Buick Verano Disapearing Paint Issue

[Skylarkin']

I wish you luck with your campaign; the car has been out of production for three model years and most are now out of their bumper-to-bumper warranties.

GM isn't nimble enough to anticipate future market needs or wants; I would never credit it with the ability to deceive its customers in the way you imply it could. Other than Buick's decision to market the Encore now as its entry-level vehicle, the marketplace took the Verano out. Anything else is just a theory. I wish the second-generation Verano hatchback sold in China was available here.

I don't believe anyone can credibly blame any clearcoat issues with the car on the environment. I think any clearcoat issue stems from using automated car washes over time. Any abrasive particles on the brushes plus any contaminants in the water could easily lead to clearcoat delamination with repetitive use. While I use automated car washes occasionally, mainly in the winter to remove salt, I clean my car by hand during the warmer months.

 

[clsstuart]

has anyone with these cars done the wet sand and polish to try and restore it back? Or did everyone just do nothing? or just go full new paint job? I have a 2013 Dark grey metallic that looks like crap!!!! same as you all said,,hood, roof, trunk.

 

[Steve Holbrook]

I believe they started making Veranos in 2012 and I have an article written in 2015 that states they started a new 3 coat painting process in which brags about how much energy they (Buick) were saving in production making the Veranos ......fast forward to 2016 (4 years later) reports started about the clear coat deteriorating (maybe they also realized the problem) and this was one of the reasons they shut down the production? I don’t think it was coincidental but I do know for a fact it is a manufacture product issue that Buick should be recalling and fixing but instead they discontinued the line and are blaming it on the environment and consumers to keep from covering it under warranties. Unfortunately darker colors show it worst and it just keeps getting worse as time goes on. It is happening across the US with these cars. It is not the environment nor consumers. I had a Toyota Camry before this and it 12 years old paint still looked like new with a high gloss finish. This is completely unacceptable and I will never purchase a GM or Buick again.

I have a 2015 Black Verano with 70k miles and just noticed the chipping and cracking of the paint on the top and the trunk lid. Never had this with any of the previous 6 Buicks I have had or any other cars. I am taking to dealer soon and doubt they will do anything, and I, too, will never buy another Buick or GM car. That shouldn’t happen.

 

[Donna Jarvis]

2013 Buick Verano Black made in Lake Orion, michigan.. Same problem paint fading on hood, top of car, top of hood.
What is GM doing, just paid off car a few months ago cant trade in or sell like this. Any answers from GM? Is there a class action lawsuit I can join, this is obviously a manufacturing problem. Contacted customer service and they are assigning a case number but many are saying warranty is up, well it only started happening after warranty was expired. Should have let me know would have had it repainted under warranty. Also all the customer service people were in the phillipines, hows that for buy american. Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Skylarkin']

With the pandemic, I have been working from home since March like many people. I finally got around to cleaning my Verano on November 2 and that's when I noticed it on my roof, hood and trunk lid top, the same clearcoat de-lamination many of you have experienced.

I called my preferred body shop only to find out that a) they no longer detail (I suspect the pandemic made it unprofitable) and b) they referred me to two other shops. I called and got estimates ($580 from one, $1,500 from the other) and I took the car to my dealer network's collision center. Unfortunately, the dealer wanted more than $2,000 to repaint the car.

I returned to the first shop yesterday and dropped the car off for them to buff the clearcoat and seal the paint. The hood was by first the worst, then the roof and the trunk lid and C-pillars. It looked like ants had been playing ice hockey or figure skating on the clearcoat but forgot to summon the zamboni when they were done.

While the body shop removed the trunk lid's problem, they were not able to fully resolve the hood and roof but you have to stare to notice it. The manager took $80 off the price since they weren't able to fully remedy the issue. Surprisingly, they cleaned the interior, too. I picked the car up late this afternoon.

