Annoying Paint Issues on 2025 Honda Pilot

[SirachaHot]

My dad bought the car in cash for nearly $58K, and he's at his wit's end with the new 2025 blue Honda Pilot Elite.

Just a few days after he got the car, a "handprint/swipe" appeared on the rear passenger quarter panel.

The dealership's "fix" involved wet sanding off my clear coat, which a detailer admitted. The GM still insisted it was a TST issue, and getting updates from them has been pulling teeth.
A mechanic at another dealership recently looked at my Pilot and confirmed it has a very poorly done paint job on the entire passenger side, with misaligned trim and wheel well gaps.

He suspects the car was damaged in transit and poorly repaired by the Honda dealer before my dad bought it.
This aligns with a CarFax report I pulled, showing the repair as a "Predelivery inspection report" dated after I'd driven 3,000 miles, contradicting my original "no issues" paperwork.
My dad feels completely dismissed and lied to, and I think it's understandable

What should my dad do after this? He needs serious help, do you guys think he needs to lawyered up?

 

[James Bond]

How far are you willing to push this? have you considered consulting a lawyer or escalating to Honda corporate to get your dad's Pilot properly inspected and fixed

 

[DrivenWisdom]

My dad bought the car in cash for nearly $58K, and he's at his wit's end with the new 2025 blue Honda Pilot Elite.

Just a few days after he got the car, a "handprint/swipe" appeared on the rear passenger quarter panel.

The dealership's "fix" involved wet sanding off my clear coat, which a detailer admitted. The GM still insisted it was a TST issue, and getting updates from them has been pulling teeth.
A mechanic at another dealership recently looked at my Pilot and confirmed it has a very poorly done paint job on the entire passenger side, with misaligned trim and wheel well gaps.

He suspects the car was damaged in transit and poorly repaired by the Honda dealer before my dad bought it.
This aligns with a CarFax report I pulled, showing the repair as a "Predelivery inspection report" dated after I'd driven 3,000 miles, contradicting my original "no issues" paperwork.
My dad feels completely dismissed and lied to, and I think it's understandable

What should my dad do after this? He needs serious help, do you guys think he needs to lawyered up?

Before you go straight to a lawyer, try to escalate this officially. Have your dad write a detailed, formal letter outlining everything: the date of purchase, the initial fix, the second mechanic's findings, and the conflicting CarFax report.
Send this letter via certified mail to the dealership's General Manager and also directly to Honda Corporate Customer Relations. This creates a paper trail and shows them you're serious. Sometimes, a corporate complaint is all it takes to get them to take it seriously

 

[SirachaHot]

My dad bought the car in cash for nearly $58K, and he's at his wit's end with the new 2025 blue Honda Pilot Elite.

Just a few days after he got the car, a "handprint/swipe" appeared on the rear passenger quarter panel.

The dealership's "fix" involved wet sanding off my clear coat, which a detailer admitted. The GM still insisted it was a TST issue, and getting updates from them has been pulling teeth.
A mechanic at another dealership recently looked at my Pilot and confirmed it has a very poorly done paint job on the entire passenger side, with misaligned trim and wheel well gaps.

He suspects the car was damaged in transit and poorly repaired by the Honda dealer before my dad bought it.
This aligns with a CarFax report I pulled, showing the repair as a "Predelivery inspection report" dated after I'd driven 3,000 miles, contradicting my original "no issues" paperwork.
My dad feels completely dismissed and lied to, and I think it's understandable

What should my dad do after this? He needs serious help, do you guys think he needs to lawyered up?

you know, you've got a really strong case here. The dealership sold your dad a brand new car that was damaged, lied about it, and then tried to hide the fix.
This is a classic case of fraudulent misrepresentation. Take all your evidence, like the CarFax, the photos, the name of the second mechanic, and the service records. and get a free consultation with a consumer protection or 'lemon law' lawyer.
They'll be able to tell you if you have a case and what your options are, from demanding a full refund to getting a significant payout for the diminished value