The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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New Car Rust

I just recently bought brand new 2007 Toyota Rav4. Just days after I brought it home my fiancee showed me a dent on the roof of the car, in the middle of the dent was a chip. It was very tiny chip but it had already started to rust. I am completely certain that I had no part in damaging this vehicle. I was wondering if you could tell me how long it actually take for a brand new cars paint to rust?

Susan Anthony
Stylist - Niagara Falls, NY, United States
2006

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The paint on new cars of all makes is good quality, and will protect the steel for a long time, however, as you can see, once the paint is broken or chipped off, the underlying steel rusts quickly. No doubt something struck the car cause the dent and chip. Get a tube of touch up paint from the dealer and fix the chip to stop the rusting.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2006

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First of two simultaneous responses --

Susan, steel(new or old) starts rusting as soon as it's(in short) "exposed to the elements". I doubt you will get anyone to give you an answer here as to how and when the damage to your vehicle occurred.
But maybe the person that threw the rock, that hit your car, that caused the dent, that chipped the paint, that exposed the metal, that is now rusting is a user of this site and might fess up. Stranger things have happened.
I would definitely get it fixed as quickly as possible if I were you.

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
2006

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

Susan,
If the paint is chipped and bare metal is exposed, rust can occur in just a few days. If the car was purchased within the last thirty days, the dealer will usually cover a small dent repair at no cost to you. You will probably have to leave the car with them for the day though.

Mark Baker
Process Engineer - Syracuse, New York
2006