Rusting Front fenders on 2013 Ram 1500 Big Horn

[Bee1971]

I removed the drivers side wheel and partially removed the inner fender just to give me enough room to have a look in there. Once in, this is all I seen, which temporarily removed to ensure it wasn't causing harm. (pic below) Mine didn't have that big piece that Bee posted but it was as plain as day to see the stuck on piece. It was hard to tack pics due to lighting but my piece looks identical to Bee's other pic, only mine is white, which leaves me to believe, these pieces are stuck on before paint. Judging from the area this piece covers, it is also clear to see that this piece is causing the corrosion issues as, based on the size of it, the rust and bubbling is not outside this area but clearly within it. I felt the side of it to see if I could somehow peel it off but it is stuck on there like no tomorrow!



Without knowing for sure if I am ever going to get this fixed, I am going to leave well enough alone for now, especially with the onset of winter coming. I don't want gaping holes in my my fender allowing rain, snow, salt and slush to get in there. I still don't think, because my warranty just expired, that I'd be covered anyways?



I hear what you are saying but it is clear that this piece that is glued/epoxied to the inner fender is causing all these problems. Many forums have peeps talking about this piece and all those also have rust/bubbling in the areas where this piece is applied. I read on another forum that it's possible these pieces were originally wet themselves or the fenders quite possibly could have been? Seems like a stretch but something, moisture related, is definitely causing these issues. I sprayed the heck out of the areas again but it was so plain to see that both my inner fenders were already coated byt previous applications of Krown and Rust Check. Not one spot anywhere was dry/uncoated so it's clear that these products cannot penetrate this piece of insulation/foam, or whatever it is?

View attachment 147802

View attachment 147803

Foam piece you got laying on the concrete

That’s just an air dam between the front doors and fenders

 

[indept]

So what if you blow a hair dryer on that mesh or an hour to dry out any moisture then pain it to keep it from absorbing anything and seal it?

 

[renfrick1]

I’d love a class action and I’m surprised nobody has done it yet. It’s been going on for years. I guess lawyers don’t buy dodges, because if they did I think we’d have one by now.
Fenders are actually cheap but I get that it’s the point of making something that should last more then 5-6 years before rusting


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[likes2build]

I’d love a class action and I’m surprised nobody has done it yet. It’s been going on for years. I guess lawyers don’t buy dodges, because if they did I think we’d have one by now.
Fenders are actually cheap but I get that it’s the point of making something that should last more then 5-6 years before rusting


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Their replacement body parts carry this limited lifetime warranty

MOPAR COLLISION REPLACEMENT PARTS LIFETIME LIMITED WARRANTY This warranty is not transferable to a subsequent owner of the vehicle. FCA US LLC warrants, to the original purchaser only, Mopar Replacement Sheet Metal products, including plastic bumper covers and grilles, against defects in material or workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns the vehicle on which the part is installed. This warranty includes perforation (metal rust-through) due to corrosion in normal use. Replacement sheet metal products which prove to be defective due to perforation (inside-out rust-through only) will be repaired or replaced at the option of FCA US LLC. If the vehicle is eight (8) model years old or more, FCA US LLC may replace the defective part with a comparable salvage part. This warranty covers the cost of parts, labor and paint for replacement parts, including outer-panel sheet metal parts, if incurred as a result of the failure; if preapproved by FCA US LLC; and if an authorized FCA US LLC dealer originally installed the part. Parts are covered on a replacement basis only, if the original part was sold over-the-counter. This warranty is not transferable

 

[Swerve64]

View attachment 147811 View attachment 147812 View attachment 147810 Pictures before I sprayed fluid film years ago

I can state for a fact

While running my hands across this fiberglass mesh patch when new , whatever adhesive was used to attach it to the backside of the fenders for strength is permanent and very strong

However you could feel air pockets , or soft spots in the patch itself , just small fine areas like either the adhesive was missed in spots or didn’t adhere to the fender

Got me thinking if

A) Moisture could have or get trapped in those spots

B) Condensation

Thanks for the better pics. Mine looks identical but your pics make it clear it is some sort of fiberglass mesh.
Any idea what the purpose of this mesh is? I really can't see it doing anything other than maybe giving the fender a little bit of strength and helping with denting some?
The relatively small size of it can't do anything for noise reduction, imo, so I can only conclude it has something to do with helping dents?

I’d love a class action and I’m surprised nobody has done it yet. It’s been going on for years. I guess lawyers don’t buy dodges, because if they did I think we’d have one by now.
Fenders are actually cheap but I get that it’s the point of making something that should last more then 5-6 years before rusting


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I have no idea what is all involved with a class action suit and if there is even such a thing up here in Canada? I know we don't have a lemon law but there is something similar, I believe, but I don't know what that is?

