Chipped paint?

I have a 2023 lunar rock ORP which is my first 4runner. I have had my 4ruuner for just over 2 months with only about 7 weeks driving it. I haven't driven it more than some highway and city driving and I swear I have new chipped paint spots every time I drive it. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it an issue with the paint or is it the color showing the paint chips more than other colors would or can anyone weigh in on this? I am becoming quite frustrated with this issue.

 

I have 2022 Lunar Rock since February but didn't notice any paint chips so far. I have fairly aggressive stock size Duratracs and I hear quite often that small pieces of gravel hit underneath of the fenders, but I didn't see any paint damage yet.

 

Sorry to see this. Seems like your chips are all in different areas as well. I would like wise be frustrated. Mine is a silver ORP so I cannot speak to the LR paint.

Hopefully some others can help you with some advice.

I put PPF on the front of mine to prevent hood chips but it would not be practical for the whole vehicle and very costly

 

I’ve got an 18’ super white. In 4.5 years, I’ve gotten a few small paint chips. Within the first year, I installed a 3M precut bra. I think that has helped. One factor is the paint thickness is extremely thin.

Overall, the paint is holding up better than the front windshield. In the right light you can see tons of small rock chips.

 

Yeah my personal opinion is Japanese vehicles paint is thinner than domestic nameplates. I noticed a difference in paint thickness even back in 2005 with my Accord. But the OP seems to have way too much too soon. Almost makes one think something is wrong with paint or driving some really bad roads with more of loose stone ?

 

I have PPF on the entire front but aside from completely wrapping the vehicle (which I feel I shouldn't have to do) I'm not sure what else to do.

I have not driven it off pavement yet and no loose stones other than what would normally be on a well paved road. I feel like this is an issue with the paint.

 

I agree should not have to PPF whole thing.

Maybe see a few quality painters in your area. If I am not mistaken the thickness of your paint can be measured in microns and maybe they can advise. Then you have some ideas independent info to pursue with Toyota.

I am sure you have an uphill battle regardless but take it one step at a time.

I have read about the white paint issues prior to 2023, maybe this is another similar issue. Keep good records and notes also.

I wish I had more solid advice

 

+1 ^

 

Tell me more about this 3M precut bra idea...

 

It's also called PPF or paint protection film. You can have various types of application done from just the front of the hood to all the way around. I have it on the headlights, hood, complete front bumper and side mirrors. It is self healing and will protect you vehicle from getting the paint chipped. Unfortunately I feel like I should have had the whole thing wrapped at this point!

 

Yes, this ^

Most people on this forum prefer the Xpel brand. My boy bought me the Scotch 3M precut kit as a gift. It was a PITA to install. Took about a week doing a few pieces a day.

I’m not so sure I would want to do it again, but if I did I might consider the Xpel only because of everyone’s positive rants.

Kit was around $200 And it covers everything up front including the headlights. Oddly, they didn’t provide coverage for the fogs and A pillars.

It’s very thick film, but I’ve had two rocks penetrate the film. One on the hood (small paint chip) and one on the drivers headlight.

Overall, think it’s worth the expense and effort.

 

I paid a fair bit more than that but it was installed when I had the windows tinted and it comes with a lifetime guarantee against peeling, yellowing or any install defects. Most window tint places do the PPF. Not sure it's something I care to try and accomplish myself, ha! I also had the front and rear bumper valances vinyl wrapped in black at the same time. All done at once with them keeping it overnight for everything to cure. IMO it was well worth the extra money but that doesn't help me with the paint chip issue on the rest of the vehicle.

 

As a long time toyota owner, their paint sucks donkey dick

 

I have one tiny chip on mine and I can’t tell if it’s from a door ding or just crappy paint. But it’s down to bare black plastic on the rear bumper just above the wheel well. Also lunar rock, 4 months old.

 

Its where you drive. Wait until your windshield cracks in 6 months.

 

It'll only get worse. I bought mine new 6 months ago. 20k miles later of cross country road trips my AG looks like it went to war. I've had to repair 4 cracks in my windshield, and I don't even want to know how many chips are there...

 

Chips and blemishes are going to happen.

I ordered the touch up paint system from DR. Color chip for my '21 TRD ORP in Mangentic Grey Metallic, and the match has been spot on, and it's held up well so far.

 

I have a 2022 lunar rock as well and I’ve had it for abt 6 months, never gone off-roading. My hood has 7-10 chips in it and below the grill has a bunch of tiny ones from rocks

 

I know the feeling. The first window chip after 2 months of ownership of my 22 LR...it hurt. But the 2nd one a month later hurt less. It's bound to happen with a vertical window and you would expect it to happen off road. Both happened on Beltway 8 in Houston, so maybe I should avoid this road haha.

