I'd really appreciate some thoughts/opinions/strategies on how to navigate the factory paint which is failing on our 2016 Kia Sedona minivan (pearlescent white paint, owned from new). We take care of this car and plan to run it for a long time, so we're keen to get it fixed.
We started noticing the base/clear layers flaking off on the tailgate (lower-right corner of glass) about 6 months ago. It was pretty small back then, but has grown much worse. To clarify, no damage/impact was sustained to this area. Went to the dealer we purchased vehicle from and they told us the inevitable: you're out of the 3-year window, you're out of luck. Told us to send pics to Kia and see if they would help us with repair costs after getting some quotes. I guess I'm pretty naive to think they would give us any other reaction, but this is a 5 year-old paint job that is falling apart with no apparent catalyst other than an errant paint application process.
So I go off and do a little research and find that there are lots of report of this white pearlescent paint failing across the Kia family of this period. I give the car a more thorough inspection and, sure enough, I notice that the same flaking is occurring on the leading edge of the roof, by the top of the windshield! So it appears to be a formulation/application issue, given it is not localized anywhere.
Anyway, I call Kia and they reply to the effect of "oh, it's the pearlescent white paint - we've been seeing that a lot", despite there not being any formal recall. I was told to get 2 quotes to repaint, submit the pics/quotes and they would look over the case.
I got 2 quotes (both were approx. $2,500 to repaint tailgate and roof alone) and will be submitting them. I'm not convinced every surface of the car is not going to delaminate, but the shops were not interested in quoting a complete repaint, since they can only estimate based on existing damage.
So I guess my question is: has anyone been in this situation before and what is a realistic/good outcome? Are there any strategies I should use to get Kia to help out with the costs? Presumably Kia wants to retain a customer (we love everything about the vehicle except for this issue), or am I being naive again, given I would not expect a customer experiencing this to buy another of my cars!
Pics below were taken a month or so ago and the areas have since expanded...
Many thanks!
