Kia Refused Warranty Coverage for Paint Peeling on My New Vehicle Roof

We purchased our vehicle brand-new from an authorized Kia dealership in Ankara in November 2023. I currently live in Bodrum, Muğla. I had the vehicle’s first scheduled maintenance service at 15,000 kilometers performed at the Bodrum Acarlar Kia service center.

One morning, I noticed paint peeling on the upper left section of the roof. I returned to the Bodrum Acarlar service center regarding this issue. They informed me that they did not have a body and paint department and said they would photograph the vehicle, record the mileage, and report the issue to Kia headquarters.

Later, without carrying out any detailed technical inspection, they informed me that the issue would not be considered under warranty coverage. Because of this response, I personally sent all photographs and details to m*************@kia.com.tr.

Afterward, I received a phone call stating that Muğla Gören Otomotiv would inspect the issue. I took my vehicle there, where Ms. Güler collected all the necessary photos and information about the car. During the inspection, the paint technician also examined the roof and stated verbally that the paint was peeling off even by hand and that, in his opinion, this appeared to be a factory manufacturing defect.

Ms. Güler informed me that they would report the situation to Kia headquarters again and contact me afterward. Some time later, I was called back to the service center, and the vehicle was inspected once more in Bodrum. At that point, Ms. Güler told me that headquarters had already issued a negative decision previously and that there was nothing further they could do.

Although I was not provided with any formal written report, I received a WhatsApp message stating: “The peeling on the roof appears to have been caused by external factors and therefore cannot be evaluated under warranty.”

This explanation is unacceptable because there are absolutely no impact marks, scratches, dents, or signs of external damage on the roof. I also showed the vehicle to several independent paint specialists in Bodrum, and they all stated that the issue appears to be a manufacturing defect.

Meanwhile, the windshield of my vehicle has also cracked. I have been unable to replace the windshield because I am worried that Kia may later use the replacement as an excuse to deny responsibility for the roof paint issue. I have also avoided washing the car for a long time because of concern about worsening the paint damage.

As a result, I am currently driving a vehicle with a cracked windshield, which is both unsafe and extremely stressful. This entire situation has caused me serious frustration and inconvenience.

I am filing this complaint against Kia because I believe I have been unfairly treated and my grievance has not been resolved properly. Even if the roof is eventually repainted, my vehicle will suffer a significant loss in resale value because repainting lowers the market value of a car in the second-hand market.

I request that Kia fully resolve this issue, acknowledge the apparent manufacturing defect, and compensate me appropriately for both the damage and the resulting loss in value.