Hello,

I just bought a 2002 Ford Escape 4x4 XLT. There is a lot of rust in the interior of the car. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem, or if it could be something specific to this car.

CARFAX came back just fine.

There is rust on the rails underneath the drivers seat and passenger front seats, under the dashboard, behind the center console on the rails, etc.

Any help or input would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

I would say its went swiming. Or at least previous owner left a window down. I am not sure carfax is always up to date. My daughters 99 Grand Am was a salvage rebuild (and I knew it) but the carfax came back clean.

 

sell it sell it sell it. don't hold on to it or it might bite you in the ****. i agree with gasman it probably went for a dip and wasn't reported.

 

I dont quite agree. If the vechicle is in good overall condition. I does not smell. I may be ok. I assume the title was clear? Did you buy it form a Ford dealer? If so you might still be able to buy an extended warranty.

 

Hey Gasman,

Thanks again for your reply. The vehicle is in awesome condition. 25,000 miles. The interior of the car (besides the rust that you can't see unless you look for it) is great. The carpets are very clean and so are the seats. The exterior of the car is also in great condition. I bought it from a Ford Dealership and I do have a bumper to bumber warranty until 75,000. CARFAX showed that there were no problems with the vehicle.

You think I should keep it? I did contact the dealer about it and they want me to bring it over now so I am going to see what they say, but I LOVE the truck so I don't really want to get rid of it.

Thanks again and let me know what you think.

 

I would probably up the extended warranty IMHO, but yea I would keep it

 

None of the underseat parts were painted or plated from the factory. If the vehicle was in a high humidity or salty enviroment, it would show some surface rust. Not to worry, like all the dealers say "They all do that"

 

Thanks again for your help guys.

Have a great day

 

that is normal, they don't coat the interior...my 02 explorer has rust on the inside, hell i bet all of your cars have it.

 

Yeah - it's normal. Things like dash carriers, seat tracks, and support brackets that are typically hidden are not coated. They normally get a coat of light brown rust, and that's it. Those of us who spend a lot of time poking around for wiring problems know this.....(I jumped here from the old Bronco Forum to see if I could stir up some trouble.)

 

I used to work on custom car interiors in Florida . Some little old ladies living right on the beachwould leave their windows open all the time if it wasn't raining.. And let the salt air and fog blow throught the car 24/7. Everything visible they kept clean but everything not visible was a mess of rust.