I bought my 2005 Dodge Stratus Special Edition in the Fall of 2005. Last summer, my car paint started to fade on the roof of the car. Well, this year it has gotten MUCH worse. There is fading all over my car and it looks like crap. I take very good care of my car, but can't help to feel embarrassed when I pull up to meetings because of how terrible my paint job looks. My friend also has the same model, year, etc...The cars are different colors, but the same thing is happening to them. Obviously there is some type of faulty paint that was used on this model/year. Is there anything I can do besides pay the $2000 to get it fixed? I use to love my Stratus, but I don't think I would ever recommend a Dodge to anyone if this problem happened not only to me, but to someone else I know too.

 

Sounds like it might be the clear coat.. Try applying a compound and buffing it out. If you decide to use this method, use a tool. Hand method is not as effective.

 

It was VERY common with the black, but a couple of the other darker colors (looking at you Red) were affected also. The primer and base paint are OK, and I agree that it's probably just the clear coat that is peeling and discoloring. Heavy buffing (powered) should make it look reasonably OK.

 

I agree that it is at least worth trying to buff out the clear, but I'm afraid your car needs to be repainted (sorry) based on what you've said.

1. Clear Coat Failure: white haziness & peeling

2. Color Coat Failure: color fading or darkening (color change) & can also have peeling (primer becomes visible)

My suggestion..... try buffing out one section about 1 ft. x 1 ft. and see what happens. I suggest using MacQuires (sp?) rubbing compound (thin brown bottles) in the finest grit available & do it by hand (no buffing wheel). It is very easy to buff all the way through a clear coat using a buffer since the clear is only about 10-thousandths of an inch thick.