Soul Red Crystal paint chipping issues
 

Is anyone else experiencing an obscene amount of chipping on their 2018+ soul red crystal paint? My 18 Mazda 6 has a ton of paint chipping from road debris on the front hood, side fenders, even towards rear fenders. I've never experienced this bad of chipping issues with any of my 4 previous Mazda's, this is the worst I've seen thus far. With any vehicle I've owned frankly.
I took it to the dealer and even they said it's pretty bad. Service manager mentioned that because of this 7 stage paint, it's seems that this paint is more brittle than previous soul crystal red formulas in the past. He said I'm the second person to bring in their vehicle because of this. Just curious if anyone else has had similar chipping issues.

Agreed. I saw others on here now with similar issues. I dropped my car off at the dealer and they said they're going to take it to a body shop for photos and an estimate on a complete respray, then submit to Mazda for review. I have a few concerns. One being that they won't match the factory paint 100%. Second, what will they do to prevent this from happening again? I even opted for the Xillon when I got the vehicle and that didn't really protect much. I think the only thing I think that can really protect the paint at this point is ceramic coating on the entire vehicle, but that will be pricey.

Mazda CX-5 2018 Soul Red Paint chipping
 

I am also experiencing substantial chipping of the paint on my 2018 Mazda CX-5. I have only had the car just under 5 months (brand new) and under 5000 miles driven. It appears as though the paint is not bonded with the metal underneath the paint. Or that the layers of paint are not bonded. My recommendation to everyone having this problem is to file a complaint with the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) at https://www.nhtsa.gov/.

They work with the auto manufacturers to determine recalls. If they receive enough complaints on this topic, they will recommend that the Mazda recall the cars to remedy the problem. Every complaint is passed on to the auto manufacturer.

Soul Red Paint Chipping Respray
 

Hey all I have also had this problem on my Mazda 6 that I purchased in October 2018, so I contacted Mazda HQ and they are sorting it out. I had to take it in for photos a few times but thats cool I am on the list. Get yourself on the list.
They are working through a huge list all over Australia. I am waiting my turn.
I have been assured they will again when I drop it off take pictures and give me a loan car for the entire time they have it for respraying. It is most panels on the car at this stage so they will repaint all the bad panels and the others will have a special coating applied.
They have taken since February as they have been trying to make sure this will work and not happen again. As it is costing them heaps. I am sure that the new ones sold have a different coating on them to ensure this does not continue.

Don't do nothing contact Mazda..... You are all correct this is not good enough so make sure they fix it.

I had the exact same problem and Mazda fixed it for me for free, I think it was due to missing compound in the paint from the factory. The new paint they put on was not so brittle.

Soul Red chips
 

I also have a 2018 Mazda 6 Signature in Soul Red with severe paint chips. Have been in contact with Mazda customer support and had an appointment with the body shop yesterday. I am waiting to hear back from Mazda as to what their plan is. Every body panel needs to be removed and repainted so this goes beyond just road debris.

I found a tube of Soul Red touch paint on Amazon, well 2 tubes . The first one was 41V paint code from Mazda but ended up way to light. I then spent 20 minutes going through all the touch up paints and finally found my 46V paint code paint. The tube has clear on one end and the soul red color on the other end. I have done the first coat and when I get time I will do another coat and then clear it but even with only the one coat applied it looks a lot better. I am selling my car (trading) because of how bad the chips are on a 2 year old car! BTW the touch up paint comes from a Mazda dealer and made for our cars just 17$ !

2021 cx-5
 

I wish I had learned about this forum before I purchased the Red Soul CX-5 on Wednesday. I could have easily purchased the blue or grey. We had an ice storm and instead of brushing off the ice/snow we left it to melt on its own so that we would NOT damage the paint. Who would have thought that ice melting off a car would cause a 3" and 6-7" scratch down the hood. The car has less than 8 miles on it and I've driven it once...home from the dealer. Seems that Mazda is aware of this issue and yet STILL charges an excessive amount of extra money for the paint color. What a total disappointment. I was truly looking forward to driving this car but now I'm stuck with a car that is damaged and will need to be repaired. Everyone knows repairing paint on a car is never the same. It will eventually rust....
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...0ec719ed20.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...1334dad674.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...c0c3f5ba0e.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...b70bacb5f5.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...132553e096.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...ac3f8a6859.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...3c0f926270.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...42d104f4d7.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...f065114b88.jpg

Mazda did pay to repaint my car. Had some issues with the dealership that has been addressed by Mazda but overall Mazda took great care of this issue!

what number are you calling. I’ve tried the customer service number the dealer gave me and nobody calls back. Thanks.

I actually emailed the Mazda customer service, typically had a response in a couple of days. You can access that via the Mazda owners website, that is how I started this whole process.

Hi,

I'm new to the forum, and just pulled the trigger on a use CX-5. Just *guess* which color it is?

; p

Is this still an issue with the Mazda 2022 models?

I've got a pretty nasty chip in the front of mine and a few scratches elsewhere just in the first month (~1k km).

Mazda STAND UP
 

2021 Mazda 6 most beautiful red color of car, the flash and curb appeal is so spot on and we all as customers love the color ......it's the damn paint chips. I mean com on man why don't you man up and make us all happy buyers again because if you do not do something soon. My next car will not be a Mazda, who makes I think the best driving car in the mid range. Please Mazda we beg you to do us justice.

Mazda 6
 

We took our 2021 6 in shortly after our 600 mi break-in miles. Had chips in the door panels It's just irritating you take it in they look at you as if you had horns coming out your head.

