[GreenMachineX]

So I’ve concluded after owing 3 second Gen Xterras that the paint on these trucks is absolute crap. I’ve had a 2006 cloud white X, a 2005 super black S(wrapped matte green shortly after purchase), and now a 2009 navy blue S. As a whole I’m generally just not impressed with the paint quality on the trucks I’ve owned. My complaints are that regardless of color, I don’t find the paint to have great shine or depth when compared to some other vehicles I’ve owned. Additionally I find the the paint seems really thin and doesnt hold up well to the elements overtime. However my main complaint is that on all 3 trucks I’ve owned,I’ve experienced paint flake off in fairly large particles in the same exact spots. It flakes off really badly in near the bottom corner of the windshield where the fenders and A-pillars meet. It also cracks and flakes really badly in the roof channels that run parallel to the roof rails. I understand that these Xterras are not high end vehicles and all the trucks I’ve owned are on the older side, so I’m not trying to bash Nissan nor do I expect perfect shimmering paint on a truck that’s almost always covered in mud anyways. The purpose of this thread was to share my personal experience and find if anyone else has experienced the same thing or shares my opinion. I’ll include a picture of the paint near the fenders but I don’t seem to have a picture of the roof area.

 

[ccg1018]

Although I don’t disagree that the paint is not the best, have you seen what people who bought a Titan of a similar year are dealing with? Clear coat failure seems a lot more likely there.

 

[Lowcountry idn]

The paint is very poor. My rain channels peeled on both rigs. My X had some peeling under the back window seal which was fixed in warranty and has never come back.

I think the issue is a combination of cheap paint, Nissan trying to do it as fast as possible (again cheap) along with the time period of our rigs was when auto paints switched to a lot lower VOC content, which required some updated equipment and processes to make stick and some OEM's handled that better than others.

 

[GreenMachineX]

Although I don’t disagree that the paint is not the best, have you seen what people who bought a Titan of a similar year are dealing with? Clear coat failure seems a lot more likely there.

I was unaware of the titan paint issues however in my experience I haven’t experienced clear coat failure but rather paint quite literally crumbling off down to bare metal

 

[Renegade]

But it's a truck.

On the bright side; matching paint is easier and probably $20 or so. Just had to pay $220 for Lexus paint because of all the flake and "depth"

 

[zanethan]

Eh, it’s not the best but it’s also not the worst I’ve seen. Ford and GM paint is significantly worse IMO. They have significant corrosion issues on vehicles with less age than ours.

I had a 2015 Fiesta ST for a time and had to get all the door seams repainted and resealed due to them rusting. That wasn’t an isolated incident either based on the forum posts. My moms 2013 Escape is having the same issues as well.

 

[GreenMachineX]

Eh, it’s not the best but it’s also not the worst I’ve seen. Ford and GM paint is significantly worse IMO. They have significant corrosion issues on vehicles with less age than ours.

I had a 2015 Fiesta ST for a time and had to get all the door seams repainted and resealed due to them rusting. That wasn’t an isolated incident either based on the forum posts. My moms 2013 Escape is having the same issues as well.

Yeah suppose it could be worse. On the contrary at least in my opinion I’ve been pretty impressed with ford paint at least on their newer models. Tuxedo Black looks fantastic on my 2014 f150 and I’m impressed with how great deep impact blue looks on my dads 2015 mustang. Of course I can’t speak for the longevity of the paint as the vehicles are only about 6 years old.

 

[zanethan]

Yeah suppose it could be worse. On the contrary at least in my opinion I’ve been pretty impressed with ford paint at least on their newer models. Tuxedo Black looks fantastic on my 2014 f150 and I’m impressed with how great deep impact blue looks on my dads 2015 mustang. Of course I can’t speak for the longevity of the paint as the vehicles are only about 6 years old.

My moms Escape is Tuxedo Black. While it may look great I’d watch those door jambs/door seams closely. I’m almost willing to bet there’s rust there already.

 

[campisi]

Mine's not peeling or flaking anywhere but it's also parked 100% in my garage if it's not being used. Even with that I have some issues of bird-shit marks that I never had on other cars/trucks. I'd probably agree that the paint's worse than average.

 

[GreenMachineX]

My moms Escape is Tuxedo Black. While it may look great I’d watch those door jambs/door seams closely. I’m almost willing to bet there’s rust there already.

Actually no, the truck is almost 7 years old and still looks like the day it was brought home even in the door jambs and the undercarriage

A

 

[zanethan]

Actually no, the truck is almost 7 years old and still looks like the day it was brought home even in the door jambs and the undercarriage
View attachment 133527
A View attachment 133523 View attachment 133525 View attachment 133526

Look on the doors themselves. Maybe you’re a lucky one and have no issues, but Ford had some major paint issues in those years with the seam sealer on doors.

