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

[Doel]

I don't think where you see that rust in the headlights is a metal surface, that is likely surface or subsurface iron contamination exposed to water which caused rust. Are you sure the rust on your Stinger is actually rusted bare steel (because of a paint chip)? If you looked at my car, you'd think I have hundreds of rust spots all along the doors, but mine is because it is white and the brake dust is sticking to the top of the clear coat and rusting. A bottle of Iron-X would help identify this for you...and clean it up at the same time.

ohhh is that brake dust? I wasn't sure what the heck was leaving those tiny rust colored spots all over my car, I thought it was coming from a tree or something. I'll have to try that iron-x stuff next wash.

 

[Revvdmedia]

ohhh is that brake dust? I wasn't sure what the heck was leaving those tiny rust colored spots all over my car, I thought it was coming from a tree or something. I'll have to try that iron-x stuff next wash.

Most likely yes. It could be fallout from other road debris, but since it's all along my door where I'd expect a wind "slipstream" from the brake ducts in the front fenders, it seems most plausible it is from the brakes. You will also know it is just contaminants sticking to the clear coat if you have this on the lower rocker panel, it is plastic so if you have rust there, you know it's iron dust rusting on the surface.

 

[gobluestinger]

Backstory: 2018 GT2 AWD with numerous rust spots all over vehicle. Leased the vehicle at 4200 miles (demo) and it now has 5200 miles on it and have only had it 2 months.
UPDATE: I took it to a local dealer where a Kia rep looked at the vehicle. I just received word that they will repaint the vents, however the rest of the paint issue is not covered under warranty. They feel "The rust spots all over the vehicle are not a paint defect and therefore not under warranty". I am beyond irritated now. I took a chance on Kia and it looks like now I'll be regretting that choice. Any other thoughts? I am thinking of contacting a Lemon Law Attorney in my home state of Michigan. I love this vehicle but come on these many rust spots on a vehicle at less than 6k miles? No way.

 

[GenesisG70]

Several thousand miles no chips... No nothing.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Several thousand miles no chips... No nothing.

Did you vote in the poll? As the membership goes up, the total of votes remains only c.5% of total members of the forum that have bothered to notice the poll and participate.

 

[Killianz26]

I learned that there is a code-red word, that once uttered there is no turning back: "Buyback". At the recommendation of my service advisor who said they could only do spot touchups on the paint defects, I opened a case with Kia's special batphone for Stinger owners. I explained that I have issues in three categories, that the first trip to the dealer couldn't address:

Body integrity:
Sunroof popping and creaking (reduced but not addressed)
Hatch rattle (not fixed)
Door seal popping (fixed)

Electronics/Safety (Service said "could not reproduce")
False positives on BSM, hands on wheel alerts when hands are on wheel
Random disabling of collision avoidance
Car Play crackling and fade to rear in stereo head unit

Paint:
As shown above + ghosted image of badge (which 2 body shops have told me is a base coat defect). Body shop estimate to paint just impacted areas is about $1700.

The batphone rep kept saying that perhaps they could help me as a "goodwill gesture", but that it would be at the discretion of the regional rep. I asked why it takes goodwill vs. stated warranty coverages, so she asked me what it would take to make me happy: I told her that I want Kia to fully address the issues or buy back the car. I was then told that I'd need to go to an escalations line and that would likely take a week or more for even first contact. I told her that I wanted to give Kia a chance to address the issues before going to that point, but she said the simple fact I uttered that word took it out of her hands! Just meant as an FYI for now, will keep you apprised of progress.

How did you end making out, I had a similar a conversation with the rep at the Kia consierge.

 

[Rhode Block]

Found a chip just above the window. Looks like some rust under it as well.

Delightful

 

[GronkSoyFiesta]

How did you end making out, I had a similar a conversation with the rep at the Kia consierge.

I called this week after waiting three weeks and they told me my case was rejected because my issues were rock chips. I found that puzzling since they haven’t seen the car. This is either outright incompetence or a delaying strategy.

 

[Killianz26]

Same response here!
Rhode Block, I guess I have that to look forward to. attached is the latest one I have

 

[MerlintheMad]

Found a chip just above the window. Looks like some rust under it as well.

Delightful

Is that above the windshield? Looks like a single bit of debris damage. It happens.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Same response here!
Rhode Block, I guess I have that to look forward to. attached is the latest one I have

Yours looks like a flake/chip on the side, not road damage. Your primer is apparently intact. If you see this happening in other places, your top coat has adhesion issues. Sorry.

 

[Killianz26]

Yours looks like a flake/chip on the side, not road damage. Your primer is apparently intact. If you see this happening in other places, your top coat has adhesion issues. Sorry.

Oh yeah, I am seeing it in other placed, drivers side quarter panel, front bumper, and hood already painted last year. They would not do the whole car, so now the passenger side fender and door are doing it. I wish it was simply road damage, that's not a big deal touch it up and go, but this is covering basically the whole car, rear bumper holding up well though

 

[Rhode Block]

Yeah, mine is most likely from something striking the car, I’m just surprised with how quickly it rusted underneath it.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Oh yeah, I am seeing it in other placed, drivers side quarter panel, front bumper, and hood already painted last year. They would not do the whole car, so now the passenger side fender and door are doing it. I wish it was simply road damage, that's not a big deal touch it up and go, but this is covering basically the whole car, rear bumper holding up well though

So now you have to go through a second stint without your car in order to claim warranty paint repair. Wonderful ​

Yeah, mine is most likely from something striking the car, I’m just surprised with how quickly it rusted underneath it.

