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

[mldavis2]

I've had a few chips on my front end, too. Micro blue. Had to use the touch-up pen a few times now. However, I am driving on highways in and out of Manhattan everyday so I just chalk it up to that, I guess.

What, exactly is the "touch-up pen?"

I've used touch-up paint (bottle with brush) for my GTO and G8 from Automotive Touchup online that matched perfectly. One bottle for undercoat and one bottle for clearcoat. I don't know what Kia means by a "pen." I get 1/2 oz. bottles and "dry brush" the spots then fill in with clear coat if there is a divot which makes it easier to polish flat if needed. Automotive Touchup doesn't show all the Stinger colors on their web site, but I talked with "Skip" who said they mix the colors if you have a color code from your ID plate. No charge to mix the color, just regular bottle price. I guess they have a direct connection with the paint manufacturers so they know the forumulas.

 

[StingerGT68]

What, exactly is the "touch-up pen?"

I've used touch-up paint (bottle with brush) for my GTO and G8 from Automotive Touchup online that matched perfectly. One bottle for undercoat and one bottle for clearcoat. I don't know what Kia means by a "pen." I get 1/2 oz. bottles and "dry brush" the spots then fill in with clear coat if there is a divot which makes it easier to polish flat if needed. Automotive Touchup doesn't show all the Stinger colors on their web site, but I talked with "Skip" who said they mix the colors if you have a color code from your ID plate. No charge to mix the color, just regular bottle price. I guess they have a direct connection with the paint manufacturers so they know the forumulas.

It's the official paint item from Kia, bought from Kia service centers. It's not so much a 'pen' as it has a felt tip on it. One side the color, the other the clear coat.

 

[Chapindad]

So I am starting to believe that the chips are not from rocks off the road. I believe it is an adhesion issue and have to figure out how to best prove it. The paint chips have slowed to stopped at this point. I put the official touch up paint on it about 3-4 weeks ago and now the touch up paint is also coming off, unless the rocks are magically hitting the exact same spots. I am sure the GM of the dealership I purchased it from is watching the forums, because has quit responding to me about anything after I started posting about this issue and the service guy went out of his way to show me his Stinger with the same issues. He claimed that Kia will fix the issue at some point but I am not sure he even believes that.

 

[A Member Who Left]

There are ways to check paint adhesion but nothing I would use on my car. If the touch up paint is coming off the exact same spots then there is contamination underneath inhibiting adhesion. I think that is proof alone that they (we, you, me) have an issue.

 

[Leftlane]

Really hate to hear about these paint issues, was just reading yesterday about the Nappa Leather problems.
Seems maybe Kia is not up to producing a high quality car from top to bottom.
Car looks and drives great, but I don’t want to spend $50k and then look at paint chips and worn leather every time I go to saddle up.

 

[Todd Piefer]

If you get the $200 paint protection option, how far up the hood does that cover?

 

[Tylor Pike]

I have a few on my car as well. 1 noticable on the hood..plus a very big one on the driver 1/4 panel. Do you do alot of highway driving? Stay away from it as much as you can..and dont drive close to cars ahead. Touch em up, that's all you can do essentially. I fear the dealer isnt going to help you very much because it's out of their control. Consider wrapping your entire hood in a quality clear bra..possibly do your fenders as well.

 

[Never thought]

This is very strange and sorry to hear. I got my entire front end (bumper, hood, fenders) covered with xpel so I haven’t had this issue.

 

[Bam3vo]

Noticed this on mine too, 4 washes total...2 of which were by me and other by dealer. I hand wash mine. Nice lil crater of paint missing, like an eggshell.

 

[Jason]

At just 1,200 miles I found my first paint chip on the front fascia a couple weeks ago, right down to the black plastic. Chalk it up to bad luck even though I don't drive on the Thruway very often. Picked up a red chroma touch up pen, but didn't seem to do much given the black plastic underneath. Does anybody know if there is some type of primer to get the color right? From what I'm reading it certainly seems like there are some paint issues going on.

 

[StingerGT68]

I just bought this thing to help with touchups...I found the touchup pen to be a little too thick for small chips so hopefully this thing works better. Now I just have to figure out how to get the paint IN its reservoir.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004YZXV8U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Bobr]

Does anybody know PNs for original touchup pens for each color?

 

[StingerGT68]

Does anybody know PNs for original touchup pens for each color?

https://www.stingerforum.org/forum/threads/638-Kia-Stinger-Color-Code

 

[Berzerker]

I might be using this:

South Carolina Lemon Laws | DMV.ORG

Because it will lower the market value of my car.

I think you'd have a hard time arguing it would "significantly" lower the resale value of your car.

 

[oxide365]

filling that paint thing was annoying, ended up using a tooth pick at it worked great, just take your time, filling as you go.

 

[CaliSting]

Yeah paint not the best. I already have several chips in just 2000 miles. My Porsche with 30000 miles doesn’t have a single chip.

 

[oxide365]

at first i thought i was going crazy seeing chipping on the door panel, after reading all these stories, more i believe it was a latent paint defect and nothing I or the dealer did

 

[CaliSting]

I actually found a defect where something under paint is poking out. Disappointing for $50k MSRP car. Too bad as paint is beautiful looking on Chroma red car. I get compliments all the time. Found it interesting my car was equipped with clear bra . Suspect Kia knew front of car would chip like crazy. Plastic protection all over the car.

 

[Ucinn]

I went and got the clear bra put on.. hoping that keeps it from chipping. By the time I got it put on I already had three small chips on the front bumper.

 

[Leftlane]

After some Google research, it appears that Kia has been dealing with and getting sued for paint issues for years.