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

[MerlintheMad]

After two months of waiting i just had my paint claim turned down. I have blue with 50+ chips at 3k miles. Now 6 k miles after the wait. This is evidently normal and expected. Awesome car but can no longer recommend that anyone buy a Stinger.

What does "turned down" mean, exactly? Could you describe what "they" told you? Do you have options under warranty at all? They didn't just tell you to go away, did they?

 

[Tobstertx3]

Is there, or does there need to be a separate thread for the headlight rubbing issue? I checked very closely tonight, I have zero paint chips at present but I have the headlight rub / paint peeling under one headlight. It is minor at present.

 

[StingerGT68]

After two months of waiting i just had my paint claim turned down. I have blue with 50+ chips at 3k miles. Now 6 k miles after the wait. This is evidently normal and expected. Awesome car but can no longer recommend that anyone buy a Stinger.

Wow, Kia HQ told you that?

 

[MerlintheMad]

Is there, or does there need to be a separate thread for the headlight rubbing issue? I checked very closely tonight, I have zero paint chips at present but I have the headlight rub / paint peeling under one headlight. It is minor at present.

I don't think so. As @ant pointed out, the rubbing causing flaking is proof that there is an adhesion issue going on; properly adhering paint won't peel or chip when rubbed. It could eventually wear through, but it won't separate from the undercoat. So, by that definition, even the headlight assembly damaged areas are behaving like paint failures; even if there are no other areas that are chipping/flaking.

 

[Tonkabob]

Wow, Kia HQ told you that?

Yes, the Kia Stinger Premier line. Opened the case with them first before talking to the dealer.
They say the chips are caused by rocks and to claim it under insurance. Weird i have owned over 30 cars and never had chips like this at any age / milage. And all the Stinger chips , except yellow, look exactly the same. Rock magnet i guess? I kind of feel like trying to claim it under insurance boarders on fraud.

 

[StingerGT68]

Yes, the Kia Stinger Premier line. Opened the case with them first before talking to the dealer.
They say the chips are caused by rocks and to claim it under insurance. Weird i have owned over 30 cars and never had chips like this at any age / milage. And all the Stinger chips , except yellow, look exactly the same. Rock magnet i guess? I kind of feel like trying to claim it under insurance boarders on fraud.

I'm sorry to hear that! Short of hiring a lawyer, you could talk with the hotline again, threatening to take your case public on social media, etc. Don't know if that will help or hurt but just throwing that out there.

 

[Tobstertx3]

I don't think so. As @ant pointed out, the rubbing causing flaking is proof that there is an adhesion issue going on; properly adhering paint won't peel or chip when rubbed. It could eventually wear through, but it won't separate from the undercoat. So, by that definition, even the headlight assembly damaged areas are behaving like paint failures; even if there are no other areas that are chipping/flaking.

Yeah agree, although it would be good to update the Poll to have a Yes / No as options for the headlight rub. Is that possible or too late?

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yes, the Kia Stinger Premier line. Opened the case with them first before talking to the dealer.
They say the chips are caused by rocks and to claim it under insurance. Weird i have owned over 30 cars and never had chips like this at any age / milage. And all the Stinger chips , except yellow, look exactly the same. Rock magnet i guess? I kind of feel like trying to claim it under insurance boarders on fraud.

Something went awry. Isn't paint warrantied for 36 months? That includes areas that could not possibly be road damage. I can see any of these cases being argued from the front, even up onto the hood since is slopes down and could be hit. But when people started showing pics of paint coming off clear to the primer and metal, on the doors, in the rear, on the roof, etc. and etc. and etc., these cannot be road damage. Are your 50+ chips all in front and on your hood? (If you posted pics before, I have forgotten your specific "case"; we have so many over such a long period of time.)

 

[Tonkabob]

They are all on the front, hood, front fenders. The big ones are on the hood. Down to bare metal with no signs of impact. Windshield, licence cover and headlights are all clean. Only about 7 are half pea sized. Tons of toothpick sized chips. Sand? I do have one real rock chip on the lower front were you can tell there was impact (first pic). That happened after my intial claim. Big difference in random flakes vs rocks. Bad day for Kia. They initially said they would cover and then changed their mind.
Here are few of the pics. Second to last one is a scratch, yeah something brushed against it but outside of the missing faked paint no marks. The one with the penny is an example of the 40 or so pin sized sand flakes.
Have photos of clean headlights license and windshield too.
I have about 5 more pics .

