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

[Joseph Spiegel]

Yeah, it's an "optional" protection package that a lot of cars have included from the factory. There's also a small strip of it on the hood around the logo.

Missed that one, I’ll be scouring the car. I was setting a lot of menu settings today.

 

[AV8R]

My car has the same, ceramic coater suggested I leave it there as it normally does wear well and gives protection from stone chips .

 

[Brut87]

I'm within a week of purchasing my stinger in silky silver. Anything I could look for to warn me before I sign the paperwork? Also, any silver color members on here have input on this issue with that specific color? It seems yellow is getting hit the most?

 

[A Member Who Left]

My silky silver 2.0 seems relatively clean. There’s been 2-3 tiny chips or marks, all on the plastic bumper pieces. So far so good on the metallic panels. I’m at about 2100 miles now. I do tend to tailgate but I’ve learned to back off based on the possibilities of chips.

 

[somedudedontknowwhoheis]

I haven't been able to be on this forum much, but having seen this sort of angers me as I posted about it back in February and to see it affect so many others is disheartening.

Here is my original post. I realize I didn't follow up, so I'll do that here now. (Just read the first post of that thread)
/threads/paint-quality.3515/ (I keep getting an error saying my post is too spam like *sigh*)

I received no help from my dealership as expected. They looked at a few chips on my windshield as proof it was just normal wear & tear. I paid over 2K in a full frontal bra and touch up paint. Unfortunately some of my chips where in areas with sharp angles (like the vents that lead to the front tires), so I couldn't touch up all of them. Furthermore I'm still getting them on the sides, I've touched up an additional 4 or 5 on the sides since getting the full front bra.

Unfortunately I didn't take many pictures of all the spots beforehand, as it was raining a great deal and I had painters tape on most of the spots. Here is some that I do have.

The auto shop I took it to agreed that the cars paint quality was bad. They had seen one other car but it wasn't as bad as mine. As for this being a chip vs adhesion problem, some of the painters tape when removed actually took more paint with it. I haven't looked under my licence plate, and I'm almost afraid to. As I mentioned in my original thread, my 02 Maxima never had a problem like this.

Needless to say, I still have the hatch issue cause the dealer says they already fixed it, I have noises coming from the sunroof, I've been through a windshield already, and I didn't even get the headphones from Kia. So I haven't had the best of experiences with my car or Kia.

 

[Chapindad]

Those chips look a lot like the exact same places on mine. I took another picture today, they just keep coming. It is driving me nuts.

 

[gilthanis1]

@IBurton Please stop going straight to the dealer, and call the Stinger Customer Service line and raise hell about them. It's dam sure not the dealers call about paint issues as several of us have been told that the factory rep has to see the pics and talk to the customer before that decision is made. Besides, they wouldn't pay for it anyway so the hell with that dealer.

Kia is definitely taking any issues seriously and will definitely give the dealer a call and tell them what to do for you.

I hate to hear about the problems you've had, but definitely call the Stinger Customer Service line and they will get you help.

 

[Onno P]

Serious????
Painters tape taking off the top coat??

 

[somedudedontknowwhoheis]

@gilthanis1 Will do. Again this was back in Jan/Feb when I thought this had only happened to me, at some point I just wanted it all fixed so I didn't have to keep worrying about it. I skimmed through this thread pretty quickly, did I miss a number specific to Stinger Customer Service? I work long days and sometimes weekends so losing my car right after I bought it to fix an issue that shouldn't have happened really hurt. Honestly I was less concerned about the money and more so about making a mistake buying my first Kia.

@Onno P Yes sir. I didn't take the tape off until I was at the shop handing the car over to be touched up and have the clear bra/protection put on. They were with me when one or two of the pieces on the hood removed more paint. Unfortunately, like I said above, I just wanted it dealt with (was also running late to work) and so I didn't take any pictures removing the tape. But if I had to ask them, I'm sure the guys at the shop would attest to it. I did take some photos afterwards, they did a pretty good job making it look like-new. About half of the chips simply disappeared, but the worst half are still plainly visible under the bra. The paint was so uneven they weren't able to make those disappear. Of course my handiwork for the chips on the side have been so-so.



