Disappointed with the Paint on My Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro

[tpmacleod]

My vehicle was in the shop for about a day and a half getting paint correction , then it sat a day to allow the ceramic to cure. I had the paint, wheels and glass done for $2500. Ive seen the dealer doing one, completely half assed for $800

What kind of price did you pay for that service?

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[tpmacleod]

What color TRD Pro do you have? if it’s black or underground that’s just a thing for those colors. But Toyota does not have the best paint it’s thin in general.

Black. I thought about other colours but always gravitate that way.

 

[Scrappopatamus]

What kind of price did you pay for that service?

$2500

 

[Beedeviled]

My advice is to go with the one bucket method and foam cannon to wash your car and do it regularly. My preferred method because it’s fast and effective. Basically,

• Bucket with grit guard (wheeled preferable). Grit guard not mandatory but I always use one.
• 6-8 Microfiber Wash Pads (I use Chemical Bros Microfiber pads). One side of pad=one panel (Not wheels! That’s its own thing). Never dunk a dirty pad into the bucket! Foam entire vehicle. Then dunk a pad, clean a panel, flip pad, clean second panel, then swap for fresh pad and repeat.
• Good Ph neutral soap (I like Adams Mega Foam).
• If really dirty/or every several washes you can use a prewash - basically spray on (diluted 2% prewash) with pump sprayer, let sit for a couple minutes, and rinse (I like Bilt Hamber Touch-less). Then move on to normal wash routine.
• Drying aid and good drying towel (I like The Rag Company). You can use waterless wash, detailer, 3 in 1 (like Griots, Adams H20, etc.), or something with silica (I use Apex Spray and Seal). You want the slick properties of the spray to aid drying and protect the paint.

 

[get.outside.75]

This isn't a new thing. My wife has a 2 year old Accord and it has so many chips on the hood it looks 10yrs old (has 15k miles). Garage kept as well.

 

[Cranberry]

I have a white truck, just about to hit 2000 km on it 50% highway 50% city. Iv washed my rig 5 or 6 times now and have not seen any issues with paint.

I have no ceramic coating or protective application of any sort beyond a bug deflector added to the front.

I wonder if the darker colour on your rig shows more imperfections?

 

[127.0.0.1]

nothing to see here...paint threads are like oil threads
-----------------------------------------------

Numerous Ford owners and inspectors report significant issues with paint quality, including premature chipping, bubbling, and peeling. Common complaints suggest the paint is applied too thinly

Honda paint is widely criticized for being thin, soft, and prone to issues like premature rock chips, clear coat failure, and peeling,

Numerous complaints and class-action lawsuits indicate significant issues with Chevrolet paint and coating quality,

Numerous reports and a class-action lawsuit indicate that 2017-present Nissan vehicles, particularly white models, suffer from premature paint peeling, chipping, and adhesion issues

Mercedes-Benz has faced significant criticism regarding paint quality, particularly with specific colors like "Mars Red" and white, which are prone to peeling, blistering, and bubbling

Many BMW owners report that modern BMW paint is "soft," leading to premature chipping, road rash, and swirl marks, particularly on high-impact areas like bumpers and hoods

Volkswagen paint is widely considered to be quite hard, making it resistant to scratches but also difficult to correct. While many owners experience good durability, there are numerous reports of thin paint, significant orange peel, and issues with chipping or peeling

Subaru paint is frequently described by owners as thin, soft, and prone to chips, scratches, and damage from environmental elements like bird droppings. This is often attributed to the use of water-based, eco-friendly paint systems.

---------
and on and on and on....

 

[tpmacleod]

I do t get it. Why are the cheating out on things we can see! I’m not encouraging cuts elsewhere but these types of cuts really can affect sales.
Any suggestions on moving forward?

 

[Tarekith]

Ceramic coatings don't do anything for scratch prevention, so I wouldn't focus on that aspect as the reason for scratches. They are literally just a few atoms thick, not going to make any difference when it comes to that kind of protection.

 

[Nodak]

in the grand scheme of things, after 12 yrs of lazy car washes, chips and swirls from the car washes, i still got 19k trade in @ 120k miles. thats with no maintenance on the paint and only the oem PPF on the front leading edges. the paint held up good enough. if the 26 does the same i will be happy. i am not as picky as some peoples ocd, i can live with the imperfections of day to day use and wear and tear. i gave up my ocd on that aspect of life a long time ago and put that energy into more better QoL issues now.

not to mention the 12 yrs of rolling the back window down and not a care in the world of how the interior turned out.

granted it sucked for the person cleaning that interior and headliner, but i was dam if i wasnt going to enjoy rolling that back window down every chance i could get for once in 30 years of owning a 4R.

this time around, my 26 is never going to see that back window roll down for pleasure.

 

[Crose1695]

most new paint from factory is bad. I had a full paint correction done right away, PPF the front end and ceramic on the rest. night and day difference. worth the couple grand.

 

[tpmacleod]

Good to hear! Can you outline those steps for me? Do you have any photos? Are you going to be great. I’m feeling like my Trd pro is like a boat. I keep sinking money into it.

 

[bshaunn]

I didn’t expect to be writing this.

About two months ago, I picked up my brand new Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. It was one of those purchases you look forward to for a long time. Black paint, brand new, and something I planned to take care of properly from day one.

Fast forward to today. The truck has just over 1,000 km on it. It hasn’t been off-road. It hasn’t been near bushes or tight trails. It’s been parked in a garage every night.