Whatever it was, it was heavy enough to bite clean through to bare metal. Not going to recommend what you should do. But if it happens to my car (so far, all of my road debris encounters have either been very light or along the bottom edge where they hardly show), I will sand carefully to bare metal (no more rust showing), put primer on by brush; and then touch up paint by brush (the hole should contain the touch up nicely), and finish off with a clear coat, also by brush. It's small enough that only looking directly at it will make it noticeable. Later, who knows? Maybe I could find a good shop that specializes in very small scale repairs like that for a reasonable amount; and make my temporary fix look a lot better.

 

[Killianz26]

Escalation called, back to the dealership to get more pictures, joy

 

[supershanesta]

2019 White Stinger. 1200 miles. Have headlight rub issue as discussed, but not too worried about it. This is way more worrying. Paint is blistering on the back passenger door. Bottom back corner. I looked at the inner seams on this door and others. Bubbles/blisters are popping up on passenger side doors. They are all soft to the touch with what feels like just air behind them. At first I though some were just weld spots, but the paint is actually bubbled. I fear that if left they will pop and expose the bare metal. This outside door blisters were not on the car day one. It has just come up in the last week of my first month of ownership. I am very concerned that this will keep happening as time goes on. I already notice that the rear driver side door has a small bump. I bet after a month or so it will look the same. Looking at them now, it seems small and not that big of a deal, but my thought is as time goes on without repair they will just get worse. Also I am OCD.

I am going to the dealer next week.

 

[Revvdmedia]

2019 White Stinger. 1200 miles. Have headlight rub issue as discussed, but not too worried about it. This is way more worrying. Paint is blistering on the back passenger door. Bottom back corner. I looked at the inner seams on this door and others. Bubbles/blisters are popping up on passenger side doors. They are all soft to the touch with what feels like just air behind them. At first I though some were just weld spots, but the paint is actually bubbled. I fear that if left they will pop and expose the bare metal. This outside door blisters were not on the car day one. It has just come up in the last week of my first month of ownership. I am very concerned that this will keep happening as time goes on. I already notice that the rear driver side door has a small bump. I bet after a month or so it will look the same. Looking at them now, it seems small and not that big of a deal, but my thought is as time goes on without repair they will just get worse. Also I am OCD.

I am going to the dealer next week.

The blisters on the INSIDE of the door, most of us are just treating those as "observe and report" as needed. I've seen mine but I haven't noticed them getting worse, so I haven't put up a stink. The blisters on the OUTSIDE of your door, that is completely unacceptable and I encourage you to take it in. Since you are bringing it in for those, might as well have them look at the inner door blisters too. I'm curious to know how they will fix it, probably a respray of the rear door. I'm surprised the 19's are still having issues.

 

[Peeso33]

2019 White Stinger. 1200 miles. Have headlight rub issue as discussed, but not too worried about it. This is way more worrying. Paint is blistering on the back passenger door. Bottom back corner. I looked at the inner seams on this door and others. Bubbles/blisters are popping up on passenger side doors. They are all soft to the touch with what feels like just air behind them. At first I though some were just weld spots, but the paint is actually bubbled. I fear that if left they will pop and expose the bare metal. This outside door blisters were not on the car day one. It has just come up in the last week of my first month of ownership. I am very concerned that this will keep happening as time goes on. I already notice that the rear driver side door has a small bump. I bet after a month or so it will look the same. Looking at them now, it seems small and not that big of a deal, but my thought is as time goes on without repair they will just get worse. Also I am OCD.

I am going to the dealer next week.

I have a 2019 with lots of blisters on the inside door seams as well. It is soft to the touch, but haven't really gotten any bigger in the past 5 months. Those blisters on the outside of your door is just not acceptable. Good luck, let us know how it goes next week.

 

[supershanesta]

I have a 2019 with lots of blisters on the inside door seams as well. It is soft to the touch, but haven't really gotten any bigger in the past 5 months. Those blisters on the outside of your door is just not acceptable. Good luck, let us know how it goes next week.

Good to know about the inside blisters. Worst case, I can just sand it and do the small work myself. No one will see that area, but I still see it failing in the future, but that is just my opinion.

Thanks. I am just future tripping about how the paint will be after a year. Do I really want to buyout this lease? Everything other than the paint is amazing and a true joy, but I know how paint works. Believe me. I have a 1972 Datsun 240z. When paint goes... rust begins and if this paint is going to blister randomly after a month of use, I don't want to estimate what it will be like 10 years down the road. Could result in a whole respray and even rust issues.

I just need to do some meditation and wait until Tuesday.

 

[Jason Young]

I’d push for buyback/lemon law and look elsewhere. I can’t believe they still haven’t sorted this out.