Hey All, 2009 Dakota SXT V8

I was just wondering what is up with my truck, I bought the truck used in 2011
with 40,000k on it, the truck has been running great so far I'm at 91,000 still 9 000 left on drive warranty, the truck had a few problems that been addressed and fixed , like multifunction switch gone bad, rear differential rebuilt and the front door seals replaced, I get a sound on passenger side when my window is rolled down half way and you shut the door it almost sounds like the window is gonna smash right out ..... I get it, all vehicles have some problems...
But this is 2009 truck and I am having a load of rust showing everywhere...,
its pissing me off as I really like the truck , my buds have a 2006 Ranger not a spot of rust, on my Dakota rust showing on bottom of doors (4 doors), bottom front of the box , when I pop the hood I see rust on the frame mounts...
This is sad... I love this truck , and I am deeply disappointed with the shiitty job dodge did with the paint job... I used to have a GM 10 year old it did not have half the rust that's showing on my 4 year old truck...
Is there anything that I can do through a dealer to address this issue,
I live in Alberta Canada , I know it snows here etc... but I am comparing here against other older trucks that also drive Alberta roads...
any help would be appreciate.

thanks .

 

The rust resistance of these trucks is poor and in some cases worse. If you don't have holes or bubbling paint, I would start by cleaning off any rust that's loose & getting a good application of Krown T-40. It's going to cost about $150, but it's well worth it to really slow down the rust progress. If you've already got bubbling paint or holes, you need to fix these first and then go with the T-40 treatment & re-do this every year. Now is a good time to apply this oil, it'll penetrate and spread better in the warm weather - take it for a run on a dusty road after the application to cut down on the oil drips.

 

It goes with the climate you live in. I've lived in snowy places where they didn't salt the roads--used gravel only. The roads stay icy and dangerous for a lot longer--I guess it's a trade off--rotting vehicles out in exchange for safer driving conditions.

When I grew up, in Michigan and in the 60's, you could get a 4 or 5 year old car for a couple of hundred bucks. I had a 5 year old Corvair you see the roadway thru the floor boards.

Lots of things go into getting a vehicle ready to paint. It would be nice to believe that the quality is automatic, but the buyer is at the mercy of the bean counters and indifferent management and workers. Chrysler went bankrupt for a reason--they built a poor product for years and it destroyed any semblance of a decent reputation.

I don't know rust preventatives anymore, I've lived in places where rust problems are kinda rare for many years (ya get spoiled.) I'd guess either the stuff Alfons suggests or a trip to one of the rust proofers (or a body shop) would be the way to go. Or don't drive the truck in the winter. (Yeah, I know, not practical.) One of the dodges people did in MI. was to have a winter car--a beater that could rust and be bashed.

 

Morph,

There is a 5 year or 160,000km, whichever is to occur first outer body panel corrosion warranty. Outer body panels are covered against holes caused by corrosion and pertains to sheet metal panel which can be seen while walking around the vehicle and the parts are painted the body colour. I would recommend having a Dodge dealer diagnose your concern as soon as possible as it is difficult to guarantee if your rust issues are covered under the warranty.

Keep in mind that this warranty applies only to holes caused by corrosion. Cosmetic and surface corrosion (resulting from stone chips or scratches in the paint for example) will not be repaired under warranty.

If you have any questions please PM me and I'd be happy to help.

 

Im kinda in the same boat, Ive repaced my Lower rad support due to rust, Then I undercoated (Paint type) the inside of both front fenders when I had it apart last summer. I now have rust on my Lower rear drivers door, and over both rear wheel wells along with the rear bumper again. I plan to get it done with the Krown T-40 (oilish) undercoat this year once I get hte rust fixed up.

 

Once rust sets into the seams, paint and other things that just cover it won't help - you need some penetration, rust pacification, and sealing, and the T-40 seems to do this for me. I was watching a TV show the other night and saw a product that looks really interesting - it's advertised to do the things that oils like T-40 do, but it's a "no mess" water displacement treatment that leaves a sealing coating just like the oil treatments. Here's a link to their site, have a look, they have service providers for this product in NS, so you can do a bit of cost and performance comparison.

 

The Box is my issue mostly, The door is easy to fix. I did the Fender with the paint type because they had no rust so it is also protection as-well.

My Parents had their car done with the Oil type, I planned to before winter but never got around to it.

 

To the original poster: do you wash your truck regularly? Even in the winter?

I know some guys that complain about rust, but don't wash their truck all winter long due to the cold temps. Guarantee you thats one way you get rust, you can't let all that salt/grime/dirt/etc. sit on the truck for months on end and not have problems later.

During the summer and winter, I wash my truck at least two or three times a month.

 

We don't use salt during winter in Alberta and when it snows we have no mud and crap, just snow and most of the time it is frozen solid until the thaw in the spring, its been proven at least my year dakota has a thin coat of paint, I drove my Jimmy for 10 years here and did not have a spot of rust lol , the problem with dakota is a crappy job folding door edges where water seeps in , the same top of my rear bumper already has some rust side panel box where it detail bends - a spot of rust behind the cab on the box rust under the hood front frame rusts .. lol sorry man 4 year old truck should not have a spot of rust even if you washed it once a year...
I love the truck , but the paint job is a complete effing FAIL.

 

Granted, mine only has about one third the miles yours does, but it is just a year newer and not a single spot of rust, so I'll have to disagree with you there.

However, you are entitled to your opinion.