Jan 8, 2025
Carrie Francom only has 10,000 miles on her white 2019 Hyundai Sonata, but she's embarrassed to drive it around because of its ugly, peeling paint job. Francom noticed issues with the paint while at a hotel and thought someone had scraped or scratched her car.
But then the paint started coming off in hand-sized sheets from the roof and the hood.
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“I don’t like driving around like this. It looks like a Dalmatian…I can’t even wash it now because if I try to wash it, more paint comes off of it,” Francom told WSB-TV Atlanta Channel 2 Action News consumer investigator Justin Gray.
Francom isn't alone. Thousands of other car owners are sharing their peeling-paint stories online, including more than 4,000 in a Facebook group named Hyundai Paint Peel / Peeling.
Jaimie Martin, a member of the group, shared a picture of their Hyundai, stating, "Mine started peeling in October. The most Hyundai is offering is to cover $700 of the $1,500 to fix it."
Owners unsatisfied by Hyundai's response
Cars of many Hyundai models and colors have experienced peeling paint, but most of the affected cars are white, leading many to believe it's an issue with the white paint itself or the application method.
When Francom tried to file a claim with Hyundai, they denied there was any defect with the paint.
“They came back and said I was out of warranty and that their material wasn’t defective, which is obviously false because there’s thousands of Hyundai’s running around with paint missing,” Francom said.
Channel 2 Atlanta reports that affected car owners in New York have filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court against Hyundai to recover the costs of repairs to fix the peeling paint issue on their cars.
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In a statement shared with Channel 2 News, Hyundai wrote:
“A manufacturing issue with the paint on Hyundai vehicles is extremely rare and has only occurred in isolated incidents. Owners experiencing paint issues are advised to visit their local dealership or contact the Hyundai Customer Care Center.”
However, thousands of car owners are sharing their stories on Reddit, Facebook and Twitter, suggesting this is already a widespread issue. And some coating experts think the issue is with the application method, not the paint's formula.
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Things you can do about car paint peeling
While it's not yet clear what is causing the peeling paint, car owners can take steps to reduce the risk. Many car paint issues result from UV damage caused by sunlight, so reduce sunlight exposure by parking your car in the shade or under a carport, and consider investing in a car cover. Using car wax with UV protection can also help prevent car peeling.
Hyundai owners who have experienced peeling white paint are encouraged to reach out to their local dealership for assistance. Hyundai has set up a website where car owners can input their VIN to see if they are eligible for a White Paint Warranty Extension of up to six years.
Francom, at least, was finally able to resolve her issue with the assistance of consumer news reporter Justin Gray. After Gray contacted Hyundai, the company agreed to schedule an inspection of her car. After that inspection, the company finally agreed to cover her new paint job.
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Danielle is a personal finance writer based in Ohio. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love.
