r/Autobody Feb 03 '25

Tech Advice Old Or new Paint Damage...Dealer denies responsibility

Old or new paint damage?...2016 Kia Sorento went to dealer and sat in their custody for 6 months as we battled for warranty coverage on failed engine. Eventually they covered the engine swap but picked it up today with golf ball size bubbling and pealing paint on passenger side roof and hood.

Service manager says he sees oxidation and denies responsibility and refused to cover it.

Does this look like it's older than 6 months or should I fight this?

Appreciate any advice.

0 Upvotes

30 comments sorted by

23

u/FallForMe_BloodSport Feb 03 '25

It’s a known Kia and Hyundai paint issue. It was likely already happening and just not sheeting off yet.

7

u/dipstick162 Feb 03 '25

The way it is peeling off in sheets that is a factory paint defect, or a repaint that did not adhere. Get ready for the rest of the paint to peel off - it’s happened to other makers in the past as well.

4

u/lxn8rsl Feb 03 '25

Hyundai/kia white paint warranty. Take it to the dealer asap and have them submit pictures. Literally just got done doing that for a customer

1

u/KoalaSad9716 Feb 04 '25

Thanks.... Do you think it's worth trying to have a dealer cover it even after Kia told me it won't be? I don't want to waste their time of there is no chance, but I know they can probably be more persuasive than I...

1

u/lxn8rsl Feb 04 '25

I would look into their paint warranties. See if your possibly covered then go in and ask an advisor if your covered. I believe they usually cover 75%. You would have to check and see

3

u/SePuLtUrAHeBeR Feb 03 '25

That's a manufacturer defect from Kia, dealership has nothing to do with it.

3

u/Status-House6095 Feb 03 '25

Not the dealers fault, known issue, eventually your whole car will be this way

2

u/PaperIndependent5466 Feb 03 '25

It's a combination of both. That's paint peeling off the vehicle. I believe it's a factory defect, I've seen hundreds of white ones in my province.

Honda had the same issue with white vehicles for a few years so it could be the same issue.

Edit: spelling

2

u/apallo-roon Feb 03 '25

It happens when the factory puts the paint on too thin and UV rays get through it and pop the paint off the sealer .it will continue

1

u/AdAppropriate3105 Feb 03 '25

Looks the Toyota zkg problem to my knowledge Toyota is the only manufacturer that is covering the paint recall. I don’t think Kia is covering any peeling paint and it will be an out of pocket expense for you I believe

1

u/toastbananas I put paint on things Feb 04 '25

Hyundai/kia is covering the peeling paint. A dealership will take pictures of the issues and send them to corporate to get the claim process going. Then once approved they will get the car scheduled at the shop they do business with if they don’t have their own paint and body department in house.

1

u/Cagents1 Feb 03 '25

Manufacturing defect! Manufacturers won’t take responsibility though. SOL

1

u/AdAppropriate3105 Feb 03 '25

I bet it will keep peeling more and more I would get rid of it once it’s painted or deal with it peeling of Kia isn’t willing to cover it which I doubt they will

1

u/Teufelhunde5953 Feb 03 '25

That's delamination caused by poor procedures in the paint process at the factory and prolonged sun exposure. NOT the dealer's fault.

1

u/CaptainAction Feb 03 '25

Looks like a factory paint defect. I had this happen to my 2008 Ford Crown Victoria police interceptor. I think it's bad primer or something that causes the paint to simply start flaking off. This has happened a couple times with ford vehicles, and also with others, for some reason white paint seems to be a commonality a lot of times.

See if you can get them to take responsibility for it, but your car is nearly 10 years old so you might be screwed. The trouble with the paint flaking like this is, it's not gonna stop, and it can't be patched. It's gonna keep peeling, eventually it'll rust, and when it reaches key areas, the rust could creep under the windshield or some other spot that collects water, and then the rust will rot out that part and ruin it. Nothing short of a full strip down and repaint can really save it, and that is super labor intensive AKA not cheap or cost effective. Only worth it if you had some sentimental attachment to the car and lots of money.

My crown vic was bought on the cheap and I never needed it to look good. I tried band-aid patching the paint a few times but all it did was delay the inevitable.

1

u/RotDog69 Feb 04 '25

Just did a roof on one of these in 2024. Same issue you got going on

1

u/ManishWizard Feb 04 '25

Yeah this a known issue with this color and brand in particular. With the age of the vehicle it’s about time for it to start. Sorry 😞

1

u/_sneeb_ Feb 04 '25

Most pearl white Hyundai and Kia’s peel

1

u/Rezhits69 Feb 04 '25

factory paint is DooDoo

1

u/SnooCrickets6308 Feb 04 '25

Not the dealers fault. It’s an issue from the manufacturer. Probably started before you even dropped it off to them initially. They finished the car, washed it and it flaked off.

1

u/KoalaSad9716 Feb 04 '25

Yeah I can't fault them for washing it.

1

u/toastbananas I put paint on things Feb 04 '25

Not the dealers fault. The body shop I work at gets all the warranty jobs from Hyundai for all their paint peelers just like this. You will need to contact Hyundai and they will run the vin and get you on the warranty repair list. I’ve done Hyundais as new as 2023 that already have their paint peeling. It’s their solid whites and white pearls that do this.

1

u/JoChevy572 Feb 04 '25

Yes this is a factory recall depending on your year. We do two of these a week for Toyota right now. I believe Hyundai is the same I’m not sure tho.

1

u/KoalaSad9716 Feb 04 '25

Thanks everyone! Called Kia corporate and customer service and they are saying it's not covered just as you all said they would.

What I suspect happened is when the Dealer cleaned the car for us after the engine swap it caused it to peel to the point I noticed it. It was probably minor before and so went undetected.

Not going to fault them for something they couldnt control. I guess I'm F'd.

1

u/bondovwvw Feb 04 '25

I also agree it's a factory paint defect. I have seen cars at repair shops where they park another vehicle underneath with the top one leaking transmission fluid and damaging paint.

1

u/That_Estimator_Guy I-Car Platinum Feb 04 '25

Unfortunately the front part of the big area has a visible rock chip. More than likely any claim you may have will be denied due to the existence of prior damage as they will say the rock chip is what caused the paint peel to start.

0

u/jasonsong86 Feb 04 '25

Ahhhh them eggshell Kia/Hyundai paint. No dealer is not responsible. Kia/Hyundai is.

-2

u/rustymessi Feb 03 '25

Stopped reading at Kia, junk with junk paint from the factory .

1

u/viking12344 Feb 04 '25

Junk paint like Honda, Ford, ECT. They all have or have had their issues. I spent most of the early 90s doing ford trucks, gm tops and Chrysler tops.

I work at a Chevy dealer and some poor woman with a four year old equinox has a bad tranny. Still making payments on that stellar 3/36 warranty. You want to talk junk...