Panel Alignment

[Silvermanor]

Does anyone have any methods to have some of the panels on the car aligned? I have noticed that my left rear tail light is not aligning with the body mounted light perfectly. It sits about a quarter of an inch above and it looks like crap at night when the lights are on. Right side is perfect. I have tried adjusting the circular rubber bumpers on the hatch but that dosent seem to change anything. Any thoughts?

The other issue I notice with the build of this car is the back edge of the front passenger side door seems like its sitting too far into the body. When you look at the front passenger door from the front of the car you can see the front edge of the back door sits further out than the rear edge of the front door. Confusing I know but essentially it looks like the two doors on the passenger side are not flush with each other. The front passenger door edge needs a slight adjustment out of about a quarter of an inch. Any thoughts on that?

Id also rather not have a dealership or a body shop mess with it as its something id live with if a quick fix in my garage wasn't possible.

Love the car, but it really dosent have the fit and finish of the German cars I have switched over from.

 

[djerickd]

I think u can adjust the door latches a little

 

[nhcowboy28]

Sounds to me like the car got wrecked at some point (even at the dealer lot possibly).
Take it in and complain.

 

[Silvermanor]

Sounds to me like the car got wrecked at some point (even at the dealer lot possibly).
Take it in and complain.

The car hasn't been repainted and its not really something that looks like the result of damage (I can spot a repaint a mile away, which is part of the reason why this misalignment is noticeable to me but probably nobody else). Its just out of alignment by a quarter of an inch.

The rear light is out because alot of rear lights are out on cars. I notice it all the time on cars im following (including other Stingers).

 

[Olexandr]

So - have you found a solution for this and aligned the panels?

 

[Silvermanor]

So - have you found a solution for this and aligned the panels?

No, I was waiting for you.

 

[westcoastGT]

No, I was waiting for you.

as per my reply to your light issue , easy correction

 

[Olexandr]

No, I was waiting for you.

I don’t have one for you, sorry.

 

[niko]

Can we have pics

 

[ZyroXZ2]

If it makes you feel any better, it feels like the build quality on 2019+ went down. My 2018 was very damned near perfect in terms of build quality and alignment of the various external body parts except the hood sitting at the front a little below the front bumper (and raising it made it sit above the fenders). My 2019 GTS, not so much. I had to adjust the taillights to line up (much like you're indicating), the rear driver's side lower sideskirt and quarter panel sit too far in where they meet, there's a crease for some reason on the rear passenger side door near the metal fold (no sign of damage, looks more like a "wrinkle"), there are paint imperfections underneath the clear coat (also no damage), and there are quite a number of taps, rattles and other sounds from inside the cabin, too. Just to name a few things, lol

 

[Silvermanor]

If it makes you feel any better, it feels like the build quality on 2019+ went down. My 2018 was very damned near perfect in terms of build quality and alignment of the various external body parts except the hood sitting at the front a little below the front bumper (and raising it made it sit above the fenders). My 2019 GTS, not so much. I had to adjust the taillights to line up (much like you're indicating), the rear driver's side lower sideskirt and quarter panel sit too far in where they meet, there's a crease for some reason on the rear passenger side door near the metal fold (no sign of damage, looks more like a "wrinkle"), there are paint imperfections underneath the clear coat (also no damage), and there are quite a number of taps, rattles and other sounds from inside the cabin, too. Just to name a few things, lol

It dosent make me feel better that you seem to have the same sorts of fit and finish complaints I have but its interesting to see another member validate my experience. I also have a pretty noticeable bubble (perhaps from dirt) in the clear coat above my passenger door handle. Its definitely 100% factory paint too. Since I made the post in October I have learned to live with it. Its alot of car for the money and I have accepted that the fit and finish is probably not going to match the Germans for the price. Its the family car and its currently covered in so much road salt you cant even tell what color it is.

