You got Scammed for your Electronics Rust Prevention. That's the simple fact of the story here. You should go back and read the Warranty they gave you to know what is and isn't covered when you paid $1000 for the scam. This is the same a under-rust or inside door rust protection spray scams car dealers did for unsuspecting buyers.

 

I suspected as much when I got the electronic module, but wanted to protect my investment.

Regardless of whether it’s a scam or not, and regardless of what the warranty for the rust protection says, I’m looking for information on other owners’ experiences with rust at this door location and whether they were able to get it fixed at no additional cost.

 

All rust warranties I've ever seen, reference rust-through, not surface-rust.

Any chance you can upload a picture so we can all see what you're talking about?

 

Depends. My RR door's bottom bump mount hole was just repainted because they found some surface rust there.

 

My 10 year warranty (my car is 4 years old) states:
"There will be no surface rust or paint bubbling on the outside painted portion of the body panels as listed, door panels, rear quater panels .... Cosmetic rust is defined as surface rust damage on outside painted surfaces of the vehicle where the rusted surface is at least 2 centimeters in diameter or larger. Paint bubbling is defined as a paint bubble on the outside of the body panels as listed, where no bare metal or surface rust is showing and the paint is not broken, worn off, chipped, split or missing."

So my warranty would cover this if it was deemed an outside surface. In my mind the bottom of the door below the gasket is an outside surface eventhough it is not visible from the outside, but the company that warrants this coverage obvioulsy does not share the same opinion.

Any attempt on my part to slow the progress of the rust by removing any bubbles with a wire brush or other method and priming and painting over, would in my opinion, void the warranty given the last part of the parapraph I quoted from the policy.

To Storm Rockies's comment that I was scammed, I would say that I did not expect rust to start at that location and as I've said, I consider it as an outside surface since its below the inside gasket.

To Mike728's comment that rust warranties never cover surface rust, well I would say mine does.

I've attached pictures of the rust. First picture is the driver side rear door, last 2 pictures are the rear door. All rust is located on the inside of the door, below the gasket / weatherstrip and above the plastic bottom of the door.

Again, any helpful comments on how to get Honda corporate or the dealer to deal with this would be appreciated.

Thanks to all.

 

My 10 year warranty (my car is 4 years old) states:
"There will be no surface rust or paint bubbling on the outside painted portion of the body panels as listed, door panels, rear quater panels .... Cosmetic rust is defined as surface rust damage on outside painted surfaces of the vehicle where the rusted surface is at least 2 centimeters in diameter or larger. Paint bubbling is defined as a paint bubble on the outside of the body panels as listed, where no bare metal or surface rust is showing and the paint is not broken, worn off, chipped, split or missing."

So my warranty would cover this if it was deemed an outside surface. In my mind the bottom of the door below the gasket is an outside surface eventhough it is not visible from the outside, but the company that warrants this coverage obvioulsy does not share the same opinion.

Any attempt on my part to slow the progress of the rust by removing any bubbles with a wire brush or other method and priming and painting over, would in my opinion, void the warranty given the last part of the parapraph I quoted from the policy.

To Storm Rockies's comment that I was scammed, I would say that I did not expect rust to start at that location and as I've said, I consider it as an outside surface since its below the inside gasket.

To Mike728's comment that rust warranties never cover surface rust, well I would say mine does.

I've attached pictures of the rust. First picture is the driver side rear door, last 2 pictures are the rear door. All rust is located on the inside of the door, below the gasket / weatherstrip and above the plastic bottom of the door.

Again, any helpful comments on how to get Honda corporate or the dealer to deal with this would be appreciated.

Thanks to all.

View attachment 158428 View attachment 158429 View attachment 158430

Forget the scammy electronics (which don't work in most cases) and any associated warranty. Learn a lesson here and never go near that scam again.

Your factory warranty on your Honda covers rust issues on body panels for 5 years from date of purchase.

Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
Honda’s Rust Perforation Limited Warranty, or corrosion warranty, provides protection against rust and deterioration for original body panels. This Honda warranty is good for five years and unlimited mileage. It does not protect against the rusting of body panels that were repaired, replaced, or refinished after the purchase of your vehicle.

Why are you not working this issue with your Honda dealer directly?????? If Honda reviews this and denies a warranty claim, then you stand zero chance of getting that after market warranty to address this.

 

Oh, that's a lemon. Made of rusty metal or treatment process gone wrong.

 

2 points -
1. That rust is serious and should be covered by warranty and repaired.
2. Electronic Rust Protectors are a scam and do not work.

 

Yeah, that's bad! When you say you took it to the body shop, was this at the Honda dealer you bought it from? If so, I can't believe they won't go up the chain to help you out, unacceptable on a 4yr old vehicle. May I ask what province you are from?

