Scratches on rear spoiler syndrome (?)

[FE 065]

It seems like just about every GTS I look at has light scratches on the spoiler. In the area between the back of the hatch glass and the tip of the spoiler.

Even the new FE I bought 3yrs ago that was sitting inside the dealer showroom had light surface scratches on it in that area.. My latest GTS, 8yrs old, is almost perfect, paint-wise, but the spoiler area looks terrible. - When viewed at an angle in the right light.

Any explanation? Something in the factory procedure that tends to scratch that area? People putting kids etc in that area?

Amazing how a car can be new, or even in as-new condition, and yet have scratches in that area..

 

[twinturbo3150]

when you open the rear hatch, and you bend over to grab what ever you put there is probably what is causeing the sctatches.

 

[Asp Man]

I had these too, when I bought mine. Looked like someone had been loading/unloading constantly, which wasn't reflected in the lack of wear on the inside of the trunk area, ie: none to speak of. And it wasn't like there was edge wear, either. It was all across the area you describe, mainly in the deepest part of the concave of the spoiler.
They did buff out, thankfully, but it took some work.
Glad to see I'm not the only one.

 

[jk]

I see them in my RT/10 spoiler and it raises with the trunk lid, so my personal theory is that the spoiler is just doing its job which is deflecting air, but also this causes any airborne particulates to hit the spoiler deck and causes the scratches. Maybe a stretch, but I couldn't think of anything else....

 

[my viper]

I see them in my RT/10 spoiler and it raises with the trunk lid, so my personal theory is that the spoiler is just doing its job which is deflecting air, but also this causes any airborne particulates to hit the spoiler deck and causes the scratches. Maybe a stretch, but I couldn't think of anything else....

That is a correct reason.

 

[AviP]

Any explanation?

In my case, it's Costco! I usually empty an entire cart (including bottom shelf) inside my GTS. That trunk is huge.

 

[kcobean]

My Viper had SORS when I got it. I'm super cautious about putting things in the hatch, and I got most of the scratches (all but one whopper in fact) buffed out. Gotta watch those jacket zippers, etc.

 

[2001 GTS]

Windbreakers do a lot of damage...

 

[Leslie]

yeh I have the 'scratch' syndrome too

like hairline scratches, very few but I notice them

 

[FE 065]

I see them in my RT/10 spoiler and it raises with the trunk lid, so my personal theory is that the spoiler is just doing its job which is deflecting air, but also this causes any airborne particulates to hit the spoiler deck and causes the scratches. Maybe a stretch, but I couldn't think of anything else....

Could be, but a new car in the showroom with 11 miles on it wouldn't have any scratches from at-speed windblast.

I wonder, given the angle of the hatch, what percentage of the air coming over the roof really makes it down to the spoiler..? Guess the heavier than air stuff might.

The scratches are long, not the type of damage you'd associate with airborn stuff impacting the spoiler.