We purchased a 2020 Kia Telluride SX AWD in White Pearl with black wheels and brown leather interior. We absolutely loved the vehicle—gorgeous styling, high-end tech features, AWD capability, and overall comfort. But less than 4 years after it rolled off the line, the paint started peeling in large sheets—primarily from the roof and pillars.
We initially thought hail might be the cause, but our insurance adjuster and body shop both confirmed this was not hail-related, but a known factory defect in Kia’s White Pearl paint due to poor adhesion. This is well-documented online and widely reported by other Kia owners, especially Telluride and Sorento drivers.
We filed a claim with Kia Consumer Affairs hoping they would acknowledge the defect and offer support. Instead, they denied the claim solely because the vehicle had passed the 100,000-mile warranty. The car was only 4 years old, garage-kept, and professionally maintained. This wasn’t a wear-and-tear issue—it was a quality failure straight from the factory. Paint should not be coming off a vehicle this soon under any reasonable conditions.
We were quoted over $3,000 for repainting, all of which Kia refused to cover. So now we’re stuck with a beautiful vehicle that looks like it’s falling apart and a repair bill we shouldn’t have to pay. We have documentation of everything—paint photos, repair estimates, insurance statements, and Kia’s official denial.
And to make matters worse, just months earlier we had to replace the entire engine due to an oil consumption issue—another well-known defect Kia only partially covered, leaving us with a $4,000+ bill. That issue pushed us just past the 100,000-mile threshold, which Kia then used to deny the paint claim.
We’ve now paid over $7,000 out of pocket for two major failures Kia should have taken full responsibility for. We were loyal owners. This was our first Kia—and it will be our last unless they step up and make things right.
Kia knows about these issues. They just don’t want to own them.
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We purchased a 2020 Kia Telluride SX AWD in White Pearl with black wheels and brown leather interior. We absolutely loved the vehicle—gorgeous styling, high-end tech features, AWD capability, and overall comfort. But less than 4 years after it rolled off the line, the paint started peeling in large sheets—primarily from the roof and pillars.
We initially thought hail might be the cause, but our insurance adjuster and body shop both confirmed this was not hail-related, but a known factory defect in Kia’s White Pearl paint due to poor adhesion. This is well-documented online and widely reported by other Kia owners, especially Telluride and Sorento drivers.
We filed a claim with Kia Consumer Affairs hoping they would acknowledge the defect and offer support. Instead, they denied the claim solely because the vehicle had passed the 100,000-mile warranty. The car was only 4 years old, garage-kept, and professionally maintained. This wasn’t a wear-and-tear issue—it was a quality failure straight from the factory. Paint should not be coming off a vehicle this soon under any reasonable conditions.
We were quoted over $3,000 for repainting, all of which Kia refused to cover. So now we’re stuck with a beautiful vehicle that looks like it’s falling apart and a repair bill we shouldn’t have to pay. We have documentation of everything—paint photos, repair estimates, insurance statements, and Kia’s official denial.
And to make matters worse, just months earlier we had to replace the entire engine due to an oil consumption issue—another well-known defect Kia only partially covered, leaving us with a $4,000+ bill. That issue pushed us just past the 100,000-mile threshold, which Kia then used to deny the paint claim.
We’ve now paid over $7,000 out of pocket for two major failures Kia should have taken full responsibility for. We were loyal owners. This was our first Kia—and it will be our last unless they step up and make things right.
Kia knows about these issues. They just don’t want to own them.
- Moxie G., Frankfort, US