Like I said I had significant issues within 3 years and it never saw salt or snow.

 

[Glenlivet]

2010 with 141,000 miles. Always parked outside in sun, rain, and snow. Once a year it gets washed with harsh dish soap, clayed, then three coats of paint sealer meticulously applied. Paint is in great shape though the plastic parts are badly faded

 

[GreenMachineX]

Look on the doors themselves. Maybe you’re a lucky one and have no issues, but Ford had some major paint issues in those years with the seam sealer on doors.

Like I said I had significant issues within 3 years and it never saw salt or snow.

Believe me there is not an ounce of rust or fading anywhere on this truck. In my personal expertise I’ve had great experiences with ford but I do believe Ford trucks and cars/suvs are produced in different plants so it’s entirely possible the paint qualities are not the same.

 

[GreenMachineX]

2010 with 141,000 miles. Always parked outside in sun, rain, and snow. Once a year it gets washed with harsh dish soap, clayed, then three coats of paint sealer meticulously applied. Paint is in great shape though the plastic parts are badly faded

Yeah the plastic on these Xterras don’t hold up that great to the elements but I just ceramic coated all the plastics on my X and they look new again. Super happy how it turned out and should provide lasting protection for at least a year. Can’t speak for how the plastics will look some time from now but supposedly the coating should last a long time. Time will tell but for now I’m happy

 

[thndr8]

That's exactly what I use on mine too. CarPro Dlux is awesome. I had an 06 with 190K on it and my plastics always looked like new. I bought it with 150K and everything was bleached white. Put ceramic coatings on everything and brought it all back. People kept asking me if I bought all new plastics. Nope. I have a 2015 PRO-4X now and it got the same love too. I don't get how everyone says to rhino line it. It eventually pits and peels off and looks worse. Apply CarPro Reload on top of it a couple times a year and it'll bead water forever. I use CarPro CQuartz on the paint.

Yeah the plastic on these Xterras don’t hold up that great to the elements but I just ceramic coated all the plastics on my X and they look new again. Super happy how it turned out and should provide lasting protection for at least a year. Can’t speak for how the plastics will look some time from now but supposedly the coating should last a long time. Time will tell but for now I’m happy View attachment 133529 View attachment 133530 View attachment 133531

 

[GreenMachineX]

That's exactly what I use on mine too. CarPro Dlux is awesome. I had an 06 with 190K on it and my plastics always looked like new. I bought it with 150K and everything was bleached white. Put ceramic coatings on everything and brought it all back. People kept asking me if I bought all new plastics. Nope. I have a 2015 PRO-4X now and it got the same love too. I don't get how everyone says to rhino line it. It eventually pits and peels off and looks worse. Apply CarPro Reload on top of it a couple times a year and it'll bead water forever. I use CarPro CQuartz on the paint.

View attachment 133532

Absolutely agree, I much prefer the look of the oem plastics as long as they are in good shape.

 

[GreenMachineX]

Absolutely agree, I much prefer the look of the oem plastics as long as they are in good shape. I’m very Impressed with all of carpets products and although I almost never use tire dressing on my trucks car pro Perl is my absolute favorite dressing. You can try all sorts of products for the plastics. A heat gun, trim restore, tireshine, rubber protectant,etc but as far as I’m aware, nothing else will offer the long term protection that a ceramic will.

 

[Mastermind46]

Like a few others have said, mines has pretty terrible paint. 2012 dark grey and missing a LOT of paint from the rains rails and from around the fenders (inside engine bay) and windshield. I am not sure why it only peels in those specific areas but it is a perfect line where the peeling ends and where the good paint begins. Almost like Nissan didn't prep those areas correctly.

The paint is weaker than my 2001 Silverado though. That thing may have the greatest paint ever applied. I have not idea how it looks as good as it does with the shit it has been through. No rust on either vehicle and I plan to keep it that way.

I have been thinking of bed lining the roof of the X and touching up the edges of the fenders.

 

[MTN]

a 2005 super black S(wrapped matte green shortly after purchase),

But your description says you have a canteen metallic green xterra.
There are not many of those around.

 

[Rayraytonto]

It’s not just the X and Titan either, I know a lot of peeps who own maximas Altima’s rogues and they all experience the same thing. Nissan just cheaper out on their processes. And to be honest their clear coat used to fade and peel too even if you took care of them. My 240 was bought off an older guy garage kept, clear coat still started cracking and peeling