Anyone else spotted rust in their Puma Defender?

[Mjt084]

The warranty on my 2014 model is just about lapse so I have taken it to All Four x 4 here in Newcastle for them to give it an independent mechanical check over and I have given it a thorough look over for rust myself. Mechanically all is well but cosmetically there are a number of issues, most alarming was the rust bubbles starting to for around the passenger alpine window! I have had the vehicle on the beach a handful of times since new and have always thoroughly washed it down afterwards. Pictures posted below and for the record my full list of gripes is;



Rusted rear member (I believe this is normal but still the dealers responsibility while in warranty);
Rusted step on rear bar;
Rust bubbles around passenger alpine window (anyone else had this??$
Rubber on Factory fitted side steps seems to have gone hard and brittle and is coming off in chunks;
Screws missing from bonnet hinges! On the passenger side one screw was missing, one had unscrewed completely and was just sitting in place and the third was only finger tight. On the drivers side one was unscrewed completely and another was finger tight. I tried to put them back in myself but they just seemed to free spin and the thread wouldn't take. Is this common??

[Tombie]

Are you having your annual corrosion checks done at the dealers?

[Mjt084]

Are you having your annual corrosion checks done at the dealers?

Tombie,

That's another issue all together.....

The Alpine window corrosion and rear bar rust were picked up by the dealers at the last service and a report was supposed to be made to Land Rover HR. When I enquired about getting these issues addressed while the car is in for its current service I was told that the service manager had since left and there was no record of the issued either at the dealer or on the online service record system.

I won't mention any names but looking at my location I'm sure people can work out which dealer it was, now the car is out of warranty I won't be taking it back for any further servicing.

[DazzaTD5]

the corrosion around the alphine windows is a bit oh so common, it seemed to have been addressed after the 2014 ish model as I havent seen older than that with issues.
The corrosion on the back chassis member and to be honest all under on the chassis on the 2007 models on can get bad.

Both examples are a bloody disgrace as the previous model (TD5) didnt suffer this poor quality. I can see a lot of chassis replacements on the last model Defender very quickly in places such as U.K

Regards
Daz

[cripesamighty]

Damn, it took more than 15 years for rust to show under the alpine windows of my D1. They fixed that particular issue with new window rubbers on the D2, so I wouldn't be at all happy if my late model Defender had rust there.

[Dervish]

Spotting rust in Pumas is something of a pastime for me; I don't enjoy it, but it is interesting. I think the accountants got more and more say as the Defender neared the end of it's life; problems not seen in 30 years of 110s are starting to arise only on the newest of them.

129736

[DrytheRain]

Oh yes. My 110 (2014) has the standard issue rust on the rear cross member, little spots on a couple of the side doors at the ends of the window scrapers, on the spare wheel (HD Steel), INSIDE the bulkhead at the windscreen frame attachment point and has bubbling/flaking paint on the faux windscreen hinge covers. It also has bubbling paint on the outside of the driver's side sliding window catch and most of the paint has long since gone from the lower grille mesh. There is also discolouration in various places on the chassis that could signify the onset of corrosion.

My partner's 90 (2013) has the rusty cross member, bubbling/flaking paint on the faux windscreen hinge covers and bubbling paint at the lower corners of the windscreen, at a point half way up the passenger a-pillar and under both alpine windows. Most of the paint has also peeled off the lower grille mesh. Fortunately, her car was undersealed when new, so the chassis appears to be okay.

I have also had a similar experience to Mjt084, with a dealer service manager stringing me along with empty promises then departing suddenly. Unfortunately, the dealer is now quitting the franchise, leaving me with a raft of unresolved faults and LRA's answer is to go to the next closest dealer, who happen to be 500km away. It's really not good enough.

[alan48]

Hi,
if the car is a 2014 model it has corrosion warranty until 2020 as long as it has had a yearly inspection by the dealer--one reason to still have some dealer servicing. My understanding is that the paint etc warranty side is for a total of six years so you should still be well covered as long as you have had those dealer inspections. We have two pumas and thankfully no corrosion issues at all but we do still have dealer servicing/inspections too, and have to admit that warranty issues have always been excellently resolved--including some quite major ones. Hopefully your dealer will be as good in their reporting of issues to HQ. Good luck.

[nate_110]

Tombie,

That's another issue all together.....

The Alpine window corrosion and rear bar rust were picked up by the dealers at the last service and a report was supposed to be made to Land Rover HR. When I enquired about getting these issues addressed while the car is in for its current service I was told that the service manager had since left and there was no record of the issued either at the dealer or on the online service record system.

I won't mention any names but looking at my location I'm sure people can work out which dealer it was, now the car is out of warranty I won't be taking it back for any further servicing.

