A New Problem? '03 Hatch Rust issue.

[tnpartsguy]

Bulletin #05-08-51-002 Issued (Apr 8, 2005)Rear Hatch Rust (Refinish)2003 Pontiac VibeConditionSome customers may comment that the rear hatch panels exhibit rust. Possible perforation under the window weatherstrip flange may also be found.

[Emerica13]

Wow, I JUST noticed I had a little rust only visible when the glass hatch is open, its covered by it when closed. Is that what you are talking about?

[NSimkins]

Yeah, it's under the weatherstripping of the hatch glass.. I have a bad case of this and need to take it in. I was told that this is covered under the rust/corrosion warranty, which is 5 years, right?

[tnpartsguy]

Yep, this thread made me remember seeing that bulletin.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=17864"Covered for six years/100,000 miles, whichever comes first:Rust-through corrosionCorrosion ProtectionPontiac vehicles are designed and built to resist corrosion. All body and sheet metal components are warranted against rust-through corrosion for six years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Application of additional rust-inhibiting materials is not required under the corrosion coverage and none is recommended. See your Pontiac dealer for terms of this limited warranty."*From Pontiac's Website*

[NSimkins]

Thanks for the reminder.. a quick peek at Pontiac.com yielded:Quote, originally posted by pontiac.com »Covered for six years/100,000 miles, whichever comes first:Rust-through corrosionI need to bring a copy of this in when I go this summer.Edit: you beat me to the edit of the pontiac.com info..

[ColonelPanic]

Yep, I've had the same issue with mine. The dealer just sanded down the small spot of rust and slapped touch-up paint on it. I do need to check for rust around there again.What's worse though, I have more severe rusting going on with the hatch around the area for the license plate bolts. The metal around the holes was pretty damn rusted, and the last time I looked the paint was bubbling up from rust being underneath. I slapped touch-up paint heavily around the area and down into the holes, but it's probably too late.Of course, the dealer probably won't do squat unless rust eats a friggin' hole through our cars, otherwise the "corrision" warranty is not too terribly useful. Cheap metal, shoddy workmanship from the factory (as a picture of a Tacoma built at NUMMI was shown around here somewhere missing primer all over the inside of the cab, so no telling what our cars are missing) plus the way every nook and cranny on these cars hold water is a recipe for disaster. I'm willing to bet in 10 years, if my Vibe even makes it that far (I won't have it by then!) it's going to look every bit as horrible as a 90's era Prizm/Corolla... I see those rusted to pieces all the time, even this far south. Of course, this is just MHO....

[Kari]

So if this is a TSB, what's Pontiac's fix for the problem? Glad they at least acknowledged it though...

[tnpartsguy]

I didn't post the entire TSB, due to copyright, but I can print a copy to bring to OH.

[Kari]

Cool...we need to check mine out really well before the warranty runs out Oct. 31...