Grill Paint Chip Mitigation / Repair Suggestions

[Henry Ford]

My 2022 Platinum with fewer than 7,000 miles has a ridiculous number of paint chips on the gloss black grill and lower trim piece. The bumper and hood have just a couple paint chips combined. I get that paint chips happen but this is excessive and suggests the painted plastic isn't super durable. Hopefully the photos below illustrate what I'm talking about. Are others having a similar issue?

What's the best way to fix and/or mitigate future damage? Touch-up and PPF? Wrap? Something else?

The last image is an extrapolation of what the parts will look like after 70,000 miles.

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[Jif1025]

I’m having the same issue on my 2022 platinum for what’s it worth. The plasticky grill being pockmarked is irksome, especially when you are dropping $100k on a truck.

 

[Greek_Lightning]

I’m having the same issue on my black 2022 platinum

 

[ScubaSteve_TheReal]

Same, I’m seeing chips on my black painted grill already on my 2023 Platinum. Watching and trying to figure out my options of touch up paint or resolution ideas from Ford. Appears to be very poor quality of paint to chip so easily and quickly. We only have 3000 ish miles on her.

 

[Greek_Lightning]

I’m having the same issue on my 2022 platinum. I have it for almost a year and it looks like it’s been sand blasted. Never seen such poor paint quality.
I’m at 22,000 miles.

 

[22LightningPlat]

Same problem and it’s driving me crazy(er). The piano/gloss black finish that Ford has been obsessed with for years, scratches badly enough on the pillars. Placing it on the front and subjecting it to rocks and kamikaze bugs makes no sense to me at all.

It’s also quite clear that no Ford engineer has ever washed/detailed a vehicle before otherwise they would see a clear need to develop and use more durable surface finishes in areas that are subject to show wear more easily (i.e.: door sill plates, running boards, tailgate trim, console trim, etc.).

And whoever designed the quarter turn Frunk trim fasteners, should be ashamed. Horrible design that breaks very easily and the ones you can purchase for replacement without replacing an entire trim, are $10+ each and not readily available.

I could go on with a list of what seems to me like Ford is taking a superior product and ruining it with cheap materials. Most if not all could be easily corrected in the development stages if they simply payed attention. In the end, it end, it costs them more time and money than it would to simply do it right the first time.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m loyal to Ford and of the 20+ Ford’s I have owned or had as an assigned take home vehicle, the Lightning is hands down, the most impressive and enjoyable vehicle I’ve had to date.

 

[AZT9]

After an insane amount of money for a replacement I literally removed it, sanded it and re clear coated it with a very strong 2k clear that has held up very well.

 

[data003]

Don’t drive so close?

 

[Greek_Lightning]

Same problem and it’s driving me crazy(er). The piano/gloss black finish that Ford has been obsessed with for years, scratches badly enough on the pillars. Placing it on the front and subjecting it to rocks and kamikaze bugs makes no sense to me at all.

It’s also quite clear that no Ford engineer has ever washed/detailed a vehicle before otherwise they would see a clear need to develop and use more durable surface finishes in areas that are subject to show wear more easily (i.e.: door sill plates, running boards, tailgate trim, console trim, etc.).

And whoever designed the quarter turn Frunk trim fasteners, should be ashamed. Horrible design that breaks very easily and the ones you can purchase for replacement without replacing an entire trim, are $10+ each and not readily available.

I could go on with a list of what seems to me like Ford is taking a superior product and ruining it with cheap materials. Most if not all could be easily corrected in the development stages if they simply payed attention. In the end, it end, it costs them more time and money than it would to simply do it right the first time.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m loyal to Ford and of the 20+ Ford’s I have owned or had as an assigned take home vehicle, the Lightning is hands down, the most impressive and enjoyable vehicle I’ve had to date.

I have a black 2022 platinum and everywhere that we have black plastic it’s all scratched up. It’s very upsetting considering I have a 2017 raptor with 110,000 miles and the front end is in way better condition

 

[kbuicker]

Someone has to come out with aftermarket options for these trucks at some point! I would love to see some options and have mentioned it to vendors already. My Lariat at 20k miles has a few, but certainly not as many as you guys. I have been hounding Lund to get us a hood protector as well. Also have a dang dent from a rock.

 

[VictorM]

I plan to coat most of the front end with Line-X Ultra.
https://www.linex.com/ultra

 

[Marty80]

Anybody found a solution to fix these paint chips ?

 

[Greek_Lightning]

Anybody found a solution to fix these paint chips ?

I have no idea. My truck front is disgusting with the amount of paint chips. It looks like a poke a dot paint job.

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