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yeah agree, although it would be good to update the Poll to have a Yes / No as options for the headlight rub. Is that possible or too late?

We admit the poll is not precise but it is representative. I'm guessing that the bulk of headlight assembly chipping got mentioned as a "yes". I know that if I had noticeable chipping under my headlights I would consider that a paint failure. A tiny bit of flaking that you can't even see unless you get right up to it, I would not define as paint failure for the poll's purposes; but that is a judgment call. Somebody else would consider the teensiest flake in one place an inexcusable paint failure and vote "yes". So, the poll takes all comers and lumps us together without consideration of the vast differences in our judgments and expectations.

 

[Tonkabob]

I'm sorry to hear that! Short of hiring a lawyer, you could talk with the hotline again, threatening to take your case public on social media, etc. Don't know if that will help or hurt but just throwing that out there.

The repaint is just over $2k hardly worth a lawyer. I guess I'll call insurance and say kia wants you to pay for their bad paint cool? And when they say no try KIA again.

 

[MerlintheMad]

They are all on the front, hood, front fenders. The big ones are on the hood. Down to bare metal with no signs of impact. Windshield, licence cover and headlights are all clean. Only about 7 are half pea sized. Tons of toothpick sized chips. Sand? I do have one real rock chip on the lower front were you can tell there was impact. That happened after my intial claim. Big difference in random flakes vs rocks. Bad day for Kia. They initially said they would cover and then changed their mind.
Here are few of the pics. Second to last one is a scratch, yeah something brushed against it but outside of the missing faked paint no marks. The one with the penny is an example of the 40 or so pin sized sand flakes.
Have photos of clean headlights license and windshield too.

Wow, that's gruesome, Tonka Bob. But all in the front/forward sections places you in a sticky claim situation. With other more inexplicable claims coming for Kia to deal with, they are going to dismiss this as normal wear. Apparently that is what is going on. But, will they help you out at all with any repairs at all? Nadda? Okay, if nadda, that is their judgment call. How will you proceed? If you enjoy your car like I do mine, here's what I would do: put the touch up to every mark you can find. It shouldn't cost a great amount. The car is worth it (this is me talking). Now, with the car looking really good again from c. six feet away or even closer, it's time to put on full frontal area PPF. Seal that baby up! I got mine for less than a thousand, but was thoroughly expecting to pay c. $1,300; the shop gave me a deal and man was I grateful! Five star rating from me.

 

[Tonkabob]

Wow, that's gruesome, Tonka Bob. But all in the front/forward sections places you in a sticky claim situation. With other more inexplicable claims coming for Kia to deal with, they are going to dismiss this as normal wear. Apparently that is what is going on. But, will they help you out at all with any repairs at all? Nadda? Okay, if nadda, that is their judgment call. How will you proceed? If you enjoy your car like I do mine, here's what I would do: put the touch up to every mark you can find. It shouldn't cost a great amount. The car is worth it (this is me talking). Now, with the car looking really good again from c. six feet away or even closer, it's time to put on full frontal area PPF. Seal that baby up! I got mine for less than a thousand, but was thoroughly expecting to pay c. $1,300; the shop gave me a deal and man was I grateful! Five star rating from me.

Half the bigger chips are on the flat part of the hood, several half way up the hood. If it was a rock it would have to hit the windshield as well. Not the case. All the chipping happened early on. I did use the dealers car wash twice against my normal better judgement.
Can't do PPF without a repaint and the repaint isnt much more money than PPF. Insurance seems like a bad move as well as dishonest. Wait until KIA fesses up to broader paint defects i guess.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Wait until KIA fesses up to broader paint defects i guess.

There is a good chance of that, imho. When? Who can say? Keep talking with people at Kia. Send pictures again and explain. Point to this thread. Make yourself into the "importunate widow" (gender aside, you can reread the parable). Officious types get weary of constant badgering. What can they do to make you go away? They can pay for your repainted forward areas in entirety. They can pay for your PPF. Then you'll leave them alone. I agree, insurance is not the way to go.

