Stains on Door Aluminum Trim

[Bruced4]

I have some strange staining on the bronze aluminum trim around the windows on my 21 Night Fall Edition after just one year. Dealer says it looks like something it etching it. Car is always garaged and only touchless car washes followed by towel drying. Anyone else have this issue?

 

[Jimbo]

I have the same problem, on my 2021 Telluride so it’s not a isolated problem.
Jim

 

[Semator20]

I have the same problem, on my 2021 Telluride so it’s not a isolated problem.
Jim

Washing at home or going to car wash places?

 

[Jimbo]

Car wash brushless
Jim

 

[Semator20]

It can be the soap the car wash is using. It is very different from soap you use at home.

 

[Bruced4]

I'm sure it is the soap at the car wash, however I have never owned a vehicle where outside trim was affected. I've owned Ford, Toyota, Acura, and Mercedes. None of which ever had car wash soap affect any trim. This appears to be a problem with the anodised aluminum not being properly sealed. I was in the anodising business for years and coloring the anodise is always followed by sealing which closes the pours of the anodise structure. This creates a permanent barrier to protect the colored layer below, which is highly corrosion resistant. This issue is my only disappointment with the Telluride. Proper design and testing at Kia in real world environments (car washes) is obviously not being done when it somes to this trim. If it cannot hold up for a year, it shouldnt meet any design input regarding corrosion resistance. Can you spell RECALL Kia?

 

[Jimbo]

Went to my Kia dealer today and they had 5 people look at the stains on the aluminum trim on my 2012 Telluride Night Fall edition. They where all very concerned and they all said stains must be from car wash soap running down on trim. They said there is no recall on problem and had no answer as to what to do.
Whats next ?
Jim

 

[Bruced4]

Went to my Kia dealer today and they had 5 people look at the stains on the aluminum trim on my 2012 Telluride Night Fall edition. They where all very concerned and they all said stains must be from car wash soap running down on trim. They said there is no recall on problem and had no answer as to what to do.
Whats next ?
Jim

I sent a letter to Kia USA customer care. They received it and sent me a case number. I suggest you do the same.
Bruce

 

[Jimbo]

I need contact info for Kia USA customer care. USPS mail or email.
Jim

 

[Bruced4]

https://ksupport.kiausa.com/ConsumerAffairs/Message/NewMessage

Email through website

 

[Jimbo]

Site was easy to use. Thank You Bruce
Jim

 

[Bruced4]

Well I finally got resolution. Kia will not cover this trim failure. WHY??? They said it's and environmental issue affecting the trim. I said yes it is.......car wash soap. I guess Kia Night Fall trim cannot withstand car wash soap. WHAT???? Time to go up the food chain. Talk about lousy customer support. It is clear this trim is defective. Any car I have ever owned could go through car washes without the trim getting all blotchy and stained. I ran my Acura MDX through the exact same car wash for 10 years! No issues. This is such a nightmare. Shame on you Kia !!!

 

[Twinmama123]

2021 telluride nightfall edition.This happened from a car wash and I’m freaking out. Wtf. I found this forum from googling the issue. Please someone tell me there is a solution here???

 

[Twinmama123]

2021 telluride nightfall edition.This happened from a car wash and I’m freaking out. Wtf. I found this forum from googling the issue. Please someone tell me there is a solution here???

 

[Lynz4kjb]

I have a 2021 Kia Telluride with Nightfall trim and after about 8 months my trim started to look splotchy. I took it to the dealership multiple times and they told me they couldn't help me. Once they told me it was due to 'acid rain' but I told them my car is in a garage 90% of the time. Then they told me it was from automatic car washes (which I only used 3 times... every time other than those was hand washed). I told them that is garbage and if their vehicle cannot withstand washing then it is defective in my eyes. I contacted Kia corporate and they told me to take it back to the dealership and tell them that corporate said it should be covered under the paint warranty. I've been arguing with them since October 2021. They just replaced my trim this past month. (December 2023) It takes time and patience on your part, but if you are persistent they will cave. This is apparently a major issue with the dark trim. I'm just wondering how long it will take before it becomes a recall. I just hope my new trim doesn't do the same thing....

 

[Dawn G]

I have a 2021 Kia Telluride with Nightfall trim and after about 8 months my trim started to look splotchy. I took it to the dealership multiple times and they told me they couldn't help me. Once they told me it was due to 'acid rain' but I told them my car is in a garage 90% of the time. Then they told me it was from automatic car washes (which I only used 3 times... every time other than those was hand washed). I told them that is garbage and if their vehicle cannot withstand washing then it is defective in my eyes. I contacted Kia corporate and they told me to take it back to the dealership and tell them that corporate said it should be covered under the paint warranty. I've been arguing with them since October 2021. They just replaced my trim this past month. (December 2023) It takes time and patience on your part, but if you are persistent they will cave. This is apparently a major issue with the dark trim. I'm just wondering how long it will take before it becomes a recall. I just hope my new trim doesn't do the same thing....

 

[Dawn G]

This happened to my Telluride a month ago. I am sick to my stomach looking at my once beautiful car now. This was right after pulling out of a car wash I had been going to for 7 months. I haven’t been to the dealer yet but may go after reading other messages. I contacted the car wash and will be sending them a letter of demand as I believed it was the result of the soap used. I got a quote of $2,460 to repair the trim! My son-in-law told me about this page and that others have had the same issues with their nightfall edition. If anyone has had any luck with the dealer, I would sure appreciate hearing about it. Thanks in advance.