Paint bubbling and out of warranty!

[Nelumbo nucifera]

I've been copied into the quote for both rear panels replaced, door already approved, and all work that goes into it I'm not going to reveal anything apart from 29 hours work for replacing both panels, prep work, painting both panels and blending doors and tailgate.

Still no idea of a time line.

Simon T, are they still forced to destroy your existing panels? Or is there a chance you can have someone busy talking to them, while you slip em out and away, dressed incognito may be in an official looking Lotus white overall with a big Lotus emblem on the front and back
But seriously, even though as one of our ‘switched on’ contributors said Teijin and Lotus will already know what causes the failure, it would be beneficial for us to know now, rather than leave it down the track and discover another solution needs to be invented, as a fix, should Lotus go belly up.
I doubt any of us would want to start looking for r a solution at that late stage.
We acknowledge that some dedicated members are striving to do so now. We are grateful to all those ones, are we not.

 

[SimonT]

I did ask the paintshop guy if they painted the rear of the panels and he said no as they come 'water proofed'. He said as far as he knows it's moisture caught in the panels that hasn't dissipated before the sealing process. I'm not convinced of that as the 'bubble' I pin pricked, at the bottom, still has some 'water' coming out when pressed. It leaves a white residue once dried.

I really don't think we will ever find out the real reason. I was surprised at only 29 hours for all the work, and what they were charging. It makes repairs to paintwork look pretty reasonable I would say. I'd be pretty confident in letting a decent paint shop just do a 'smart' repair if they stopped covering under warranty/goodwill.

 

[SimonT]

Latest update:

All work given the go-ahead, passenger door and both rear quarter panels all to be replaced.

 

[ADC]

Latest update:

All work given the go-ahead, passenger door and both rear quarter panels all to be replaced.

 

[Y Cymro]

Latest update:

All work given the go-ahead, passenger door and both rear quarter panels all to be replaced.

That’s excellent news Simon.

The problem for me, is that I’m unaware whether Lotus has announced either the cause of this problem or given confirmation that they’ve resolved it for replacement panels. My local dealer (Bristol) stated the problem was caused by panel wipes used during the paint prep, but this doesn’t explain how new replacement panels also suffer this. Therefore, many people here, and the wider number of owners outside this forum, might not only suffer this problem with their cars, but could suffer repeatedly when the replacement panels fail similarly.
It may be lucky for trade-in values that new buyers aren’t aware, or not bothered by the issue (particularly as in another thread here it is stated that 1/3 of cars are affected).

 

[Orchardbike]

No way is it caused by panel wipes

 

[Beachbum]

Lets be honest. No one outside Lotus KNOWS the cause. There are many theories and guesses, but nothing definite.
Its obviously related to the manufacturer, as only the panels they make suffer the issue. If it was something Lotus were doing during paint preparation, or the actual painting, it would be occurring all over the car.
What the issue(s) are with those panels no one knows and in theory, Lotus does know, hence the rumour that they have moved to an alternative supplier to overcome the issue.
We will have to wait and see if the new manufacturer provides panels that do not have this issue and we will only know that once they start to enter the supply chain and people stop reporting repeat issues. That is assuming the rumour is true

 

[SimonT]

If panel wipes were the issue it would be a problem affecting all of the panel, literally every pic I've seen shows the paint bubbling in the same areas. When I pricked the bubbles on my door 'water' came out leaving a milky white residue once it dried.

As an aside, Lotus are framing the replacement door and rear panels as 'goodwill' and not as warranty work. No doubt trying to avoid future litigation.

 

[geoffbland]

Lets be honest. No one outside Lotus KNOWS the cause. There are many theories and guesses, but nothing definite.
Its obviously related to the manufacturer, as only the panels they make suffer the issue. If it was something Lotus were doing during paint preparation, or the actual painting, it would be occurring all over the car.
What the issue(s) are with those panels no one knows and in theory, Lotus does know, hence the rumour that they have moved to an alternative supplier to overcome the issue.
We will have to wait and see if the new manufacturer provides panels that do not have this issue and we will only know that once they start to enter the supply chain and people stop reporting repeat issues. That is assuming the rumour is true

I believe Lotus moving to a new supplier is just a rumour. The replacement panels that have arrived for my car are just the same as previous ones.

