In late June, I leased a brand new 2026 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Sport AWD. Upon handling it, I detected a rough, sandpaper-like texture on some areas of the exterior paint; however, it was not apparent when exposed to direct sunlight. It was first explained by the vendor as transportation protective film residue.
I took it back to the dealer a few weeks later, and their paint expert finally agreed that there are a lot of tiny bubbles, pinholes, and other flaws in the paint and clearcoat. There are dozens of flaws per square inch in some spots, and they're visible in some lights and when you touch them.
It seems like the hood, front fenders, bumper/trim, and maybe even both front doors are in the path of the damage.
The dealership first stated they would not recommend painting a brand-new car. The current plan from Mazda is to have a certified body shop repaint the entire front end—fenders, hood, bumper, and trim—as part of the warranty repair. The dealer stated that they do not have any control over the matter as Mazda has the final say.
My main worry is that this is a completely new, accident-free car that needs a lot of body and paint work done. Since it is a leased vehicle, I am also worried that the repair may lower its value or cause me problems when my lease is up.
Does anyone else have experience with major paint defects on a CX-90 from the factory? Did Mazda or the dealer figure out what was causing them? If so, what repair were they able to do, and how long did it last?
This is excessive for a brand-new vehicle, even though I adore the vehicle. My first option would have been to return it and get a replacement from Mazda, but they aren't going to do that.
If anyone has experienced this problem with a brand new leased CX-90, I would greatly appreciate hearing from them.