Paint blistering issue update

[Beachbum]

This is being quite extensively discussed on Pistonheads and as a result, took a look at the Poll results so far. 34% of us, have had issues with the paint blisters !!! Thats a horrendous percentage. Given there are over 10,000 Emiras in the wild now, thats +3400 cars with the issue, assuming a linear extrapolation of the results.
If its as bad as it looks, then I am amazed Lotus can sell these cars at all.

 

[me73]

This is being quite extensively discussed on Pistonheads and as a result, took a look at the Poll results so far. 34% of us, have had issues with the paint blisters !!! Thats a horrendous percentage. Given there are over 10,000 Emiras in the wild now, thats +3400 cars with the issue, assuming a linear extrapolation of the results.
If its as bad as it looks, then I am amazed Lotus can sell these cars at all.

The poll in this thread provides a similar percentage. I'd take the actual value with a grain of salt. Someone is probably more likely to search out a forum like this and then participate in this particular thread if they've had the issue. None-the-less, it's a defective process that clearly Lotus should have addressed sooner.

Luckily it does appear that the majority of people have had it remedied under warranty. There are several instances where larger manufacturers who seemingly have much better reputations have tried very hard to deny responsibility.

 

[F1 SML8R]

The poll in this thread provides a similar percentage. I'd take the actual value with a grain of salt. Someone is probably more likely to search out a forum like this and then participate in this particular thread if they've had the issue. Non-the-less, it's a defective process that clearly Lotus should have addressed sooner.

This. If you experienced this, you've researched it on forums and voted. If you haven't, you are more likely out enjoying the car.

Also keep in mind, there is a large contingency of Emira owners that do not waste a second on car forums (see group "enjoying the car"). Needless to say, I think it's very feasible that the actual percentage of impacted cars is dramatically less than a third of all cars as implied by the various forum polls.

 

[freefall_junkie]

I agree that there will be some bias in the poll, but be in no doubt a lot of cars are affected. When I spoke to a dealer service manager back in September I was really surprised to learn of the sheer scale of the problem. Many tens of customer cars already had doors replaced at that one dealer, some for the second time. Multiple 3rd party bodyshops were being used to cope with the backlog of cars waiting to be done, including a chunk of their own used and pre-registered stock. Extrapolate that out across all dealers in the uk and you must be into 4 figures of cars already affected, with who know how many more that are just ticking time bombs. How on earth did Lotus let it get to this? Disastrous for the reputation of the brand, and it will get worse when cars start being affected out of warranty.

 

[me73]

with who know how many more that are just ticking time bombs. How on earth did Lotus let it get to this? Disastrous for the reputation of the brand, and it will get worse when cars start being affected out of warranty.

I don't think I'd call a defect of this kind a ticking time bomb. I don't think anyone's life is at risk from a bubble in the paint. As for reputation, let's be honest, this is more or less par for the course for Lotus. It's not helping but unless you go in buying blind to this manufacturer's history, you know that aside from the powertrain, these cars aren't built to the highest standards. I'm not happy that people have to deal with this, but let's keep some perspective. Again, it seems that the issue is being addressed under warranty without much resistance as far as I have seen. For a manufacturer who is bleeding cash, it could certainly be worse.

 

[F1 SML8R]

...As for reputation, let's be honest, this is more or less par for the course for Lotus. It's not helping but unless you go in buying blind, you know that aside from the powertrain, these cars aren't built to the highest standards.

100% You either know Lotus or you don't. If you do, you come back multiple times despite the level of punishment each previous visit gave because you found what Lotus is really about (driving!).

If you don't know Lotus and are intrigued after seeing one, you google then decide if the drama is worth the bite.

 

[djprov431]

All done --- again, my guy said the door had a very obvious previous repair prior to OEM paint - the repair materials were incompatible with the OEM composite door -- he ground it all out and did his thing, over the last month or so --- it looks amazing. There was no blending done, just the driver door was painted. I still have the new OEM Lotus door they sent me as a spare. New PPF (paid for by Lotus) goes on next month.

 

[freefall_junkie]

I don't think I'd call a defect of this kind a ticking time bomb. I don't think anyone's life is at risk from a bubble in the paint. As for reputation, let's be honest, this is more or less par for the course for Lotus. It's not helping but unless you go in buying blind to this manufacturer's history, you know that aside from the powertrain, these cars aren't built to the highest standards. I'm not happy that people have to deal with this, but let's keep some perspective. Again, it seems that the issue is being addressed under warranty without much resistance as far as I have seen. For a manufacturer who is bleeding cash, it could certainly be worse.

Ticking time bomb? Well, put it another way, my car started to feel like a liability when I realised there was a very real possibility of it throwing up a £10k bill for replacement doors and tailgate after the warranty expires at the end of this month. One of the reasons I sold. Not so much about the money, it just soured the ownership experience, especially after my email exchanges with Lotus CC on the matter. To paraphrase their position, the 5 year paint warranty as stated on the website until late 2024 was a 'mistake', and if you get paint bubbling after 3 years, then GFY. I've owned multiple Lotus cars over 20+ years so I'm no stranger to Lotus quality issues, but this attitude really annoyed me.