Question, for those of us who've already put paint protection on our cars (or at least part of the car), how exactly would Kia help us? Repaint would involve removing the protection, unless they fixed the paint and paid for new protection?

 

[gilthanis1]

@gilthanis1 Will do. Again this was back in Jan/Feb when I thought this had only happened to me, at some point I just wanted it all fixed so I didn't have to keep worrying about it. I skimmed through this thread pretty quickly, did I miss a number specific to Stinger Customer Service? I work long days and sometimes weekends so losing my car right after I bought it to fix an issue that shouldn't have happened really hurt. Honestly I was less concerned about the money and more so about making a mistake buying my first

855-454-2847 is the Kia Stinger Customer Service number. Make sure you have your VIN handy because it sounds like you didn't get the card in the mail with the info, but you should have. They are EXTREMELY nice and more than willing to help and put a dealer in their place for giving us the run-around.

The paint flaking issues start with them and getting a case number, then seeing what they say. Probably will tell you that they need pics from the dealer referencing your case number. Trust me though, they will help you, that's what they are there for and they don't answer to a dealer so they have no problem helping you deal with them.

I'm supposed to take my car by the 'dealer body shop' on Monday for them to look at. They 1st wanted to 'fix the issue' but they aren't touching the car until I speak with the Kia rep in this area.

Another problem I see is these dealers realizing if Kia takes the car back to re-paint, they don't get the money for a warranty fix, which they don't like. Plus, I'm not letting Billy-Joe-Jimbob loose with a sander and paint gun on a brand new car.....

I'm definitely playing hardball about this because I spent my hard-earned money just like everyone else and I just want it fixed. Dealer can get bent, just do your job and get me in touch with rep and we'll go from there.

More details as I get more info.....

 

[dfsaqwe]

The Stinger is on my short list to purchase but this is a absolute and complete deal breaker for me; for someone who likes to obsessively detail my vehicles, this would drive me insane!

 

[StingerGT68]

The Stinger is on my short list to purchase but this is a absolute and complete deal breaker for me; for someone who likes to obsessively detail my vehicles, this would drive me insane!

From what I've heard, Sringers made after March don't have the issue.

 

[JustoGT]

I had 3 different specs of paint missing. Noticed first one on a week after purchasing vehicle and noticed other 2 about 2 weeks later

 

[SteveCo]

I had 3 different specs of paint missing. Noticed first one on a week after purchasing vehicle and noticed other 2 about 2 weeks later

Thanks for taking the time to post. When reporting paint chip issues, it would help others if you mentioned the build date of the car, the color of the paint, and the size and location of the paint chips.

 

[JustoGT]

Thanks for taking the time to post. When reporting paint chip issues, it would help others if you mentioned the build date of the car, the color of the paint, and the size and location of the paint chips.

It's micro blue, I don't know the build date, and there's a couple on my Hood near the headlight and one between the trunk and back passenger door on the roof siding

 

[SteveCo]

Thanks! Build month and year are on the data plate on the driver's door jamb.

 

[Yellow Stinger]

Thanks! Build month and year are on the data plate on the driver's door jamb.

. 12/17 build date. Two small chips on my Sunset Yellow. One on front of hood and another near passenger side mirror. 700 miles

 

[Ucinn]

I have a 12/17 build date on my sunset yellow also and no problems here thus far with 1500 miles. I did put a clear bra on the front though

 

[BIGRED]

. 12/17 build date. Two small chips on my Sunset Yellow. One on front of hood and another near passenger side mirror. 700 miles

Same build date as my GT Ltd in Thunder Grey (Panthera Metal). No paint chips to report on mine yet @ 5600 km

 

[Yellow Stinger]

Same build date as my GT Ltd in Thunder Grey (Panthera Metal). No paint chips to report on mine yet @ 5600 km

Glad to hear that. I hope I don’t see anymore.