And yet, the paint tells a completely different story.

What I’m Seeing

After a single careful hand wash using a new brush and clean cloths, I started noticing swirl marks and light scratches across the surface.

Not just a few. A lot.

More than I ever saw on my 2014 Toyota 4Runner Limited after 10 years.

That’s the part I can’t wrap my head around.

What Makes This So Confusing

I did what most people would consider “everything right”:

• No automatic car washes
• No off-roading
• No contact with branches or debris
• Garage kept
• Careful, hand wash only
• Dealer-applied clear coat protection before delivery

And still… the finish looks like it’s already been through years of wear.

Possible Explanations (Trying to Make Sense of It)

At this point, I’m trying to stay objective. A few possibilities come to mind:

1. Soft clear coat on newer vehicles

Modern paints, especially on darker colours, can be surprisingly soft and prone to marring.

2. Dealer prep damage

It’s possible the swirls were already there from the dealership prep process (machine washing, drying, etc.), and I’m only noticing them now under the right light.

3. “Clear coat protection” issues

If a coating was applied, it may not have been done properly, or worse, it may have locked in existing imperfections.

4. Washing tools

Even a “new” brush can cause micro scratches, especially on black paint. That one is tough to accept, but it’s possible.

Where I’m At Right Now

I’ve reached out to the dealership and I’m waiting to hear back.

The dealership has been great to deal with overall. No complaints there. I’m hopeful they’ll stand behind the product and help figure this out.

But I won’t lie it’s taken a bit of the shine off the experience.

When you spend this kind of money on a new vehicle, especially something like a TRD Pro, you expect it to feel new for more than a few weeks.

Right now, it doesn’t.

What I’m Hoping For

I think a fair outcome would be:

• A proper professional paint correction (not a quick polish)
• Re-application of a quality ceramic coating if needed
• Honest transparency about what may have caused this

I’m not looking for perfection — just something that reflects what a new vehicle should look like.

Curious — Has Anyone Else Experienced This:

• Are you seeing similar swirl issues early on?
• Did your dealer address it?
• Any tips on preventing this moving forward?

Final Thoughts

I still love the truck. It drives great, looks incredible at a distance, and it’s everything I expected mechanically.

But the paint?

That’s been a surprise, and not a good.

 

[John2112]

I didn’t expect to be writing this.

About two months ago, I picked up my brand new Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. It was one of those purchases you look forward to for a long time. Black paint, brand new, and something I planned to take care of properly from day one.

Fast forward to today. The truck has just over 1,000 km on it. It hasn’t been off-road. It hasn’t been near bushes or tight trails. It’s been parked in a garage every night.

And yet, the paint tells a completely different story.

What I’m Seeing

After a single careful hand wash using a new brush and clean cloths, I started noticing swirl marks and light scratches across the surface.

Not just a few. A lot.

More than I ever saw on my 2014 Toyota 4Runner Limited after 10 years.

That’s the part I can’t wrap my head around.

What Makes This So Confusing

I did what most people would consider “everything right”:

• No automatic car washes
• No off-roading
• No contact with branches or debris
• Garage kept
• Careful, hand wash only
• Dealer-applied clear coat protection before delivery

And still… the finish looks like it’s already been through years of wear.

Possible Explanations (Trying to Make Sense of It)

At this point, I’m trying to stay objective. A few possibilities come to mind:

1. Soft clear coat on newer vehicles

Modern paints, especially on darker colours, can be surprisingly soft and prone to marring.

2. Dealer prep damage

It’s possible the swirls were already there from the dealership prep process (machine washing, drying, etc.), and I’m only noticing them now under the right light.

3. “Clear coat protection” issues

If a coating was applied, it may not have been done properly, or worse, it may have locked in existing imperfections.

4. Washing tools

Even a “new” brush can cause micro scratches, especially on black paint. That one is tough to accept, but it’s possible.

Where I’m At Right Now

I’ve reached out to the dealership and I’m waiting to hear back.

The dealership has been great to deal with overall. No complaints there. I’m hopeful they’ll stand behind the product and help figure this out.

But I won’t lie it’s taken a bit of the shine off the experience.

When you spend this kind of money on a new vehicle, especially something like a TRD Pro, you expect it to feel new for more than a few weeks.

Right now, it doesn’t.

What I’m Hoping For

I think a fair outcome would be:

• A proper professional paint correction (not a quick polish)
• Re-application of a quality ceramic coating if needed
• Honest transparency about what may have caused this

I’m not looking for perfection — just something that reflects what a new vehicle should look like.

Curious — Has Anyone Else Experienced This:

• Are you seeing similar swirl issues early on?
• Did your dealer address it?
• Any tips on preventing this moving forward?

Final Thoughts

I still love the truck. It drives great, looks incredible at a distance, and it’s everything I expected mechanically.

But the paint?

That’s been a surprise, and not a good.

Yeah I've had my 4Runner Trailhunter for a year, I had it ceramic coated in the first week but the swirl marks, even using expensive lambskin car wash mitts are still there. I should have had it wrapped but didn't. I'm planning on having it repainted at a high-end shop nearby with some good quality paint. I realize they're saving weight by putting thinner layers of paint on but good grief.

 

[NotApplicable]

No offense, but the original post seems very clearly written by AI... I wish we could keep online community discussions human and authentic, using our own words and brains!

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