2005 Highlander: RUST: Dealership says NO FIX

[Aimster]

Help. How do I fight this?
Dealership says it is not covered by warranty because "we hit something".
How the f can they determine that?

Rust spot #1:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Aimster/01062008017.jpg

Rust spot #2:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Aimster/01062008015.jpg

Rust spot #3 (the killer)
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Aimster/0a9a.jpg

 

[Tristicus]

Well in the second pic it does look like there is a nice chip off...

 

[Saga]

A 2005 is still under a body warranty? I find that a little confusing.

Either way, it is a Toyota. Rust is pretty common.

 

[StageLeft]

That thing is rusting itself to bits now, not much to be done. Same thing has been happening to my 2004 MPV for a year, it pissesm e off.

 

[Zenmervolt]

While Toyota does have a 60 month (5 year) rust-through warranty, it's just that, a rust through warranty. Unless there is a hole through the sheet metal, the warranty technically doesn't apply.

ZV

 

[Bl0cks]

Have you considered getting a Duplicolor paint pen?

 

[herm0016]

sand or wire brush and paint. fixed.

 

[thescreensavers]

the chip, just sand it and get some black spraypaint spray inside a plastic cup get a toothpic and fill it in. Cheap Fix.

I have done this on very small chips that were rusting.

 

[boomhower]

Depends on the wording of the warranty. If it says it's a warranty against rust, period, and you haven't hit anything, been keyed, or other destruction, go up the chain or sue.

 

[Pulsar]

This is 5 years. Well outside the usual 3 year 36000 mile bumper to bumper warranty.

I know you hate to see your car rust, but did you buy an extended BUMPER TO BUMPER warranty?

If not, then you made your own decision already. You risked having the car doing something like this and not having them pay for it when you didn't buy the warranty. You can hardly complain about it now. I take that back - you can complain about it, but no one is going to pay to fix it for you.

Drive it over to a good collision shop. That looks like perhaps $300 to repair. Or you can sand it yourself, buy paint from the dealer, and do it yourself. That's about a weekend of work to fix what I see there correctly (rough sand down to bear metal, prime, paint, wet sand in increasing grits, then clearcoat).

 

[theeedude]

Go to the media.

 

[boomerang]

Oh what a feeling!

 

[alkemyst]

A 2005 is still under a body warranty? I find that a little confusing.

Either way, it is a Toyota. Rust is pretty common.

Regardless of warranty, the warranty is for 'rust through' not surface rust.

Also the paint has had to have been intact.

This truck looks a bit rough.

 

[Gibson486]

Paint is chipped. Warranty will not cover that unless you bought the paint protection warranty. My has the seem issue with her 09 Corolla.

Easy paint chipping seems to be an issue on all new cars.