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

[KiaofMuncie]

I went to my closest dealer this evening and looked around about 20 on their lot - black, red, and two white. Plus one pantera (?) that I have to say is stunning.

I'd never really looked closely at a white, but oh my, I think I may be changing my mind about the whole wrap or dip thing. That metal flake is absolutely gorgeous, and the contrast with the black chrome looks sooooo good! .. but I digress..

Only one (red) had a noticeable paint problem, but it was a doozy - passenger-side between front bumper and quarter panel, had almost 2" of paint missing from rubbing. After seeing that, I looked carefully at how the panels meet in various places and I hate to say it, but if you're not getting the kind of peeling that we've seen in the corner of the headlight, you're going to, and not just there. It was almost like someone had taken a box cutter and carved the paint away - but there was no damage to the underlying plastic (?) below.

View attachment 11362

Someone want to determine build date from this vin?
View attachment 11363

Wow

 

[Kato_the_kia_stinger]

Any NJ—or surrounding area—owners know of any good locations for either clear wraps or Ceramic coats? If you are around the area and have gotten either done, where and how much?

 

[Tonkabob]

Only time will tell. I do like not borrowing trouble. But in reserve, I have the warranty for the first three of those years. And I plan on a full repaint anyway at some point, but probably not before five years. Heck, the car might outlive me!

So we thought we bought $53K KiAs but with repaint we really bought $65K KIAs and we should just embrace it.

 

[Metalmania82]

I think my blue stinger is suffering from this paint chip problem. Some of the chips look like it *could* be caused by rocks getting kicked up except for this one spot under the drivers side headlight that couldn't be the case, it's almost like the paint is peeling away.
People who have this paint problem happen to them does this look anything like yours?

Sorry to see this problem on yours. I just picked up a production date 11/17 Micro Blue two weeks ago and I don't know if it's just my paranoia but i seem to be having some minor chipping/paint blemishes. Two chips on the roof, very small, no evidence of anything coming up there. Then a couple chips and what almost looks like acid rain etching but you can't feel it. Also, the headlights are definitely rubbing on the front bumper. This is depressing!!

 

[SilverNitr8]

Has there been any fix for the headlight rubbing? Any tab or adjustment to correct it?

 

[Mach_Tuck]

Has there been any fix for the headlight rubbing? Any tab or adjustment to correct it?

None that anyone is aware of at this point. My dealer is offering to repaint or replace mine as part of the Yellow Repaint Campaign. Will it come back with addressing the root cause...most likely is my thought

 

[SilverNitr8]

None that anyone is aware of at this point. My dealer is offering to repaint or replace mine as part of the Yellow Repaint Campaign. Will it come back with addressing the root cause...most likely is my thought

Exactly my thought as well. no matter how many times you repaint it, it will just come back. The fix is to find a way to put enough gap or some barrier that will stop the headlight from rubbing against it. I wonder if anyone who dealt directly with Kia's customer service ever mentioned the root cause so they can investigate and find a permanent fix.

 

[MisterMac]

Exactly my thought as well. no matter how many times you repaint it, it will just come back. The fix is to find a way to put enough gap or some barrier that will stop the headlight from rubbing against it. I wonder if anyone who dealt directly with Kia's customer service ever mentioned the root cause so they can investigate and find a permanent fix.

I'm 700 miles into my brand new bumper with no chipping, flaking, peeling, or the so-called RUBBING (to which I cite B. S.). Kia has an issue with paint adherence to their Stinger bumpers, period.

 

[eflyguy]

I went by a different dealer tonite and only saw a couple with issues in that inside corner of the headlight, but while looking closely, I took note of the alignment of the headlight relative to the bumper, and also just how easily the bumper can deform at that spot. It would not surprise me in the slightest that the rubbing is occurring during normal driving. If I had an opportunity, I'd slap a gopro on there and see what actually happens at speed or on bumpy roads...

 

[MerlintheMad]

The headlight assembly is a design weakness. They wanted a "look" and the car pays for it by rubbing way out on the end of the headlight assembly; it wiggles; the bumpers swell in the heat of the summer sun. "Contact."