2826_2 is the hood on Nov. 2
2827_2 is the roof on Nov. 2
2828_2 is the trunk on Nov. 2
2918 is the roof on Dec. 29
2919 is the trunk on Dec. 29
2920 is the hood on Dec. 29

 

[Amanda Lambert]

With the pandemic, I have been working from home since March like many people. I finally got around to cleaning my Verano on November 2 and that's when I noticed it on my roof, hood and trunk lid top, the same clearcoat de-lamination many of you have experienced.

I called my preferred body shop only to find out that a) they no longer detail (I suspect the pandemic made it unprofitable) and b) they referred me to two other shops. I called and got estimates ($580 from one, $1,500 from the other) and I took the car to my dealer network's collision center. Unfortunately, the dealer wanted more than $2,000 to repaint the car.

I returned to the first shop yesterday and dropped the car off for them to buff the clearcoat and seal the paint. The hood was by first the worst, then the roof and the trunk lid and C-pillars. It looked like ants had been playing ice hockey or figure skating on the clearcoat but forgot to summon the zamboni when they were done.

While the body shop removed the trunk lid's problem, they were not able to fully resolve the hood and roof but you have to stare to notice it. The manager took $80 off the price since they weren't able to fully remedy the issue. Surprisingly, they cleaned the interior, too. I picked the car up late this afternoon.

2826_2 is the hood on Nov. 2
2827_2 is the roof on Nov. 2
2828_2 is the trunk on Nov. 2
2918 is the roof on Dec. 29
2919 is the trunk on Dec. 29
2920 is the hood on Dec. 29

Wow that’s impressive. So buff the clear coat and seal the paint? What does this cost if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[Skylarkin']

Wow that’s impressive. So buff the clear coat and seal the paint? What does this cost if you don’t mind me asking?

Hi Amanda,

The two independent shops I talked to agreed that from the November photos I sent that the original detail place I used "burned" through the clearcoat. One employee told me the first shop allegedly used the same technique on every vehicle that went through the shop.

I found a coupon on the body shop's website before I dropped the car off; it's for a Fall Special for $499 and expires 12/31/2020. No idea if they'll replace it with a Winter Special but you could check the site below and see:

St Louis Ceramic Coatings | Ceramic Coatings Near Me - this details the ceramic coating they used, Opti-Coat. Don't confuse it with the new one they brag about: Opti-Coat Pro3. That one starts around $3,000.

 

[vicki]

Sounds like you were among the lucky ones. Although I don’t know all the reasons it was discontinued, I could name a ton of things just from personal experience. I am part of a group of individuals from all over the US that are working together on this issue in hopes of holding Buick accountable. I do know for a fact the issue regarding the clear coat deteriorating was a manufacture issue. Just how many vehicles were affected, I don’t know those exact numbers.

I’m not sure if I said it wrong or if you read it wrong, but I was referring to Buick blaming the clear coat issue on the environment not the discontinuation of the vehicle. I was just thinking that would have been a clever move if they knew before hand what went wrong and knowing how much money it would cost them to repaint all those vehicles, just pull it out of production, let the warranties expire and if any complaints are received, just deny them because no one can prove their mistake. Just my theroy is all.......

I am a 2013 Verano owner and our car is the dark color and it is really bad. We bought the car for our son and he said it started to fade and crack. He took it to a shop to detail it but they said it couldn't be fixed. I started see other Buick Verano's / other models with dark paint and noticed most of them had issues with the paint similar to our car. It seems there was a problem with their painting process. How do we get help on this?

 

[G-667233]

My 2016 Mocha Brown has this issue. Calling the dealership tomorrow. I’m at 34,000 and 34 months. Fingers crossed they cover it under the factory warranty.

Did you get a response on this? I have a 2016 mocha brown Verano and am having the same issue.

 

[Skylarkin']

Did you get a response on this? I have a 2016 mocha brown Verano and am having the same issue.

The post you're referring to is about 18 months old; they've never returned to tell us how the dealership call went.