 

[Ralph2025]

The good thing with them extending production, is that there's a bigger chance they'll engineer a solution

 

[Lotus_Fan]

Another update.

1 part missing so no go on the door replacement, thank god. Just washed the car and spotted bubbling on both rear quarter panels

I've emailed Lotus contact to see where we go from here. Let's see if they're as quick to authorise 2 new panels.

Hi Simon,

I’ve a 2023 Emira and after having doors and boot lid replaced, I found this today on my rear quarter. I then noticed other bubbles on the new bootlid and other rear quarter too. My paint warranty expired last month so hoping a goodwill gesture may be made.

 

[SJM]

How long ago were your panels replaced?
I’ve only just got my car back after the doors were replaced and keen to follow these new panels bubbling.

 

[Lotus_Fan]

How long ago were your panels replaced?
I’ve only just got my car back after the doors were replaced and keen to follow these new panels bubbling.

Hi SJM,

The doors and bootlid were replaced July 2025 and I purchased in August 2025 as an approved used car from a Lotus dealership.

My Lotus dealer thinking is that this new bubbling does seem to be where airflow passes over the rear quarter so perhaps this area is at risk? It looks like a similar location to the blue Emira highlighted earlier in this post. It might just be me, but I’m sure the bubble in the other panel has got slightly bigger during this single day. I’m wondering whether it is caused by UK recent temperatures being cool, then heating rapidly.

 

[Beachbum]

An update from my dealer on the door panels
The doors they are now ordering from Lotus have different part numbers, the first time this has happened since the Emira was released. Heres hoping this is the start of the fix being rolled out

 

[geoffbland]

An update from my dealer on the door panels
The doors they are now ordering from Lotus have different part numbers, the first time this has happened since the Emira was released. Heres hoping this is the start of the fix being rolled out

Interesting? Hopefully this is a real thing and not just something the dealership are telling you to keep you happy. As far as I've heard from the bodyshops it is still all the same panels being delivered and they have not heard anything about a new make of panel.
Which dealership is this?

 

[kitkat]

An update from my dealer on the door panels
The doors they are now ordering from Lotus have different part numbers, the first time this has happened since the Emira was released. Heres hoping this is the start of the fix being rolled out

I thought those different P/Ns happened over a year ago?

 

[geoffbland]

I thought those different P/Ns happened over a year ago?

Just to add to what Kitkat mentioned, well over a year ago (2023) there was a change to the doors - new drainage holes and new sealing/binding paint (I think there was a change to the internal support too?). Is this what your dealer means by "the first time this has happened since the Emira was released"? If so these "new 2023" doors have not fixed the issue.

 

[SimonT]

Hi Simon,

I’ve a 2023 Emira and after having doors and boot lid replaced, I found this today on my rear quarter. I then noticed other bubbles on the new bootlid and other rear quarter too. My paint warranty expired last month so hoping a goodwill gesture may be made.

To be clear, this is not a 'Goodwill gesture'. The panels are faulty, not the paint, hence the panels are covered under the 8/12 Yr warranty, depending when manufactured.

I'm waiting for a door and both rear panels to be delivered and fitted, my 3yr warranty expired Jan 2026. Lotus are naming the replacements as a 'goodwill gesture', it isn't. They are replacing to avoid threatened litigation. The bubbles on both my rear panels have got slightly larger and more visible, the heat may have increased the amount of gas released in the panels.

 

[Beachbum]

Just to add to what Kitkat mentioned well over a year ago (2023) there was a change to the doors - new drainage holes and new sealing/binding paint (I think there was a change to the internal support too?). Is this what your dealer means by "the first time this has happened since the Emira was released"? If so these "new 2023" doors have not fixed the issue.

The dealer said the new part number was something only very recent, within the last 4-6 weeks I think he said.
Dealership is Hendys in Eastleigh

 

[ADC]

The dealer said the new part number was something only very recent, within the last 4-6 weeks I think he said.
Dealership is Hendys in Eastleigh

Big if true.