For long time owners, where do Prius rust first? I wish to know to protect those areas.

Dug up this old thread. I got a ding on a side panel and it was deep enough that the metal is exposed and I already see some rust. Can anyone suggest any remedies? Its not just a scratch, its rectangular about the side of a usb port.

 

Sand lightly to remove surface rust and paint with toyota touch up paint.

 

How much does touch up paint usually cost at a Toyota dealer? (I assume that would be the only place that would carry the proper colors? ie Driftwood Pearl)

 

I think it was about $8 at the dealer; no one else has it. It matched my car very well.

 

My 2008 Prius with 106,000 miles has severe rust showing in front of the right rear wheel rocker panel. It's the only one I have seen with rust. The rest of the car looks OK.

 

I buy/sell a lot of cars and have had a few priuses over the years....Never really seen them rusty (aside from the
bolts and parts on the underbody). Just run it through the carwash regularly and wax it 1 or 2x per year. They are not known to rust.

But, I bought a 2005 from Atlanta, Georgia....It was really a Vermont car per carfax....It has holes in the rockers! I couldn't resist for $1500 and I was bidding from my computer and couldn't tell how bad it was....

It only has 135K miles and hopefully when I price it low the buyers will overlook the cosmetic issues....I have $3000 into it after doing a bunch of work and will probably sell for a loss.

You win some and you lose some!

 

Looks like someone painted it over? The bottom's completely gone, lol.

 

The first car I owned (was my old man's commute car prior) was a 1990 chevy cavalier where the rocker panels completely rotted away.

Ended up replacing with some aluminum siding and some rivets. It was white like the car, so no paint matching required .

Similar location to what you have going on there.

 

Especially bad in the rear....Yes, seems like they used bedliner or whatever material they use on trucks that rot...

What is saving me is miles are only 135k, has new front struts/sway bar links/brakes/rotors, new rear brakes and 1 wheel bearing, and seems to be otherwise functional aside from rust.

Couldn't sell it with the ABS/Brake/VSC light on so had to do wheel bearing...Then replaced exhaust manifold as it sounded like a motorcycle...Then 1 thing kept leading to another and ended up putting about $1000 into it.

It's not listed yet because the wiring on the drivers side headlight was snipped which is another BS issue I have to deal with. Even with the rust has to be worth around $2500 in Michigan where rust isn't that surprising. Some Uber driver or young person or someone on a tight budget will hopefully take it off my hands!!!!

------------------------------------------------------

In other news got a real beauty today. Only 145K and has leather. I'm keeping it. Only issue that I am aware of is tires are due to be replaced. My cost is the same as the rusted prius but after I put Michelins on it that cost will skyrocket..And then a chance Belle Tire measures pads/rotors and says they need to be replaced...will find out tomorrow on that bill.

 

I have an 07 from New York. Found out checking the VIN. I don't have any rust. Daughter has an 09, also no rust. Oh yeah, we get rust on the front rotors if we don't drive them enough.

 

haven't seen any body rust, but the undercarriage?