Their replacement body parts carry this limited lifetime warranty

MOPAR COLLISION REPLACEMENT PARTS LIFETIME LIMITED WARRANTY This warranty is not transferable to a subsequent owner of the vehicle. FCA US LLC warrants, to the original purchaser only, Mopar Replacement Sheet Metal products, including plastic bumper covers and grilles, against defects in material or workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns the vehicle on which the part is installed. This warranty includes perforation (metal rust-through) due to corrosion in normal use. Replacement sheet metal products which prove to be defective due to perforation (inside-out rust-through only) will be repaired or replaced at the option of FCA US LLC. If the vehicle is eight (8) model years old or more, FCA US LLC may replace the defective part with a comparable salvage part. This warranty covers the cost of parts, labor and paint for replacement parts, including outer-panel sheet metal parts, if incurred as a result of the failure; if preapproved by FCA US LLC; and if an authorized FCA US LLC dealer originally installed the part. Parts are covered on a replacement basis only, if the original part was sold over-the-counter. This warranty is not transferable

Interesting that they warrant "Collision replacement parts" longer than they do OEM parts! What a crock!
I also notice this reads U.S. so there likely isn't a similar warranty like this up here in Canada?
I thought of calling back that 1-800 number but I really don't know, at this point, what more I can say or add?
I know if I say I was up in there to have a look, they will say something in the lines of, you should have used your dealer.

I am befuddled (how's that for a word, lol) on what to do next? I really didn't think I'd be going through this already on a fairly new vehicle, especially one that has been well taken of and babied since new!

 

[likes2build]

Interesting that they warrant "Collision replacement parts" longer than they do OEM parts! What a crock!
I also notice this reads U.S. so there likely isn't a similar warranty like this up here in Canada?
I thought of calling back that 1-800 number but I really don't know, at this point, what more I can say or add?
I know if I say I was up in there to have a look, they will say something in the lines of, you should have used your dealer.

I am befuddled (how's that for a word, lol) on what to do next? I really didn't think I'd be going through this already on a fairly new vehicle, especially one that has been well taken of and babied since new! [/QUOTE]


OUR ANTI-CORROSION WARRANTY


This limited warranty includes perforation (metal rust-through) due to corrosion in normal use. Replacement sheet metal products, which prove to be defective due to perforation (inside-out rust-through only) will be repaired or replaced at the option of FCA Canada Inc. If the vehicle is eight (8) model years old or more, FCA Canada Inc. may replace the defective part with a comparable salvage part.

This warranty is not transferable to a subsequent owner of the vehicle. FCA Canada Inc. warrants, to the original purchaser only, Mopar® Replacement Sheet Metal products, including plastic bumper covers and grilles, against defects in material or workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns the vehicle on which the part is installed.



WHAT'S NOT COVERED
This warranty does not cover corrosion due to fire, accident, vehicle abuse, owner negligence or vehicle alteration; corrosion caused by sand, hail, airborne fallout, chemicals, salt, road hazards or stone damage; or surface paint deterioration or corrosion (other than inside-out perforation

 

[tomb]

On a 5yr old truck-an upper model to boot-this is crazy! And with 70,oookms. It scares me that this could soon happen on my 2012 Bighorn. We shouldn't have to be pulling off fenders and trying to dry them out with a hairdryer. Next rain or wash you would be back to square 1.If this happens on mine a will join anyone else on a class action suit. I didn't pay $60,000 to have a truck with paint blisters especially when I also baby mine with regular cleaning and waxing . Please keep us posted and maybe contact Ramcares. I do hope this is an anomaly because most rams of that year and older like mine still have beautiful paint. You deserve to have this rectified, atleast next spring. Please don't give up!

 

[tomb]

I also don't see how a piece of foam is going to help with sound dampening in a wheel well-If any engineers are out there-please chime in.-I would rather hear the odd stone hit the wheel-well than have the whole fender covered in paint blisters and an eventual rust-bucket.

 

[Hootbro]

I also don't see how a piece of foam is going to help with sound dampening in a wheel well-If any engineers are out there-please chime in.-I would rather hear the odd stone hit the wheel-well than have the whole fender covered in paint blisters and an eventual rust-bucket.

Not a audio engineer, but I can say that sound waves and resonance does some weird things in the perceivable space a person occupies. Sounds you think you hear coming from one area, can be really coming from a totally different area and so forth. Also, every little things costs money and adds up when you are building hundreds of thousands of an item and they would not just randomly put foam in a place it was not needed. So they had their reasons, even if it was not well thought through.

 

[U&A]

Do the HD trucks have this fiberglass tape?