Mate I'm also in newcastle and use the obvious dealer - am in the middle of chasing this rust nonsense up as we speak. Defender is 2 years old, rust found at both annual checks. Stuffed around after service manager left then they didn't have an approved repairer. Corrosion warranty is 6 years (as long as its had its annual inspections?), so don't take no for an answer and hassle them 24/7.

[Dirty3]

It really is pox ( no pun intended) that these vehicles have rust. I've had 3 disco's and no rust what so ever. Just got a 2014 Defender and the all too common rear cross member rust might be present...the paint (is it paint) looks so thin. I don't get why it should be so bad. Just bought mud rails for my drivers Seat...it arrived (at no additional cost mind you) with internal rust on both rails. Do they have crap steel over in the U.K. Or what? I was pretty dissatisfied I must say, but now I have started to look on the vehicle I'm scared what I may find. Some slight tiny rust on rear panel next to number plate holder.

[DiscoMick]

Our 2009 is pretty clear, but it has been pampered. One area not mentioned above is the bolts in the front footwells can rust if wet. Pull up the mats to check. I soaked all my floor bolts in rust converter. That also works well with the bolts holding the doors on. I have sprayed lanolin in the cross member and chassis rails. Our alpine windows are fine. The ones in our previous D1 rusted and to be repaired twice.

[Mjt084]

Mate I'm also in newcastle and use the obvious dealer - am in the middle of chasing this rust nonsense up as we speak. Defender is 2 years old, rust found at both annual checks. Stuffed around after service manager left then they didn't have an approved repairer. Corrosion warranty is 6 years (as long as its had its annual inspections?), so don't take no for an answer and hassle them 24/7.

Sounds like the Newcastle climate isn't friendly to Fendas! As I mentioned in my first post I have always thoroughly washed my vehicle after every beach run. With the exception of the last few months though we do have a fair bit of rain....

Wonder how many other warranty claims for rust the local dealer has had? My report was lodged with HQ last Friday, I'll give them two weeks to address it then I'll be sending weekly emails until it gets sorted.

I also wonder what the legality is of the warranty being conditional on annual (paid) checks. Especially given that issues are being picked up in these checks and not acted on.

[ATH]

I was told by the main stealer here that to be a claim under warranty there had to be actual holes in the metal sorrounding the alpine windows. A bit of bubbling doesn't count apparently.....
AlanH.

[Tombie]

I was told by the main stealer here that to be a claim under warranty there had to be actual holes in the metal sorrounding the alpine windows. A bit of bubbling doesn't count apparently.....
AlanH.

Your dealer lied to you...

[Zeros]

Sounds like the Newcastle climate isn't friendly to Fendas! As I mentioned in my first post I have always thoroughly washed my vehicle after every beach run. With the exception of the last few months though we do have a fair bit of rain....

Wonder how many other warranty claims for rust the local dealer has had? My report was lodged with HQ last Friday, I'll give them two weeks to address it then I'll be sending weekly emails until it gets sorted.

I also wonder what the legality is of the warranty being conditional on annual (paid) checks. Especially given that issues are being picked up in these checks and not acted on.

So they don't do annual checks as part of service inspection? You have to request it and pay for it?! I wouldn't be buying that if my Defender was rusting, particularly within the first three years! ...touch wood mine seems clear of rust after 3 years, but then it's hardly been near the beach yet apart from a couple of trips two years ago.

[Mjt084]

So they don't do annual checks as part of service inspection? You have to request it and pay for it?! I wouldn't be buying that if my Defender was rusting, particularly within the first three years! ...touch wood mine seems clear of rust after 3 years, but then it's hardly been near the beach yet apart from a couple of trips two years ago.

Sorry what I mean is that you have to pay a premium to have the dealer service your vehicle rather than a 4WD specialist mechanic. Which would be semi-acceptable if they actually acted on the corrosion issues they detect.

[Mjt084]

Your dealer lied to you...

I would have said the same too until I checked the website Tombie.

Land Rover(R) Warranty & Assistance - Land Rover(R) Australia (https://www.landrover.com.au/ownership/warranty/index.html)

[Tombie]

All the corrosion on the 2 year old 90 was fully repaired under warranty, including a new roof and front windscreen surround...

And I don’t pay a premium for dealer servicing either, the “local” (400km away) dealer does a fantastic job and competitively priced.

[scarry]

The Puma in my sig was also full of rust and corrosion in numerous areas.

The paintwork on the chassis was particularly poor.

LR did their best to repair it all,including coating the complete chassis with Tectyl inside and out.

For those who are in Brisbane,the work was all done at 'the bump shop',who are very well known for their work on LR's.

Once out of warranty,corrosion has appeared in other areas,which is frustrating.

[patclan]

My 2010 defender has had the rust repaired on the alpine windows, windscreen surround and the roof seam, the rust on the roof seam came back 2 years later, in the 5th year of the anti corrosion warranty.

