2012 Jeep Touch Up Paint (35 OEM Colors)

The 2012 Jeep Vibe

Welcome to 2012, the year we all thought the Mayan calendar was going to punch our collective clock. While everyone else was prepping bunkers, Jeep was busy painting Wranglers and Grand Cherokees like they were highlighter pens. We've got 34 colors in our database for this year alone-a massive haul that ranges from "Corporate Silver" to "I definitely want to be spotted by a search-and-rescue helicopter." Whether you're rocking the neon scream of Gecko or Dozer, or keeping it classy in Winter Chill Pearl or Mineral Gray Metallic, this era was all about personality. Even the Patriot and Liberty got in on the fun before the crossover craze turned everything into a sea of beige.

Paint Health Check

By 2012, we were deep into the Thin Paint Era. Back in the day, you could practically carve your initials into the lacquer; now, these rigs are dressed in what I call "Robot Efficiency." The factory robots were programmed to use just enough paint to look pretty on the lot, leaving you with a clear coat that's thinner than a gym membership in February. If you've got a Wrangler or a Grand Cherokee, keep a sharp eye on the leading edge of the hood and the door hinges. You might see some "bubbling"-that's what happens when the paint prep on those aluminum panels wasn't quite up to snuff. Between the thin application and the gravel-flinging tires, 2012 Jeeps are notorious rock-chip magnets.

Restoration Tip

Since the clear coat on these modern Jeeps is so thin, you have to be surgical with your repairs. This isn't the era for "bigger is better." When you're filling a chip in Deep Cherry or Header Orange, build your layers slowly. If you blob a giant mountain of paint onto the panel, you're going to have a nightmare of a time sanding it level without burning right through the surrounding factory clear. Apply a thin coat, let it flash, and repeat until the chip is level. And for the love of the trail, don't go at a 2012 hood with a heavy-cut buffing pad unless you want to see the primer staring back at you.