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[likes2build]

On a 5yr old truck-an upper model to boot-this is crazy! And with 70,oookms. It scares me that this could soon happen on my 2012 Bighorn. We shouldn't have to be pulling off fenders and trying to dry them out with a hairdryer. Next rain or wash you would be back to square 1.If this happens on mine a will join anyone else on a class action suit. I didn't pay $60,000 to have a truck with paint blisters especially when I also baby mine with regular cleaning and waxing . Please keep us posted and maybe contact Ramcares. I do hope this is an anomaly because most rams of that year and older like mine still have beautiful paint. You deserve to have this rectified, atleast next spring. Please don't give up!

@RamCares

 

[tomb]

I still maintain that a 5yr old bighorn-very well maintained should absolutely not have paint blistering on the fenders or any panel of the truck for that matter. And if it were my truck I would absolutely be looking for some kind of a resolution to this issue as this member is politely looking for-and I for one hope he receives it.

 

[tomb]

swerve64- I am sure that any other members on this site would be pissed if this paint blistering happened on their relatively new truck. Keep on the dealership or RAM - I know I would-sound dampening is bull s--t!

 

[Swerve64]

On a 5yr old truck-an upper model to boot-this is crazy! And with 70,oookms. It scares me that this could soon happen on my 2012 Bighorn. We shouldn't have to be pulling off fenders and trying to dry them out with a hairdryer. Next rain or wash you would be back to square 1.If this happens on mine a will join anyone else on a class action suit. I didn't pay $60,000 to have a truck with paint blisters especially when I also baby mine with regular cleaning and waxing . Please keep us posted and maybe contact Ramcares. I do hope this is an anomaly because most rams of that year and older like mine still have beautiful paint. You deserve to have this rectified, atleast next spring. Please don't give up!

@RamCares

I haven't tried that route yet but will now for sure! Thank you!

I still maintain that a 5yr old bighorn-very well maintained should absolutely not have paint blistering on the fenders or any panel of the truck for that matter. And if it were my truck I would absolutely be looking for some kind of a resolution to this issue as this member is politely looking for-and I for one hope he receives it.

swerve64- I am sure that any other members on this site would be pissed if this paint blistering happened on their relatively new truck. Keep on the dealership or RAM - I know I would-sound dampening is bull s--t!

I agree, Tom, this definitely shouldn't be happening on a 5 yr old truck, especially one that has been rust proofed since new .(all bu 1 year) I have been busy lately dealing with other things but will get back onto this today, namely via the ramcares link that was provided.
I was hoping to hear something from CTV news and consumers alerts, but so far, nothing. Same goes for the man at another dealership. I was especially hoping to hear from him but that doesn't look like that is going to happen now either.

Thanks for all the words of encouragement and sorry for the late reply. I have good news, I'll definitely post about it.

Thanks again.

 

[tomb]

I would love to see this on CTV news or even better -Marketplace -either way you have me in your corner.

 

[renfrick1]

You know what’s funny??
When someone has a new truck and is having a unique problem, ramcares posts “ let me try and help you “
But when rust issues pop up they go silent.
My challenger started rusting after 6 years. 6 years!!
I love dodge but they have rust problems


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[PoMansRam]

I've had rust issues with Ford and Nissan products with in 2yrs. Subaru too, but it was in inconspicuous areas. I'm not discounting this FCA issue because I agree it's a problem with them too.

 

[likes2build]

You know what’s funny??
When someone has a new truck and is having a unique problem, ramcares posts “ let me try and help you “
But when rust issues pop up they go silent.
My challenger started rusting after 6 years. 6 years!!
I love dodge but they have rust problems


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That is odd about @RamCares, this is the second time I tagged them is this post about rust..........
The silence is deafening and might speak volumes about what they really know about the rust problem and hope will just go away quietly!!!!!!

 

[chrisbh17]

You know what’s funny??
When someone has a new truck and is having a unique problem, ramcares posts “ let me try and help you “
But when rust issues pop up they go silent.
My challenger started rusting after 6 years. 6 years!!
I love dodge but they have rust problems


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And vibration issues
And air suspension issues
And the lovely UConnect update that hosed audio
And .....

 

[Hootbro]

That is odd about @RamCares, this is the second time I tagged them is this post about rust..........
The silence is deafening and might speak volumes about what they really know about the rust problem and hope will just go away quietly!!!!!!

What do you expect "RamCares" or any other company internet rep to do? Most of these rust complaints are either past the 3/36 bumper warranty or do not meet the perforation (hole through) conditions of the corrosion warranty.

Most of these internet customer service reps are usually contractors and not direct employees. Many if not all work off a tree'd customer service script and will not deviate from it nor matter how much common sense it would be for them to do it.