New 2020 GT Stinger with rust under seats and behind dash panels

[MerlintheMad]

You could take the seats out of 10,000 new BMWs and you won't find rust under the seats. Knock it off.

How about 10K Stingers? What do you think we'd see if 10K new Stingers got exposed to interior scrutiny? Or is this OP a once-off?

 

[heyheyal]

If it makes anyone feel better I have seen pictures of people posting Tesla’s with rust under seats. Hahaha

 

[heyheyal]

Just looked under mine for fun. Was 95% clean. Major weld joint on both seats had slight rust. But I did find this under the passenger seat. I am a winner!!

 

[Nereth]

I'm also in WA.

Since mine was quite frankly possibly made within a few days of yours and came via similar freight routes etc, I'll check it on the weekend. I have zero familiarity with getting to those areas though. What's the easiest place to stick my head to look around for this stuff?

 

[c4mn]

All my photos are from the drivers side. I initially noticed under the driver's seat as had something roll under it and had a look to retrieve. Funnily enough the first thing I noticed was the Bosch tilt extension controller had a rough look to it and appeared to have a water mark on its surface (that had since dried). The surface of this is now quite rough. Then I ended up laying on my back with a torch looking up from where the pedals are under the dash and could see some from there. Some more was visible after removing the fuse cover located below right of the steering wheel and then I popped off the side panel to have a better look. This required a bit of force initially, ended up using a credit card to slide along and pop one of the clips and then was able to remove (and reinstall) easily. It had the windows tinted and fabric treated when it arrived and was then sitting in the showroom (inside) for a few days before I collected the car, so not sure if there was some moisture from this that condensed on the cold metal. It is most prevalent on the welds. It looks like it has been there for a while though so hard to say when it occurred or what the cause was as everything is dry now (will double check for moisture tonight).

 

[Kamauxx]

Just looked under mine for fun. Was 95% clean. Major weld joint on both seats had slight rust. But I did find this under the passenger seat. I am a winner!!

Are you going to ask Kia why there was a tow hook under your seat?

 

[Kamauxx]

I'm also in WA.

Since mine was quite frankly possibly made within a few days of yours and came via similar freight routes etc, I'll check it on the weekend. I have zero familiarity with getting to those areas though. What's the easiest place to stick my head to look around for this stuff?

I'd bet it's more common than most realize. Those parts are probably stored outside of Kia's factories. I recently saw a picture of tons of Ford Bronco shells sitting out in the elements waiting to go in the factory for assembly--no doubt other manufacturers have similar practices. The difference here is that most people will never disassemble their dash or stick their heads under the seat to check.

It should be quite interesting to see how Kia responds to this complaint. Do they completely disassemble the interior of the car to check under the center console, transmission tunnel, floor boards, roof, door panels, pillars, and behind the dash? How do they even fix this without their middle school drop-out "mechanics" destroying the car in the process?

 

[heyheyal]

Are you going to ask Kia why there was a tow hook under your seat?

i have already annoyed my dealer enough. Pick your battles wisely. I’ll let this one go.

 

[heyheyal]

i have already annoyed my dealer enough. Pick your battles wisely. I’ll let this one go.

 

[c4mn]

I'd bet it's more common than most realize. Those parts are probably stored outside of Kia's factories. I recently saw a picture of tons of Ford Bronco shells sitting out in the elements waiting to go in the factory for assembly--no doubt other manufacturers have similar practices. The difference here is that most people will never disassemble their dash or stick their heads under the seat to check.

It should be quite interesting to see how Kia responds to this complaint. Do they completely disassemble the interior of the car to check under the center console, transmission tunnel, floor boards, roof, door panels, pillars, and behind the dash? How do they even fix this without their middle school drop-out "mechanics" destroying the car in the process?

Been thinking about this quite a bit. I am meeting with the service manager on Thursday and they are going to have a look and send some photos off to Kia headquarters for assessment. If it is only superficial (which seems highly likely) then tempted to leave it be as the risk of getting the car back in worse shape than it went in is high. If I was managing the service department and a car came in for this it would be handed off to a junior apprentice.

 

[Snowwhite]

As another data point, I looked under my driver's seat and under the driver's dash panel and saw no signs of rust. I can still see the welding heat discoloration on the metal of the seat frame. My car was built Feb 2019. My 2015 Genesis did show a little surface rust in those areas, but nothing near the level you're seeing.

 

[c4mn]

As another data point, I looked under my driver's seat and under the driver's dash panel and saw no signs of rust. I can still see the welding heat discoloration on the metal of the seat frame. My car was built Feb 2019. My 2015 Genesis did show a little surface rust in those areas, but nothing near the level you're seeing.

Thank you Snowwhite, appreciate the info.

 

[Snowwhite]

Thank you Snowwhite, appreciate the info.

by the way, mine was tinted and "fabric treated" by the dealer as well, probably long before I bought the car. I know they tinted it, not so sure about the fabric treatment they charged me for anyhow.

 

[nhcowboy28]

Are you going to ask Kia why there was a tow hook under your seat?

I thought it was a IUD.

 

[KAS]

...the only car I have seen rust on seat frames was my brand new Monaro...

I'm impressed that you know your previous car's proper name!

 

[SwordfishCoupe]

I'm impressed that you know your previous car's proper name!

Lol, UK so was a Vauxhall Monaro. Quickly changed to the Holden badges and a HSV rear spoiler. Mind you, when I collected it from the dealer had a Pontiac badge on passenger kick plate and Vauxhall on drivers side! Great start.

 

[vipeboy2000]

You could take the seats out of 10,000 new BMWs and you won't find rust under the seats. Knock it off.

actually during the f series bmws there were many complaints of rust under seats and around ac vents from vehicles sitting on lots..I looked into this because a friend bought a new 330i m sport in 2018 and we spotted light surface rust on the bottom of the seat rail area... the dealer claimed normal... Supposedly they started galvanizing them to keep it from happening though.. not saying it is fine or normal as I am not an expert on surface rust since i don't see many forum complaints from audi or mercedes owners complaining of new cars with rust..

 

[Vermillion]

I bet it is normal. I'm not looking at mine to see. But I'll just assume that here and there surface rust is unavoidable. If rust keeps getting wet it will get worse and deeper. But surface rust can be just that indefinitely. Why it would be a problem on a car is up to someone else to say. I'm not going to worry about it and start removing door panels, seats and getting under there with a flashlight.

As part of Kia's lease agreement we're expected to inspect the car after delivery and the manual clearly states rust / corrosion should never happen. That would be grounds for rejection..

 

[MerlintheMad]

As part of Kia's lease agreement we're expected to inspect the car after delivery and the manual clearly states rust / corrosion should never happen. That would be grounds for rejection..

I always interpreted this as body panels, not random exposed metal parts.

 

[heyheyal]

I always interpreted this as body panels, not random exposed metal parts.

Exactly, good luck with that. So what do I charge Kia for taking out the back seat to connect my rear seat heaters? Haha.