Anyone experienced this? The chrome on the the rear (lexus badge, horizontal strip above license plate area, etc) has gold colored spots all over, like tarnish, that won't come clean. Like the chrome has been eaten away or something.

 

Wow, like it has been eaten by acid rain. I have not seen emblems do this. No amount of polish can get rid of it?

 

Nothing we've tried has worked. I'll be bringing the 400h in to Lexus for the 15k service and also a few other minor issues - I'll see what they can do about this!

 

They should be able to replace the emblems, how about the paint, are they ok?

 

Chrome is usually plated onto another metal plate rather directly on the object. Copper or brass is the usual intermediate, sometimes with nickel plated over it before the final chrome layer. This makes for a hard, impervious finish that adheres tightly to the underlying surface.

It appears that your medallion was somehow contaminated during this process, preventing the final chrome layer from properly adhering to the intermediate layer. Your dealer should be happy to replace it in warranty.

 

It's actually happened to every piece of chrome on the back - the Lexus logo, the Lexus badge, and the horizontal piece above the license plate too.

Anyway, I'm brining it in first thing Monday morning, we'll see what they say!

 

It is just weired that you would have all of the emblems degrade at the same time. Lexus Chrome emblems are made by reliable platers. I have experience with plastic plating. This appears to be corrosion-contamination as previously mentioned.

 

We have people in Mexico that can do this quite easily and cheaply for plastic. I know of at least one nearby my uncle's place.

 

Driving in Colorado during the winter could also do this. My Avalanche's chrome was very pitted, even the rims (triple plated) showed that the chrome was eroded (showing the zink underneath)..... one of the negatives of a good winter....

 

I've been driving in Colorado for ... 15 years. Never had an issue like this before.

 

I've been driving for an equal time and just noticed the damage this year. Here is an interesting article:
http://trailer-bodybuilders.com/mag/...ion_explosion/
I can post pictures of my paint/chrome/rim damage also and you may find that it is very similar to your pictures above.

 

Post your pics and we will have a look...

 

Well, as expected they're blaming it on the mag chloride. They're probably right, but there has to be a solution. The whole POINT of a chromed piece is that the multiple layers provide a long-lasting durable beautiful finish!

 

So, they did not replace them?

 

They did not.