NHTSA Complaint #11034057 — 2014 KIA SORENTO

THE PAINT ON THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY 1 PRACTICALLY, AND KIA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS. WE TAKE GREAT CARE IN OUR CARS AS WE KEEP THEM FOR THE LIFE OF THEM, AND THUS KEEP IT MOSTLY GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE, AND ESPECIALLY DURING ANY POTENTIALLY ADVERSE WEATHER. FROM DAY 1, ANY HARD BUG, TINY PEBBLE, ETC WOULD CASE THE PAINT ON THE BUMPER TO CHIP OFF AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRACK AND FLAKE. PROBLEMS SEEMED TO HAPPEN EVEN IF WE HADNT DRIVEN IT. AS THE WHITE ONE WE OWN HAS A BLACK PLASTIC UNDERBODY, IT CONSTANTLY LOOKS LIKE OUR CAR IS BUGGY/DIRTY AND HAS ACNE. UPON TAKING TO THE DEALER, AROUND MONTH 4, THEY GAVE ME A PAINT PEN TO HANDLE IT, SAYING IT WASNT EBOUGH OF A PROBLEM. AS IT WAS ONLY ON THE PLASTIC BUMPER, I CHALKED IT UP TO "JUST THERE." NOW, AT 4 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, AFTER 1 LONG CAR TRIP IN THE RAIN (ABOUT 13 HOURS OF DRIVING) THE PAINT ON THE TOP METAL ROOF IS PEELING LIKE TIGER STRIPES AND ITS BEGINNING TO ALONG THE EDGES WHERE THE DOORS MEET THE BODY AND THE HOOD. KIA, EVEN AFTER THEIR DEALER RECCOMMENDED LOCAL PAINT REPAIR SHOP, STATE FARMS INSPECTORS, AND THE LOCAL DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAVE ALL INSPECTED IT, ARE CONTINUING TO DENY THE PAINT DEFECT, AFTER ALL THOSE ENTITIES HAVE CONFIRMED IT IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL BE ON THE HOOK FOR OVER $5000+ TO REPAIR THE PAINT BECAUSE WE ARE NOW OUTSIDE OF THEIR WARRANY PERIOD. ITS AWFUL OF KIA TO ADVERTISE A 10YEAR/100K WARRANTY WHILE NOT MATCHING THE INDUSTRY AVERAGE 10YEAR/100K MILE PAINT WARRANTY. THIS IS NOT MY FAMILIES FIRST KIA, BUT THIS EXPERIENCE IS MAKING US RETHINK OUR LOYALTY, AND IT MAY BE OUR LAST KIA.