2015 Kia Optima Body & Structure Problems

The car is a 2015 model and as shown in the pictures, the paint on the tail is damaged. This is a defect of the manufacturer.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the driver's side and passenger's side doors' exterior trims separated from the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the repair was not covered because the VIN was not included in an unknown related recall. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Factory Paint Defect Inherent, known to KIA models 2015 Optima Snow White Pearl Paint SWP. (including 2013 thru 2017 all share the same identical paint code). Citrus KIA in California inspected my vehicle and confirmed the paint damages are a known inherent factory paint defect. This is a nation wide issue, thousands of owners continue reporting this inherent paint defect on their Optima SWP. Basically this is an issue with all car manuacture's with white paint. Toyota and Hyundai accepted responsibility for this same factory paint defect and is repairing their customers vehicles. Class Actions Lawsuits have been filed against KIA and Hyandai for this known factory paint defect with severe safety concerns. This paint defect expanded into the layered glass of the windshield causing the adhesive to bubble. Insufficient adhesive could detach it during a crash or break while driving. The large chunks of paint continuing to fall off even while driving could impair visability to myself and other drivers. Citrus KIA inspected my vehicle and confirmed the damages to my vehicle are caused by this known factory paint defect. Wrote me an estimate reopened my case originally report 6/2024. Corporate KIA closed my case with the explanation 3/36k paint warrant expired. This is not a paint warranty issue. This is damages caused to my vehicle and thousands of others with this same inherent factory paint defect known to KIA. It is the manufactures responsibility to make this right. This inherent defect continues to rapidly spread through out our vehicles, causing further damages. These untreated areas now have rust subject to corrision which will lead to integrity of the body structure. Please recall this inherent factory paint defect. It's over whelming how many owners continue reporting this to their dealers, posting pictures of their ruined vehicles. We need help. Please recall SWP of Optima 2013 thru 17 with no limitations how old or amount of miles. Thank you

Paint has been chipping on this SNOW white pearl has gotten progressively worse. Cannot wash the vehicle without more paint chipping.

The paint on the vehicle is separating from the body. This vehicle is available for inspection at any time. The paint begins to peel and break off when it rains, and it washes into the drains. From there, it ends up on the grass where my young child plays, potentially getting on his hands and into his mouth. Additionally, animals like birds are picking at the paint on the grass. My insurance has verified this problem, and there were no prior signs that indicated any issues. Recently, following a storm, water started bubbling up beneath the paint, causing it to crack and eventually blow off. It started in a small area but with every rain gets worse.

White paint on roof and around door is flaking off in large sections. No accident. Not covered under warranty. Appears to be a known issue with Snow White Pearl paint on Kia vehicle - widespread paint failure can affect visibility, resale value, and long-term corrosion.

Paint is peeling

Pearl paint has been peeling more and more especially when washing my vehicle. This shouldn't be happening and i see similar paint issues with other Kia and Hyundai models. I need Kia to take accountable and responsibly for their defect.

The snow-white pearl paint is peeling off - this is a common problem, and the paint is flaking off - not adhering to the base material - seems like a factory defect. This will be a huge re-paint cost to be fixed, and it is just getting worse over time

Paint is failing due to improper preparation during production. The vehicle is available for inspection if requested. The paint was inspected by licensed and lifetime collision repair specialist. Paint can not simply be touched up. Entire car needs stripped to bare metal and repainted to fix issue. Other manufacturers have had recalls for this same issue. Why has Kia not been held accountable for this?

vehicle paint is peeling severely

Paint delamination on top surfaces of the vehicle.

White pearl paint is chipping all around the car. At times big chucks of paint just flake off

My paint started fading then the exterior metal layer on the roof started to chip off

White pearl paint peeling off, all over hood, etc

This is about paint damage on my Optima is a known factory paint defect.This factory paint defect, specifically paint delamination causes bubbling, peeling then flaking off in large chunks while driving, has been reported on 2015 KIA Optima with white pearl paint. The damages ares are exposed to the metal, subject to rust and corrosion. On 5/30/35 KIA in Ontario, Ca. Body Shop Manager Yvonne Ramirez inspected my vehicle and immediately confirmed the paint damages to the exterior of my vehicle is a known factory paint defect on 2015 Optima with white paint. Yvonne instructed me to contact Corporate KIA, report the case, receive a claim # then contact her to schedule an appointment for the repair. On June 3, 2025 KIA reopened case number [XXX] originally reported on June 11, 2024. No claim # issues, no repairs made. Safety Concern: The paint damage has affected both sides of the adhesive inside the glass securing the windshield. This is a nation wide problem. Owners have documented and continue to keep reporting this problem to KIA, NHTSA, AutoLine and BBB. Several class-action lawsuits have been filed against KIA in USA and Canada. This is also happening to Toyota, Honda & Subaru. It’s basically all the car manufacturers who are using this pearl white paint. The amount of Optima owners dealing with the massive rapidly spreading paint defect to their vehicle is over whelming. December 2023 my 2015 KIA Optima SXT Pearl White beautiful exterior paint began to bubble, peel, flake followed by large chunks of paint falling off even while driving. This started on the roof top right and left of the rear window. February 2024 - the same paint damages started on the right and left sails/pillars next to the front wind shield and is causing damage, bubbling and spreading through out the left and right side of the glass. It is a safety concern. March 2025 - the same paint damage started on the top right truck with huge chunks of paint falling off while driving.HELP INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Pearl white paint is peeling off in chunks. Not normal.

The paint is coming off in chunks anywhere from an inch to 5 inches at a time. Not from rock chips.

my paint on my Kia Optima Pearl White paint is bubbling and peeling in various areas of my car exposing the metal to corrosion. It is peeling on the trunk and on the roof in various places.

Chunks of paint are coming off my car on the freeway. It was raining and a large section of paint flew off and onto the car that was driving behind me and stuck to their windshield. The occupant almost had a collision with another vehicle on the freeway. I was able to follow the car that got the paint stuck to their windshield and I did apologize and got their contact information to verify my incident.