Trek Rail Paint Issues

Randomscruff

Member
Jan 4, 2020
16
10
Rail2198!
I've got a Trek Rail 7 that now has little blisters on the paint around the head tube. Has anyone else experienced this? Will take it in to the shop next week to get it looked at.

Cheers
 

Doug Stampfer

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2018
737
756
NZ
My one wil have paint blisters soon as I am going to try that spray.bike paint to give it a change. Unfortunately the grey & maroon isn't doing it for me. I think Trek should have had a look at the new Santa cruzs colour schemes before choosing theirs.
 

Yoak

Active member
Apr 5, 2020
256
172
Norway
My Rail is Ok so far, 3 weeks in, bur my Fuel Ex has the paint worn off on the chain stay where my heel rubs it. It’s worn through 2 different colour layers and the aluminium is showing. 2 months old
 

Fuellerr

Member
May 9, 2019
21
10
USA
My Trek Rail 9.8 paint sucks anything touches it the paint chips bad and some of the clear coat is coming off. I have been in contact with The warranty department at Trek and they don’t seem like they are going to do anything to help me. I have had expensive bikes before and never had any of them have this problem at this moment I will not recommend buying one of these until they recognize the problem and fix this

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OldGoatMTB

E*POWAH Master
Mar 24, 2020
423
253
27284
A friend's new Trek had the shittiest paint job. I transported it with my own much older Trek on the same rack and the bar that touches the top tube rubbed through the paint in just a few trips. Same rack never affected the finish on my bike in 5 years.
 

1981Miked

Active member
Jun 14, 2020
94
118
Dundee
I noticed some chipping paint on my down tube tonight where the battery mount bolts are secured. I’ll email Trek and see what they say. I can live with it though and I have put some tape on it to stop it getting worse.
 

Fuellerr

Member
May 9, 2019
21
10
USA
I noticed some chipping paint on my down tube tonight where the battery mount bolts are secured. I’ll email Trek and see what they say. I can live with it though and I have put some tape on it to stop it getting worse.

As much money we pay for these bikes the paint should be better I’ve looked around the web and others are having the same issue
 

1981Miked

Active member
Jun 14, 2020
94
118
Dundee
Yeah not ideal but my defect is in a very inconspicuous place luckily so I’m not overly fussed. I’ll try and track down a touch up paint online for future. I find model paints work really well for touching in bike paint chips.
 

High Rock Ruti

Active member
May 13, 2019
420
329
Massachusetts
My Trek Rail 9.8 paint sucks anything touches it the paint chips bad and some of the clear coat is coming off. I have been in contact with The warranty department at Trek and they don’t seem like they are going to do anything to help me. I have had expensive bikes before and never had any of them have this problem at this moment I will not recommend buying one of these until they recognize the problem and fix this

High Rock Ruti

You've just relieved me of my paint damage guilt, God bless you!

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LeeSeb83

Member
Jun 1, 2020
12
6
Cornwall
Stone chip that has started to peel. ?
Claim has gone into Trek via Blazing Bikes. Has anyone had a successful paint warranty claim?
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Fuellerr

Member
May 9, 2019
21
10
USA
I can tell you right now your out of luck Trek did NOTHING for me and I won't forget it. Whatever their paint process is it Sucks none of the other 20 bikes I have owned have ever had these problems with the paint chipping so badly
 

LeeSeb83

Member
Jun 1, 2020
12
6
Cornwall
I have kinda resigned myself to that but will fight it. It’s a shame as I was planning on getting my lad a Rail 5 but won’t be going near them again if they don’t help with this.
 

LeeSeb83

Member
Jun 1, 2020
12
6
Cornwall
Trek have refused my claim for their dodgy paintwork on my Rail 7. I have written back arguing and will now speak to the finance company to see if they are able to help.
What’s the point in a 2 year warranty if they won’t honour it?
 

Doug Stampfer

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2018
737
756
NZ
The paint has come off my 7 in exactly the same place. I gotta say I saw it when inspecting the motor guard after a nasty case out over a rock. I was more worried that te Ali had cracked but the paint is so thick there it looks worse than it is.
 

LeeSeb83

Member
Jun 1, 2020
12
6
Cornwall
The paint has come off my 7 in exactly the same place. I gotta say I saw it when inspecting the motor guard after a nasty case out over a rock. I was more worried that te Ali had cracked but the paint is so thick there it looks worse than it is.

That’s interesting to hear that I’m not the only one that has had this issue. I would take it to a paint shop to be sorted but that would then void the warranty on the frame!
I’m not going to let it go and plan on contacting Trek directly to complain - Will keep you posted on how I get on.
 

skeet103

New Member
May 24, 2020
15
4
usa
That’s interesting to hear that I’m not the only one that has had this issue. I would take it to a paint shop to be sorted but that would then void the warranty on the frame!
I’m not going to let it go and plan on contacting Trek directly to complain - Will keep you posted on how I get on.
Please keep us posted but with the bike shortage I think you're going to be SOL. Just got a rail 7 and its killing me not to ride it till I get my ride wrap in but thanks to all your posts I went for the custom wrap over the basic!
 

Phantomx0_1

Member
Feb 22, 2021
27
6
Berkshire
So my rail 9 has developed a milky look under tha lacquer.. I've spoken to the retailer who have filed a claim with trek but I'm not liking what I hear about them admitting fault. I accept stone chips on a emtb but no a failure like this.

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steve_sordy

Wedding Crasher
Nov 5, 2018
8,981
9,381
Lincolnshire, UK
Trek need to get on top of this before it runs away from them.
Does anyone remember how CUBE got a bad rep for frame failures? It took them years to get past that.
 

skeet103

New Member
May 24, 2020
15
4
usa
You know what response I hate is....Ahhh who cares its a mtn bike! My friends Jeeps don't ping paint like that....Also A rail 7 US is 6 grand. I know there are higher end bikes but 6 grand is still reall money.
 