I do agree, however, that if the paint is adhering properly that there will be no flaking, chipping or especially peeling initiated by the bumper and headlight assembly touching. All that would happen, over an extended period, is that the paint would wear through: it would not wear off with proper adherence. So a repainted bumper, done correctly, will not show any wear. You'll never even know if/when the paint wears through because there will be no outward evidence. You'd have to take the headlight assembly off to see the contact point.

 

[Ucinn]

I got my phone call today after being escalated from Linda and am now dealing with Jasmin Diaz from Kia Corporate HQ's in California. She sent me an offer letter which pretty much has all 3 options on it again but with detailed breakdown of the buyback which is now option 2. There's a spot at the end to fill out saying which option you want and a signature and date line. It says after receiving, it will take up to 60 days for completion of the process. I will be yellowless within 60 days now I guess. I think now it might be ceramic, blue, or red...i like the ceramic best with blue a close 2nd. the wife likes red the best.

 

[forzanerazzurri]

The headlight assembly is a design weakness. They wanted a "look" and the car pays for it by rubbing way out on the end of the headlight assembly; it wiggles; the bumpers swell in the heat of the summer sun. "Contact."

I do agree, however, that if the paint is adhering properly that there will be no flaking, chipping or especially peeling initiated by the bumper and headlight assembly touching. All that would happen, over an extended period, is that the paint would wear through: it would not wear off with proper adherence. So a repainted bumper, done correctly, will not show any wear. You'll never even know if/when the paint wears through because there will be no outward evidence. You'd have to take the headlight assembly off to see the contact point.

Bang on. Good post.

 

[Black Magix]

Been having all sorts of problems with the paint on my hood. After I pointed out the issues the dealership went back to their inventory and a lot of their cars are having similar issues.

forum won't let me post pictures.

 

[SilverNitr8]

Been having all sorts of problems with the paint on my hood. After I pointed out the issues the dealership went back to their inventory and a lot of their cars are having similar issues.

forum won't let me post pictures.

The one from the the windshield is more likely from someone lifting your wipers while not in service mode and scraping the paint. The other ones on the fake vents looks wierd. Might be paint peeling.

 

[Black Magix]

The one from the the windshield is more likely from someone lifting your wipers while not in service mode and scraping the paint. The other ones on the fake vents looks wired. Might be paint peeling.

It doesn't line up to where the wiper blade would make contact...like at all.

The dealership is fixing it but they are trying to get KIA to do something about the paint issues.

 

[SilverNitr8]

It doesn't line up to where the wiper blade would make contact...like at all.

The dealership is fixing it but they are trying to get KIA to do something about the paint issues.

Interesting..... when I was shopping, I saw quite a bit of stingers on different dealer lots that have similar issues. All on the drivers side only so I assumed it has to be from the wipers.

 

[Black Magix]

Interesting..... when I was shopping, I saw quite a bit of stingers on different dealer lots that have similar issues. All on the drivers side only so I assumed it has to be from the wipers.

A lot of people did until we actually grabbed the windshield wiper and lifted and realize that the chip was a good inch to the right of the impact point.

 

[MerlintheMad]

The wiper doesn't line up with the scrape when simply lifting it out of the wiper well. Somehow, when in the service position and coming back down, it hits there, but not the other way around. How do I know this? Because of evidence of reoccurring damage to that exact same spot on an increasing number of cars. There is no way on God's good earth that the exact same spot is getting scraped without it being caused by the wiper somehow.

 

[SilverNitr8]

The wiper doesn't line up with the scrape when simply lifting it out of the wiper well. Somehow, when in the service position and coming back down, it hits there, but not the other way around. How do I know this? Because of evidence of reoccurring damage to that exact same spot on an increasing number of cars. There is no way on God's good earth that the exact same spot is getting scraped without it being caused by the wiper somehow.

Looks like you clearly have a paint issue then.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Looks like you clearly have a paint issue then.

Not me. I am watching this play out. When the gas station attendant pulled up on my driver's side wiper he tore into the surface of my PPF wrapped edge. Being "self healing" that mostly settled down over the following days until you can't see the aggrieved spot unless you know it's there. There was one car on Jerry Seiner's lot that had the exact same damage as in the above photo. Others have posted pics with the exact same damage. It's not a paint failing issue.