12 year corrosion warranty

[Branch846]

Hi

Just looking for some advice, I have noticed today that there's some rust bubbling on my 2014 golf R found it on the rear arch where it meets the bumper and on the bottom of my front wings. Can't see any ston chips or whatever.

Have people managed to have a successful claim with Vw?

I tried a couple of years ago with my other mk7 I had previously and got told it was a stone chip so not covered.

The car had always been cleaned and we ll maintained.

If not has anyone had to have similar repaired I'd be interested to see what its going to cost me to sort.

Cheers

 

[SRGTD]

From what I‘ve read on various VW forum over the years, there seems to be more chance of a corrosion warranty claim being declined VW than being accepted. I think the general consensus on many forums is that the corrosion warranty isn’t really worth the (metaphorical) paper it’s written on.

There were quite a few corrosion issues around the wheel arches on the front wings of the mk5 Golf, caused either by

• foam filler support blocks becoming saturated with water and eventually causing the wings to rust

or​

• the edge of the plastic wheel arch liner rubbing through to bare metal in the flange edge of the front wheel arches.

VW ‘s approach to dealing with corrosion claims from the above was very inconsistent - some customers got new wings, some got repairs to existing wings and some got a contribution towards repair costs and some claims were declined outright with VW citing the corrosion was caused by a mechanical defect and therefore not covered under the corrosion warranty.

Have you owned your car from new? If not, is there any evidence of previous repairs in the area of the bubbling / blistering paintwork?

There’s no harm in taking your car to a VW dealer with the objective of getting them to submit a claim to VW on your behalf. They‘re likely to measure the paint thickness on the affected panel and adjoining panels to check for evidence of repairs. They‘re also likely to check for external damage - e.g. stone chips that might have perforated the paint down to the metalwork. Don’t be surprised though if the dealer or VW say the corrosion isn’t covered.

Good luck - please update this discussion thread with progress.

 

[Branch846]

Thanks for your reply. Im going to try a different vw dealer than last time because they were useless not because i didnt get what i wanted but i asked them to quote me for the repairs and they actually said they didn't want the work.































I've had the car 2 years but it was owned by a friend for 5 years before that from a year old so I know the history i think the rear door may have had paint before but on the other side probably the only side that doesn't need repair

I will try and see what they say i but I had no luck before but no harm in trying i suppose.

 

[Branch846]

From what I‘ve read on various VW forum over the years, there seems to be more chance of a corrosion warranty claim being declined VW than being accepted. I think the general consensus on many forums is that the corrosion warranty isn’t really worth the (metaphorical) paper it’s written on.















There were quite a few corrosion issues around the wheel arches on the front wings of the mk5 Golf, caused either by







foam filler support blocks becoming saturated with water and eventually causing the wings to rust



or







the edge of the plastic wheel arch liner rubbing through to bare metal in the flange edge of the front wheel arches.



VW ‘s approach to dealing with corrosion claims from the above was very inconsistent - some customers got new wings, some got repairs to existing wings and some got a contribution towards repair costs and some claims were declined outright with VW citing the corrosion was caused by a mechanical defect  and therefore not covered under the corrosion warranty.















Have you owned your car from new? If not, is there any evidence of previous repairs in the area of the bubbling / blistering paintwork?















There’s no harm in taking your car to a VW dealer with the objective of getting them to submit a claim to VW on your behalf. They‘re likely to measure the paint thickness on the affected panel and adjoining panels to check for evidence of repairs. They‘re also likely to check for external damage - e.g. stone chips that might have perforated the paint down to the metalwork. Don’t be surprised though if the dealer or VW say the corrosion isn’t covered.















Good luck - please update this discussion thread with progress.















I rang VW today spoke to 2 dealers both of which said they won't touch it because its 2014 and just said its been caused by a stone chip so I'm wasting my time going. Called over to a paint shop this afternoon and I've been quoted around £600 for both front wings repairing and both rears if I strip out the arch lining myself, if they strip it would be more apparently.











Looks like I'll have to just suck it up and pay for it doing, might get a couple more quotes and go from there

 

[HalfGerman]

I tried on my old '04 Passat. Rust bubbling around the license plate light openings in the trunk. The dealer even took pics and submitted them to VW. Went nowhere. Good luck.

 

[Branch846]

I tried on my old '04 Passat. Rust bubbling around the license plate light openings in the trunk. The dealer even took pics and submitted them to VW. Went nowhere. Good luck.

Don't even think ill bother trying now, I rang dealers yesterday and they were adamant it was a stone chip and they haven't even seen it
Had 2 quotes so far 1 for £600 and one for £1000 now

 

[Branch846]

Spoke to a vw specialist yesterday and he thinks this will be as common as the mk5 wings again due to a foam pad inside the wing liner holding moisture. He reckons the only way to stop the wings from going again is to replace them.
As for the rears they just need to be repaired and hope for the best but there's a good chance it'll just keep coming back
But he said it should be covered under corrosion warranty as its come from the back of the panel so I'm unsure if to try and fight it with VW.

