NHTSA Complaint #10203485 — 1999 KIA SPORTAGE

WE NOTICED YELLOW STREAKS OVER TIME ON THE HOOD WHERE THE ENGINE BLOCK AND RADIATOR ARE POSITIONED. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH OVERHEATING OR ANY OTHER PROBLEM OF THAT NATURE. BUT EVENTUALLY THE CLEAR COAT BEGAN PEELING AND CHIPPING IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES ON THE HOOD WHERE MAJOR ENGINE COMPONENTS ARE LOCATED AND NOW I AM LEFT WITH HUGE SPOTS ON MY HOOD WHERE THE CLEAR COAT IS MISSING. THE UNDERHHOOD INSULATION IS IN PERFECT CONDITION. I ASSUME THERE IS A DEFECT IN EITHER THE CLEAR COAT ITSELF OR THE INSULATION WHICH PREVENTS THE HEAT FROM DAMAGING THE HOOD HAS FAILED TO DO SO. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY A 99 MODEL KIA SPORTAGE. IT HAS ONLY 93,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD RECENT RECALLS REPAIRED AND I AM IN HOPES THAT THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP TO PROVE A DEFECT IN THE HOOD INSULATION OR THE CLEAR COAT. *JB