When you purchase a new Ford vehicle, you may take extra precautions to protect your car from the elements. In some cases, though, it may be impossible to avoid rust damage, especially if you live in an area with excessive rain, snow, or humidity. That’s where Ford’s corrosion warranty can help. This warranty covers a variety of rust damages, helping you save money on repair costs. Review this guide to learn more about the Ford rust warranty, what it does and doesn’t cover, and the benefits of having this warranty for your vehicle.
What Is the Ford Rust Warranty?
When you purchase a new Ford vehicle, you’re probably not thinking about the possibility of rust, which can occur when the steel frame of the car becomes exposed to moisture, such as rain. Today, new vehicles, including Fords, use premium materials and durable coatings to prevent rust, also known as corrosion. Despite these advances, rust can and may occur over time, which is why Ford offers a warranty to cover corrosion damage.
Ford’s corrosion warranty is protection that covers your vehicle’s body sheet metal panels. If those panels become perforated through no fault of the driver, the warranty will cover the costs to repair the rust. The Ford corrosion warranty lasts for five years and unlimited miles. If your car becomes damaged by rust within those five years, you don’t have to pay for the repairs.
What Does the Ford Rust Warranty Cover?
It’s important to understand the Ford corrosion warranty so you know what it covers. Your Ford warranty covers one of the main types of corrosion, known as rust perforation. This occurs when a body sheet metal panel on your vehicle becomes perforated. This term means the rust has eaten through the metal completely, causing small holes to form. The Ford corrosion warranty will cover this type of rust for five years, no matter how many miles you’ve driven, as long as it’s not caused by an accident, abnormal usage, or extreme environmental conditions.
In addition, Ford will cover any rust damages caused by airborne material, known as environmental fallout, for 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first. These damages include rust caused by pollution, such as acid rain. If environmental fallout causes your vehicle to rust within the first year or 12,000 miles, Ford will repair the paint damage, meaning you don’t have to pay for the cost of those repairs out of pocket.
What Doesn’t the Ford Rust Warranty Cover?
The Ford corrosion warranty does not cover the other common type of rust, known as surface corrosion. This type of corrosion includes any visible rust on the vehicle, including rust that has not yet completely eaten away the metal to cause perforation. Surface rust includes damage to the chassis, which may be the result of various factors. Typically, the Ford rust warranty does not cover surface rust or paint damages caused by use or exposure to the elements, which may include:
- Dings or dents
- Road salt
- Windstorm, lightning, or hail
- Freezing, water, or flooding
- Stone chips or scratches on the paint
In addition, the Ford corrosion warranty won’t cover rust damages that occur as the result of an accident. If you notice rust on your vehicle after an accident or weather event, call your insurance company to see if your auto insurance policy will cover those repairs. Unless you can prove the rust is the result of manufacturing or material defects, it’s unlikely the Ford corrosion warranty will cover the rust damages in those situations.
Benefits of the Ford Rust Warranty
While the Ford corrosion warranty won’t cover every instance of rust damage to your vehicle, it’s still a comprehensive plan that offers solid protection against corrosion damage. Some benefits of this warranty include:
- Cost savings: Ford’s corrosion warranty covers the cost of rust repairs to your vehicle, which can help you save money by preventing out-of-pocket costs.
- Damage prevention: By using your warranty to repair damage before the rust spreads, you can prevent further damages to your vehicle, which may result in even costlier repairs.
- Safety protection: The Ford corrosion warranty may cover other damages related to corrosion, such as engine or battery problems, which can offer increased safety protection for you and your passengers.
Common Rust Repair Costs
If you notice rust damage on your car, it’s important to take it in for repairs immediately. Rust not only negatively impacts the appearance of your car, but it can cause serious structural and internal damage. When left untreated, rusts continue to eat away at the metal of your vehicle, which can compromise its structural integrity. It can affect the metal of the engine compartment and weaken the car’s exhaust system. In new vehicles, rust can damage the metal components of electronic systems, which can cause serious malfunctions related to the brakes and safety systems.
According to the business and automotive guide CostHack.com, rust repairs can range from minor to serious, depending on the extent of the damage. Minor repairs may include chipped paint leading to small spots of rust less than 3 inches in diameter, where major rust repairs may include deep areas of rust more than 12 inches wide. Depending on the cause of the damage, the Ford rust warranty may cover those repairs fully or partially. Here are the common costs of these repairs, according to CostHack.com:
- Minor rust repairs: $20 to $150
- Medium-sized rust repairs: $150 to $350
- Major rust repairs: $400 to $2,500+
What To Know About Extended Rust Warranties
If you want to supplement the Ford corrosion warranty or continue to have this coverage after the Ford warranty expires, you can purchase an extended warranty for your vehicle. An extended warranty may be particularly helpful if you live in a rough climate or an area where streets are often treated with road salt. Typically, you can purchase an extended warranty through a dealership or a third-party provider. You can often tailor these warranties to cover specific areas of your vehicle, such as rust. Shop around for an extended warranty to find the best one for your needs and budget.
Whether you’re purchasing a new Ford or you want to extend the warranty on your current vehicle, it’s helpful to know what these protections cover if your car becomes damaged by rust. While Ford offers a satisfactory rust warranty for new cars, it may be worth purchasing an extended corrosion warranty, especially if you often drive in rough conditions or inclement weather. These rust warranties can provide you with peace of mind, no matter where the journey takes you.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
