2021 Sport already starting to rust out? Is this a warranty issue?

Post with updated pics and info.

Yesterday while I was installing raptor lights, I noticed a very alarming bit of discoloration and rust within the engine bay.

This truck was purchased in May 2021 and has yet to see a single winter let alone a molecule of salt.

As you can see from the pictures there is a substantial amount of rust already and when touched with my fingers the paint and rust flakes off like puff pastry.



This has me incredibly worried about the longevity of this truck! Is this rust normal and expected or abnormal? If it's unexpected, is it possible it could be a warranty issue?

 

Do you have aftermarket UCA's to go with the shocks? The area in the second picture looks like it was beat up to yank the UCA bolt out. Second picture is the most concerning one and yeah, I'd make a dealer visit for it.

 

if it hasn’t seen salt I’d be a little concerned, the metal shouldn’t be rusting like that. Take it to the dealer. Not sure what they’ll do, but definitely not normal. My 2005 with 300k and lived every second of its life on the east coast of Canada doesn’t have rust where your truck does, and it’s first 12 years of life saw zero rust proofing spray.

 

I sure hope that’s not normal. Especially with no salt and being its first winter.

I’m pretty sure there’s some type of warranty against rust within a certain time period. Call your dealer!

 

Yes OME UCA were installed with the lift 6-8wk ago.

 

Take a look at the top of your battery! …

I’m guessing only the driver side near the battery has this rust? If there’s other spots post up more pictures. I think your battery is leaking and that is causing your corrosion.

If someone was messing with it (like when the aftermarket stuff was added) then warranty could be a toss up depending on the dealer.

 

winner winner, I’m with the guy that said whoever installed the UCA had to bend the metal to get the long bolt out. Bent and flaked the paint off now bare metal turned to rust. Not sure on the other spots around the battery tray and small spots on frame however.

 

Not going to be able to warranty that after it was intentionally bent.

 

Battery leak is what I thought when I saw the greenish discoloration but the battery itself looks alright to my untrained eye.

The tray and battery clamp don't seem to be corroded at all.

The top of the battery does look damp, but I've been driving in the rain and can't be sure it's acid, also it doesn't look like that stuff has leaked down?

 

Awesome, I'm really happy with this $2,100 (labor) suspension install that pops and creaks like mad and is also now rotting my truck from the inside out.

 

The first pic is a discoloration. Was there any chemical sprayed around there? That’s definitely not normal. The second pic is definitely caused when bending that area to remove the UCA bolt. There is also appear to be a discoloration around that area. Feel your pain bro.

 

I guess you didn't witness the install?

Official Total Chaos Fabrication channel-lock pliers instructional video:

https://youtu.be/bbsTJgb6S_c?t=384

 

That’s why I always do the work myself on everything even if it involves me researching and buying new tools. I’ll be putting new UCAs on soon and will just be cutting the UCA bolts and putting the new ones in backwards with loctite so I don’t have to bend any metal.

 

bending with care is fine. You can carefully bend it without cracking and chipping the paint. It appears the installer beat the bejesus out of it.

 

So is the UCA bolt and washer starting to rust because it was bashed on and the finish was compromised -- or is it more likely an additional issue like a battery leak?

If UCAs are to blame that is a shocking amount of decay for 7 weeks

 

Aye aye aye........

 

Unless you can show me pictures of rust like that which are not directly under the battery, my money is on battery acid.

Any chance it has been tipped, loose hold down, deep cycled, over charged? Stock basic lead acid is not sealed like an AGM.
No matter what I would be hosing that whole area down with a lot of water until you know more.

 

I say that the rust on the bolt and the yellowish discoloration around that area is something foreign. Some kind of chemical was spilled, sprayed or whipped on. The bent area is where you blame the UCA. Perhaps, the chemical was already sprayed on before it was bent and it weakened the paint. I changed my UCA with minimal to none cracks on the paint, and no rust at all and the truck is over a year old.

 

Putting simple baking soda on the wet area will tell of its acid. If it is, that needs a remedy.

Once the root cause is found and corrected, clean it, treat it, paint it, enjoy the truck.

My prediction is a warranty request will just give the shop staff some fodder for their 'the customer wanted what?' Book of stories.