Poor Paint
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 08-20-2006
Posts: 21,640
From: Hillsdale, Michigan
Poor Paint
I purchased my 2007 HHR new on August 19. Within the first two weeks I noticed multiple paint chips 
. These chips are in various areas including the hood, behind front wheels, windshield pillar, one on the roof (yes, the roof), and even one on the back. I took it to my sales person who tried pushing it off as the result of being a black car
. Ok. IDIOT. I talked with the new car sales manager and he agreed that it was something that didn't seem right. Supposedly they took it to the body man and took pictures they were going to send in to Chevy. Later that night I also sent an e-mail to Chevy Customer ASSistance stating my dilema and my distaste for the paint quality of my car after only 1000 miles driven in town on PAVED roads. After another week I was already noticing the paint in front of the rear tires was getting pitted so I again went to my dealer. No help again. They did offer to pay for labor if I was to install running boards. So on Sept 29 they were installed. They never mentioned painting the affected area. Finally, on Nov. 21 (2 1/2 months later) I receive an email back from Chevy Customer ASSistance stating I should contact them. After a couple of weeks of research I was told that if I fixed the chips they would then sell me a paint protection plan 
. This is my first GM/Chevy product and with this experience will probably be my last. And people wonder why the foreign competitors have made such ground on the big 3. Ok. my rant is over. 
. These chips are in various areas including the hood, behind front wheels, windshield pillar, one on the roof (yes, the roof), and even one on the back. I took it to my sales person who tried pushing it off as the result of being a black car . Ok. IDIOT. I talked with the new car sales manager and he agreed that it was something that didn't seem right. Supposedly they took it to the body man and took pictures they were going to send in to Chevy. Later that night I also sent an e-mail to Chevy Customer ASSistance stating my dilema and my distaste for the paint quality of my car after only 1000 miles driven in town on PAVED roads. After another week I was already noticing the paint in front of the rear tires was getting pitted so I again went to my dealer. No help again. They did offer to pay for labor if I was to install running boards. So on Sept 29 they were installed. They never mentioned painting the affected area. Finally, on Nov. 21 (2 1/2 months later) I receive an email back from Chevy Customer ASSistance stating I should contact them. After a couple of weeks of research I was told that if I fixed the chips they would then sell me a paint protection plan . This is my first GM/Chevy product and with this experience will probably be my last. And people wonder why the foreign competitors have made such ground on the big 3. Ok. my rant is over.
Senior Member
Joined: 05-13-2006
Posts: 2,334
From: Chicago,IL
I have "Beautiful Black" also, I can`t say the paint quality is poor, but all the road debris seems to find my "Ride". There`s plenty of objects on the road that you don`t see, until you wash your ride and see the result of a hit. It really is more poor infrastructure/road maintenance, than paint...
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 08-20-2006
Posts: 21,640
From: Hillsdale, Michigan
I have owned a multitude of cars. I make it a habbit to clean and wax my own car so I can notice any problems and have it taken care of. Some of the new vehicles I have owned have included 2 Dodges, 2 Toyotas, an Infiniti, a Ford, a Chrysler, and now a Chevy. Never have I seen paint chip so easily. Add up all the paint chips from all the other vehicles over the entire time I owned each and it still would not equal the number of chips in the paint of my HHR in less than 2 months. Now if thats not poor paint then I don't know what is.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-30-2006
Posts: 1,079
From: Saskatoon Sask. Canada
I to have a black one, and after the first month i noticed chips on the a-piller and hood and roof too. I got running boards for free and the rear doors painted, but that was as far as it went. I bought a full bra from Mike at SoCalHHR's to cover up the front.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 08-20-2006
Posts: 21,640
From: Hillsdale, Michigan
Poor paint that cannot handle 2 months of normal driving on paved roads . Road debris or not the amount of chips I have received since ownership of this vehicle is so execessive (not to mention GM's lackluster response time and ability to correct it) that I will not be buying another GM product. That is not to say I don't enjoy the HHR but if I cannot expect my paint to last normal driving then I'll be driving another brand come next purchase time.
. Road debris or not the amount of chips I have received since ownership of this vehicle is so execessive (not to mention GM's lackluster response time and ability to correct it) that I will not be buying another GM product. That is not to say I don't enjoy the HHR but if I cannot expect my paint to last normal driving then I'll be driving another brand come next purchase time.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 08-20-2006
Posts: 21,640
From: Hillsdale, Michigan
Look, obviously you and I do not agree on this issue. My point is that I expect a vehicle to be able to perform, function, and be durable enough for every day normal use. If I bought a pair of shoes and the soles fell off after a month I would expect the manufacturor to take care of the problem. Otherwise I would not buy that brand again. As stated before I have never had an issue like this with any other vehicle. If GM does not agree with this then I have the power of choice. Simply said I will go elsewhere. You don't happen to be a chevy/gm worker? You are awful touchy on the subject. Either that or just a diehard.