Yaris Corrosion 3 Years Old

[HAZAURIS]

I purchased my Yaris Spirit with Panoramic roof in Mar 15, however during the past 6 weeks a leak has developed in the rear tailgate, wetting the rear seat and parcel shef, it is apparently coming through the 3rd seat belt anchorage in the roof. Having reported this to where I bought the car from at a Genuine Toyota Dealer, I have been told that this is very rare and Toyota are having to do an inspection on it before any work can be carried out. Please see picture attached showing the rust coming through the grommet, I just don't know how much corrosion will be underneath, very worried. At present at temporary fix has been done with some black sealant and it is very shoddy what they have done for the timebeing.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Hello - welcome to Toyota Owners Club.

Do you also have an Auris, as your profile is showing you do?

It would be normal for any car manufacturer to want to carry out an inspection of corrosion, using their own specialist, before deciding what remedial work is required. The temporary repair is probably to help prevent further leakage onto the rear seat and parcel shelf, but would need to not mask the original issue. So it may be unsightly but it would need to be easily removable so a proper inspection can be carried out - which could be done through the seat belt mounting hole using a camera to see what lies behind.

[HAZAURIS]

I used to have an Auris and this is now my second yaris. I fully appreciate that Toyota need to carry out an inspection on the vehicle before deciphering what to do with regards to the repair, however the communication has been poor from them. I have reported it to Toyota Finance as I feel they have a duty to know as they are financing the vehicle for me. I will keep you posted as to what is going to be done about it. I am just concerned as it is in an awkward area where the corrosion has developed, very bad design mounting the washer into the frame of the car and not on the boot like most other cars. I cannot be the only one with this problem.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Presumably Toyota GB won't have anything further to communicate until they've inspected the car and compiled the report for consideration.

As regards the position of the seat belt mounting, the mounting would be in the strongest and most suitable position. Most vehicles have the upper mounting for the rear seat belt high up on the C pillar rather than in the boot. A few do have the mounting nearer to the roof, so it isn't particularly an unusual place.

Given my time on the forum, this is the first thread I can recall, where a Yaris has had leaking from this area of the car.

[HAZAURIS]

Sorry I think you have misunderstood my comment, I am not saying that the rear seat belt anchorage is in an unusual place, it's where the rear windscreen washer is located in the frame of the car, not on the boot like most other cars. I've owned over 20 cars in my time and know this to be in an unusual place. No Toyota have not known this to happen before either, very rare apparently, but I am hoping that they consider a swap or I will be rejecting the vehicle if it is serious.

[MikeSh]

... but I am hoping that they consider a swap or I will be rejecting the vehicle if it is serious.

It's 3 years old and you are (presumably) the second owner, so I doubt you have any legal chance of 'rejecting' it. Original owners struggle with that when the cars are only weeks out of the dealer, and any legal claim is against the dealer, not Toyota.

I don't think you have much chance of getting anything beyond a repair. At this stage you need to read the small print of the corrosion warranty very, very carefully.

[HAZAURIS]

I have read the small print and although I am the second owner, my car has a 5 year warranty and also a 12 year anti-perforation warranty. Anyway I am not here to quibble over such details and I appreciate your comments, besides the only reason I posted this was to see if any other Toyota owners had come across a similar issue to the one in which I am experiencing. I have seen other manufacturers, ie Honda, Vauxhall owners who have had issues to do with corrosion and they have had them repaired and in other cases, swapped for a like for like vehicle.

[FROSTYBALLS]

The nozzle for the rear wash is attached to the tailgate not the frame. A flexible hose goes from the tailgate and is fed through the vehicle bodyshell to the wash container. The hose may be fed through parts of the vehicle frame.

Countless hatchback and estate cars have this arrangement. Our 2006 Corolla, 2009 Auris, 2012 Auris, 2012 Hyundai i20, 2015 i20, etc have all had this arrangement.

