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

[MerlintheMad]

"All this clear coat shilling talk"? Are you serious? I am the only post about clear coat. And the follow up was that it is probably good enough to hide bad paint. It is on topic and not shilling. I own a color that has possibly the least number of issues. I am emotionally invested in this topic because I own a Stinger. Simple as that.

I have followed this thread from page 23 on, after reading up to page 23. I came on it by accident: I saw the title and clicked it open and here we are.

Nobody has said their paint being good means that all Stingers have good/great paint. Nobody has said it is easy to get a trade or buyback. Nobody. The other colors are wanting the same treatment as detailed in the letter sent out by Kia to the Yellow owners. That's expected. But nobody is going to get such equal treatment (offered the three choices) unless Kia offers it to them on a case by case basis. I think that Kia will honor their warranty in all individual cases involving other colors. They may honor only the letter of the warranty: and that means that anything they can legally claim is road damage will not be covered by the basic warranty. There will absolutely NOT be any $5K cheques included, and likely no offer to trade or buyback. Just warranty work.

 

[eflyguy]

I've renamed this thread, and will be moving posts from members who have posted their specific issues and dealings with Kia, dealers and paint shops to another.

 

[Christopher]

There’s a lot about the paint quality issue of the Stinger that is unknown and that’s the problem. Kia officially stayed at one point that it was an oil additive problem, my rep said it was an application issue with the paint which really could be a lot of things. People have speculated base coat, primer, surface prep, clear coat, etc. Bottom line is we don’t know. We also don’t know why some cars have issues and some don’t and it’s all over the place with colors affected.

Unlike most manufacturers, Kia quality checks every car as it moves off the line. This includes testing and calibrating every car. Their QC for paint alone has 39 different checks. I could go on, but you get the point. Most auto manufacturers only check every X number of cars.

My guess is that Kia identified some paint issue and it appears to be more prevalent with Yellow. Perhaps they are starting with the smallest releases which would be the yellow and initiate this fix. Keep in mind... they are calling it a campaign and not warranty work or recall. This is a campaign by Kia to address a problem they believe to exist in the paint. My guess is that they will continue to address the issue in other colors after they see how this campaign runs. Maybe I’m just being optimistic, but if you look at what Kia is doing they are acting more responsible than any other auto manufacturer in recent history. They’ve also moved pretty quick. Let’s get the yellows resolved and see how to move forward.

 

[Kato_the_kia_stinger]

I've renamed this thread, and will be moving posts from members who have posted their specific issues and dealings with Kia, dealers and paint shops to another.

Where will those posts will be moved to?

 

[Tonkabob]

And yours is possibly the worst case scenario to appear on this thread: worst failing paint, worst Kia response, worst situation by not being a Yellow. Don't make it worse by losing your temper with Kia. Or it will only get worse. I wish I could offer real options to fix your car; but all I can think of is what has already been said: if you love the car otherwise, then get as much warranty work done on it as you possibly can wangle out of Kia, and repaint the whole thing, then go forward with a paint job worthy of the rest of the car.

I have been nothing but patient and polite with Kia so far and i have had bad results. On the fourms i have vented for sure but have been super cordial with KIA. That is not the best approach. As you have noted i have one of the worst cars with the worst outcomes from KIA.

 

[StingerGT68]

Haven't visited this thread in a while... Lol

 

[MisterMac]

This thread makes me think of some daytime soap opera... Gotta learn how to unfollow.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I have been nothing but patient and polite with Kia so far and i have had bad results. On the fourms i have vented for sure but have been super cordial with KIA. That is not the best approach. As you have noted i have one of the worst cars with the worst outcomes from KIA.

"Life is the best that it can be." Whatever happens we are going to help ourselves by accepting where we are and doing the right thing now. Don't deal with the present any differently, or the future will take a radical course change. I say you've been doing the right thing by being cordial. But there is also "firm but nice". Don't go away. Don't back down. Don't stop pushing your case, which, by all you've shared, is totally just to demand equal time and consideration with any Yellow owner. You've got the documentation (through the dealer, right?). Your touch up repairs shouldn't change a thing (other than helping you not hate this interval of uncertainty even more by having a car that looks like it has a "skin disease"). You take your pics as you go (not involving the dealer for every additional chip/flake, I presume). So you can point out the spots you touch up easily enough: "before and after" stuff. Keep at it. And keep everyone here up to date. I, for one, am hoping and praying for the best for you.

 

[AV8R]

This thread was designed for those with paint issues to voice their frustrations and keep up to date with the process of getting it fixed. Its now 85 pages long and the people who are discussIng the postive side of the paint chipping do have a valid contribution to make as its still on topic. I am concerned though that it may be becoming a heated topic when the these types of ‘look on the brightside posts’ make for rubbing each others fur the wrong way and causing upsets.
I am watching this thread as the other moderators do and I ask that you try to keep it friendly and civil, which i must say it has been 99% of the time. As a suggestion, try to keep the posts a little smaller in size. We value your contributions but the point of the forum is to disemmimate information for others to use and keep it friendly and respectful. Simple rules to follow.
On another note, I truly feel for those going thru this paint problem and feel lucky that I am not in the same boat. I fully expect it to be resolved to your satisfaction by Kia but it will take time.

 

[Expert4]

In my eyes I see the yellow stinger as just a test to see if the remedy is correct for the paint problems. Once they find out if the options provided are satisfactory and it is the correct fix versus replacement I see them taking options on the other colors. The yellow is a small test sample so be patient and let this play out. I believe Kia will stand behind their paint and brand no matter the color. Be patient, positive, and keep driving the stinger because it is an amazing car and all will be resolved in time.

 

[eflyguy]

Where will those posts will be moved to?

