What to do if the paint on a Corolla chips easily?
2 Answers
You can go to a car wash shop for local touch-up painting, and then polish it after the paint is applied. Maintenance of car paint: 1. Before, during, and after using the vehicle: promptly remove dust from the car body to minimize the adsorption of dust by static electricity on the car. 2. Rinse promptly after rain: Rain stains on the car body will gradually shrink, increasing the concentration of acidic substances in the rainwater. If the rain stains are not rinsed off with clean water as soon as possible, they will damage the paint over time. 3. When washing the car: Do it after the engine has cooled down. Avoid washing the car under the scorching sun or high temperatures to prevent the cleaning agent from drying and leaving marks. When washing the car yourself, use specialized detergents and neutral water. Avoid using highly alkaline laundry detergent, soapy water, or dishwashing liquid to prevent washing away the oils in the paint and accelerating paint aging.
As a veteran driver with 20 years of experience, my Corolla has had this issue before. Paint that chips easily is usually related to coating quality or daily wear and tear. It could be that the paint layer was too thin when it left the factory, or the car was parked outdoors for long periods under direct sunlight, causing the paint film to age and become brittle. I once tried fixing it myself with a touch-up pen, but the result was poor and actually made it look worse. My advice is to leave it alone for now to prevent further peeling and expansion of the affected area, and get it checked at a 4S shop as soon as possible. They can perform professional inspections to identify the root cause—perhaps the car was repainted but the process didn’t meet standards, or there’s underlying corrosion. If handled properly, a fresh coat of paint with an added protective film should solve the problem. For daily parking, choose shaded spots, apply wax regularly for maintenance, and avoid scratches from hard objects. This way, the issue can be resolved safely and cost-effectively.
