I usually try to keep my wifes H3 pretty clean. Recently I have noticed the paint is starting to crack on the roof and on the hood. I know it is coming up on 5 years old real quickly. That is the reason I am asking this question, has anyone had any experience with this issue and how did you get it handled? I have never had a vehicle in all of my years buying new or used that has had paint crack like this and I have been buying new since 91.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

Was this a used car or new when you bought it?

 

You didn't say where you are, but if it's the south/southwest then it's a normal thing. Paint jobs now days are much better than before, but when the clear coat peels you can't just buff it out like with the old single stage paints. I had a friend with a 2 1/2 yr old black Firebird with paint problems and have seen local shop's paint jobs that only lasts another 4 years. Factory paint usually lasts longer than the local body shop's paint but unless you are waxing the car once or twice a year or keeping it covered during the day it can still happen pretty quickly. I haven't heard of H3's having a paint problem around here in sunny, hot Texas but I'm not saying it won't start showing up soon. My paint is holding up well, but my plastic trim is going gray early!

 

We bought the truck brand new off the lot. It still had the plastic on the hood and had no hooks on it when she picked it out. It currently has about 60k miles on it. It has spent the last three years garaged in doors. The first couple of years were out doors.

 

What color is your H3? It seems like some colors hold up better than others and sun can be a rough thing. Mine is white but recently I noticed that the black trim around the windshield is peeling in a small place. A friend of mine had issues with the paint on a ford F150 and even though it was out of warrenty they help him out on it. Might not hurt to ask at a GM dealer.