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Hello my wife's 4 year old Holden Barina has suddenly started to have paint bubble and then peel off on the boot and around the edges of the windscreen and also along the edges of the roof. There is no obvious cracking or disruption to the clear coat nor any cracking of the top colour coats. The peeling is full thickness of the colour and clear coat. When she went back to the dealership (Ebbetts in Hamilton) they went to Holden and the response from Holden was that the damage is due to exposure to UV light!!! "E-coat has started to chalk up causing the topcoat to blister and flake off substrate, this happens with UV rays penetrating the top coating due to lack of UV protection". So when did car users need to put sun screen on their cars to provide protection from uv light? We have already had issues with some black decal like features on the frame between the front and rear doors which also started peeling off and shrinking.

Holden have at the moment offered to repair the problem for a total cost of $2,881.32 provided we pay half of that total cost (which we will not be doing! since the problem is not due to anything we have done!).

Have you had any other Barina owners with this issue? I have seen numerous other internet forums where Holden cars (various models) have issues with paint after 3-5 years. Why is it that some car manufacturers are unable to supply paint work that lasts the life of the car?

Hello, we have not had any calls about this issue, aside from a warranty the CGA should apply as follows..

The CGA guarantees mean the vehicle should be:

*of acceptable quality – reasonable in look and finish, durable and safe
*fit for purpose – either generally or to meet a specific purpose you told the dealer before you bought the vehicle
*as described – match the description in advertising or anything the dealer said at the time.

If one of your guarantees hasn’t been met, you have a right to go back to the dealer for a repair, and if circumstances permit, a replacement or refund.

More info on your rights can be found here ..
https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/help-product-service/cars/solving-issues-car-dealer/