methods, and expertise to promptly, affordable, and reliably restore your vehicle’s finish back to its original factory condition.

Search your zip code now for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: www.carwise.com.