2013 Kia Sorento Structure
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
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I have a 2013 Kia Sorento, I am the only owner and purchased the vehicle new from the dealership. I Have kept this vehicle part and housed in a covered garage for the entire duration of owning the vehicle keeping it from being exposed to extreme elements any kind of horrible storms it's always been protected in the garage. Even though I've taken good care of the vehicle and housed it in a covered and closed garage for all the years I've owned it I still have the entire paint job starting to peel off in sheets of paint on the side front panels next to the windshield the roof and the hood in large sheet light pieces are coming straight off of my car it's as if it was never adhered to the metal of the vehicle very well or I guess detailing chops are calling it delamination but what it is is ridiculous that my car now looks like it's 10 years older than it is because the paint is peeling off like it's not been taking care of and that's a load of c***Even though I've taken good care of the vehicle and housed it in a covered and closed garage for all the years I've owned it I still have the entire paint job starting to peel off in sheets of paint on the side front panels next to the windshield the roof and the hood in large sheet light pieces are coming straight off of my car it's as if it was never adhered to the metal of the vehicle very well or I guess detailing chops are calling it delamination but what it is is ridiculous that my car now looks like it's 10 years older than it is because the paint is peeling off like it's not been taken care of when that is clearly not the case. I have seen so many other Kia Sorentos that are Pearl White like mine, same year, with the same issue. They are having sheets of paint peeling right off the vehicle so there's obviously an issue Kia's paint jobs on that year make and model because there is nothing more I could have done on my end to prevent this from happening, so KIA needs to recognize their faulty work and get it handled.
My car is painted pearl white and has peeled and exposed the metal for a few years. We have patched it the best we can but it happens at another spot. I have included a picture. There has been a recall on Toyota and I believe 2014 Kia with the same issue regarding white paint problems.
SWP paint peeling on hood and roof
Paint has been peeling in multiple areas of exterior of car. I have seen other Kia Sorentos of my year and color (snow pearl white) that are peeling as well. Paint is defective, it’s a latent defect.
My 2013 Kia Sorento SX (Paint Color: Pearl White) began to to peel pain around August 2021 with around 90,000 miles on the car. I am the original owner and it has been kept in the garage most of the time. The paint peeling happened rapidly on the painted section between the Windshield and Sunroof. I Googled the issue and apparently it is widespread since 2011 on a lot of Kia and Hyundai models especially with Pear White paint. I took it to a Kia dealer who referred me to their paint contractor (Dent Magic) co-located with them. I spoke with the team and asked for an estimated. As soon as the estimator saw it he said "Oh yes the is paint delamination, it was pretty wide spread on the vehicles a few years back. I am surprised yours took so long to peel. It was likely because you have garage kept it and it looks like you keep it in great condition. There was a manufacturing defect when they painted these cars and essentially the factory forgot to prime certain panels of the vehicles so the paint is not sticking properly. Unfortunately, Kia has not recalled this most likely because it is not a safety issue and the government has not forced them. However, if you leave it and it rusts it could cause lots of issues down the road." The gentleman then provided me with an estimate of $725.63. I then got 2 other estimates that were both over $1000. I ended up going with the Kia recommendation of Dent Magic for $725. I am hoping none of the other panels start to peel, I feel it is inevitable.
I own a 2013 Kia Sorento with 39,000 miles on it. It has Pearl White paint that is rapidly peeling off. It started peeling around a year and half ago when mileage was around 34,000 miles. I have contacted KIA Consumer Assistance Center and they asked for 2 estimates to repair the paint problem. When received they the estimates they said it’s out of warranty and refused any responsibility for the defective paint. Kia has sent me extended warranties on the Engine, Air bags and other items. I assume the only reason for extra warranties is that the car was built with unreliable parts. The paint is a big item that Kia should stand behind with some type of warranty. It too is defective to where it just peels off. This makes the car worthless.
Dear Kia, 1st of all I Love my Kia Sorrento. The only problem I have is that the original paint is peeling off the vehicle. Now my car is 8 yrs old and the original paint is starting to peel and the metal is showing, on the passenger side of the front windshield. Now to me it seems that the original paint that was used for my car must have a defect. When, have you heard of the original paint peeling from the vehicle to where the metal is showing, that does not happened unless the paint is faulty I have 2002 dodge caravan (White) and that has never happened, I also have a 2004 ford truck 150 (White) and that has never happened. As you can see how old these vehicles are and their original paint of the automobiles is still there. Now I know it’s the original paint, but if you need for me to take it to a Kia expert I will so they can analyze it. I have had a lot of great compliments on my Kia Sorrento the people think is a brand-new car because the color looks well treated. When I tell them that it’s a 2013 they complement me on how well the color is kept and what it is equipped with. Now what am I going to tell them when they that ask me about my Kia, that the car is great but the paint they use is not of good quality, that after a couple of years it starts to peel down to the metal. Now I could tell you my car’s paint is not warned out or faded it still looks new. I have attached photos of my cars so you can see what I am talking about.
Pearl white paint chipping and delaminating on the roof of the cars body
paint started pealing in 2020 and progressed to many other areas including hatchback and roof
Paint is Chipping off cat Rapidly and it’s getting worse.
I have a 2013 Kia Sorento SX Snow White Pearl. This vehicle has been garage kept its entire life. In spite of this, the paint has begun delaminating above the windshield (just yesterday 08/17/21). Many spots are down to the bare metal. I have never heard of paint doing this on a car....my 20-year-old truck paint is in great condition. I now must get this vehicle painted to avoid rust.
