This investigation seeks to identify Hyundai owners whose automobiles have experienced body paint peeling and cracking issues.
Hyundai Corporation is Korea’s leading trading entity, providing a wide variety of export and import services, including marine vessels, plants and machinery, automobiles, steel and chemical products, electrical systems, renewable energy products and general commodities.
Overview of Hyundai Automobile Body Paint Investigation
Many Hyundai owners have complained of significant body paint defects. The complaints typically detail cracks to the paint on the vehicles that progress to bubbling, peeling and, in some cases, the body paint eventually completely delaminating from the cars. The vehicles reported to experience body paint defects are the Hyundai Elantra, Santa Fe and Sonata models.
According to the owners who have complaints about their Hyundai, repair shops often advise them that the paint, as well as the paint process used by Hyundai, was flawed. Sample complaints include:
“I have a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. It has about 140,000 miles on it and is admittedly well outside of any warranty. However, I believe this case requires an exception. About a year ago, the paint started chipping off my car. Not little scratches but fairly large spots. I contacted Hyundai who said it was outside the warranty, and I let it go. Last Saturday, during a hard rain, the paint literally fell off my car. My husband drove to Columbus that day, and when he arrived, the paint had vanished from the entire roof. Patches came off of the hood as well. And the trunk is beginning to peel. I am told this is a delamination issue related to metal paint preparation.” 6/26/15
“I have a paint problem on a new 2103 Sonata Hybrid. I have owned the car for 3 months and the Hyper Silver Metallic paint is defective because the paint is striped on all four doors. The dealer and the area factory rep both viewed the car in person and both agree that the problem is real.” 11/8/13
“My 2009 white Santa fe is peeling on the hood and roof. It is very extensive. Cost to fix exceeds 7000. Took it to 2 auto body shops. Both said vehicle wasn’t primed prior to painting.” 4/15
“My 2009 Sage Green Santa Fe has been peeling for a few years now. Mostly on the hood and around the windshield. The paint doesn’t stick to the primer at all.” 7/29/15
Hyundai describes changes to its paint process as follows:
We believe there’s room for innovation everywhere. Even in a paint job. We pay attention to every detail. Including the ones we can’t control, like road debris, hailstones and runaway grocery carts. That’s why we’ve developed a revolutionary new paint process that protects against corrosion, rust and scratches. We dip all our cars in an ecoat bath that prevents corrosion and provides 100% coverage. Then we use an elastic chemical compound called Scratch Recovery Clear to help scratches heal. Together, they do a better job of protecting your vehicle, making for one of the highest quality paint jobs in the industry.
Elantra, Santa Fe and Sonata owners with complaints regarding defects in the body paint on their autos may have a legal claim against the Hyundai Corp.
Article Type: Investigation
Topic: Consumer
