Paint damage. Can I get your .02?

I have a strange paint damage pattern to my 2014. I know for a fact I didn't hit anything, and neither did the dealer when I took it in for an inspection last Saturday. No one else has access to the truck. I am thinking it is possibly some sort of chemical damage, which was not there when I did any oil change 2 days ago. Has anyone had anything similar happen to their vehicle? Or know any sort of chemical that would eat paint like this? It is hard to see in the photo, but it did eat down to the black in some spots and can come off in clumps, not flakes. And no, it will not buff out

 

Looks like paint remover. Bubbles, and peels. Strange, never seen anything like that.

 

When did you notice it, before or after the inspection. Did you cross the dealer off the culprit list?

Sucks, does look chemical. Quite strange indeed.

 

I am 90% positive the dealer didn't do it. I noticed it this morning, almost a week after the inspection. I had done an oil change Wednesday and checked my air filter on that side. I mean I was standing in front of the truck with one of my fellow employees staring at the front end. I am quite anal about the truck as far as exterior, and I don't think I would have looked at the front end and not have it register until now. I don't really have any reason to be near paint remover, but brake cleaner and stuff like that is in the shop

 

Unfortunately this will fall in the "wtf basket" of life. So either you repair or live with it. I would live it, unless you are willing to drop the cash to get it fixed.

 

Really looks like brake fluid damage.

 

Brake cleaner and brake fluid will both the same thing. DOT 3 brake fluid is the antichrist to paint.

 

maybe the dealership leaked some brake fluid on your paint from some other vehicle repair, it eats the paint

 

Almost looks like someone walked by and hit with a wet paint roller. Have you tried inspecting it close enough to determine if that's the actual truck's paint or something on top of it? If it's just something on top (like latex paint) there may be hope.

 

How long do you think it takes to eat through the paint? We have gotten a lot of rain here after, so I imagine it would have came off with that.

 

This is clearly something that was spilled down the front of the truck. You can see where the two big drips hit the truck and ran down. You likely didn't notice because the damage wouldn't be instant. Did the dealer add fluids or anything like that during the inspection?

 

Yup all signs point to the dealer. Unfortunately OP wont be able to prove it.

 

ding ding ding we have a winner

that is chemical damage something dripped on it and was not wiped off

 

Just popped the hood and no fluids were added. Showed both mechanics at work and they seem to agree with the whole brake fluid idea

 

Time for a plated bumper!

 

it looks like a rag wet with it, or someones pants leg, or a box, or something just touched
the side. those don't look like drips, especially on the edge like that.

that shows one contact with a large flat object and it hit both peaks of the bodywork on your vehicle
some box was probably soaked in fluid and rubbed yer truck in work bay

 

That really sucks. The fact that you probably won't be able to prove that the dealership did it, too.

But, it does give you an excuse for an off road bumper! Just saying... There is a bright side to everything!

 

Was thinking the same thing. But that is an awfully shiny penny to drop right now. But now I have an excuse...sort of

We were thinking the same thing. One guy said it looked almost like someone soaked a sponge and touched the truck. Maybe the technician had it on his pant leg. I mean the guys here rarely work with brake fluid, and definitely not enough to soak a box or their pant leg. I guess it wont hurt to ask the technician that serviced it if they had any brake related appointments before mine, and go from there.

 

Is this where/when I open the "what brand bumper should I get?" can of worms? I'm all for looking at the bright side. Unfortunately the bright side is a little expensive. And a little a head of schedule on the "Mods" list.

 

Haha! It is a can of worms, alright! There are SO many to choose from and they are expensive. Personally, I'd just deal with it for a while (I know it's easier said than done) until you're ready to get something aftermarket. Unless, of course, the dealership is super-cool and takes care of it on their dime!