New Forester XT - grille faded after a day with the dealer?

[smbstyle]

So I just got my 2014 Forester XT (purchased 3 months ago, has 8k miles) back from the dealer after they had it for two days to look at an issue we were having with it. My wife picked up the car, and noticed they did the complementary wash on the car. It was driven straight back to the house, and sat in the garage all weekend. The first time we looked at the front of the car since we got it back, we noticed a haze on the front Subaru badge and then a bunch of white spots all over the honeycomb front grille.

Upon a closer look, the white spotting isn't residue on the surface, it is actually the natural color of the plastic, as the black color has completely faded off; all along the top of the black grille as well as throughout all of the honeycomb openings. Also the haze on the badge won't go away. It wasn't like that when we dropped it off; nothing hit or fell onto the car on the way there or on the way back, and it was in our garage all weekend after we brought it home.

Any idea what could have caused this? I'm guessing someone who was cleaning the car may have put something on the plastic they shouldn't have like an acid wheel cleaner by mistake, stripping down the plastic in the grille.

I haven't seen anything like this before, and nothing in my arsenal can touch it other than a can of black spray paint.

 

[SYMAWD]

Badge can probably be brought back with a light polish on a microfiber towel.

 

[smbstyle]

Badge can probably be brought back with a light polish on a microfiber towel.

tried that by hand with some M105; will probably use one of my headlight resto pads on the orbital with a heavier polish.

 

[custmsprty]

Take it back and have them replace the damaged parts asap.

 

[fly07sti]

Take it back and have them replace the damaged parts asap.

+1 I would assume they used an aggressive APC or wheel to to remove bugs and it reacted negatively.

 

[jamesboyy]

I agree with the two previous post take it back to the dealer have them fix it

 

[VISITOR]

something is not right there. they must of sprayed some heavy degreaser/acid on the car or maybe they checked the antifreeze coolant when it was hot and it exploded all over. definitely take it back and let them know it wasn't like that before you brought it in...

 

[Selectchoice]

Take it back to the dealer. Definitely looks like something was spilt onto, or wiped onto those areas which should not have been.

 

[Charger12]

Bring it back ASAP,I'm sure there answer will be "they didn't do it",let us know how it goes.

 

[Desertnate]

tried that by hand with some M105; will probably use one of my headlight resto pads on the orbital with a heavier polish.

Agree with the others that it should go back for the dealer to fix.

I also think that 105 might be way to agressive for the plastic badges. I'd try something like Meg's PlasticX or other mild plastic polish. You may be making the hazing worse by using an agressive polish.

 

[smbstyle]

Just an update, took it up to the dealer this morning, they were very friendly and intrigued but at first were hesitant to take fault; I don't blame them.

I told the service advisor that we didnt even look at the front end until we got home, and I thought it could have been caused by something that the guys washing the car sprayed on the car. He told me that they have been washing cars for years and have not seen the issue before, but he said he would get one of the guys who washes cars to come over and take a look.

Car washer came over, took a look at it and looked perplexed. I asked him if he used any kind of ammonia based APC or bug remover on the front grille, since it came to them after a long road trim from GA to MD and back, and right away he says "well yes we just switched to a new product for bug removal that's ammonia based"...

Long story short, they took it back into the service area, couldn't bring it back, and the dealer came to me and told me they are replacing the grille for me, without me having to ask/demand it.

I was pleasantly surprised by how they handled the issue; cautious, but when they realized it was something they did, they had no problem taking care of it.

 

[Desertnate]

Glad it was resolved in civilized way. Sounds like they will be buying some new bug remover for the wash bay too.

 

[smbstyle]

Glad it was resolved in civilized way. Sounds like they will be buying some new bug remover for the wash bay too.

Yeah I hope so; and also I'm making sure to note on every service ticket "Do not wash!"

 

[Jake667]

I agree, take it back. The part should still be under warranty and therefore covered at no cost.

 

[builthatch]

Take it back and have them replace the damaged parts asap.

correct

the dealer came to me and told me they are replacing the grille for me, without me having to ask/demand it.

I was pleasantly surprised by how they handled the issue; cautious, but when they realized it was something they did, they had no problem taking care of it.

excellent!

 

[Goin Rogue]

Yeah I hope so; and also I'm making sure to note on every service ticket "Do not wash!"

I'm glad to hear they are taking care of you. A lot of people have a laminated DO NOT WASH sign they keep in the car, not everyone reads the service ticket and sees the do not wash note.

 

[CarolinasFinestDetailing]

I'm glad to hear they are taking care of you. A lot of people have a laminated DO NOT WASH sign they keep in the car, not everyone reads the service ticket and sees the do not wash note.

Agreed. I just made a sign using thick stock paper and put it in a sheet protector. The color is bright red to bring attention as well.

 

[smbstyle]

I'm actually working on making some durable plastic placards that would hang from the mirror that say "DON'T WASH THIS CAR" on both sides if anyone might be interested in one. Kinda like the handicap placards. White background with bold red text.

 

[solman]

Who would put ammonia in a cleaner intended for an auto use?
Did the dealer try to save a few pennies and use a household based cleaner?