I was giving my 2003 octavia a wash today (first time, only had it two weeks) and noticed that there were two nasty looking rust bubbles forming under the paint immediately below the rear window (one either side).I can see by looking closely that the rust has started under the glass and is now findng its way out. Critically, the paint is unbroken and the car has not been involved in any accidents (I'm fairly sure of this since it is definitely the original glass).

I've read that the car has a 10year corrosion warranty.Should these rust patches be covered?

iep

I'd say you stand a chance with that. Off to the dealers....

I thought it was 12 years perforation warranty, Other members have had paint issues in the tailgate,

I believe it is a 7 year warranty?

However as the paint is not surfaced damaged it should be possible to get a claim in. Just make sure you get a decent job done it. I had mine done last summer by Loders Accident Repair Center in Dorchester, and they have done a really cr@p job. I have rust bubbles reappearing within 6 months and the paint has rubbed off where the boot handle trim touchs the car.

I have now had to get Skoda customer services involved with getting it fixed. The body shop offered to respray it, so that must mean that admit they did a rubbish job, but have so far failed to ever send me the quote for a new boot handle trim and painting costs.

Just had my 2003 octy back from getting this exact problem sorted. I noticed a few bubbles at the bottom of the rear windscreen and a little rust at either end of the trim above the number plate when I cleaned the car.

I took the car to the stealers (Clock Garage - not been too helpful in the past) they took a few pictures then asked me to take the car to bodyshop they use for a price. The following week they called me and said that they sent the photos and quote to Skoda who approved the repair under warranty and I just needed to book the car in at the bodyshop.

When I picked the car up the guy at the bodyshop said they do quite a few of these, it's down to the glass rubbing on the body because it was fitted to low at the factory. Apparently they stripped the whole of the face of the tailgate back to the metal, sorted the rust and repainted it. Took 3 days. Looks good and I now have shiny new badges on the back too. Pretty quick and painless.

I to have a 2003 vRS (Estate) and have the same problem. Have you contacted the garage about the warranty - and how did you get on.

I was advised by a body shop expert that a new tail gate was needed

I took mine to the dealers two weeks back. They took some pictures and said they would get back to me. No response yet. In fact, I might give them a call now.

iep.

Chase them up...... I need to chase them up on mine, as it has been ages since I complained about the cr@p job that Loders in Dorchester did when they repsrayed mine. Make sure that when they do the job they check the seal / gasket on the boot handle trim (exterior) as appearntly mine has degraded which has now caused massive white spots on my paintwork in under 6 months. Useless.

The dealer is waiting for a response from Skoda. Reckon it could take up to another 3 weeks (2 already gone by). Don't mind waiting provided they eventually agree to fix it.

ip

I've got a hatch rather than the estate, but I do have the rust under the boot handle. I assume the gasket between the paintwork and the actual plastic handle has corroded?

I am not the orignal owner but from what records I have the car doesn't seem to have any accident repair work, I believe this is common though as speaking to other owners they also have rust in the same place, so this is definately something to do with the gasket.

Would this be covered by the warranty though as I was told by the dealer that this was just wear and tear as when you lift the handle it rubs the paint!

On the estate it is a well known issue, and you will not have a problem

getting it repaired under warranty

iirc the warranty covered from rust appearing under the paint. Rust caused by the paint rubbing away would in theory not be covered? Certainly my dealer said that rust caused by say a stone chip would not be covered.

The warranty covers rust that comes from inside the panel and will not cover corrosion that results from damage to external paintwork. It also covers rust that occurs due to manufacturing defects.

Since the rust that develops around the boot handle is a result of wear and tear on a grommet/gasket and then subsequent damage to external paintwork it is questionable as to whether it will be covered. However, the rust that forms under the rear window is a result of bad factory fitting of the glass. Not only this but the corrosion actually starts behind the glass and so can be described as starting inside the panel.

