Some of my door and tailgate seams are starting to rust. My tailgate and the backside of both supercab doors are showing some brown. Before this winter I scuffed up the tailgate seam and painted with 2 coats of por-15, but it seems that that didn't do the job. It's probably a shot in the dark, but should I ask Ford? This isn't perforation so they most likely will not cover it.
Pics attached



Tailgate seam





passenger side





Original owner.....





Drivers side

I think the supercab door rust is weird since it's on the backside and not on the bottom. What do you guys think I should do?

 

I would ask Ford. Can't hurt.

I also think it's ridiculous how fast these trucks are rusting. I tried to buy a couple 2011 trucks but walked away because they were rustier than my 2003 Ranger. I know a lot of that is due to owner care but still... Damn.

 

I also think it's weird where the doors are rusting in this situation. Usually it's at the bottom since water and salt collect there. In this case it seems like water must be spraying up while driving in the salt and snow and sneaking in the back doors. I think I'll give it a try and ask ford.

 

As far as the doors go, because you scuffed and applied POR-15 on them, it's now been altered and Ford may not warranty those areas now. To my knowledge, the metal has to be perforated for Ford to perform a warranty repair. It's not just Ford trucks showing rust in my area, but all of them here in South Jersey because of all of the salt and brine that are put on the roads during the winter, IMO.

 

I haven't touched the doors I only painted the tailgate seam. They will probably just say it isn't perforated, but I think I'll still mention it at my next oil change. All the trucks around here (Boston) show rust too. All the salt and calcium in the brine they put down does a number on cars.

 

once rust has started in those seams it almost impossible to stop since you can't get to the source of the rust which is behind the seam. I doubt Ford will do anything about it since it's not rusted through.

 

Looks like that rust is starting from inside the door seams and coming out. Maybe from water drainage through the door. Double check your drains aren't plugged and holding water!

For me, I spray AT LEAST inside the doors and rockers with fluid film in later summer or early fall each year. My 2011 does not show any rusting issues thus-far.

 

When I sprayed fluid film this fall I noticed the rust on the tailgate, but I didn't notice the doors until now. I will definetly check the drains. If there is a drainage issue I could have some sort of grounds to stand on about a warranty.

 

There was a guy that started another thread awhile back about his 2011 or '12 F150 having rockers that were rusted through. It was found to be caused by a misplaced drain line from his moon roof that was draining water into an area that did not have a place for the water to go. If memory serves me Ford wouldn't not help him out with the repair.

My buddy works in a bodyshop at a Ford garage and he said Ford has the corrosion warranty set to only benefit Ford. He said it usually takes a pretty bad screw up on Fords part for a part to rust through within the warranty period. He has also never seen Ford honor the warranty on parts that have surface rust, even if it is in an area that will rust through eventually.

 

Do you know how ford would fix it if they did? I would be okay with paying a private body shop to fix it if it's done right first try.

 

For the door sill, I installed OEM sill guards. Part number CL3Z-15132A08-AA. They were $27 at my local dealer.

 

Those covers look really nice thanks. They will be going on after I paint the door sill. I feel like they should be factory.

 

I think they are at some of the higher trim levels, or perhaps an option.

Glad I could help

 

Sill guards came on my 2011 XLT with basically no options.

 

I want those too Robbgt. I didn't know those existed! I scuffed my sills and now try to be careful; I was just at the dealer today... guess I'm headed back.