I was just washing my tC and I noticed some dark spots on the top of my rear bumper...at the bottom of my trunk. When I looked closer, I saw oxidation...rust! I tried to wipe it away but no luck...here's a few pics:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/rossscarbro/DSC01439.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/rossscarbro/DSC01438.jpg

Not sure if you can see it well in those pics, but man...I've had the freakin' car for 5 weeks! Plus I live in San Diego...sure it's been a wet month but compared to most of the US it's nothing...

I'm calling the dealer tomorrow!

probably got defective paint or something. there is no way a brand new car should rust that fast. i'm sure the dealer will fix it.

wait on top of ur rear bumper cover?!? the rear bumper is not metal! that rust is coming from somewhere else.

depending on how these were shipped, it's probably rail dust. If they ever set foot on a railroad car, sometimes metals in the air implant themselves into the car.

If you have a lip spoiler, it was installed wrong. When they drilled the holes in ur hatch, they didnt properly get rid of all the metal shavings and now they're rusting on various parts of your car. Take it to the dealer.

All you aware that the bumper is not metal? Let's not start another false rumor about the tC, eh?

I did have them install a lip spoiler...hmmm...

But I've washed it many times since I've got it so I would think they would be long gone by now.

I thought the bumper was plastic and wondered about the rust...but it is what it is...

If you can't "wash" the rust off, I might try a clay bar. Make sure you read the directions. I had good luck with the meguiers bar and spray.

You may find that the oxidation isn't from your car at all.

Doesnt matter if you've washed it, microscopic pieces of metal and dust will fall down from your hatch onto your bumper over time, continuously and cause rust. Some other guy had this problem months and months ago, dealer said it was because of an improper lip installation and replaced his hatch.

rust could of came from anywhere

USE CLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's almost certainly from the lip spoiler. They're also supposed to paint the holes after they're drilled so there's no bare metal (which will rust over time.) Get your dealer to fix it.

Becuase its those little spots, I'm really leaning towards rail-dust. Same thing happened with my WRX. I clayed the whole body and it didn't come back.

rust on plastic? scion tC is just .. amazing!

C'Mon folks, lets not get carried away. That rust is there because of surface contaminants. Whether it comes from other vehicles, in the air, or in the rain, it happens. I had the same problem on two cars, and neither had any holes drilled, etc. Clay bar will get rid of it. There aren't going to be any bumpers replaced by Toyota or any such nonsense. You'll notice it seems to always accumulate in the rear on a horizontal surface. Its where all the funk you drive through ends up sitting.

indeed, gotta love the clay bar.

I hope my xB doesn't have that rusting plastic..... :lalala: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

FYI...the claybar worked.

I knew the bumper was plastic but had no idea where the "rust" came from. You guys were right...shavings from the trunk being drilled...

i have noticed that the hinges on the passenger and driver door, have minor rust where the hinge meets the car. i'm talking about the painted hinge on the bottom.

that doesn't even look like rust to me.

Actually It is rust, but its not actually your car rusting. When you drive, little flecks of metal from the road flick up and penetrate the paint. (hee hee i said penetrate) anyways, you can get it out but it takes a whole lot of time and effort. I've heard of people getting their car color blasted to get it out but sometimes a real good wax job can get it out. Dont worry all cars get it , mine has it too.

usually you will get rust spots like that around the wheel well area in the paint from the rotors, especially right after it rains, because the rotors rust like crazy when it rains, then when you brake, it shaves it off