The paint on the hood, and top of the vehicle is chipping and peeling in 1-2" spots. No one was put at risk No one has inspected. No warnings or lights- first appeared 18 months ago.
I own a 2013 Kia Sorento with Pearl White paint. It started peeling huge chunks of paint off of the top of my car. There is no reason the paint should just be peeling off, often in huge peeling strips. I am aware of other makes and models with this paint around my production year that have had recalls to fix this defective paint. I believe Kia should be included in this recall. I have included pictures, the last picture is of three average size paint chunks that are coming off daily.
Paint delimitation rapidly along top of windshield allowing rust. Safety concern with water damage. No reports to dealer.
The paint on my roof is chipping and peeling. I purchased the vehicle used with ±65K miles. After about a year, ±12K miles I noticed some small chipping just above the windshield. I assumed it was normal road debris causing it. Then the paint started to peel back. Just recently a patch about 8" x 6" peeled off. There are other concerned KIA owners suffering the same issues. Now small areas of where the paint chipped/peeled off is starting to rust. The color of the vehicle is Pearl White, which is the most common KIA paint to chip or peel. I purchased a 3 year extended warranty when I bought the car. The dealer I purchased the vehicle from was not a KIA dealer so may not have known about the peeling paint issue with the Sorento and Pearl White paint.
The paint is peeling off of the roof as well as on the hood. Was told by a body shop that the primer used by Kia is incorrect and will cause the paint to not adhere properly.
AT ROUGHLY 60,000 MILES WE STARTED NOTICING PAINT CHIPPING ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD ON OUR 2013 KIA SORENTO. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO PIECES OF PAINT 2 INCHES LONG FLAKED OFF THE PASSENGER POST BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND DOOR. I REPORTED THIS TO KIA AND THEY STATED REPAIRS ARE NOT COVERED. I HAD AN ESTIMATE DONE AT A KIA DEALER THAT CAME BACK $2500.00 +.
When attempting to open the driver's side passenger door, the door handle came completely off the car. I therefore could not get my grandchild out of the car from that side and had to crawl over through the passenger side rear door to get her out. Apparently, this is a common problem because when I called a repair shop to ask what it would cost to replace, they told me they do these all the time and yes, it's a common problem. Found many complaints on line also. This is a dangerous situation. If there was an emergency to get someone out of a car on that side quickly you could not do it. Very disappointed in this cheap plastic handle.
I was sitting in my car before work as I always do. It was running but it was parked. All of a sudden I hear a huge bang that sounds like a shotgun blast. I jump and duck thinking someone is shooting a gun at my car. I then see little shards of glass all over my windshield. I exit my vehicle and see that my sunroof is completely shattered. In the pictures it’s clear it wasn’t from a point of impact (nothing hit my car). Luckily my shield was pulled so no glass got on me and I wasn’t driving. This could have caused me to crash with how loud the boom was. I see online that there’s been several instances of this happening with no recall.
PAINT CHIPPING DEFECTIVE PAINT BOTH SIDES OF FRONT WINDSHIELD ALSO HAD THE TOP OF THE CAR PAINT CHIPPED DEALER FIXED THAT PATCH WHEN BOUGHT THE CAR THEN BOTH SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD STARTED TO CHIP GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE HOOD OF THE CAR
I BOUGHT MY USED 2013 SORENTO IN PEARL WHITE IN 2016 WITH NO PAINT CHIPPING. BY 2017, MY PAINT STARTED CHIPPING ABOVE THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD. OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS UP UNTIL NOW THE PAINT HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY CHIPPING ALL AROUND MY WINDSHIELD AND SOME ON MY HOOD AS WELL. I KNOW THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER KIAS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS NOT A RECALL. IT IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE PAINT IS SO BADLY CHIPPED IT'S WORSE THAN ALL OF MY PREVIOUS CARS THAT WERE MANY YEARS OLDER. SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE FIRST NEW CAR I EVER BOUGHT.
THE PEARL WHITE PAINT ASSOCIATED WITH MY 2013 KIA SORENTO STARTED TO PEEL, ON SEVERAL LOCATIONS INCLUDING THE FRONT 'A' PILLARS, THE CAR ROOF (WHERE THE ROOF MEETS THE WINDSHIELD) AS WELL AS THE ROOF ITSELF. THE PEELING PAINT HAS EXPOSED THE BODY OF THE CAR WHICH IS NOW STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS OF RUST AT SOME OF THESE LOCATIONS. THE PEELING PAINT ISSUE IS THE SIMILAR, IF NOT THE SAME, AS THAT SEEN ONLINE WITH OWNERS REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE MANY LOCATIONS WHERE THE PAINT HAS NOT FULLY DELAMINATED BUT IS INSTEAD BUBBLING UP, AND SEPARATING, FROM THE CAR'S BASE PAINT COAT. I APPROACHED KIA WITH THIS WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS 'WEAR AND TEAR' AND NOT A PAINT DEFECT.
I HAVE PAINT PEELING FROM JUST ABOVE MY WINDSHIELD AND ALONG THE SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING ON THE EXTERIOR ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE PILLARS; ON THE SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE DELAMINATION LIKE DAMAGE WAS NOT DUE TO PHYSICAL IMPACT.
THE COLOR OF THE CAR IS SNOW WHITE PEARL. AND OUT OF NOWHERE, THE PAINT STARTED TO PEEL OFF. FIRST, IT WAS ON THE HOOD, AND NOW THE A-PILLAR. THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS AND IT'S THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S PAINT. THE PAINT SHOP GUY TOLD ME IT'S JUST GOING TO GET WORTH WHEN PEELING STARTS.
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The 2013 Kia Sorento has 69 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.