From what you've described, the hose appears to have developed a leak (presumably from one of the unions in the hose or from the hose itself) and leaked through the seat belt mounting onto the parcel shelf and rear seats.

[HAZAURIS]

The nozzle is situated in the rear break light which is in the tailgate, however difficult to see due to the rear spoiler, however the hose is fitted in the frame of the vehicle where the leak has been and feeds through to the nozzle underneath the frame of the car somehow.

I can only assume that there is a blockage, split or something that has caused the leak and it must be somewhere from the front of the car to the back, therefore it has found it's means of escape through the seat belt anchorage but I am surprised that during the months that I have owned the vehicle that it has caused corrosion in this short space of time.

I probably won't here anything until after christmas now but will update.

[MikeSh]

... but I am surprised that during the months that I have owned the vehicle that it has caused corrosion in this short space of time.

It is possible it has been leaking a little for a long time, but the corrosion has only become apparent recently. The leak may not have been noticed by the previous owner, or it may be (in part at least) why he/she decided to shift it on to someone else. As you bought it in March the leak might not have become apparent until the winter weather set in - if it's only small it will evaporate in the warmer weather and less rain in summer too (in theory).

Another possibility is that the hole where the grommet sits didn't get properly treated at manufacture, or got damaged during assembly or during some work on the car. Corrosion would then start soon after, but the grommet still seals the opening. As the corrosion progresses it will lift the paint over a larger area which eventually unseals the grommet and/or provides a path under the paint through the rust. Then you get leakage into the interior of the car which alerts you to the corrosion.

Good luck with the claim anyway.

[HAZAURIS]

After chasing them up again yesterday they have told me it will be the 5 January 2016 when it is being collected and then inspected by the specialists in order to see what repair needs to be done on it. I appreciate all your comments and will let you know the outcome. Thank you for your advice.

[HAZAURIS]

Update from Toyota after inspection.

The correct repair method would be that of a localised repair, this will include taking the affected area back to base metal and removing all corrosion from the panel, treatment of the panel and then made good and resprayed. On the 2nd area of concern this has been identified as a defect in the paint and not related to the 1st repair, this again will be taken down to base metal to confirm there is no corrosion and then resprayed.

This is great on a 3 and half year old car, just wanted to make all aware to keep an eye out on their rear washer grommet.

Very poor design in my opinion but at least it's getting put right. Just means next car won't be another Toyota, sadly.

Lost faith.

[Heidfirst]

so where would you place your faith? you may jump from the frying pan into the fire ...

a) your issue is not common

b ) Toyota have come through again on cs. Only Hyundai/Kia are likely to compare with length of warranty but they don't cover as many components for all of that & are they as likely to come across if you do need it?

c) if you are happy with your dealer that is worth a chunk

[FROSTYBALLS]

I've searched for threads on similar issues with the Yaris, and this is the first thread I've seen regarding leaks in this area. So it hardly seems to be poor design.

Anyway, you're presumably scheduled to have the repairs done at no cost to you.

Best wishes with whichever marque you move onto, but I would be surprised if your next choice offers the same level oif customer care when an issue occurs.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Interesting case in the Watchdog section of Auto Express this week (6th-12th January 2016).

A reader with a Focus (just over three years old and covered 20,000 miles - a similar age to the OP''s Yaris), noticed corrosion around the handle of the tailgate. The dealer confirmed it was a known issue - where the boot handle meets the boot lid, the paintwork wears away to bare metal. The bodyshop professional confirmed it is a common issue, and the dealer submitted a claim to Ford.

Ford refused the claim for repair as the car was outside the three year paint warranty, despite the defect being a known and common issue.

Quite a difference between how Toyota handled their customer's issue, and how Ford handled their customer's issue !! Especially as Auto Express got involved with the Ford case.

[HAZAURIS]

Just got my car back today from the dealer, they have taken it back to the base metal in the affected area, removed all signs of corrosion, resprayed the paint defect area and also my rear spoiler so it all blends in.  