 

[Skylarkin']

I am a 2013 Verano owner and our car is the dark color and it is really bad. We bought the car for our son and he said it started to fade and crack. He took it to a shop to detail it but they said it couldn't be fixed. I started see other Buick Verano's / other models with dark paint and noticed most of them had issues with the paint similar to our car. It seems there was a problem with their painting process. How do we get help on this?

There's no warranty coverage for this; you either pay to have the affected panels repainted, you live with it as is or you sell/trade the car. Even the sealant process I used didn't completely cure the clear coat. If I don't trade my car as planned in two years, I'll have the hood and roof re-shot.

 

[G-339381]

Veranos were made in Lake Orion, Michigan from the 2012 to 2017 model years. Faulty clearcoat is not one of the reasons the car is out of production. Sedan sales vs. those of CUVs and SUVs is the main reason GM, Ford and Chrysler dropped sedans in droves over the past few years. After 2020, the Malibu, Sonic and Cadillac's new CT5 and CT4 will be the only sedans left in GM's stable. The Verano had the misfortune to be the first nameplate retired.

Care to supply any legitimate links to prove GM/Buick blamed the car's discontinuation on the "environment?"

My Verano is a dark blue 2015 model. It has never been garaged since I bought it in September 2016 and prior to my purchase, it set outside at the selling dealer for 15 months. When I get it detailed or wash it myself, the paint is fine, other than the chips and scrapes that have accumulated since I bought it.

This car is hands-down the best GM car I've ever owned and it's my eighth GM vehicle since I began driving more than 30 years ago. The only imported car I ever owned, an '87 Nissan Sentra, was the worst car I've ever owned.

I have a 2013 the paint is shit period I have a 95 tacoma shine like the day I bought it

 

[Skylarkin']

I have a 2013 the paint is shit period I have a 95 tacoma shine like the day I bought it

Good for you! Fix the Buick or sell it, I don't care.

 

[G-815073]

Veranos were made in Lake Orion, Michigan from the 2012 to 2017 model years. Faulty clearcoat is not one of the reasons the car is out of production. Sedan sales vs. those of CUVs and SUVs is the main reason GM, Ford and Chrysler dropped sedans in droves over the past few years. After 2020, the Malibu, Sonic and Cadillac's new CT5 and CT4 will be the only sedans left in GM's stable. The Verano had the misfortune to be the first nameplate retired.

Care to supply any legitimate links to prove GM/Buick blamed the car's discontinuation on the "environment?"

My Verano is a dark blue 2015 model. It has never been garaged since I bought it in September 2016 and prior to my purchase, it set outside at the selling dealer for 15 months. When I get it detailed or wash it myself, the paint is fine, other than the chips and scrapes that have accumulated since I bought it.

This car is hands-down the best GM car I've ever owned and it's my eighth GM vehicle since I began driving more than 30 years ago. The only imported car I ever owned, an '87 Nissan Sentra, was the worst car I've ever owned.

This is a very COMMON issue. You see a group of random ppl discussing it but you are arguing it’s their fault. They have blamed it on everything but themselves when it should have been a recall to fix the paint.
We all driving it so clearly we like it but that’s some bs that most of us have to fix the paint alone.

 

[Skylarkin']

I don't care how uncommon it is. At first, I didn't believe the entire fault lay with the car and on a case-by-case it still may not. Some people enjoy gaming the system. However, my car's clearcoat cracked during lockdown; so I'm not immune but I don't expect the corporation to repaint it for free when they don't even make or sell the car anymore. I'd want more proof than an anti-GM bias or carrying a generational grudge.

 

[mamakaye1955]

Have you tried having the car compounded and polished?

I tried the rubbing compound and the hardest shell car wax I could find and that only made the problem worse.

 

[Sara P]

Sounds like you were among the lucky ones. Although I don’t know all the reasons it was discontinued, I could name a ton of things just from personal experience. I am part of a group of individuals from all over the US that are working together on this issue in hopes of holding Buick accountable. I do know for a fact the issue regarding the clear coat deteriorating was a manufacture issue. Just how many vehicles were affected, I don’t know those exact numbers.