My 2018 GMC had some corrosion on the drivers door seam, not near as bad as yours, GM fixed it no questions asked.

 

Thats more than I have on a 19 year old TSX and it is driven daily in Ontario winters as well as washed weekly. I apply oil to it approx monthly to retard the spread but definitely a defect in your car.

 

That's already penetrating rust. It has penetrated the seam and appears both inside and outside. It does not come from paint damage but creeps outwards under the paint.

 

I would go Honda and see what they do for you. You may want to write to Honda customer service about the rust and include the pictures. Be professional. Customer service will refer you to the dealer.

Was the warranty purchased from the dealer (that's what I interpret)? If the dealer sold it and the vendor is not properly warranting their promises they should help you out.

Was the body shop an outside business?



If the dealer dosen't help I would write the a letter to the company who installed and warranties the rust through device. If they don't help, I would write to a consumer affairs agency.

 

I would go Honda and see what they do for you. You may want to write to Honda customer service about the rust and include the pictures. Be professional. Customer service will refer you to the dealer.

Was the warranty purchased from the dealer (that's what I interpret)? If the dealer sold it and the vendor is not properly warranting their promises they should help you out.

Was the body shop an outside business?



If the dealer dosen't help I would write the a letter to the company who installed and warranties the rust through device. If they don't help, I would write to a consumer affairs agency.

The vehicle is still covered under the factory warranty for rust... so he should have done this to begin with, rather than this 3rd party path related to the electric anti-corrosion system.

 

@Jackofalltrades Which part of Canada are you in?

 

Ontario

Incidentally, just to clear things up, my rust is at this point surface rust as per the pictures. There is no perforation through the doors at this point. And the Honda warranty for surface rust is as follows:

"
5. YOUR SURFACE CORROSION WARRANTY.
Three years, no distance limit.
Three years or 60,000 Km whichever comes first, on paint defects.
Surface corrosion is defined as corrosion affecting the
readily visible surface area of any components of the vehicle’s
body. It does not include the vehicle underbody,
external damage to paint or plated surfaces or corrosion
caused by stone chips or other impacts.
This warranty guarantees that the surface of your
new Honda vehicle’s body will be free from any readily
visible corrosion for a period of three years from the
date of first registration."

Given my vehicle is both over 3 years old and 60,000 km, Honda has a legal way out of this and they can do absolutely nothing. Would it be morally correct for them to do nothing on a vehicle that is only slightly over these limits (I'm at 4 years, 3 months, and 72000 kms)? Absolutely not.

I'm currently writing a letter to Honda Corporate, asking them to step in. I am not hopeful but we'll see. I'll keep you posted.

 

Incidentally, just to clear things up, my rust is at this point surface rust as per the pictures. There is no perforation through the doors at this point. And the Honda warranty for surface rust is as follows:

"
5. YOUR SURFACE CORROSION WARRANTY.
Three years, no distance limit.
Three years or 60,000 Km whichever comes first, on paint defects.
Surface corrosion is defined as corrosion affecting the
readily visible surface area of any components of the vehicle’s
body. It does not include the vehicle underbody,
external damage to paint or plated surfaces or corrosion
caused by stone chips or other impacts.
This warranty guarantees that the surface of your
new Honda vehicle’s body will be free from any readily
visible corrosion for a period of three years from the
date of first registration."

Given my vehicle is both over 3 years old and 60,000 km, Honda has a legal way out of this and they can do absolutely nothing. Would it be morally correct for them to do nothing on a vehicle that is only slightly over these limits (I'm at 4 years, 3 months, and 72000 kms)? Absolutely not.

I'm currently writing a letter to Honda Corporate, asking them to step in. I am not hopeful but we'll see. I'll keep you posted.

Sad to see Canadians only get 3 year rust protection. That makes no sense considering the winter conditions in Canada. Still worth reaching out to Honda for an exception approval, because the rust on your door is NOT normal, and it is worse than you think it is.

You say there is no penetration yet of the metal, but your photos clearly show there is metal surface puckering deformities below the paint, and that means the metal in the door has already suffered serious corrosion. I think that is what will make Honda consider a warranty exception in your case.

Beyond that, you might be stuck trying to get the dealer and the equipment supplier to agree to warranty your corrosion.

 

For cars and trucks with steel bodies there is only ONE rust prevention that will work. A real good quality deposition of a thin plastic layer on every surface, not only the surface you see but the surfaces that you do not ever see, and remember any action that scratches or some how removes any of that film is a point that rust will start.
The most common nomenclature for that film is "PAINT". You need to realize that most paint used by auto manufactures is junk, and you will never see a steel bridge or aircraft carrier painted with that same paint. So there in lies the main problem, as well as not painting every surface that is hidden.