Happy with the outcome now, so pleased to have it back, having had the new Toyota Aygo for a week.  It has been a great courtesy car but nowhere near as good as my yaris. As a gesture of goodwill my dealer has said that I will been given the next 2 MOT's free as I have a service plan with them also.    

[Kelntor]

Just to let people know, this is a problem with the Yaris. My wife's Yaris is 4 years old and has extensive corrosion around the grommets in the tailgate. It would be interesting to see how many people actually inspect the tailgate when cleaning their cars like I do, because it can easily be overlooked.

Hopefully we will get the same treatment as you have received, and it will be dealt with swiftly.

In brief, people who own a Yaris be aware of this problem and just check. The more people that report this, the quicker this will be resolved!

[Kelntor]

On 9/24/2020 at 12:36 PM, Kelntor said:

Just to let people know, this is a problem with the Yaris. My wife's Yaris is 4 years old and has extensive corrosion around the grommets in the tailgate. It would be interesting to see how many people actually inspect the tailgate when cleaning their cars like I do, because it can easily be overlooked.

Hopefully we will get the same treatment as you have received, and it will be dealt with swiftly.

In brief, people who own a Yaris be aware of this problem and just check. The more people that report this, the quicker this will be resolved!

Toyota have refused to repair the corrosion! So much for their 12 year warranty and customer service. Took it to an independent body shop and said repair will only mask the problem, he suggested a new tail gate. Looks like going to the Motoring Ombudsman with this!

[Catlover]

On what grounds have Toyota refused to accept your case?

When did you bring it to the attention of Toyota?

[FROSTYBALLS]

I would suggest that as the corrosion has not perforated the tailgate, that it is viewed as surface rust which is covered under the 'three year paintwork and surface rust warranty', rather than the '12 year anti corrosion and perforation' warranty.

The OP's case is different as it was caused by a leak in the tailgate which would have probab!y have been covered under 5 year new car warranty - the corrosion being a secondary effect which was also repaired. Also the OP's car was younger - three years old - so probably would still have been covered under the paintwork and surface rust warranty.

[Kelntor]

Toyota have refused to investigate the problem, the guy at the dealership only took pictures on his phone! Head office replied saying it's a paint issue and will not cover it as it's over 3 years old. Toyota even told us to go to the Motoring Ombudsman 'how weird'! We purchased the car from new it is 3years 10 months old to be exact. This problem has not been detected due to the unusual place it has occurred i.e. under the tailgate and around a grommet that has concealed this fault from manufacture! I would not expect a car from a company like Toyota to have these issues with paint work on any car of this age, to try their utmost to resolve this issue, and seem to be worming their way out of it?

On top of all this, we keep returning the car with an oversteer fault on full lock, resulting in renewing the two front tyres for every MOT. The dealer said they know about this and is a 'characteristic' of a Yaris!

[FROSTYBALLS]

So it was considered to be surface rust, and, as the three year paintwork and surface rust warranty had expired, was not covered.

Would have been the same result with other manufacturers.

[Kelntor]

Having the car serviced by Toyota there is a section upon which they are supposed to check for any sign of rust or corrosion, and this box is clearly ticked every time. 

For the money you pay you should have piece of mind knowing that these checks are completed, and not being in this situation now. So do we leave the rust a few more years and make a claim under the 'corrosion' warranty!

[FROSTYBALLS]

Your choice.

[mrpj]

Consumer rights, or whatever the legislation is called now, override a warranty. On a nearly four years old vehicle that rust should not be there and is unacceptable. Fit for purpose etc..

There must be many Yarisssss which don't have that issue, mine included at nearly seven years old. Not garaged and has been subjected to lots of salt laden rural roads over six winters.

To be fair, I doubt, during any inspection that rubber will have been lifted to check unless any rust was showing outside the flange at the time.