 

[ZyroXZ2]

It dosent make me feel better that you seem to have the same sorts of fit and finish complaints I have but its interesting to see another member validate my experience. I also have a pretty noticeable bubble (perhaps from dirt) in the clear coat above my passenger door handle. Its definitely 100% factory paint too. Since I made the post in October I have learned to live with it. Its alot of car for the money and I have accepted that the fit and finish is probably not going to match the Germans for the price. Its the family car and its currently covered in so much road salt you cant even tell what color it is.

Well, yea, that's the thing: we're getting a $60k car for $40k (for example, I don't know what trim you have). There will be shortcuts and cheaper materials used somewhere. I just think that the first generation was produced to tighter standards because, well, it's a first for Kia to release a premium vehicle and it's also a first model year. Always gotta get that first impression down

 

[MerlintheMad]

Well, yea, that's the thing: we're getting a $60k car for $40k (for example, I don't know what trim you have). There will be shortcuts and cheaper materials used somewhere. I just think that the first generation was produced to tighter standards because, well, it's a first for Kia to release a premium vehicle and it's also a first model year. Always gotta get that first impression down

This is an interesting attitude or "Kia World View". To me, it seems that as they go along they would get better at turning out a new model, not worse. "JD Power has named Kia the top mass market brand for Initial Quality for the FIFTH year in a row." Would that happen if they were chinsing on assembly? Of course, there are individual vehicles that have fitment issues. Most do not.

 

[Silvermanor]

This is an interesting attitude or "Kia World View". To me, it seems that as they go along they would get better at turning out a new model, not worse. "JD Power has named Kia the top mass market brand for Initial Quality for the FIFTH year in a row." Would that happen if they were chinsing on assembly? Of course, there are individual vehicles that have fitment issues. Most do not.

Stinger Defense Force

 

[ZyroXZ2]

This is an interesting attitude or "Kia World View". To me, it seems that as they go along they would get better at turning out a new model, not worse. "JD Power has named Kia the top mass market brand for Initial Quality for the FIFTH year in a row." Would that happen if they were chinsing on assembly? Of course, there are individual vehicles that have fitment issues. Most do not.

Bah, I just deleted three paragraphs explaining all of this before deciding to post it. Instead, short version... the JD Power awards for initial quality have nothing to do with build quality/fit and finish: they are measured by how many issues the vehicle has in the first 90 days. This is why Kia is winning it: outside the Stinger, they've been building economy vehicles which are focused on longevity and reliability, something that 90 days is nothing for when you're designing and warranting powertrains for 100k miles.

And deleted paragraphs version... Almost all cars go down in build quality/fit and finish as the model years roll on. Part of the facelift is retooling the machinery because as you keep making the same thing over and over again, the tooling slowly wears/creeps and you have to recalibrate and retool to remain within a set quality standard. Why such a steep drop between my two Stingers is beyond me, but part of it is likely that the GTS has a sunroof which totally changes roof rigidity characteristics in regards to such an increase in interior ticks and noises.

 

[JeffAsfbay]

Bah, I just deleted three paragraphs explaining all of this before deciding to post it. Instead, short version... the JD Power awards for initial quality have nothing to do with build quality/fit and finish: they are measured by how many issues the vehicle has in the first 90 days. This is why Kia is winning it: outside the Stinger, they've been building economy vehicles which are focused on longevity and reliability, something that 90 days is nothing for when you're designing and warranting powertrains for 100k miles.

And deleted paragraphs version... Almost all cars go down in build quality/fit and finish as the model years roll on. Part of the facelift is retooling the machinery because as you keep making the same thing over and over again, the tooling slowly wears/creeps and you have to recalibrate and retool to remain within a set quality standard. Why such a steep drop between my two Stingers is beyond me, but part of it is likely that the GTS has a sunroof which totally changes roof rigidity characteristics in regards to such an increase in interior ticks and noises.

Totally agree with your JD Power assessment. With regards to long-term reliability, the later model year cars should get *better* as they work out bugs. Typical advice from reviewers and Consumer Reports is to buy the last model-year of a design and avoid first model-year re-designs. As for what you are saying regarding tooling, that's very interesting and the first time I've heard this - but it really makes sense, so I learned something and I appreciate the info.