Metallurgist in the neighborhood ?

I am checking to see if anyone in the neighborhood is a metallurgist by trade. I am trying to assess what might have caused excessive rust and corrosion on a brand new vehicle built in January 2013.

The dealership is claiming this is normal. Having performed much of my maintenance on my vehicles over the past 25yrs, I have never seen a new vehicle with this level of surface rust and corrosion on aluminum parts, although this is my first Jeep purchase. I would consider this a Hurricane Sandy vehicle but the build date on the door is January. Ohio did have some flooding in early January, that might be one explanation. The Jeep went from Toledo to Chantilly and was not a dealer exchange.

The vehicle had 8 miles on it when we bought it. It now sits in the garage with 297 miles as I wait for decision from Chrysler. The dealership does not see an issue.

Some picts:

 

for comparison, this is a 2012 Jeep aluminum pan without the oxidation after several thousand miles:

 

Based on your pictures, I would contact you insurance company and National Insurance Crime Bureau 1-800-835-6422

The NICB investigates car dealers who sell flooded vehicles and other fraud related issues surrounding vehicles. The NCIB has a local office in Fairfax 703-222-6250, it might be worthwhile for you to email your pics & bill of sale to Gary Healy (Dir of Ops) ghealy@ncib.org

I would also recommend you ask the dealership for a complete Car-Fax report and request a copy of the car title (port delivery to dealership..etc) so you can see if the car/vin was marked for a "salvaged or flood" stamp.

You can check your new car's VIN to see if its in the NCIB's nationwide database via the following website:

https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck

I'm sorry you have to deal with this headache, but hopefully the info I provided is helpful.

 

Actually that is all normal drive train oxidation. When was the car built, look at the build tag inside the drivers door, and compare to the 10th digit on VIN code. It may have sat on a lot for like 8 or 9 months before you got it.

 

If you had read his original posting, he said it was built in Jan 2013. Im surprised at the level of rust/corrosion. If Ohio had flooding in Toledo, it may be plausible....but again, the inside of car should have rusted too.?

 

I think you need to stick to Volvo's and VW's ;-). Sorry to hear about the jeep...... I've heard the kids have really enjoyed it.

- Kristen