The car has 297 miles, he noticed the rust a few days after he bought the car while washing it. Some people are saying it's normal, what do you think?
We bought our first Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and during the first weekend of ownership, I took some time to get to know it. When I went to check out the suspension and clearance I noticed something odd, there was a large amount of surface rust on the metal surfaces and oxidation on the aluminum, front to back.
I contacted my dealer and their response was "this is normal". We verified this JKU was not a DX from another part of the country; it was built in January 2013, and was shipped directly from Toledo, OH to Virginia - so trying to link this to Hurricane Sandy flooding did not seem plausible.
My dealer and I contacted Chrysler separately and Chrysler's official response today was "this is normal and surface rust does not affect the operation of the vehicle." True, at the beginning - but is that what Chrysler told 2004 Pacifica owners and later when their subframes rusted through?
After 297 miles of ownership, and new car smell, we are at a crossroads. Do I attempt to refinish the rusted areas, but how can I be certain the various areas are properly protected for years of use.
Spending $30k+ for a new vehicle, and for the manufacturer to claim it is "normal" is unfortunate from a quality control perspective and disheartening as a consumer.