Phantomx0_1

Member
Feb 22, 2021
27
6
Berkshire
Stone chip that has started to peel. ?
Claim has gone into Trek via Blazing Bikes. Has anyone had a successful paint warranty claim? View attachment 38866 View attachment 38867
Did you have any joy. I purchased from blazing bikes who assure me trek come good on claims.

Granted mine is not a chip. The Code r caliper failed and must have pissed dot fluid all over the frame and before I noticed it has go under the lacquer.

But how did your claim go??
 

coregrind

Well-known member
Dec 16, 2020
95
80
BEAVERTON, OREGON USA
So my rail 9 has developed a milky look under tha lacquer.. I've spoken to the retailer who have filed a claim with trek but I'm not liking what I hear about them admitting fault. I accept stone chips on a emtb but no a failure like this.
It'll be interesting to hear if Trek has comment on the addition of the protective film. Is that something you applied, or did a shop handle that? If it was a shop, I wonder if they have any thoughts on the paint issue.
 

Phantomx0_1

Member
Feb 22, 2021
27
6
Berkshire
It'll be interesting to hear if Trek has comment on the addition of the protective film. Is that something you applied, or did a shop handle that? If it was a shop, I wonder if they have any thoughts on the paint issue.
It's invisiframe applied with baby shampoo so if they try to blame that the off to court I go.

However when the bike was a week old .. the rear piston on the code Rs that were fitted shit itself on a ride I didn't realise for a few days until next time I went to go out and discovered it had pissed all of its fluid. Being DOT fluid its corrosive. So my guess is that's what it is..

I'll await their response. The paint has kind of melted so it's clearly brake fluid from the faulty caliper that sram repaired on warranty so they can't say it wasn't!!
 

coregrind

Well-known member
Dec 16, 2020
95
80
BEAVERTON, OREGON USA
However when the bike was a week old .. the rear piston on the code Rs that were fitted shit itself on a ride I didn't realise for a few days until next time I went to go out and discovered it had pissed all of its fluid. Being DOT fluid its corrosive. So my guess is that's what it is..
Oh, got it. I saw the Shimano brake in the pic and wasn’t thinking of previous surface contact with DOT fluid was a possibility. I agree it’s that, and not the protective film. It doesn’t sound like a paint warranty situation, since the issue with DOT fluid is well known, but something that should be covered...once Trek and SRAM work through the blame game. Good luck! I’m sure Trek will come through in the end with replacement stay(s).
 

Phantomx0_1

Member
Feb 22, 2021
27
6
Berkshire
Oh, got it. I saw the Shimano brake in the pic and wasn’t thinking of previous surface contact with DOT fluid was a possibility. I agree it’s that, and not the protective film. It doesn’t sound like a paint warranty situation, since the issue with DOT fluid is well known, but something that should be covered...once Trek and SRAM work through the blame game. Good luck! I’m sure Trek will come through in the end with replacement stay(s).

The guys at Blazing Bikes seem to think they will.

Been a bit of mare.. Brake caliper went and front brake lever.

Rear rim has a flat spot after 100 miles.

Now this

Still waiting on wheel and frame claims
 

j_s

Member
Feb 4, 2020
90
24
Nottingham
I noticed the paint on my Rail (9.7) is rather thin (being kind). Poor-ish finish around the bottle mount holes too. It's better on my Trek Checkpoint road/gravel bike but definitely can tell the paint is not good in comparison to other bikes I have owned. I hope you guys get it sorted, for the price of these bikes, anything less than a good finish is not acceptable.
 

LeeSeb83

Member
Jun 1, 2020
12
6
Cornwall
Did you have any joy. I purchased from blazing bikes who assure me trek come good on claims.

Granted mine is not a chip. The Code r caliper failed and must have pissed dot fluid all over the frame and before I noticed it has go under the lacquer.

But how did your claim go??

As expected, Trek put this down to wear and tear and impact damage. I tried to explain that I was aware it was impacted but it shouldn’t peel off as it had done. In the end we agreed to disagree and they offered me a voucher to use to help mitigate any repair costs. The repair had to be undertaken by a specialist that they approved of to retain the frame warranty. All in all it cost around £800 (inc. the voucher Trek gave me) and took around 11 weeks without the bike. A frustrating experience that’s due to a poor paint job in my opinion. Can’t fault the repair shop though, their work is first class.

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LeeSeb83

Member
Jun 1, 2020
12
6
Cornwall
The guys at Blazing Bikes seem to think they will.

Been a bit of mare.. Brake caliper went and front brake lever.

Rear rim has a flat spot after 100 miles.

Now this

Still waiting on wheel and frame claims
[/QUOTE

I feel your pain. I got my bike back after 11 weeks without whilst it was having the paint issue repaired and the motor failed after 3 rides. Now back to the LBS for another 4-6 week repair. ???
 

High Rock Ruti

Active member
May 13, 2019
420
329
Massachusetts
As expected, Trek put this down to wear and tear and impact damage. I tried to explain that I was aware it was impacted but it shouldn’t peel off as it had done. In the end we agreed to disagree and they offered me a voucher to use to help mitigate any repair costs. The repair had to be undertaken by a specialist that they approved of to retain the frame warranty. All in all it cost around £800 (inc. the voucher Trek gave me) and took around 11 weeks without the bike. A frustrating experience that’s due to a poor paint job in my opinion. Can’t fault the repair shop though, their work is first class.

View attachment 53974
High Rock Ruti

Your bike loves you ❤

Warm Regards Ruti
 

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