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

Paint Chip Poll - Have you experienced unwarranted paint chipping with your Stinger

  • Yes - Yellow

    Votes: 37 7.9%
  • Yes - Blue

    Votes: 57 12.2%
  • Yes - Deep Chroma Blue

    Votes: 6 1.3%
  • Yes - Silky Silver

    Votes: 13 2.8%
  • Yes - Ceramic Silver

    Votes: 40 8.6%
  • Yes - Black

    Votes: 70 15.0%
  • Yes - Panthera Metal

    Votes: 18 3.9%
  • Yes - White

    Votes: 28 6.0%
  • Yes - Red

    Votes: 49 10.5%
  • No - Without permanent protective coating

    Votes: 113 24.2%
  • No - With permanent protective coating

    Votes: 36 7.7%

  • Total voters
    467
I am taking my babe in for service today. Just turned past 10K miles on her. Oil change, Hatch Rattle fix (again) and I am having an issue with my UVO system not working when my phone is connected.

When I spoke with the Service Department, I asked about the paint issues I have seen in this forum and on Facebbok on my Micro Blue and the Sunset Yellow, and they said they were "not aware of any paint issues".
I have chips and what looks like bubbling all over my babe. The chips on the front end I am sure are mostly from rocks etc. But on the quarter panels and around the back doors are what I can only describe as "bubbles" under the paint.

Will have to wait and see what they say after looking at it.

We should hook up for lunch off of willards so i can show you what the chips look like. The Fairfax dealership service manager and team know about the issues with the paint.
 
I am taking my babe in for service today. Just turned past 10K miles on her. Oil change, Hatch Rattle fix (again) and I am having an issue with my UVO system not working when my phone is connected.

When I spoke with the Service Department, I asked about the paint issues I have seen in this forum and on Facebbok on my Micro Blue and the Sunset Yellow, and they said they were "not aware of any paint issues".
I have chips and what looks like bubbling all over my babe. The chips on the front end I am sure are mostly from rocks etc. But on the quarter panels and around the back doors are what I can only describe as "bubbles" under the paint.

Will have to wait and see what they say after looking at it.
You're seeing bubbling?? Would you mind sharing some photos of that? That's REALLY bad. I know some yellow Stingers have seen that but not blue.
 
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I am taking my babe in for service today. Just turned past 10K miles on her. Oil change, Hatch Rattle fix (again) and I am having an issue with my UVO system not working when my phone is connected.

When I spoke with the Service Department, I asked about the paint issues I have seen in this forum and on Facebbok on my Micro Blue and the Sunset Yellow, and they said they were "not aware of any paint issues".
I have chips and what looks like bubbling all over my babe. The chips on the front end I am sure are mostly from rocks etc. But on the quarter panels and around the back doors are what I can only describe as "bubbles" under the paint.

Will have to wait and see what they say after looking at it.
Oh, that breaks my heart!!! I will still be keeping an eye on the panels aft of my clear bra. Oh, man, I hope they figure this out soon!
 
So i decided to take a closer look at mine today and found this, basically exactly where many of you have spotted this issue... Kinda bummed as I was really considering buying the car; and now I just don't think I should do it. I'm on car detailing forums as its a hobby of mine, and people there knew about this issue... how long before this gets a jalopnik article on it, then the resale value on these "early ones have the paint issues" i could just hear people saying.

C0ckOHM.jpg
 
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Damn. I need to take a closer look at mine.

I can tell you that removing two badges from the front bumper showed me how awful the paint is on that type of surface. I used fishing line and took my time. Both removals resulted in pieces of paint sluffing off. Two areas each about half an inch down to a quarter inch in diameter. Definitely a prep issue with these cars. My build date is 1/2018 in panthera metal for the record.
 
View attachment 8594 I noticed a few oddly shaped “stickers” that seem to be located on my back doors and on my rear fender, just behind my back doors. They’re difficult to see, as they match my exterior color. What are these? Should they be removed? See picture provided.

I have them too and posted the same picture but in red. Leave them. They’re there to protect from rock impacts from the vent on the front fender. Some have said the actual impact zone is a little higher than these. They are essentially like a clear bra mini.
 
1EC338E4-1699-4540-AD9F-D93EDC8C4601.webp
I literally have the same issue on my red GT2 in the exact same spot. I thought someone messed with the wipers but it’s not in the impact area from that. But it’s also very rough like a scratch as opposed to paint chipping. Very weird!

At this point, I’ve covered the wound in touch up paint I bought, even though it was promised to me. Yesterday the hood was Xpel Clear Bra covered. So the wound is still there but covered. I’ll always see it. :-(

I have no other issues and everyone tried to prove it was a wiper issue. Maybe if you can figure exactly where the hood, in a raised position had to be and the exact reason someone would then force the wiper arm into said hood at the proper velocity to do that weird damage. I still say paint failure and yup as I said earlier 1/18 build.

If Kia steps up on these wounds they’ll have to replace the bra too. And next week it getting a ceramic coat, the whole car.

