Rusty Fender lip

[POWERSTROKE]

I was washing the car and noticed that the lip of my front fender at the top is rusting where the plastic liner meets the metal. I can't understand how this is happeing on a car less than 5 years old. The rust starts at the lip at the highest point of the wheel well and is starting to come to the outside, visible fender. Can this be repaired, or does it need to be replaced?

 

[PDJetta]

What's VW's corrosion warranty? Check. I think its for a pretty long time. That may cover the damage.

--Nate

 

[nick02]

Hello, I pull my inner fender plastic every year to get the crud out. At the top, right where you are talking about is a piece of foam. That foam may be soaked. Nick

 

[Northman]

Mine is a 2000 and this problem started to show in year two when I bought the car used. Now I have big chunks off both sides. I don't see rust but the paint is lifting off the metal in flakes. My friends 2002 is just starting to come loose. Have the paint code and the dealer will order but I think I may take it to a bodyshop. Both cars also have a bit loose behind the wheels at the plastic fender protector.

 

[CalPauley]

My left front fender also started rusting in the same place. The metal area that folds down and meets the plastic is nearly rusted through and the paint is now bubbling along the outer top of the arch.

I cringe at the thought of having to go through the usual warranty battle with VW's service.

 

[tanker]

This trouble only occurs with the TDI and VW Canada is covering the repair at VW body shops. I just had mine done at VW expense. (198K km) They took pictures and sent them off to VW. The body shop manager said that the TDI has a piece of foam attached to the inner fender (sound deadening?) that seems to collect salty water in the winter and prevents the normal drying. They remove the foam and paint inside and out. He says he's never seen one come back.

 

[PDJetta]

This trouble only occurs with the TDI and VW Canada is covering the repair at VW body shops. I just had mine done at VW expense. (198K km) They took pictures and sent them off to VW. The body shop manager said that the TDI has a piece of foam attached to the inner fender (sound deadening?) that seems to collect salty water in the winter and prevents the normal drying. They remove the foam and paint inside and out. He says he's never seen one come back.

That's good to know about the foam. I removed my liners last year to clean out the trash behind them. I don't remember if I saw a foam strip or not, but next year when I remove the liners again, if I see foam, its history.

--nate

 

[Duck0987]

I know my 03' comes with a 12 year unlimited millage rust through coverage. My question is does this mean the panel must have a rust hole all the way through the metal? I have several nasty rust spots on my hood as a result of highway rock chips that have started to rust do these count for the coverage, or would they have to rust all they way through?

 

[tanker]

The repair I had done at VW expense was not under the perforation warrantee, that only covers through and through rust perforation. My problem was mainly surface corrosion caused after the paint lifted along the panel edge. VW must recognize a design error specific to the TDI that causes this problem. I'm not arguing, it's a 2000 with 189k and they picked up a paint issue, not too shabby.

 

[b1jackson]

Same story for me out here on PEI. The non- VW dealer I bought the car from did a half job of painting the fenders and now it is breaking through again. The local VW dealer simply said wait untill it gets a little more ugly so it will turn up in a picture and VW Canada gets the bill for new fenders or paint job on existing ones (not sure).

That foam is definitely part of the problem. Its a huge piece.

B

 

[onehotspud]

I just noticed this myself. It's on the drivers side fender. I'm going to see if a VW dealer will fix it for free. If not, I'll probably clean it up and spray use underbody coating to protect the metal.

 

[prsa01]

Has anyone in the US gotten VW to pay for this or gotten an answer one way or the other?

I have this on both front wheel wells (worse on the left side). I was planning on dealing with it myself but figured if there is a chance VW will take care of it I might as well let them.

On a related note has anyone here tried Rust Bullet?

http://www.rustbullet.com/

One of the many "miracle in a can" offerings.

Thanks