It is for this reason that Skoda have accepted warranty claims before. I just hope they accept mine.

iep

Last time I cleaned my 05 vRS I noticed a tiny amount of rust between the front grill surround and the bonet, anyone had this happen/repaired under warranty? My car has 117k on the clock, does this make a difference to the corrosion warranty?

Will be checking my boot lid when I go out to the car park.

Winner, warranty claim accepted and car left at paint shop this morning. Chuffed.

However, guy claimed he had never heard of the gasket that separates the number plate trim from the back of the car and stops it from rubbing the paint away (I know this has caused issues for some people).

Can anyone point me in the direction of a part number for this grommet?

Cheers,

iep

I've menat to ask about this, similar has started to happen to the joint on my front window wiper, the actual arm that attaches to the body.

Winner, warranty claim accepted and car left at paint shop this morning. Chuffed.

However, guy claimed he had never heard of the gasket that separates the number plate trim from the back of the car and stops it from rubbing the paint away (I know this has caused issues for some people).

Can anyone point me in the direction of a part number for this grommet?

Cheers,

iep

On my estate, the number plate is stuck straight onto the paintwork from what I can tell. The gasket is part of the plastic trim which is above the numberplate, and I believe is integral. Thus meaning a while new trim is required, and needs to be painted.

In my car, the Skoda dealer told me i needed to pay for a replacement trim and painting, eventually Skoda got involved and said it would all be sorted free of charge, but when they did the work they never changed the trim, so god only knows what is going to happen to my tailgate next. :(

Hi Mbames, thanks for the info. Really useful. The part I was referring to was indeed the plastic trim above the number plate.

I am guessing that the gasket is a stick on piece of plastic that comes with the trim but is not actually part of the trim. When the panel is sprayed, they would have to remove the plastic gasket and then replace it with a new one. This would explain why your garage ordered the trim part (to get the gasket) but used the original trim itself (to save spraying the new trim).

Cheers,

iep

Edited 28 May, 200917 yr by iep

Hi Everyone

I have got a 2003 Estate and noticed the other day paint coming away from below the rear window. So i made a mental note to have a look on here for any known issues, and as if by magic here it was (don't you just love this forum!) I am away in London so i asked my wife to go into Furrows Shrewsbury but she had already left town so she rang them instead.

Their response was "We have NEVER heard fo this issue and would like to see evidence". So she then rang Faintree in Bridgenorth and they said before she had even finished the sentence "oh yes we know all about it" and told her to bring it in to start the process ie photo's and forms etc.

Now according to Faintree, Skoda have stripped Furrows of their dealership status which is probably why the negative response, but it just goes to show it's worth ringing around. Anyway rant over but i would just like to praise Faintree they have always been brilliant. but by the same token i will never spend a single pound at furrows.

Hi Mbames, thanks for the info. Really useful. The part I was referring to was indeed the plastic trim above the number plate.

No worries, glad to help

I am guessing that the gasket is a stick on piece of plastic that comes with the trim but is not actually part of the trim. When the panel is sprayed, they would have to remove the plastic gasket and then replace it with a new one. This would explain why your garage ordered the trim part (to get the gasket) but used the original trim itself (to save spraying the new trim).

What I need is someone with ETKA to confim if the gasket can be sourced without the rest of the trim. Certainly when I was expected to pay for it, I was told I needed to fork out for the whole trim.

Anyway rant over but i would just like to praise Faintree they have always been brilliant. but by the same token i will never spend a single pound at furrows

Always some rubbish dealers around, and also some great ones around. Unfortunately my local two in Dorset are useless, I have to go to Yeovil to get some honesty! Glad you got a good result at the end!

Hi Mbames, I have searched etka (VagCat boards (Powered by Invision Power Board)) and there is no refernce to the gasket. The garage assured me that it was not necessary and that they could not order it without a part number anyway. I suggested the trim but they said I would have to pay.

Apparently, the trim has a thin layer of foam stuck behind it and it is this foam that fails. So, I might take the trim off myself and manufacture a gasket of my own.

On the plus side, the garage did a top notch job of the respray and threw in a full interior/exterior valet for free!

Car has never looked better!

ip