compared to honda paint, my maxima's paint is shiny and pearly like it was just off a showroom floor. My 03 accord had orange peel in the paint and was very thin. One spot on my door was chipped to the primer.

 

This is my second Nissan. I haven't been impressed with the paint either. My Maxima looks worse than my minivan from Nissan. I had my Quest 4 years, my Maxima 15 months, and it looks worse than the Quest ever did!

It isn't just the hood. I read here once that the paint lacks some flex in it. So it is stiff, brittle and chips really easily. I have chips on door sills in the rear. It makes no sense because it's INSIDE the sill, not exposed to rock chips or any other outside debris.

This alone, on three places on my car, leads me to believe Nissan's paint isn't as good as it should be!

This happens regardless of how often you care for your car on a detail level. My car is also garaged EVERY night and when it's not in use during the day!

I don't think it has a ton to do with the way we drive it. (chips in the hood are somewhat inevitable) but not door sills and rear bumpers and door edges.....and such!

Swee

 

Thats fine metal from rotors and metallic/semi-metallic brakes. Doesn't have to be from your vehicle. Look at any light colored vehicle and you'll see them. Not much you can do about them except polish and wax.

 

 

i have the same problem with my 01 max have rust spots. i am looking at getting a new paint job once after reach a little over 100k

 

Clay seems to remove everything.. I'm about to paint the 6th gen BLACK and hope for the best

 

I've had two hondas now and can tell you that they have terrible paint. The Maxima seems to be fine, but my brand new Civic's paint seemed like it was paper-thin. My Accord did the whole bald-spot thing, too. Nissans in general have better paint. And air conditioning.

 

Yes, I agree with the consensus. The 2003 Se has terrible paint on the front hood. There must be over 20 to 30 little rust spots or white spots showing. The paint seems thin...with a strange white undercoat. Think I will repaint at 80K.

 

All 5th gens are like that.

 

These rust spots are on top of the paint. It is simply debris metal that has oxidized on top of your clear. If this was rust coming up through the paint, there would be no way to remove it short of stripping the panel down to bare good metal (hoping there is some) and refinishing it. Take it from a rusty 3rd gen guy.

And it is a well known fact in the industry that newer nissan's have poor paint quality and thinkness.

 

I had the same problem on my bumper as well. When I clayed the car, it took them all of and was worth the time doing it. I clay'ed it about 6 months ago and they're starting to come back so I guess I'll redo it BUT it DOES work.

 

Everyone:

What you are seeing is rail dust that has oxidized on the paint. The simplest way to remove that is a claybar or certain kinds of polish. The most complicated way to do it is by using a professional grade chemical solution.

 

Thank You...this is the truth.


If this is indeed true, you either need to use better polish & wax or you're waisting your time. Theres absolutely NO reason to clay, polish & wax your car weekly. A good clay & polish, if done right, should only be needed a couple times a year. Waxing on the other hand maybe once a month, depending on the longevity of the wax.

 

I have the same problem and had it from the beginning. I have a 2004 Liquid Silver SE