Car failed MOT due to rust

redruby

Hello all,

I wonder if someone can help me with a bit of advice, I Took my car into the garage this morning, for its MOT, (peugeot 307), its four years old, anyway the garage have just phoned to say that it has failed on rust under the drivers side door, which affects the seat belt anchoring. Now I know nothing about cars at all, but would a four year old car normally have that much rust on it ? . If it needs doing then obviously I will get it done, but shouldn't the body work last longer than 4 years ?

Thanks

anewman

I'd be calling peugot and asking if they have any corrosion warranty on the car. Unfortunately cars are made to make money - hence made as cheap as possible like anything else, they're not going to make a rust-proof car..

debt_free_soon

Peugeot have a 12 year anti-corrosion warranty, however there will be exclusions to this.

Any corrosion within 30 cms of a structural point (seatbelt mountings fall into this category) is an automatic failure.

redruby

Thanks for the replies, I am just off to collect the car in a moment, they can't do the work today, Should i be able to see the rust if I have a look underneath ?

Hintza

Ask them to show you then get in touch with the dealership. Might ahve a fight on your hands.

djheath

Yes I would say this isn't right. Modern cars today rarely rust like the ones form the 60/70/80's. Modern rust proofing techniques are very good and rust shouldn't be a factor. If you do have rust, then the warranty from pug should cover it, but the warranty usually only covers where the rust has occurred due to internal problems. I.e the paint wasn't scratched or body work broken on the outside to let water in. Therefore if you have scratched the paint and it then starts rusting then the warranty wont cover it.

From your car, it could be something like a door sear has failed allowing water to get into the body cavity and rust it from the inside out. Usually the seat belt mountings are covered in plastic so doubt they would be rusted from the inside out due to being knocked and bashed. I would definately get a Pug to look at it and see what they think.

If I had a 2004 year old car I would be very very shocked if it failed on rust problems.
Can you get pictures of the problem.

redruby

Hi

thanks for replies, I have just collected the car, and was told that they had marked the area with chalk, just took it up to my OH, and there is no rust, although there is a sort of dent and scratch, it looks like I may have thrown a large stone up whilst driving.

On the MOT fail the garage have put ' offside (outer sill ) seat belt anchorage prescribed area is fractured'

The dent is aprox 40 cm away from the seat belt, would this be a failure ?

Thanks again

anewman

When the MOT testers test for corrosion they apply pressure with some sort of implement, a crunch sound and giving way would indicate corrosion, the paint may be covering up the rust. I doubt the MOT tester would put this on if it wasn't a fail as you can complain to Vosa as described on the bit of paper he gave you.

Hintza

Well it sounds like you will either need the sill replaced or repaired. Get your trusty screw driver out and give it a stab in the rusty area (don't break fresh paint).

If you have thrown up a stone and it has rusted through you will need to take advice from a body shop on the cheapest and best way to repair it.

goldspanners

remember if you need to get some welding done under the car the interior carpet will have to be lifted around the area that will be welded to save setting it on fire or scorching it,this might require the seat to be removed aswell. this will probably take longer than the actual wleding job itself unfortunatly,so if you are handy why not offer to lift the carpet and refit it yourself to save a few quid on labour.
i done this with my capri years ago,had to take out front seats and centre console and pull carpet back into the rear of the car.

shown73

A four year old car with serious rust?? If true you surely have a good case against the manufacturers, but I would be very tempted to get another, qualified, opinion from a different garage. Why not a Pug dealer, for example. Something is definitely fishy.