NIO Responds to ES9 Paint Damage from High-Pressure Car Wash: Irreversible Physical Damage Caused by Excessive Conditions

NIO has responded to recent owner feedback regarding paint issues on the ES9 model after high-pressure water jet cleaning at close range. The company stated it has communicated directly with affected owners and provided on-site explanations, emphasizing that when high-pressure cleaning equipment exceeds the manufacturer-specified operating conditions, its jet force can cause irreversible physical damage to the vehicle’s paint. NIO clarified that the upper injection-molded component of the ES9’s front bumper is produced by a leading industry supplier that also supplies multiple luxury brands, adhering to a unified, high-standard quality management system. The vehicle’s paint film thickness complies with the ISO 2808 international standard and follows even stricter internal corporate control specifications. Paint adhesion is tested according to ISO 16925:2021, and the coating development process references standards such as ISO 16925 and SAE J400-2002, ensuring thorough validation of scratch resistance and impact resistance. During mass production, every color variant of each model undergoes 100% cross-cut testing and high-pressure water jet testing monthly, along with comprehensive annual aging and other type tests to guarantee long-term coating reliability. The company specifically noted that when commercial high-pressure water guns are used at distances under 200 mm, their impact force increases several-fold compared to use at 500 mm, easily exceeding local pressures of 100 bar. The shear force at the edge of the water jet is equivalent to that of a hard abrasive scratch. Under extreme conditions, high-pressure water can penetrate the microscopic interface between the paint layer and the plastic substrate, disrupting chemical bonds. If the water contains sand particles, it can cause “sandblasting”-like abrasion on the clear coat, resulting in reduced gloss. Typical damage includes paint delamination, micro-cracks in the clear coat, coating layer separation, and water ingress-induced blistering at trim edges. Such damage results from operating beyond design parameters—not from material defects—and this understanding is widely accepted across the automotive industry. NIO explicitly outlines high-pressure washing guidelines in the ES9 Owner’s Manual: maintain a nozzle distance of at least 500 mm, pressure not exceeding 100 bar, water temperature below 60°C, and direct the spray as perpendicular as possible to the vehicle surface. Exceeding these limits may cause component damage or allow water intrusion into the cabin. The company advises owners to use wide-angle, atomizing nozzles during car washes, maintain a safe distance, and avoid directing high-pressure jets directly onto plastic exterior components like bumpers to protect the paint finish.