Rust On Tailgate :(

[AXMACD]

I washed my HL today and noticed some stubborn dirt underneath my rear license plate. Upon further inspection I found out it is rust. Some part under the rear license plate trim is rusting and the rust is dripping down and staining the paint. I haven't even had this car a year and I'm already having to deal with problems like this?

I know BUT I assure they're coming.

Has anyone else had problems with rust on their tailgates?

[TrailDust]

Yah, pics or it didn't happen! Seriously, I agree that I'd have to see it for further comment. I haven't encountered any rusting problem of the tailgate myself.

[luck123]

Yep, its coming from the nuts inside the tailgate to which your licence plate screws attach. I remember reading another post months and months ago with same issue. They must have used the cheapest quality metal on the license plate nuts welded to the tailgate.

I only know this 'cause I had to take my license plate cover off last week to attach my renewal sticker to my plate. When I unscrewed the plastic screws, I noticed the inside of the nuts were rust color. Mine had coating, which I believe was the Krown rust proofing I had done in Nov.

Still, to be safe that it was not water, I am going to remove them again and apply some rust preventative.

For fellow Canucks....get a can of Rust Check at local Cdn Tire (the stuff in the green can runs less than the liquid in the red can):

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/AutoBodyRepair1/AutoBodyRustControl/PRD~0477921P/Rust%252BCheck%252BCoat%252B%252526%252BProtect.js p

[AXMACD]

Originally Posted by luck123

Yep, its coming from the nuts inside the tailgate to which your licence plate screws attach. I remember reading another post months and months ago with same issue. They must have used the cheapest quality metal on the license plate nuts welded to the tailgate.

I only know this 'cause I had to take my license plate cover off last week to attach my renewal sticker to my plate. When I unscrewed the plastic screws, I noticed the inside of the nuts were rust color. Mine had coating, which I believe was the Krown rust proofing I had done in Nov.

Still, to be safe that it was not water, I am going to remove them again and apply some rust preventative.

For fellow Canucks....get a can of Rust Check at local Cdn Tire (the stuff in the green can runs less than the liquid in the red can):

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/AutoBodyRepair1/AutoBodyRustControl/PRD~0477921P/Rust%252BCheck%252BCoat%252B%252526%252BProtect.js p

Nope, it's not coming from there. It's coming from under the H I G H L A N D E R trim piece on the tailgate. The rust is dripping from there under the license plate. It looks to be coming from the middle, right next to the release leaver. Goes in on the 18th for MVI and a few other things, better add this to the list.

[TrailDust]

Makes me wonder if this is a salting the roads issue, with the rear of the vehicle being saturated by salt spray that is corroding a component in the area you described. Be interesting to see if people like myself who live outside of snow country have no problem with tailgate rusting, but people up north do encounter it.

[AXMACD]

Originally Posted by TrailDust

Makes me wonder if this is a salting the roads issue, with the rear of the vehicle being saturated by salt spray that is corroding a component in the area you described. Be interesting to see if people like myself who live outside of snow country have no problem with tailgate rusting, but people up north do encounter it.

This car was built less than 2 years ago. It shouldn't be rusting due to ANYTHING. It's even been rust protected. Times like this I wonder why I ever sold my other Highlander? I'm half thinking about cutting my losses and switching to the dark side..

[TrailDust]

I'd be very interested to know which part is causing the problem.

[luck123]

Originally Posted by TrailDust

I'd be very interested to know which part is causing the problem.

Yes, so would I. I've only had my HL for a yr, but if I am seeing rust on the licence plate nuts, its got me wondering what else is going on in there. What worries me more, is that its rusting even though its been rust protected. Still, AXMACD has a point.....rust should not be an issue 2 yrs in.

[konde.koma]

WTF? Really? Good thing we have a corrosion warranty. All these things coming up with Toyota lately is really catching up. I actually think the brake problem I was having, which I posted on a different thread, may have something to do with the electronic throttle or transmission program now that all these issues are coming up with braking and accelerating.

[AXMACD]

[AXMACD]

[evoman]

Hey I thought i was the only one....i didnt mention it cos i just fixed it with touchup paint.

My problem is that it is rusting under the paint on various parts of the tailgate and near the rear quarter window. It is like paint bubbles and when you take a pin and pry off the paint...rust is underneath the paint bubble. I found 4-5 spots and pry them open with a pin...revealing rusty body metal...then i taped the area with tape...sanded the rust clean with a 3M paint chip brush....then i applied some primer and then some touch up paint and finally a dab of clear. Then I buffed it out with compound and it is not too noticeble now. If i didnt do anything this would have bubbled away underneath and would have been much much worse! I was pretty dissapointed to see this on a brand new car that is garaged most of the time too. Toyota....your QC is really beginning to show

So all you guys, check your paint and fix it before it gets worse!

AXMACD take off the highlander trimming and find the rust spot, clean it up and apply touch up! Once rust takes hold under paint...it is like cancer...spreading fast! Or better yet, make the dealer do it.

[AXMACD]

Originally Posted by evoman

Hey I thought i was the only one....i didnt mention it cos i just fixed it with touchup paint.

My problem is that it is rusting under the paint on various parts of the tailgate and near the rear quarter window. It is like paint bubbles and when you take a pin and pry off the paint...rust is underneath the paint bubble. I found 4-5 spots and pry them open with a pin...revealing rusty body metal...then i taped the area with tape...sanded the rust clean with a 3M paint chip brush....then i applied some primer and then some touch up paint and finally a dab of clear. Then I buffed it out with compound and it is not too noticeble now. If i didnt do anything this would have bubbled away underneath and would have been much much worse! I was pretty dissapointed to see this on a brand new car that is garaged most of the time too. Toyota....your QC is really beginning to show

So all you guys, check your paint and fix it before it gets worse!

AXMACD take off the highlander trimming and find the rust spot, clean it up and apply touch up! Once rust takes hold under paint...it is like cancer...spreading fast! Or better yet, make the dealer do it.

I don't mean to sound like a snob, but I'm not doing that. I shouldn't have to do a paint repair on a vehicle that was built less than two years ago AND that has been RUST CHECKED. I'm not mechanically inclined and if there is one thing on a vehicle I don't like to touch it's body work. I'm going to ask to see the tailgate once they take the trim piece off so I can see what is actually causing the rust.

[evoman]

I hear ya AXMACD, I wouldn't really have done all that work either...was pissed about it actually! But I dont trust the dealer either...so i had to do it myself. There was also rust on the license plate threads where the bolts go in. I'm using stainless steel bolts so its not the bolts. I applied some anti-seize to the threads and all is good now.

Let us know how it goes with your tailgate....would be interesting to see where its rusting.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by evoman

Let us know how it goes with your tailgate....would be interesting to see where its rusting.

Ditto, and a photograph if you have the opportunity to take one.