Hi, I had a 2003 Monte Carlo for about 4 years and I took great care of it. After a couple of years I started to get bubbles in my paint in front of the back wheels and it wasn't long after the bubbles the fender lip started to fall apart and rust out. So I was wondering if this is a common problem? I traded my 03 in on an 07 but I am still curious.

Thanks

 

never had that problem on my 2003, however i now have small rust spots in a couple wheel wells due to snow, ice, and salt over the winters.

 

i have seen it on a few, it's a common area with the fuel door right there, and gas will make it rust, it has to be kept well washed and waxed

 

I wouldn't say it is common at all. My '04 has a 10 year corrosion warranty. Its hasn't a spec of rust, but it is winter stored. And washed a lot during the summer months.

 

mine rusted right above the Monte Carlo SS emblems...i drove it in the winter as little as possible and cleaned it all the time to get the salt off of it

 

Very common in the inside door seams - look under the black rubber strip at the bottom and you will find bubbling there. I had to fix especially my passengers side door. I'm guessing not good enough drainage and water just sits in there.

 

my doors were good...just around the wheels...alot of cars and trucks rust at the bottom of the doors anymore, it is like they cant figure out the drainage on them

 

Well they figure out the drainage.. the thing is, the holes in the bottoms of the doors stop up and then teh water sits on top of dirt and mud and rusts the bottoms of the doors out. The "window fuzzy" in the tracks that keeps water from going past it hardens over the years and water slips by. Then dirt slips by. Then it clogs up the holes and the water still gets in... and tada. Ford's were common for the same problem years ago. About once a year, you need to crawl under your door and clean out those little holes as best you can. One day I took off down the road after about 4 days of heavy rain and heard sloshing sounds in my door when it went up and down a hill, I pulled off, reached under the door and found the drainage hole, stuck my fingernail in it, and I bet 2 gallons of water poured out of that thing.

I don't know what to say about it rusting right above the Monte Carlo SS logo. That's weird. The common spots are like what have alreayd been said... which is every car, right at the top of the fenderwell opening. I think a lot of it has to do with where you live. I noticed you live in Iowa. Sounds like a place that is hard on a car, but you say you did keep it clean. May have missed a spot, sadly. And how little is "little as possible?"

 

Iowa can be really hard on cars with all the salt brine they lay down to keep the ice off the roads but I always washed it since i work at a detail shop(I don't think I missed a spot ). And really tried to keep it inside when it did snow

 

Is rust on an 02 a little too early? I just purchased an 02 Monte SS and it has rust bubbling under the paint on the drivers lower quarter panel. Its just in front of the divers rear wheelwell, buy the monte carlo ss emblem The rest of the body seems alright, but the black paint has alotta blemishes. Its a nice ride and was a good deal, but the rust is a lil discouraging though. Im looking forward to detailing it out, after this weeks crazy snow melts, lol. Hopefully thats the only area of rust on i'll find.