Thats because it is not SOLE RED unique and they are tired of owners going to the internet and reading repeated information from only a small percetage of Mazda owners. As I have said not only have I personal measure the thickness, talked to a few color painting specialist as well paint suppliers and manufactures about the Mazda Soul RED in the professional world we all know it is not sole RED exclusive.
If you don't believe this statement go to amazon and buy a paint thickness meter they are about 20 bucks and go do some measuring yourself on various platforms as well different color Mazda's.
I guarantee my 2018 Mazda 3 Mica at 15k miles had more or at least equal the number of chips in the paint as your SOLE RED.
So lower you attitude and your "HORNS! LOL
Oh and your engine and transmission take aprox 10-15k miles to "BREAK IN"!

My 2020 Mazda 6, labels identifying paint chips
 

These are pics with all the chips on the hood of my 2020 Mazda 6 identified. Mazda said they'd pay for less than half of the $7,000+ repair. They said there was no recall so they're really not responsible for fixing it.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...bec1ddf89.jpeg

WELCOME TO THE FOURM

Nice, doted picture of your Red Mazda I can do the same with my Mica Black Mazda paint with at least close to as many "IMPACT" chips like yours!

Thin paint from Mazda Japan or caued by dealership
 

I have had a lot of chips on the CX5 neither my 4Runner, Volvo s60 or Tacoma ever chipped like this… prolly 30 chips in the hood driving in Palo Alto/ Bay area mostly

i should note however thecx5’s paint was sold to me flawed, seems etched with water spots all over the car, which Mazda Elk Grove nor Mazda USA ever fixed or compensated us for despite promises to do so. May also be spots under or between layers of clear coat, not sure.

it was during Covid in dec 2020 (3 years ago) so the new cx5 deal was negotiated with the Mazda salesman over the phone ( mostly text message). When we arrived in the morning Dec16 2020 the vehicle was covered in water droplets but looked nice. Salesman greeted us with the difficult Covid protocols we were told the car would be taken to detail and should be back soon. There was an “oh by the way the vin that we were discussing on text messages sold already so this one is the same but a different Vin ( they had 4 cx5 signatures)” I was not in love with the VIN so as long as it’s still a new car what did I care.
after the papers were signed the vehicle came back by the young guy who told the salesman there are water spots everywhere and the guy that removes them was not working that day. The salesman said yes they are everywhere but told us not to worry we simply needed to make an appointment when the detail expert was there and they’d make this right later - in the next week. Seemed reasonable as there were noticeable but only at 5 feet or closer to the car and purportedly temporary,

well yes we were dumb… car covered in water ( to conceal a flaw?) different vin ( at their price I negotiated the may have wanted to increase profit to something more meaningful by dumping a flawed vehicle?) so they swapped vehicles, then we drove it off the lot thinking they’d perform on the agreement to give us a vehicle in new condition.

our CX5 went to detail at the mazda,s detail shop there in Elk Grove FIVE times (dec 16, dec 21, January,, march, oct) and each time it came back very shinny but with the same spots under gloss and more damage to clear coat/paint ( swirls in paint black plastic pieces near windows and some scratches in the cc/paint). Mazda USA was involved within a week under the “Mazda customer Experience” and promised to remove a couple months loan payments ( about $1200.00 to compensate for the days lost trying to fix the car and 700 miles that had to be driven…. But that never happened … still no adjustment. To be sure I am not sure if the, assumed normally beautiful glowing soul red ( on other Mazdas), was in this case was damaged at the factory and flawed in Hiroshima … but mine only looks good if you are standing back or under dim light at night otherwise the spots are very apparent and increasingly it has more and more chips. I just can’t be sure that the 4 trips to detail to purportedly get rid of the spots did not thin the clear coat ( something I asked Mazda USA before the 2nd trip to detail)

hopefully they agree to either substantially adjust what is still owed on the car (about $18000) given the paint or agree to repaint it while still compensating me for the time and trouble… but that may only happen in the land of unicorns, flying pigs and honest attorneys. Statute of limitations is 4 years on written contracts so I believe I have a year to file … but life is really too short to have to litigate. Maybe Mazda Japan can come in and save the day, I may try them first since Mazda USA has been a lot of emails they did not ever perform on. When I agreed to buy the car I had the zoom zoom song in my head and then the Elk Grove Mazda dealership and Mazda USA (Irvine) made me feel like I was being cursed for straying from my normal car brands _ I know Toyota financial ( who processes Mazda’s loans) had no sympathy for our situation ( they were like so you left us for Mazda).

great car if the soul red paint was or was able to stay in good condition. Also does anyone know a good paint shop that is comfortable repainting soul red and can do a great job. I feel like even if I have to front the repaint money not seeing the spots anll the time and being reminded of feeling the dealership cheated us may be worth it.

I

wow interesting post and over information. Forums cant resolve or support many things but it helps to have people jump in and support your troubles? And that's about all they can do.
Many of the long explanatory complaints should be done to the BBB , consumer affairs and a couple other consumer protection agencies your best advise because of what you are thinking you want done and it will exceed the normal threshold and MAZDA USA can and often denies paint claims.... hiring an attorney.
Now please don't go off on me I am as they say just messenger or will say been a witness to some going the legal route a few times.

However most ANY good quality paint and body with a good reputation can match the RED. Why this rumor started that it is some magical color on the internet no one in the professional paint and body business supports that BS. LOL
In almost every case if you go outside MAZDA during a warranty period it will not be covered. If you sue in small claims in CA good luck getting MAZDA to pay. But you can ask for arbitration and try to get them to settle? Ands again good luck!

But if you are in or close to Northern California

Prime Time Customs

primetimecustoms.com
12276 Shale Ridge Ln, Auburn, CA 95602 ·
(916) 770-0703


I do want to add yet agin that the front of many models MAZDA does get hammered and the color has no basis for how many chips it gets. My Mica has as many maybe more as anyone has posted about their RED Mazda