To an appropriately named thread that will reserved for on-topic discussion, along the lines of what AV8R stated above. The "heated debate" can continue here.

 

[Mach_Tuck]

Spoke to Linda on Friday evening and requested that my Yellow be painted in its entirety. I specifically requested the areas NOT covered under the SB be painted under the goodwill portion of the same. I also specifically asked for the PPF to be reinstalled after said repaint is complete. In the interim i asked for the additional information on the buyback process. Linda was very polite, repeated my requests to assure no misunderstandings and said that such requests would be submitted for further review.

On a side note, i am a bit worried to hear about PPF install after the fact as driving in AZ is near impossible to avoid debris. I am fortunate to have alternate transportation but still do not like the idea of having to let the paint cure for 4 to 6 weeks prior to PPF re-install.

Hopefully will hear back on my specific requests this week and advise further. Also looking forward to hear how some repaints turn out that have already started.

 

[StingerGT68]

Spoke to Linda on Friday evening and requested that my Yellow be painted in its entirety. I specifically requested the areas NOT covered under the SB be painted under the goodwill portion of the same. I also specifically asked for the PPF to be reinstalled after said repaint is complete. In the interim i asked for the additional information on the buyback process. Linda was very polite, repeated my requests to assure no misunderstandings and said that such requests would be submitted for further review.

On a side note, i am a bit worried to hear about PPF install after the fact as driving in AZ is near impossible to avoid debris. I am fortunate to have alternate transportation but still do not like the idea of having to let the paint cure for 4 to 6 weeks prior to PPF re-install.

Hopefully will hear back on my specific requests this week and advise further. Also looking forward to hear how some repaints turn out that have already started.

You don't need to let it cure 4-6 weeks. Two weeks should be more than fine. Call the Xpel dealer near you and see what they suggest.

 

[MerlintheMad]

@Mach_Tuck: I added an "Optimistic" vote. Even if Kia won't repaint everything under the SB, they surely will under warranty. There is no way on earth that a repaint will return crappy bumpers still untouched! There is no way that Kia will expect you to take twice as long to get your car finished: which is what would occur if the bumpers had to repainted subsequent to the metal panels being painted!? The only issue I see with any of these decisions is if Kia insists that the front bumper damage is from road debris. If you clearly document that most or all of it cannot be road debris, then it has to be covered under warranty.

From page 14 in the warranty manual https://www.kia.com/us/k3/content/media/all/warranty/2018_warranty.pdf
2. What is Not Covered • Any perforation due to corrosion of the Kia Vehicle which is caused by industrial fallout, accident, damage, abuse, vehicle modifications or damaging or corrosive cargo in the Kia Vehicle. • Any surface corrosion of the Kia Vehicle which does not result in perforation, such as that caused typically by sand, salt, hail or stones. • Any perforation due to corrosion of a part of the Kia Vehicle which is not a body sheet metal panel. As used herein, “body sheet metal panel” specifically excludes all parts which are components of the exhaust system of the Kia Vehicle. • Defects or damage resulting from the use of parts not sold or approved by Kia including the resultant damage to associated parts or systems. • Any perforation due to corrosion of the Kia Vehicle caused in whole or in part by a failure to maintain the Kia Vehicle in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph 3. “Your Responsibilities”

Obviously, bumpers are not "corroded" in just a few months of the first year. And picture evidence taken by a dealer will be accepted by Kia as proof of not being caused by "stones", etc. In bold, we have a possible "out" for Kia, but I am counting on not this early! Chipping/flaking paint is not due to any corrosion. Nor has enough time elapsed to result in the amount of damage seen due to stones/debris; not on this many cars. They've admitted as much with the Yellows. And all other colors exhibiting identical characteristics must be treated as non corrosive damage due to paint failure, i.e the warranty must cover it.

 

[MisterMac]

Good news for me. Got my baby back today with her brand new freshly painted bumper PLUS Xpel covering the entire front-end (Hood, bumper, headlights, mirror backs, a-pillars and both fenders)

 

[SilverNitr8]

Good news for me. Got my baby back today with her brand new freshly painted bumper PLUS Xpel covering the entire front-end (Hood, bumper, headlights, mirror backs, a-pillars and both fenders)
Ah that blue.....so gorgeous
View attachment 11122 View attachment 11123

 

[Tonkabob]

Just wondering if all the yellow Stingers were built in 2017? They seemed to be an initial run type car since they are "limited" in the US. Also when i was shopping in early 2018 majority of the cars for sale where blue. Wondering if this is contributing to the higher paint chipping reports for yellow and blue if more were made in 2017 before they fixed the undisclosed paint problem.
I've been tallying build dates for badly chipping blue and 5 of 5 were made in 2017 so far. PM me your build date if you have an exsessively chipping blue.

 

[Tonkabob]

Good news for me. Got my baby back today with her brand new freshly painted bumper PLUS Xpel covering the entire front-end (Hood, bumper, headlights, mirror backs, a-pillars and both fenders)

View attachment 11122 View attachment 11123

Looks amazing! Very jealous!

 

[StingerGT68]

Good news for me. Got my baby back today with her brand new freshly painted bumper PLUS Xpel covering the entire front-end (Hood, bumper, headlights, mirror backs, a-pillars and both fenders)

View attachment 11122 View attachment 11123

Perfect paint match, good paint shop.

 

[MattRain]

You don't need to let it cure 4-6 weeks. Two weeks should be more than fine. Call the Xpel dealer near you and see what they suggest.

I'm dealing with this issue right now. I got my car back 3 weeks ago, and every shop in AZ I have contacted will NOT install a PPF until the clearcoat has cured, unless they have in writing from KIA or the paint shop that they will not be held liable if the paint comes up while installing. Even after three weeks, my clear coat is still soft with a simple fingernail pressure test.