 

[Tonkabob]

There is a good chance of that, imho. When? Who can say? Keep talking with people at Kia. Send pictures again and explain. Point to this thread. Make yourself into the "importunate widow" (gender aside, you can reread the parable). Officious types get weary of constant badgering. What can they do to make you go away? They can pay for your repainted forward areas in entirety. They can pay for your PPF. Then you'll leave them alone. I agree, insurance is not the way to go.

$2K isn't enough for me to dedicate tons of time to ($4k if you count paint and PPF) But i wont be a Stinger, Kia or Hyundai ambasador any longer and won't buy another Kia out of principle.

 

[AV8R]

Ok have set up a poll for headlight paint chips. Please stick to the headlight issue only nothing elsewhere.
Headlight paint chipping

 

[Tobstertx3]

Thanks @AV8R

 

[Mach_Tuck]

Is your bumper currently flaking? If so, when you bring it to the dealer service department, show them that and they'll help you (if they're worth anything at all). I just can't see them saying no to painting your bumper if you show them a paint issue clearly present on it.

Yes, this is where ALL of my flaking is occuring at the moment. My FULL Front PPF is currently mitigating any further migration of the flake. It started at the headlight corner and then proceeded outward to the edge of the PPF. The dealer is clearly aware of this and have been told that they dont have a say and the car will be handled per the bulletin. This was advised shortly after the bulletin came out and BEFORE the letter to the owners so maybe they will change the tune when i go into schedule the repaint. As we have until Dec 1 at the latest to exercise the back up options, i am in no hurry to rush to repaint. Actually, i want to give the "bad" paint as much time as practical to fail just in case. I have also NOT received any info on whether or not they will pay or reimburse me for the $2K PPF that is currently on there. A part of me wants to peel it off and see if any paint comes with it!!

Well, I will know for sure soon.

I have made an appointment to have my car painted. I will be dropping it off in two weeks (there's that number again) and I have already been going around and around with them on my bumper. The dealer here has a pretty good service department and my service adviser is very cool and straightforward. Hopefully, this will close this chapter sometime after that.

If I am given the run around regarding the flaking plastic bits, I will cry foul and see if I can get those looked after under the existing warranty. If I can get it all sorted at the same time, sweet. Since the original issue presented itself within 1 week of owning the car, I am sure that I will know well within the given 30 day window.

If all is well, after that I will be good and I will take my 5 grand and run to my parts store for mods. If not, I can promise that someone will get tired of me wandering around the dealer demanding warranty work for the paint. One way or the other it will get solved. If it is not solved soon enough as a part of this technical service bulletin, Kia may regret not sorting it as I can pretty much guarantee that I will get the paint issue taken care of, no matter what.

As a side note, my lawyer buddy has a neighbor who just bought a gray Stinger... That one also has paint issues and the headlight rub. The paint really looks like it is peeling around the edges and to me, looks like an adhesion issue.

Cannot wait to hear and see the results on this one. Hopefully they have chosen a good body shop. Given the specificity of the repaint bulletin, i would ask for pics of each step to ensure they follow this correctly.

Sounds like you are aware of the 30 day window once complete so mind that for sure if there are any issues on the back end!!

Exactly...if they don't repaint the bumper under the service bulletin, they'll definitely do it under warranty. Either way I have to think they'll solve your problem.

Not sure if follow on this one? I suppose i can ask. Seems to me that if you are repainting, may as well do all that is needed.

 

[StingerGT68]

Not sure if follow on this one? I suppose i can ask. Seems to me that if you are repainting, may as well do all that is needed.

Yeah, what I mean is if your bumper is flaking/peeling/etc, there's no reason for them NOT to fix it. While the bumper may not be included in the service bulletin for yellow Stingers, that kind of issue will still be covered under warranty.

 

[MattRain]

After two months of waiting i just had my paint claim turned down. I have blue with 50+ chips at 3k miles. Now 6 k miles after the wait. This is evidently normal and expected. Awesome car but can no longer recommend that anyone buy a Stinger.

I'd open a new case with them. I was able to get my 40+ chips covered.