Hopefully this will be viewed as a warranty issue. There have been a couple of spots with paint issues.

 

Being you are in western Ontario, salt is a winter factor you deal with. Did you do any rust proofing? Once, annual? Water always follows the path of least resistance and it just may be advisable that if you take it apart again to get some spray can rust proofing from TSC or Canadian Tire and get it up in there. After reading this it will be on my spring time check list.

 

I'm lived here my whole life and never have I had a car rust this quickly. I always wash off the salt at least once a week if not more.


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Washed my car by hand yesterday and noticed some rust on the tailgate under the rear spoiler beside the washer nozzle. Took apart the tailgate cover on the inside to inspect and found no rust on the inside. I'm not happy at all that a 2012 that I take care of meticulously is rusted. Has anyone experienced this? Going to be setting up an appointment with the local studio to get it checked out and rectified hopefully.

Thanks,
Dave

SR20DET,

I'm sorry to see the rust building on the tailgate. It's important to catch rust early in order to avoid spreading. It is certainly something I would recommend bringing to the Service Manager's attention.

I have attached a page from the Fiat 500 Warranty Booklet regarding the corrosion warranty terms.

Take Care,

 

to the op if you go by the manual or above post you are on your own, good luck though.

 

Not the first time I have heard of an issue with rust on a Canadian car...not sure how that factors in other than perhaps more snow and thus salt in the area but it does seem a more common occurrence so far, hope it works out in your favor.

 

Keeping up with tradition!
I swear I could have heard my Alfa rusting outside in California sun.

Anyhow, I wish you good luck. I really can't believe this, how badly are those things made? Oh, and I actually thought the body was galvanized, no?

 

Yeah its pretty rediculous that a 2012 with 40,000kms is rusting.

 

I've noticed a bit of rust coming through the paint of my '13. This is on the rear seat brackets--the hinges. I suppose a heavy oil is the best bet. Next time I get my oil changed I'll have to point it out.

 

If the car is just suffering from surface rust (no holes) the owner is on the hook if they want it repaired. If the car is already suffering from surface rust (well any kind really) that is a complete and utter joke as it is not 1972 but rather 2014. YIKES

 

I would

not worry too much ......there is Life for a 500 after the Rust Problem......

 

Oh poor thing...it still look marvelous though.

 

I sent in a warranty claim several months ago for rust on either side of my rear hatch handle. It took a long time but they finally approved the claim a few weeks ago. The paint is bubbling and chipping pretty badly. The car is going in for repair on the 10th.

 

What I've seen in the fender wells and under the car do not bode well for rust prevention. I've worked for automotive suppliers and I've seen what kinds of finishes are better at salt/corrosion protection. Basically bright silver that's not chrome (nickel plating) is the lowest, most basic rust preventative and doesn't put up much of a fight, and there's a lot of that in the car.

 

Basically bright silver that's not chrome (nickel plating) is the lowest, most basic rust preventative and doesn't put up much of a fight, and there's a lot of that in the car.

Can you elaborate on this.

Your rust looks like surface rust to me, try using some rubbing/polishing compound and I bet you it will all come off. It doesn't seem to be in the seam from what I can see, if it is then also spray some Rustcheck in there and do it a couple times a years. I ran a white Honda for 20 years and this would occasionally happen but it's no big deal.

I had my car sprayed with oil within two hours of picking it up from the dealer, my buddies 15 year old Honda had zero rust due to regular oil sprays.

Either way thanks for pointing this area out, I'll keep an eye on it.

 

After thinking on you issue I'll bet you a million bucks that mud combined with some salt sat on the paint for a extended period of time and you didn't notice it due to the location being hard to see and hard to get to/clean. You will be fine, just keep the area clean, or do a super cleaning job and spray some Rustcheck over the entire area a couple times a year.

 

luckily very little salt is used here as it is just to cold for salt to work. If out east I would have it sprayed at an expert rust prevention business once a year, it works great.

 

rust under rear spoiler

Washed my car by hand yesterday and noticed some rust on the tailgate under the rear spoiler beside the washer nozzle. Took apart the tailgate cover on the inside to inspect and found no rust on the inside. I'm not happy at all that a 2012 that I take care of meticulously is rusted. Has anyone experienced this? Going to be setting up an appointment with the local studio to get it checked out and rectified hopefully.

Thanks,
Dave
View attachment 34273

I too have a 2012 and there is rust under the spoiler...I noticed its common on other 500's.....I am tempted to remove the spoiler and see what it is.

 

I too have a 2012 and there is rust under the spoiler...I noticed its common on other 500's.....I am tempted to remove the spoiler and see what it is.

The rust perforation warranty on the vehicle (5/100) covers visible sheet metal from perforation (a hole that goes all the way through). Surface rust (if caused by a defect) is covered under the 4/50 manufactures warranty. I would have a studio check it out and they will send photos to our Digital Imaging warranty dept for review.

 

if anyone has any thoughts on what this could be....let me know. I am not sure how the spoiler is held on...probably tape.

 

Welcome to the forum.

Be VERY careful, removing the spoiler is known to be a difficult process often resulting in damage.

 

SR 20, how did this all turn out?

 

He sold the FIAT a couple of months after....

 

Having worked in the auto body business for the last 28 yeras, it looks to me like the sharp edge of the spoiler is vibrating and/or rubbing against the paint at that edge and wearing through the paint to the metal beneath. Some manufacturers place a foam or rubber gasket between the trim and the body to prevent this or apply a clear adhesive plastic decal (aka stone shield decal) to the body to protect the paint from rub through. I would suggest that once the affected area is resprayed, apply a strip of stone shield decal material to the body before the spoiler is re-installed to prevent the problem from re-occurring. You should be able to find the decal material, also known as 'paint protection film' at an auto body supply store or automotive parts store.