Discussion of Stinger paint quality (Was - Paint Chip Issue)

[Ucinn]

So when was your build date?

Sticker says 12/17

 

[StingerGT68]

I keep going back to what KIA told us in Stinger training.......The Blue and Red receive a special paint process. I am now wondering what is different and or special?

Especially interesting considering Kia has been approving repaints for Micro Blue Stingers...

 

[A Member Who Left]

I have no idea why Kia would use ANY lower quality paint or process on any vehicle like the Stinger. It makes absolutely no sense when they want EVERY vehicle to be a new ambassador of the company, and every owner to be well pleased. If anything they should have stepped-up the quality.

 

[Volvowith18psi]

I noticed I suffer from the chip under the headlight, Ceramic Silver BD of 01/18, but I had the bumper off for fun toy installation. :/ They will blame me for it, so I doubt Ill bother reporting it. However, there is paint overtop of corrosion in the engine bay. They literally painted over-top of rust lol. Its not much but its there. Ill post some pictures later.

 

[StingerGT68]

I have no idea why Kia would use ANY lower quality paint or process on any vehicle like the Stinger. It makes absolutely no sense when they want EVERY vehicle to be a new ambassador of the company, and every owner to be well pleased. If anything they should have stepped-up the quality.

Didn't someone on here say the paint is VERY thin on the Stingers? So maybe the quality isn't any different, but just how much they're putting on?

 

[A Member Who Left]

Didn't someone on here say the paint is VERY thin on the Stingers? So maybe the quality isn't any different, but just how much they're putting on?

Coating thickness gauges exist in many forms and I’ve seen one used when I had to force Honda to repaint a hood......after 6-7 years and being out of warranty......where the base paint was failing. I hope I don’t run into the same thing in several years now.

 

[eflyguy]

I would look at it as the glass is half full, 95% have not had a problem. Now if your one of the 5%, that does not help.

We have ~3600 members.
63 have voted yes.
49 have voted no.

So only 3% of members here have responded, but 56% of those have issues.

The number of votes is less than 1% of Stingers sold worldwide.

 

[jondyer]

Called into Kia this morning - 855-454-2847 in case you need it.

As of this time there is no estimated time to repair, but the issue with the yellow Stingers is being looked into by Kia HQ in Korea. Once a decision is made there, the dealer network will be notified. Once that is done, we will all know.

I do not have more information regarding other colours as my case is for a yellow car. The folks on the VIP line seem to be very nice and are without a doubt aware of the issue. I did press for a time when they (we) will know for sure. The representative did say to me that most likely, it would be sooner than he thought, but he did not know for sure and did not want to speculate, which I think is fair.

So, with this in mind, I will call in from time to time, monitor this thread a little less vigorously, drop McKee's 37 on my ride and enjoy until I know more. I don't think there is more I can do. We know there is a problem. They know there is a problem. We want a solution and evidently, so does Kia.

That's it for now I guess.

 

[StingerGT68]

Called into Kia this morning - 855-454-2847 in case you need it.

As of this time there is no estimated time to repair, but the issue with the yellow Stingers is being looked into by Kia HQ in Korea. Once a decision is made there, the dealer network will be notified. Once that is done, we will all know.

I do not have more information regarding other colours as my case is for a yellow car. The folks on the VIP line seem to be very nice and are without a doubt aware of the issue. I did press for a time when they (we) will know for sure. The representative did say to me that most likely, it would be sooner than he thought, but he did not know for sure and did not want to speculate, which I think is fair.

So, with this in mind, I will call in from time to time, monitor this thread a little less vigorously, drop McKee's 37 on my ride and enjoy until I know more. I don't think there is more I can do. We know there is a problem. They know there is a problem. We want a solution and evidently, so does Kia.

That's it for now I guess.

I agree, we should keep enjoying the car until an official fix comes through.

The funny thing is, for most of us the problem isn't HUGE. And by that I mean, the car works and is still a joy to drive. Obviously this is a major problem and Kia is going to fix the issue, but when I tell family/friends about the issue they look at the car and are like "I thought you said your paint was chipping?" To me and all of you, we see every tiny thing, but others just see a beautiful car. (Obviously my chips may not be as pronounced as some of yours)

 

[jondyer]

We have ~3600 members.
63 have voted yes.
49 have voted no.

So only 3% of members here have responded, but 56% of those have issues.

The number of votes is less than 1% of Stingers sold worldwide.

If I am 100% honest, the main reason I started posting was because I noted that I had an issue and sought the thread out. Once I discovered it, I was like - "Oh snap!! There's a poll".