When I went to the dealer in the Southport where I had got it serviced the 6 months before they told me I needed the last anti corrosion report, which was done in Brisbane at its service before that, I phone them and asked for it, they had to get it out off the off-site archives, a week later they sent it to me and it didn't even have my rego on it or any detail, wasn't signed or anything I had just forwarded it on without looking, so Southport phoned me and old me, I phoned Brisbane and they then filled it out and sent it to me again. Which made me think did they even do one, or could they not be bothered finding the original.

But, Southport accepted it sent it off to LR and in the end they replaced my whole roof, seemingly and this is waht they told me, but if rust returns they replace the whole roof. cost around 6k for them. And no holes just blisters like you have in your photo.

I did have the same rust on the rear cross member, took that to them, they took photos and sent them off, LR came back and said I must have spilt something caustic to cause it so they were not going to fix it. I argued and emailed 10 photos of rusted cross members just like mine and they stuck to their guns. they will change a roof at a huge cost but not repaint a bit of steel on the back.. go figure.

Fortunately and genuinely, I reversed into a trolley park in the shopping centre, caved in the rear right hand panel and had a tiny dent on the cross member so all fixed under insurance, and this is the rub, couldn't get the insurance recommended place to fix it as they did not have the tools to work on aluminium, so ended up going to the LR dealers body shop, he said this is a good thing as the rear cross members get a lick of paint and always rust!!

Anyway fight it!!

[Zeros]

Slightly off topic, but I also reversed into something a while back and dented rear quarter panel...the awesome repairers did a beautiful job. No rust on cross member but they sprayed an extra coat over my whole rear cross member anyway. Some peeps are worth their weight in gold 👍

[1nando]

The first thing i did when i got my puma was to have the whole vehicle coated in a wax coating my local panel shop uses on hot rods. Its amazing stuff and so far so good. In saying that i had an el cheapo roof rack (which has been replaced) that started to corode the guttering where it was bolted. Cheap roof racks will do that.

[1nando]

One other tip is to give the rear cross member a good clean, let dry and then penetrol once a month. Worth the time

[Mjt084]

Mate I'm also in newcastle and use the obvious dealer - am in the middle of chasing this rust nonsense up as we speak. Defender is 2 years old, rust found at both annual checks. Stuffed around after service manager left then they didn't have an approved repairer. Corrosion warranty is 6 years (as long as its had its annual inspections?), so don't take no for an answer and hassle them 24/7.

Hey Nate, how's your warranty claim coming along? It's been three weeks for me now, called the dealer to give them a hurry up on Friday and it doesn't sound like it has progressed any further.

[nate_110]

Hey Nate, how's your warranty claim coming along? It's been three weeks for me now, called the dealer to give them a hurry up on Friday and it doesn't sound like it has progressed any further.

I've started calling every other day. The "warranty" lady has been away. I've started dealing with Jake and he's actually pretty good. He said on Thursday that they have finally sorted a body shop and now have a massive backlog of jobs. Frustrating but there might actually be a light at the end of the tunnel - hopefully before there is a hole under my windscreen that i can see light through! Ha!

[Pickles2]

One other tip is to give the rear cross member a good clean, let dry and then penetrol once a month. Worth the time
I give ours a coat of WD40 once in a while,..seems to do the job.
Pickles.

[Greg4427]

l use ACF50 liberally and that seems to work.

[110LR]

Yeh just found a spot driver side front window on the outside, taking it back under warranty. 2014 Puma.

[Mjt084]

I've started calling every other day. The "warranty" lady has been away. I've started dealing with Jake and he's actually pretty good. He said on Thursday that they have finally sorted a body shop and now have a massive backlog of jobs. Frustrating but there might actually be a light at the end of the tunnel - hopefully before there is a hole under my windscreen that i can see light through! Ha!

Any advance on this nate?

I was told the same thing when I picked my car up from it's service in October, didn't hear anything more from Jake so emailed him last week, seems the deal with the local repairer fell through. I think Jake says a lot but does a little.

Another ongoing issue is the deterioration and chipping of the rubber on the factor side runners. On the last visit i was told it was a wear and tear issue, the rubber alone could not be replaced but I could purchase a new set of runners for around $1500. I have told them to rethink this opinion in light of the 'fit for purpose' requirements of consumer law.

[dazzler]

OK JLR supplied and fitted a new roof to my old Fender without much hassle, even painted it a different colour on my request. I also scored a bunch of door hinges and bolts etc which was handy.

Now with my new pop top I have the same alpine window bubbling and some other places also. Any one secured warranty support on modified poptop roofs from JLR??

Note poptop owners: I suspect the pinchweld seals used by Mulgo has steel strip in them which will rust and corrode the aluminium it is attached to.

Advise Needed:

I want to (chemically strip the roof > sandblast) to bare metal (quote $800) chemically treat it and have it repainted (Quote $1000). Any one done it? see any issues with this thought process?

Also looking for aluminium pinchweld that will work the mulgo setup

Regards
pd