I have a black 2004 Endeavor XLS ... at present, it is less than 3 years old. I noticed a couple of months ago that the paint is deteriorating rapidly on surfaces that are most exposed to sunlight.
I contacted the Service Department and pretty much got the run-around for about a month. I finally used the dealership's online web email to send the a message - I got a call from the IT Department a few days later.
I spoke to the person in the Body Shop and scheduled an appointment to have pictures taken. When I arrived, there was another black 2004 Endeavor in the shop with exactly the same paint problems. They told me Mitsubishi was going to pay for that one, so I guess it had lower miles - I drive about 600 miles per week, so I've got some miles on mine, but what does that have to do with paint quality?
The Body Shop Manager and the Service Manager told me that it is a standing policy at Mitsubishi Motors to intentionally thin the clear-coat on their automobiles in an attempt to save money up front. I asked if they are still doing that, and I was told that in fact they are ... 2000 to 2006 models are still being thinned on the clear-coat. They said they see people bringing vehicles in all the time - for years
- with the same old problems. Most of the time (to Mitsubishi's favor) the cars have too many miles on them, by their calculations, and thus, are not covered. Presto! Mitsubishi has saved no telling how much money on clear-coat, and the consumer just eats it!
The paint has premature aging and turns a white color ... rapidly spreading. I was told that the Factory has been 'tweaking' this for a few years, changing paint vendors, etc., and in my opinion, it seems that they are attempting to achive a thinning mixture that will start going bad right about the time the warrantee runs out.
I've been told that Mitsubishi Warrantee is most likely not going to address my paint problem. Insurance says that is not covered ... so I have a 3 year old vehicle (bought new) for $550/mo and it looks like it is about 8 years old and neglected.
Take a look around on the roads ... see what you find. I am now stuck with this vehicle for who knows how long ... I cannot sell it, cannot trade it, no one will have it. The value has dropped through the floor.
I would NOT recommend buying ANY Mitsubishi product now knowing what I do. People need to speak up now and start documenting this fraudulant behavior. Consumers buy a car thinking the paint is good - no matter how much you garage keep it and wax it, it is a matter of time.
I know there are many more people out there with this exact problem. I see them in the Body Shop ... I see them on the roads ... and the Dealership (for crying out loud) has even spilled a bag-of-beans on the whole scheme!
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! The Dealership is taking my calls and are polite, but they say they just sell the cars - it is the Factory's problem. I'd like to see a class action lawsuit slapped on them for their intentional defrauding of the consumer.
Post here if you have similar problems with Mitsubishi paint problems.