I got front end xpel ppf after I first got it. It won't stop a big rock from messing up the front but take care of the rock chips on the hood

 

These make me feel better, I no longer thing I have the worlds worst luck lol

 

Our 2022 4Runner has 20,000 miles on it with several trips from NM to Ca and one trip from NM to Pa. We have several chips in our hood and one chip in our windshield. No way to avoid them.

 

2022 4runner with lunar rock it has chipped terribly since purchased several on hood and front but a couple on the doors as well. The front edge of the hood is the worst. I purchased paint matching touch up from Toyota directly and it isn't even close. Thinking about getting hood repainted.

 

Ignore the Toyota touch-up paint and go to an auto paint store. They are less expensive and can get your paint matched pretty well. Take your time on the when filling the chips. I'd recommend PPF on all of the high-impact areas after doing the touch-up work.

 

The chips are from rocks hitting your vehicle. Usually these small rocks are shot back at you from under the rear tires of the vehicle in front of you. They are usually small - but with the velocity they shoot from under the tires of the vehicle in front of you + the forward velocity of your vehicle the relative velocity that they impact the paint on your vehicle is high. You might not even hear them hitting - especially if you have the windows down or the radio volume up. If you tend to drive close to vehicles in front of you - try backing off a little and leaving more space between you and the car in front of you (especially on higher speed limit roads/hwys) - you'll get less chips in your paint. My 4Runner had the Toyota PPF on it. I haven't seen any chips in the areas covered with the PPF - but I have a few small ones past where the PPF extends that I have fixed with a Toyota touch up paint pen. They are barely noticeable. I would think that small paint chips on Lunar Rock would be not as noticeable. It appeared to me that the primer color under the paint on my 4Runner was a light gray color - and it really contrasts with the Magnetic Gray on my 4Runner making small chips noticeable until they are filled with touch up paint. I would have thought the primer color under the paint wouldn't contrast as much with Lunar Rock - but if the chip is large enough it is probably pretty noticeable. FWIW - the Toyota touch up paint pen that I bought from my local Toyota dealer (think you can order them on Amazon too) seems to match the MGM color of my 4Runner pretty well. You need to shake the touch up pen really well before you apply it. On a deep chip apply the touch up paint in layers. Let it dry for a day - then apply another layer as needed. Don't try to fill the chip in one application. Don't use the brush end of the paint pen - it is too large for small chips. Sometimes the pen end is too large as well. I'll take a wooden toothpick and cut the end back slightly so it is blunt and not pointy. I'll dip the blunted end of the toothpick in a drop of the paint and then transfer the small drop of paint on the toothpick to the chip. Just let the drop of paint flow into the chip. If it doesn't cover enough - let it dry and then add another small drop. Even if it looks like the first drop covered the chip fine - let it dry - the touch up paint has a lot of solvents in it. As it dries it will pull down into the surface of the chip. Let dry and add layers until you think it looks OK. Usually the less touch up paint you use - the better. Using too much will usually not look too good.

 

Yes - and unfortunately, if your 4Runner is set up with larger off-road tires you will probably get more chips - even when not off-roading. Take a look at OP's top photo above. That chip in the wheel well flare was most likely caused by a rock exiting OP's own tire tread at high velocity. Also, due to the wider tread pattern in the off-road tires - larger rocks can become wedged in the tread grooves. When you then drive at higher speed the centrifugal force on the rock causes it to shoot out at a very high velocity. If it is inside your wheel well - no problem. If it is right at, or slightly outside, the edge of the wheel well flare - their is high potential to get a chip like shown in the top photo - or somewhere else on the side of your vehicle. Not much you can do about this.

 

For what it’s worth I was taught to sometimes try the corner of a match stick as well for applying touch up. Works good on the very angle of the tip for small spots

 

I have a “Ice Cap” white 2023 for about 7 months and 6,500 miles now a more than expected chips. Any recommendations on touch up paint? Dealership touch up paint on back order

 

Auto parts stores carry Toyota 040 Super white.

 

My ORP is Army Green with 25k miles. I had 3 noticeable chips so far and used a toothpick with OEM paint to fill them in. It’s frustrating to see my vehicle get chips and scratches, especially when I go out of my way to avoid them (ie. Park in the far lot when I go to the store)
But I bought this rig to enjoy driving it and the only way to keep it showroom perfect is to leave it in the garage.

 

Try calling these Guys. They mix paint by codes on door and also for old classics. They sell touch up paint they make up in a bottle or spray can. To my knowledge they ship also.