I have a Mitsubishi Triton MQ with a 'known paint failure' above the windshield. It is now out of warranty but I was instructed by the dealership to organize 2-3 quotations for repair by qualified repair companies and submit them to Mitsubishi Australia as a 'goodwill claim' (since out of warranty). Additional photographs were taken by the dealership and submitted to Mitsubishi Australia last month. Within one week, the claim was declined, with an explanation that this was probably due to a stone chip from regular use. I could acknowledge and accept this if the failure did start from a stone chip. But it started to delaminate before any stone chips occurred and the entire head is starting to delaminate consistent with paint failure versus accidental damage. This was verified/concurred by all three panel repair assessors and even the service department managers at Mitsubishi. They explained it was a known fault in solid white and solid red and one of the main reasons all new models have shifted to metallic paint equivalents. Everyone I spoke to concurred that this was a known fault and similar to the issues experienced by Toyota vehicle owners who were part of the class action against Toyota for known paint failures. I have since visited Facebook Triton forums and there is a group called Triton Paint Failure Group. I have since found the lawyers responsible for the successful class action against Toyota and would encourage Triton owners here who are experiencing the same common paint issues as me to contact William Roberts Lawyers at this link: https://www.williamroberts.com.au/contact/ . Ultimately, I am just looking to have this paint fault repaired and not seeking anything more than that. It's a great car and I would like to keep it for many more years but this paint issue will be very difficult to abate without more significant repairs. That said, some of the quotations varied from between $4000-6000. That's outside of my reach. Especially, since the issue is most likely due to paint failure and not accidental damage. I'm happy to share images with other members here to verify things. But I'd like to see if there are other Mitsubishi Triton owners on here with similar paint faults that would be interested in pursuing things further?

Thanks.

 

Hi we have the same issues so would like to find out more details please

Has moisture seeping under paint

 

Your paint failure appears to be far worse than mine. But common with some of the ones a friend had shared with me through some images, courtesy of a Mitsubishi Triton "paint failure" group on Facebook. (Note: I am not on Facebook or part of that group). But the images I saw on that group through my friend's account were very similar to what you have shared. It doesn't look good, at all!

My friend shared the details of the lawyers responsible for the successful Toyota "paint failure class action" in this group. Sadly, despite all the members posting terrible paint failures and expressing their concerns, not one member has followed up on his suggestion by contacting the lawyers?... I hate to say it, but it might just be a gathering place for stereotypical FB 'wingers and time wasters', who have no interest in actually seeking a real solution to their problem(s). It's one of the reasons I chose to post here instead of that pseudo-platform.

I have included the link to these lawyers. If you're serious about seeking remuneration from Mitsubishi for a 'known' fault, I would strongly encourage you to scroll through my original post details and contact them (the lawyers), accordingly. Share your images, and your details of the issue via their website and persist by following up with them. Honestly, it took me about 10 minutes (that's nothing, really?)

Ultimately, it requires others to get on board and make the effort too. Otherwise, it's not a class action, it's just one person, or a handful of people making some noise, which we all know, gets us nowhere. Please don't be like the FB 'wingers and time wasters' (and use this forum as a platform to vent), take affirmative action and visit the link I shared in the post.

It took Toyota owners a few years, due to the typical Australian apathy (she'll be right mate, attitudes)... But eventually, the action gained traction and the lawyers had enough cases and evidence to fight Toyota and win a class action that led to these damages/failures being compensated for. I had quotations varying between $3,500-$6,000 to repair. Your damages look far worse than mine and might attract repair costs closer to $10,000? Some of the successful Toyota claimants received well over $10,000 towards their paint and body repairs.

The protocols for establishing genuine cause for repairs are listed in my post as well (eg: at least 2x quotations from registered panel repair businesses, the opportunity for Mitsubishi to inspect and photograph the failures first hand and then lodging as a 'goodwill claim' through Mitsubishi Australia.) I took my situation very seriously and organised 3x quotations and discussed with a number of industry professionals, who all encouraged me to pursue things further. Even two actual members of Mitsubishi, who admitted there were known issues with their solid colours (white and red) and why they had shifted to metallic colours instead. They know there's a fault and trying to shirk their responsibility to rectify the issue. As consumers, all we do is pursue through such channels as I have described.

I hope this helps?...

 

I have a thin paint problem with my 2023 Triton. The dealership isn’t interested, so my next plan was to seek legal advice, so I would be interest in hearing more about your case. I’m just outside Newcastle NSW

 

Ritchie,

Despite providing everything, including the steps people need to take, who to contact, and how to go about it, all of the complaints listed on Facebook forums and user groups like this have not made their way to the solicitors who can pursue this as a class action. At the moment, I am the only one who's submitted information to these solicitors. So, to directly answer your question, nothing has eventuated, as a class action. Another example of the Australian apathy at its worst, "she'll be right mate." (Sighs). If you want to pursue as an individual, you can still follow the same channels. But it seems pointless as class actions derive the best outcomes for the consumer.

If I sound frustrated and jaded... you'd be right!

KS.

 

KS

I completely understand your frustration. I joined up to the Facebook group yesterday as well to see what sort of issues others are having. It’s not what I expected. it’s almost like it’s just a group of individuals with the same issues, but doing nothing about it apart from telling each other the problems with their paint

you are right about the Aussie attitude, if this was in the USA, the reaction and drive to getting things fixed would be on another level.

the manufactures over here, know they won’t come up against much of a fight, hence the reason it took Toyota so long to address their dpf issues in Australia.

