Don't see that anyone misunderstood, you've even confirmed what we're all saying: If the wipers are installed on the marks on the windshield, the driver's side wiper arm contacts the painted hood(for sure on aftermarket glass) when raised. But if you were to remove the arm, rotate it slightly clockwise(raising the parking spot [by maybe 1/2"]of the wiper) and reinstall, you can eliminate this problem.

Just checked my new windsheild install. They actually rotated the wiper arm a little more than necessary, so it's not even close to contacting the hood. So I know they were paying attention, good shop. I'll reposition it when I get back to California.

OP TheBraveOutside, if rotating does not solve the problem, try swapping left side for right side, the arms ARE different.

 

I run two drivers side wiper arms, my new windshield has the alignment spots, and my hood was chipped when I bought the HHR.
When I change wipers , I put a shop towel on the hood to prevent further damage.

 

Wow, and here all this time I thought I was the one that caused this after removing the arms for the butyl patch. I have not just a chip but it is near to the metal. I was Gregg frequently, and raise the arms up to wipe the blades down and get a more thorough clean of the windshield. Who knew! Glad to see others have this same problem.

 

1. I had the windshield replaced shortly after I bought it. I had replaced the wipers myself before that, though. So, the windshield is not original.

2. I am aware it was in a front end collision, though I am unaware about the level of severity. The dealership was forward about there being problems when it was traded in (apparently, it was traded in by a girl who hit something and wanted to ditch the car and trade it in all cracked up -- sounds creepy?). I still bought it, anyway.

My HHR overheated when I drove it home and it turned out that radiator was busted and they didn't catch it.

So, I suppose it IS possible that the hood had been replaced -- or at least removed -- causing a misalignment. I had not considered that, actually.

As for the paint, I would say some of it is chipped off on the hood, which probably is replaced or repainted. Expected. But, it happens on the corners of the doors as well. I would not consider it a user-error because, like I said, I have never found myself needing to buy touch-up paint before.

 

The paint seems to be more brittle than in the old days. The metal is thinner than they used to use, making edges sharper where the metal is folded over.

Newfangled construction techniques! We should be still be using cast iron for car bodies!

Sorry, not a reason for a recall. Just a reason to wish for the olden days, remember the 80's?

 

I'm not impressed with the water based paint!

 

My drivers side wiper contacted the hood when flipped up when I bought the car new. I had them clock the arm a touch more clockwise so it wouldn't any more.

Within the first year of owning I had the paint bubbling off on the inside of the rear drivers side door. Had that resprayed under warranty but it is still bad there. I had to re do it myself again and used a rust converter on it. The outside of the same door, has some rust bubbles in the paint now too. Right where you would get stone chips if you didn't have running boards. Mine has the boards and it is not a chip causing it. I would think that the painting prep was not done well at the factory and there was moisture under it. That and the water based paint is not as good. Mine is dark silver (not sure of the exact name) it is almost impossible to match as time lightens the colour so much any touch up paint is darker than the car. Not sure what to do about the bubbles right now as any resprayed area will be a lot darker than the rest of the car and would stand out.

 

Adjust your wipers properly, guys.

This paint is SOOOOO much better than my Saabaru's paint , it's not funny. Yes, I once worked for GM, and interfaced closely with Paint & Polymers.

Still, look at ANY Subaru around Detroit. !0x the stone chips of any GM car. I lived it. Cut the crap about GM Paint. They are near the top, and the Japs are all lagging badly.

 

Even the Saab Subarus that were made alongside HHRs? Impreza/9-2x; Tribeca/9-6x

 

Mine was from Gunma, Japan. GM didn't build the 92X. They built the 94X in Mexico (with the Caillac SRX), but they are very rare. One partial year of production. Subaru forums are full of people complaining about Paint.