Hyundai ‘car paint blows off in chunks’ leaving drivers with ruined vehicles by $1,000 problem not covered by warranty

HYUNDAI owners are seeking answers as the paint from their under-10-year-old cars has chipped off in huge chunks, exposing the metal under it.

One owner said the missing paint may make other drivers think she’s “trashy.”

WSMV 4 Nashville

WSMV 4 Nashville

WSMV 4 Nashville

Leslie Williams, a 2015 Hyundai Sonata owner in Lebanon, Tennessee, was shocked when she saw paint chipping from her car.

Looking at the paint, there were no scratches, dents, or cracks that would have led to large chunks of white paint flying off as she drove.

One piece of paint led to many others, leaving the rear driver door nearly paint-free.

The primer showing makes her self-conscious as she drives.

“I don’t want to say trashy,” Williams told NBC affiliate WSMV .

She worried that drivers may assume she doesn’t take care of her car, even though she hasn’t missed a maintenance interval.

“It breaks my heart,” she said.

“I shouldn’t care what people think, but people are like, ‘What’s wrong with that car?’”

Williams, according to reporters, isn’t the only one – many drivers have taken to social media to complain about paint chipping from the Hyundais.

Some drivers were from Australia, showing the issue wasn’t isolated to Williams’s Sonata.

Hyundai drivers in New York and Canada organized two different and ongoing class action lawsuits regarding chipping paint.

The complaint remarked that the automaker didn’t cover chipping paint in the factory warranty.

This left drivers to pay anywhere from $200 to $1,800 to repair the paint.

The lawsuit is ongoing, as it was filed in March 2024.

Williams, however, said she was quoted for much more than $1,800.

“My first estimate was $6,000, and I had a second estimate for $8,000,” she said.

Hyundai's full statement

Ira Gabriel, the Senior Group Manager for Corporate and Marketing PR, responded to reporter inquiry.

“Hyundai strives to provide an excellent experience for all our customers. A manufacturing issue with the paint on Hyundai vehicles is extremely rare and has only occurred in isolated incidents.

Hyundai vehicles are backed by America’s best warranty, including three years/36,000 miles for the paint. However, to support our customers, Hyundai has extended the warranty for certain models and colors, particularly those with white or pearl white finishes, to five years with no mileage limit in some cases.

Owners experiencing paint issues are advised to visit their local dealership or contact the Hyundai Customer Care Center at (800) 633-5151.”

Source: NBC affiliate WSMV .

Reporters contacted Hyundai, and despite global claims, said Williams’s case was “uncommon.”

“A manufacturing issue with the paint on Hyundai vehicles is extremely rare and has only occurred in isolated incidents,” wrote a spokesperson in an email.

One woman’s claim to her insurance company was denied, as they deemed the chipping paint a “manufacturer defect.”

Many drivers emailed Hyundai, only to be told their warranty had expired and nothing could be done.