I have got in touch with a law firm in Newcastle today, to see where I need to go next.

Without any exaggeration, the paint on my vehicle is the thinnest I have ever seen on any vehicle “ever”! I spent a lot of money on the car when I first purchased it as I had planned on keep it long term. All I want it is it painted properly at their expense not mine.

 

I know exactly what you're referring to regarding the Australian 'complacency', especially on the Facebook forums. In stark comparison, had this problem occurred in the US, their 'demand action' culture would have expedited an affirmative response from Mitsubishi by now.

I sincerely hope you get somewhere with your lawyers.

I spent the money on a panel beater, who carefully and neatly touched up the paint chips above the windshield and it appears to be holding, for now... for now.

 

Hi Kaiser, Lisa and Ritchie

I too have the dreaded pain fail and joined the fb page you mentioned 18 months ago. As you guy said, there is so much apathy about pursuing Mitsubishi for assistance, and individuals
will only have themselves to blame if they end up with a vehicle they can't afford to repaint and can't even sell!

Must admit I have been a bit slow off the mark too, but have recently applied via the dealer for a goodwill claim, which of course MMAL declined, and I have contacted MMAL customer
service number and again, of course they are backing the dealers answer. I have since put in a submission via NSW Fair trading, waiting for a reply back from them, although I doubt they will
be able to do much.

I have just sent an email back to the service manager at our local Mitsubishi dealer explaining all of this, with extracts from Australian Consumer Law, and ACCC, and asked them to forward it on to
MMAL as part of an on going dialog. I doubt they will be interested in doing this, but see how we go!

I have had success twice previously with motor vehicle goodwill claims, and it is important to go through all of these smaller steps first before approaching it from a legal angle. This is a very tedious
process and part of the reason most people are too lazy to get the ball rolling, instead they just want to complain on social media in the hope that someone else has gotten help from MMAL so that
there is a precedent that can be used to back up their claim for a goodwill claim.

The idea of a class action is awesome, and has been suggested plenty of times on fb, but, in all likely hood no one has the money to "chip in" financially towards the legal costs. The Ford automatic
transmission class action recently came to a conclusion. I believe it has taken 10 years. Not many people have the stomach for that.

I'm keen to arrange a media release and / or mass gathering of affected Tritons, however only a handful of people replied that they would be interested ( out of over 400 fb members ). Someone did
cite travelling distance as an issue, and yes that makes it difficult, however a state-by-state gathering could be done, with media coverage from each site. ( surely spending a weekend travelling and
the cost of fuel, food and accommodation for a night would outweigh the cost of repainting a whole dual cab Triton!

Shortly I'll post all this blurb on the fb page and see if we get any further takers. Wonder if any one of them could be bothered to clean their vehicles up for a photo shoot! ( slap forehead emoji )

 

Thanks for your detailed post — I appreciate hearing from others who’ve made some headway, even if the results haven’t been ideal.

Like you, I’ve been shocked at how widespread this issue is, yet how little traction we’ve gained collectively. Off the record, multiple Mitsubishi dealership staff and panel repairers have all acknowledged that this is a known paint defect, particularly affecting the solid white and red models. Yet, Mitsubishi Australia continues to shut down goodwill claims without any proper investigation — mine was dismissed within a week, despite written reports from three independent assessors all pointing to clear evidence of paint delamination not caused by stone chips or accidental damage.

I’ve shared what I’ve learned with others through the Facebook groups, including the contact details for William Roberts Lawyers (who handled the successful Toyota paint class action), but as you said — many people prefer to vent rather than act. That’s not a criticism, just the reality. I understand life gets in the way and the process is slow and frustrating, but unless more of us push forward together, nothing will change.

Your idea of a media release or coordinated public show of affected vehicles is something I’d be very interested in supporting. I’m based in Geelong (VIC) and would be willing to travel as far as NSW if something concrete was arranged. The challenge, as you’ve rightly pointed out, is that people go quiet or drop off the radar once they realise how much effort is involved.

That said, I’d still like to help drive this forward. Have you drafted anything for a press release or reached out to any media contacts yet? I’m happy to assist where I can — whether it’s coordinating a VIC meet-up, sharing imagery, or helping prepare material that outlines the scale of the issue. I agree that even a basic state-by-state media push could really amplify the message and force Mitsubishi to respond.

Let’s keep the pressure on — if nothing else, we’ll know we gave it our best shot instead of letting this slide into another ignored fault.

 

Hey Kaiser

Great to hear back so quickly!

I haven't yet made any approaches to media or done the likes a of a media release as yet. Perhaps a "mail chimp" type survey of the current members of the fb group would work well
to galvanise some strength in numbers, and get an idea where everyone is actually at with their journey. e.g. have they put in a claim through the deals, contacted Mitsy or even approached
their state Fair Trading department.

We could also use the survey to find out where the majority are located, and then put further thought into one, or multiple meeting points, and it will weed out those who just couldn't be bothered.
Society these days can be happy to complain, but not pursue happiness. It's within their comfort zone, so the negative complaining is actually their "happy place".

Your thoughts on the Mail Chimp survey? If you find chatting through the forum a bit clunky, I'm comfortable with sending you contact details

Talk soon

Paul