 

[geoffbland]

especially after my email exchanges with Lotus CC on the matter. To paraphrase their position, the 5 year paint warranty as stated on the website until late 2024 was a 'mistake', and if you get paint bubbling after 3 years, then GFY.

It so, that'll soon be resolved when the first someone with a car over 3 years old takes this to small claims court.

I believe the 30% of cars affected shown in the poll here is accurate. I've had 2 separate dealers tell me that it is around that number of cars that they have seen affected - and seems to be close to half of Emira owners I've met at meets, runs etc have been affected. I thought I was not affected with a '23 car until the bubbling suddenly showed up out of nowhere all over the drivers door.

What is more worrying is that new cars are still being affected and also repaired doors having the problem again. The last owner I met had an '24 and has had rear quarter-panel, engine cover and three doors replaced. I fully expect my passenger's door to be affected at some stage and suspect even when I get mine back with replacement drivers door that it could happen there again.

It would be nice if someone comes up with replacement carbon fibre doors - or at least door skins.

 

[freefall_junkie]

It so, that'll soon be resolved when the first someone with a car over 3 years old takes this to small claims court.

I hope that does resolve it and Lotus are forced to do the right thing, but what if they contest the claim - is the legal situation that clear cut? And isn't the small claims limit £10k? Worst case scenario of 2 bubbling doors and tailgate and 3/4 panels could be well over that. It's sad that any of this will end up in court. Lotus ownership is supposed to be fun.

 

[Beachbum]

I hope that does resolve it and Lotus are forced to do the right thing, but what if they contest the claim - is the legal situation that clear cut? And isn't the small claims limit £10k? Worst case scenario of 2 bubbling doors and tailgate and 3/4 panels could be well over that. It's sad that any of this will end up in court. Lotus ownership is supposed to be fun.

Just take them to small claims for one item, not all of it. If you win, which I expect you will, then that sets the precedent for all the bits and for everyone else too.
The crunch will be, who will be the first to have to go down that route.

 

[geoffbland]

Not sure - I'll double check this when I speak to them on Monday. Maybe I got this wrong and that includes the wait time for the door - but we've already waited 2 months for that and I've been told the door is now in?

Just spoken to Lotus Silverstone. My Emira is not being delivered to the paint-shop until the end of this week then painting will take 3 weeks but this is including re-applying PPF as they need to wait for the paint to off-gas. But I then pointed out that Lotus are saying they won't cover for re-applying PPF anymore and was then told it might therefore be sooner. The car also needs to be delivered back from Beaconsfield which will take some time.
So the 4 weeks+ total for the door-replacement and respray is confirmed.

I'm going to ring the bodyshop and double-check - also to see if I can pick the car up direct from them when done rather than wait for it to be delivered back to Silverstone.

 

[Mistral]

Just spoken to Lotus Silverstone. My Emira is not being delivered to the paint-shop until the end of this week then painting will take 3 weeks but this is including re-applying PPF as they need to wait for the paint to off-gas. But I then pointed out that Lotus are saying they won't cover for re-applying PPF anymore and was then told it might therefore be sooner. The car also needs to be delivered back from Beaconsfield which will take some time.
So the 4 weeks+ total for the door-replacement and respray is confirmed.

I'm going to ring the bodyshop and double-check - also to see if I can pick the car up direct from them when done rather than wait for it to be delivered back to Silverstone.

I had my passenger door replaced by Chaplains in Colchester in August. They had doors in stock and it took a week. No PPF though. They did a really good job.

 

[Dean76]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone just repainted the same door themselves without going through Lotus and had the issue recur where they painted?

 

[geoffbland]

Just spoken to Lotus Silverstone. My Emira is not being delivered to the paint-shop until the end of this week then painting will take 3 weeks but this is including re-applying PPF as they need to wait for the paint to off-gas. But I then pointed out that Lotus are saying they won't cover for re-applying PPF anymore and was then told it might therefore be sooner. The car also needs to be delivered back from Beaconsfield which will take some time.
So the 4 weeks+ total for the door-replacement and respray is confirmed.

I'm going to ring the bodyshop and double-check - also to see if I can pick the car up direct from them when done rather than wait for it to be delivered back to Silverstone.

Just spoken to the body shop and they say it should be done in just over a week hopefully & I will be able to pick it up direct from them.

 

[Honcho]

Just spoken to the body shop and they say it should be done in just over a week hopefully & I will be able to pick it up direct from them.

How long did it take from being reported to getting booked in?

 

[geoffbland]

How long did it take from being reported to getting booked in?

Reported 19th July to Lotus Colchester but got nowhere with them, getting no response and constantly having to chase them. So, I reported it to Lotus Silverstone in late August and took it in to them mid-September and they ordered the new door. The new door arrived in November about 2 months later. But I didn’t have the car back until now to get the door fitted.