I’m not sure if I said it wrong or if you read it wrong, but I was referring to Buick blaming the clear coat issue on the environment not the discontinuation of the vehicle. I was just thinking that would have been a clever move if they knew before hand what went wrong and knowing how much money it would cost them to repaint all those vehicles, just pull it out of production, let the warranties expire and if any complaints are received, just deny them because no one can prove their mistake. Just my theroy is all.......

We are having the same issue with our 2014 blue verano , the hood, trunk, and roof look dull and covered in scratches and we always used touchless car washes. It wasn’t until I started looking into it we found this is a too common, known issue, hoping the dealership will be helpful this week.

 

[000671]

I believe they started making Veranos in 2012 and I have an article written in 2015 that states they started a new 3 coat painting process in which brags about how much energy they (Buick) were saving in production making the Veranos ......fast forward to 2016 (4 years later) reports started about the clear coat deteriorating (maybe they also realized the problem) and this was one of the reasons they shut down the production? I don’t think it was coincidental but I do know for a fact it is a manufacture product issue that Buick should be recalling and fixing but instead they discontinued the line and are blaming it on the environment and consumers to keep from covering it under warranties. Unfortunately darker colors show it worst and it just keeps getting worse as time goes on. It is happening across the US with these cars. It is not the environment nor consumers. I had a Toyota Camry before this and it 12 years old paint still looked like new with a high gloss finish. This is completely unacceptable and I will never purchase a GM or Buick again.

I have a 2014 Buick Verano bought used but was still under warranty Few years ago I started noticing the hood….scratches, dull, faded, just awful looking. Then roof and truck looking very bad too. There should be a recall. I’ve noticed other cars like mine with the same paint problem.

 

[G-14788]

Anyone know if this is confined to the 2013 model year? My '15 is Sapphire Blue and has never been garaged. It'll receive its wax for the summer once it warms and stays warm here (after Tax Day).

Mine is a 2o14 black Verano. I. Mostly on horizontal surfaces. Never again GM. Back to Toyota.

 

[NikkiMack370]

Background: 2013 Buick Verano Premium, Mocha Bronz Metallic, garage kept and clean with only 41K miles. I paid for and repaired a paint issue ($1700) on the hood myself in 2017 (not knowing it was a common issue). Fast forward..noticed dull paint on top of vehicle. After research found out it is a common problem, but sometimes hard to notice. Took car to dealership, they recognized the issue and said the paint was "Checking" in which is a factory OEM defect. Was told vehicle is out of warranty and $2900 for repaint/repair. Called Buick Customer service for assistance. (Case# 9-5009849110) My case has been with a Senior Advisor "Lionel" for OVER two months now. I cannot get a call back nor any information regarding case. For a month now, Lionel has told me "Dealership will not call him back", "I am just a liason nothing I can do". I have suggested calling a different delership, he won't do it. I have asked to speak to someone else, cannot get past him. I have even given my dealership the Senior Advisors number to include his extension 5923579, and they cannot get ahold of him, and have no record of him calling or contacting the dealership. I keep getting told I will get a call back and I never do. Been told the exact same things... "I have escalated the issue", "I have sent notification to Lionels supervisor", on and on and on. I have tried messeging Buick on Facebook, and have attempted to email GM all to no avail. I feel this type of treatment is unacceptable and it is unacceptable for a car with less than 41K miles to look like it is primer. It is also unacceptable that I cannot get ANY help from Buick who claims "Total Customer satisfaction is important". I am a loyal GM customer for over 30 years and a Chevy Truck Legends member. I will be working on a YouTube Video to show my issues with the paint. If anyone have any info or better way to get help I will greatly appreciate it. Love the car, but I $3000 is a bit much especially when it is a factory paint defect.

Same thing going on with my 2014 Verano. Called Buick, they said nothing they can do. It is out of warranty. Call the dealership.