I never thought that on delivery I had to run my soft gloved hands over the entire car. Usually it’s a long process and I’m tired and want to go home. They got ya, then. Also, I knew about no raising the wiper arms on this car, from this forum.


ETA
I’m adding another picture I took with hopefully a better angle on the hood/bonnet wound. The paper towel is before touching it up. Nothing dripped.
 
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View attachment 8628

At this point, I’ve covered the wound in touch up paint I bought, even though it was promised to me. Yesterday the hood was Xpel Clear Bra covered. So the wound is still there but covered. I’ll always see it. :-(

I have no other issues and everyone tried to prove it was a wiper issue. Maybe if you can figure exactly where the hood, in a raised position had to be and the exact reason someone would then force the wiper arm into said hood at the proper velocity to do that weird damage. I still say paint failure and yup as I said earlier 1/18 build.

If Kia steps up on these wounds they’ll have to replace the bra too. And next week it getting a ceramic coat, the whole car.

I never thought that on delivery I had to run my soft gloved hands over the entire car. Usually it’s a long process and I’m tired and want to go home. They got ya, then. Also, I knew about no raising the wiper arms on this car, from this forum.


ETA
I’m adding another picture I took with hopefully a better angle on the hood/bonnet wound. The paper towel is before touching it up. Nothing dripped.
Same exact issue with me. But it isn’t covered by the ppf I have which made/makes me think it was damaged.
 
Same exact issue with me. But it isn’t covered by the ppf I have which made/makes me think it was damaged.

I don’t want to eat my self up on this. If the chipping became chronic, like yellow/blue I’d join the class action, if need be.
 
______________________________
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
You're seeing bubbling?? Would you mind sharing some photos of that?
Yup, will do once I get My Babe back from the dealership. Scott in the Service Dept said he will get some good pics of the issues and pass it on to KMA. So my paint issue story is just starting.
 
Yesterday I wrote an email to my dealer, received answer today, usual BS: "received no notices about stop sale.. there are a lot of orders for Blue and Yellow that's why they not available for order on a website.. your car is in production but not yet painted... no returns or claims about that problem... everybody happy". Btw, yet another Russian owner appeared, with black color and same issue.
 
View attachment 8594 I noticed a few oddly shaped “stickers” that seem to be located on my back doors and on my rear fender, just behind my back doors. They’re difficult to see, as they match my exterior color. What are these? Should they be removed? See picture provided.
Don't take those protective strips off, they're meant to be there.
 
Yesterday I wrote an email to my dealer, received answer today, usual BS: "received no notices about stop sale.. there are a lot of orders for Blue and Yellow that's why they not available for order on a website.. your car is in production but not yet painted... no returns or claims about that problem... everybody happy". Btw, yet another Russian owner appeared, with black color and same issue.
Contact Edward Snowden so he can get to the bottom of this!
 
Well, no good update right now...

  • Still waiting to hear from the first dealership I took my car to (Different from the one i purchased it at (MUCH closer)).. Called the premium KIA Motors Americas line, and they haven't received any of the pictures the dealership took... of course.. The dealership wont return my calls.
  • Took my car in for its 6000 mile this morning to the dealership I bought it from, farther away from home/work, talked to them about it, and they are just saying its all rock chips.
  • Ya, NO, 36 different spots in a month... 12/17 build. 36 spots in one month must mean I've trailed rocktrucks for the first 5000 miles..
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
Well, no good update right now...

  • Still waiting to hear from the first dealership I took my car to (Different from the one i purchased it at (MUCH closer)).. Called the premium KIA Motors Americas line, and they haven't received any of the pictures the dealership took... of course.. The dealership wont return my calls.
  • Took my car in for its 6000 mile this morning to the dealership I bought it from, farther away from home/work, talked to them about it, and they are just saying its all rock chips.
  • Ya, NO, 36 different spots in a month... 12/17 build. 36 spots in one month must mean I've trailed rocktrucks for the first 5000 miles..
Ha! 36 rock chips. Guys with $50k vehicles just love to hang out behind stone trucks.
 
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Why can't you be here in AZ Jason! Then I wouldn't have to deal with the usual dealer BS. lol

(Yes... some are from rocks... but no not 36)
Hey man…..email or a text away.
 
Ha! 36 rock chips. Guys with $50k vehicles just love to hang out behind stone trucks.
Hi Jason,

If you can say. What is the protocol at your dealership if a Stinger customer, yours or other, comes in with paint issues. Is there a practice in place? Has Kia corporate given official instructions? If so are other dealers merely ignoring them?
 
Stinger Chip.webp
Right now only two colors verified by KIA. Yellow and Blue. Other colors are having issues per forum members. I have not seen anyone complain about Ceramic Gray. Do you have issues?

Hey guys I am (kinda) new here and noticed chips on my yellow stinger as well. Where can I find information about the stop-sale or any other goodness? I will continue to read through the thread to see if my question is answered here but the yellow stop sale convo grabbed my attention.
 
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From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
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