I know that the dealer in NC where I bought the car was oblivious until I brought it to their attention (the guys in FL knew though), I spoke to quite a few folks that "have researched Stingers" and none of them mentioned it to me, of those, only one said "hey, didja know your bumper was chipped?". I realize that this is absolutely not scientific in any respect, but I am a little anal about my car, as I suspect more than a few of us on here are, so maybe, perhaps we are not exactly representative of the population out there? Could be that a few have not noticed and maybe some have and just haven't given it a second look or thought?

Time will bear this out I think.

 

[MerlintheMad]

@jondyer: Your observations are accurate, imho. I am "anal" about my car, unapologetically so. And I don't have a chipping, flaking problem at all (just a touch up painting "problem" partially of my own making, grrr). I come to this thread and post on it more than any other single thread on the Stinger Forum. Why? Because the topic bugs me like an open sore. I want it FIXED. And I want to know how that is going to happen, and I want to know the instant anything about a FIX occurs, et. ...

 

[jondyer]

@MerlintheMad
You have my word that the moment I find out, my second stop will be to this thread to let you all know.

 

[eljay]

I keep going back to what KIA told us in Stinger training.......The Blue and Red receive a special paint process. I am now wondering what is different and or special?

Jason, a question: Before Stinger prices were announced, and when I was still considering other cars, I noticed that many makes charged about $900 for a white pearl finish because it was a special process. I also read/was told/somehow got the notion that Kia was going to do the same thing, but of course, they didn't. Did they say anything about snow white pearl in your training?

For the record, mine's a November 2017 build, and I won't jinx things by saying that so far there are no paint problems. Let's just say I'm going to examine her in bright sunlight with a magnifying glass before I take her in for regular service Thursday.

 

[KiaofMuncie]

I did not hear anything about the white.

 

[Helo58]

@jondyer: ...And I don't have a chipping, flaking problem at all (just a touch up painting "problem" partially of my own making, grrr). I come to this thread and post on it more than any other single thread on the Stinger Forum. Why? Because the topic bugs me like an open sore. I want it FIXED. And I want to know how that is going to happen, and I want to know the instant anything about a FIX occurs, et. ...

I don't have a problem either, but I watch the thread and am interested to see if this paint issue is going to be the "Sword of Damocles" hanging over the car during the duration of my ownership. I like to be proactive rather than reactive, so it pays to be informed.

 

[DaJackson]

Jason, a question: Before Stinger prices were announced, and when I was still considering other cars, I noticed that many makes charged about $900 for a white pearl finish because it was a special process. I also read/was told/somehow got the notion that Kia was going to do the same thing, but of course, they didn't. Did they say anything about snow white pearl in your training?

For the record, mine's a November 2017 build, and I won't jinx things by saying that so far there are no paint problems. Let's just say I'm going to examine her in bright sunlight with a magnifying glass before I take her in for regular service Thursday.

Pearls are usually an added cost option because there is an extra layer of “paint”. In the case of Snow White Pearl it’s a layer of base coat white, a layer of pearl, a layer of clear.

If the primer is the issue that extra layer may not make a difference.

 

[Alagos]

Visited my Dealer today. Was my First Time Seeing a Stinger in Real Life. It was White. Asked him, if he knows anything about it - no.
The war was driven for about 500km
I couldn’t See or feel any Chips or something. Build Date unknown. He said that many ask for it but it’s not known. At the Sticker of the Door i couldn‘t read it.

I will stay this Winter with my Lancer and Go Next Year for the Stinger.

 

[Dunebuggyjay]

Been wanting to get a yellow stinger. Saw one at one dealer with a hold tag on it. They had no idea on what kia is going to do with the car.

Went to another dealer, and saw a red gt2 and a black gt. Both had the paint rubbing issue under the headlights. Ughh.

Wife has decided to wait and until there is no paint issues with these. Hopefully this is all sorted out on the 2019s. Really wanted yellow though.

 

[nhsjpeterson]

I'd love to buy a Yellow GT2 as is @ a substantial discount. Do you hear me KIA?

I was thinking the same thing. I was also considering buying black and repainting most of it to hugger or sebring orange (keeping roof, hood, etc black).

But suppose I got a Sunset 'as is' and peeling occurred. Instead of repainting it yellow, I would go with orange/black. Would that process be significantly more expensive than buying black and then repainting the black to orange? In other words, would repainting a non-peeling black car to orange require as much prep work as a peeling yellow would?

 

[MerlintheMad]

I don't have a problem either, but I watch the thread and am interested to see if this paint issue is going to be the "Sword of Damocles" hanging over the car during the duration of my ownership. I like to be proactive rather than reactive, so it pays to be informed.

LOL! "Sword of Damocles", love the analogy. So apt. I am solving this problem with a complete protective covering right back to the windshield. To hell with dangling "swords" and "fickle fingers of Fate". Bah!