Seen as mine is a early mk7 it makes sense that mines the 1st to show signs of rust.

It's annoying when you walk past 2006 toyotas and there's no rust

I know its 9 year old but its always been cleaned and garaged from being 1 year old.

 

[Kushdaiin]

This isn't going to necessarily help you but I've successfully claimed the VW rust warranty on my 2003 Jetta Wagon (4 front fenders), 2013 MK6 GTI (rear hatch), and 2017 MK7 GSW (3 doors). Unfortunately, what I've found is that it really comes down to your relationship with the service manager. I've been a long standing customer there (>14 yrs) and the service manager has been there forever. I do a lot of work myself but I let them handle the larger mechanical jobs. I'm an easy but discerning customer that has worked in a shop before, so I know the jargon. I've worked closely with the lead tech to do OEM upgrades, etc. Having some level of relationship with them will determine how much they will fight for your when they approach the regional manager for that warranty claim. It also comes down to how the oxidation occurred. If it's at all in an area that can see stone chipping, then chances are slim to none that they will cover it. Ironically, oxidation on the front fenders on the MK4 jetta was a known issue and was unquestionably covered. Your rear quarter panel is a toss-up and depends up on the person looking at it. Honestly though, I feel like that is something that seems coverable. I would just keep on it, contact the corporate office if you have to.

 

[Gray_Panther]

Spoke to a vw specialist yesterday and he thinks this will be as common as the mk5 wings again due to a foam pad inside the wing liner holding moisture. He reckons the only way to stop the wings from going again is to replace them.
As for the rears they just need to be repaired and hope for the best but there's a good chance it'll just keep coming back
But he said it should be covered under corrosion warranty as its come from the back of the panel so I'm unsure if to try and fight it with VW.

Seen as mine is a early mk7 it makes sense that mines the 1st to show signs of rust.

It's annoying when you walk past 2006 toyotas and there's no rust

I know its 9 year old but its always been cleaned and garaged from being 1 year old.

This is my struggle as well. I wash and wax frequently, iron-x after every winter, and garage it.
I still get rust and mine is on all four corners this year and it is a 2016 (this will be its sixth winter only!)

 

[SaucyMuffin]

I wanted to add to this thread of my findings as well where the rear quarter panel meets the rear bumper. Because the car is white, I noticed immediately upon washing a few weeks ago. Bought new in July 2018, 81,000 miles, always hand washed, decon, polish, wax, sealant. Not too happy about it. Will bring it in when spring approaches and looking forward to it going nowhere.

 

[SRGTD]

Like the OP, I’m in the UK and we don’t get such harsh winter weather conditions as many forum members experience in US and Canada.

I also regularly hand wash my car. I use a ‘safe’ three bucket method (the two bucket method, plus an extra one for the wheels) - usually every two weeks whether it really needs it or not. Part of my regular car wash routine is to use a high pressure hose under the wheel arches and in the wheel wells and on the car’s underbody to remove salt deposits and road dirt as salt is the enemy of a car’s bodywork IMHO. Fortnightly washing also gives me an opportunity to spot any new stone chips that might have happened since its last wash - if there are any, they get touched in there and then before corrosion from the ravages of road salt, rain etc. has a chance to take a hold.

My car’s bodywork is also regularly decontaminated, polished, waxed and sealed. Touch wood (or knock on wood as US forum members would say) I’ve not had any corrosion issues with any of the five VW’s I’ve owned (average period of ownership of each has been 4.5 - 5 years from new).

 

[Branch846]

Looking at everyone's posts it seems it is becoming a common thing on the mk7's then.

Really onnyed with it to be fair and I worry its just the beginning of the end for my car I found loads of dirt trapped in my side skirts as well but can't seem to get them off as they seem like they are bonded to the car so who knows what lies under them.

I have been to another dealer yesterday and he thinks you only get 3 years edge and fold he said for wheel arches.

I emailed VW customer services UK and he was getting the dealer to be in touch but they didn't call me either so seems I'm getting nowhere.
It's so frustrating.

 

[Branch846]

Being ghosted now by the dealers looks like I just need to find a decent paint shop and suck it up I suppose

 

[SRGTD]

Being ghosted now by the dealers looks like I just need to find a decent paint shop and suck it up I suppose

Sadly, customer service often falls short of what it should in situations such as yours. Even if VW’s decision is that the rusting on your car isn’t covered under the corrosion warranty, a simple courtesy call from the dealer to confirm this isn’t too much to ask or expect IMHO.

If I was in your situation, lack of contact from the dealer would probably influence my decision on my next car purchase - and it‘s unlikely it would be a VW.

Hope you get your car repaired to your satisfaction soon.

 

[The Fed]

I'm surprised anyone's been successful, since doesn't it need to be completely through the metal?