[mahagowitz]

pitted factory paint on 08 SLT - rail dust?

I live just outside of Chicago, and we've had a rough winter this year. I just finished washing my 2008 Nitro and was looking at the chrome over the rear plate. It was a little hazy so i got a rag to polish it some and noticed the chome starting to pit and rust through some. I looked over the whole rear hatch area and have some pin hole pits and some rust coming out of them too. Then I looked over the side doors and there is pitting in the paint there also. Everywhere the body is metal it is pitting. I orderd the Nitro and picked it on October 31st and used it all winter in the snow (SLT 4x4) and it was great but I am really disappointed in the paint job. Is anyone else that lives in a northern climate with snow and salt on the roads having this problem? It's Sunday so there is no way of contacting the dealer intil tomorrow.

 

[mahagowitz]

I been looking around and have seen on other sites and an avenger forum and there is a lot of talk about rail bust. I'm 32 and never heard of such a thing. has anyone else had a problem like that or anyone they know? Will Dodge fix it? Am I s.o.l.?

 

[Scott Motorsports]

I'm west of Chicago and bought mine in early December..no problems here so far

 

[Scott Motorsports]

No Problem here

I have a R/t not sure if that matters

 

[MeanGirl]

Scott....does the paint look like an orange peel.....if so, my dad says that it is normal, that is the way they are painting things now-a-days....it is textured. and because of such texture the door skin from an accident had to be replace, the repairs showed a smooth area and the light reflection was poor due to the smooth/texture look

 

[Waldorf]

it can't be rust as that part above the license plate is ABS plastic with chrome paint. it just may be a bad paint bond to the plastic. have your dealer replace the part!

 

[mahagowitz]

I went to the dealer today and spoke to the service manager. He kinda confirmed about this "rail dust". He told me its caused by all the contaminants that cars may kick up on the roads, brake dust, and then rusted out by the snow and salt. I have an 82 mile round trip for work and I bought the Nitro for the snow and ice so I can see that. The man got some fancy cleaner that only special people have and polished up the chrome (plastic) over the plate where I first noticed the rust spots, and I'll be damned it took em off. Then I showed him a rather large moon shaped spot that looked like you stuch yer finger nail in it, and it cleared up. He let me know it was kinda normal and a lot more noticeable on white paint, and to get one of the clay bars and do that whole treatment after the winters to clean it all up. Apperantly with the new polymer paints companys use they are flexable but weaker than the paint companys used back in the day, which is good for no flaking or peeling of paint but it gets penatrated by this "rail dust" more and it just kinda sits there. I hope this information helps someone out there who wakes up one day and thinks they may have just got shafted by the second largest investment they have.

 

[Quiet Lunatic]

If you work in or around an industrial area you'll also notice those types of rust spots. Once again it's from airborne steel particles that settle then eat into your paintwork....

 

[lilbeautysxt]

I'm taking my Nitro in this afternoon to have them check out my roof racks that popped up over the weekend and I'm going to have them check out my paint too. I washed mine yesterday and have noticed lots of orange spots all over the vehicle. We have had a pretty hard Iowa winter, but come on. I've only had it for a year! Anywho - maybe I can talk them into a free detailing in a few months

 

[dk1677]

I'm taking my Nitro in this afternoon to have them check out my roof racks that popped up over the weekend and I'm going to have them check out my paint too. I washed mine yesterday and have noticed lots of orange spots all over the vehicle. We have had a pretty hard Iowa winter, but come on. I've only had it for a year! Anywho - maybe I can talk them into a free detailing in a few months

I have had that in the winter on cars most noticeably on white ones ( the first was a white Saab and I thought it was rust too) and found it to be contaminates on the road in the salt and sand they use , a good cleaner wax or clay bar will get it off followed by a good wax job ( I think too its the wax that was on it ,the junk sticks to it ,I have found Megueirs Gold Class to be excellent and have not had it with that)

 

[lilbeautysxt]

Good to know good to know!!!

 

[lilbeautysxt]

Hey everyone -
I went to my dealer after work yesterday and they are replacing the roof rails (covered under warranty) and they also said that they would take care of the rail dust for me (one time for free), and they're gonna wax it for me after that too! I was concerned that I made a stupid move by not getting the clear coat protectant, but the guy I talked to said that the rail dust can eat through that stuff too. So now I don't feel AS stupid