Frame rust.

[spectre6000]

Shortly after we brought my wife's JKUR home from the dealer (new in '16), I noticed some spots on the frame that looked like the frame had been shipped stacked after paint and before assembly. Little wear spots through the paint in places where another frame would touch top/bottom. She got a little POR15 kit. Converter, then encapsulator. She went around, and hit everywhere that looked like it might remotely be a problem at any time. Only used about half the little tiny cans, but it's held. 5 years and 80K later, it's probably time to hit it again.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Can convertors just be picked up in a normal store / auto parts store?

Yes. Either in spray form or in a bottle you brush on.
I aim for the Extend but the permatex is basically the same, works the same.

I think I even found some at Fleet Farm at one time. O'Reilly's should have it.

 

[TinMan2020]

I was looking to buy a 2023 gladiator and there were several on my local lot at great deals. Since I’m a bit OCD I look over vehicles really closely before and after the purchase. On the truck I was interested in I noticed surface rust on the frame, it was a brand new vehicle. I did a Google search and found this post. I then went back to the dealership on Sunday and looked under every gladiator. I join the Facebook group for gladiators and submitted three or four pictures and asked peoples opinion, or if anybody had any dealings with JEEP on fixing the issue . I got heavily flamed like I was stupid and maybe that was the right reaction to my post. I don’t know. I went to a different dealership and climbed under those gladiators and took pictures.

So here are the pictures. You can look at them as a big deal or not. It doesn’t really matter. I’m posting this so someone who climbs under their brand new vehicle and sees rust will know that it most likely came like that new from the dealership lot because all of the rust is consistently present.

Before I post the pictures, here’s what I saw on every single gladiator and on lot of the Jeep wrangler unlimiteds.

All gladiators had several scratches near the rear wheel on the side of the frame with exposed primer/steel.

All gladiators had marks on the bottom of the frame like they were rubbing in some sort of jig that rubbed the paint almost completely off from the frame.

Almost all gladiators had some level of either rust, or some other brown substance in the welds on the frame.

Most gladiators had a similar paint, rubbing/ scuffing issue under the frame directly under the side mirrors.

And finally, as seen in these pictures, all but one (which was a used gladiator) had some level of rust on the passenger side frame under the side mirror, and also usually had rust in the same position on the driver side.

The pictures are of vehicle either a brand new 2023 gladiators or a used jeep wrangler with a couple 21 and 22 gladiators as well.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The bubbled areas, where it's more flaky or swollen, would bother me more than any of the surface areas.

What I'd do - clean any loose or flaking rust off, clean off the surface rust of other areas, treat with Extend or similar, let it dry 24 hours, then paint with a quality chassis paint (Eastwood or others). I use VHT black as it's a tough, great match and is an "epoxy" type paint, reacting with the moisture in the air to set.

A couple of those look bad, IMO, a lot of types of rust in a couple of those pics, some are not a big deal and you'll end up with similar just driving it.

I can imagine the hard core rock crawlers were all over you - but if you live where I do - you nip that in the bud or end up with a frame ready to break in several years (and yes, I've seen it)

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I was looking to buy a 2023 gladiator and there were several on my local lot at great deals. Since I’m a bit OCD I look over vehicles really closely before and after the purchase. On the truck I was interested in I noticed surface rust on the frame, it was a brand new vehicle. I did a Google search and found this post. I then went back to the dealership on Sunday and looked under every gladiator. I join the Facebook group for gladiators and submitted three or four pictures and asked peoples opinion, or if anybody had any dealings with JEEP on fixing the issue . I got heavily flamed like I was stupid and maybe that was the right reaction to my post. I don’t know. I went to a different dealership and climbed under those gladiators and took pictures.

So here are the pictures. You can look at them as a big deal or not. It doesn’t really matter. I’m posting this so someone who climbs under their brand new vehicle and sees rust will know that it most likely came like that new from the dealership lot because all of the rust is consistently present.

Before I post the pictures, here’s what I saw on every single gladiator and on lot of the Jeep wrangler unlimiteds.

All gladiators had several scratches near the rear wheel on the side of the frame with exposed primer/steel.

All gladiators had marks on the bottom of the frame like they were rubbing in some sort of jig that rubbed the paint almost completely off from the frame.

Almost all gladiators had some level of either rust, or some other brown substance in the welds on the frame.

Most gladiators had a similar paint, rubbing/ scuffing issue under the frame directly under the side mirrors.

And finally, as seen in these pictures, all but one (which was a used gladiator) had some level of rust on the passenger side frame under the side mirror, and also usually had rust in the same position on the driver side.

The pictures are of vehicle either a brand new 2023 gladiators or a used jeep wrangler with a couple 21 and 22 gladiators as well.

Nothing new to be seen in the pictures. I've seen them come right off the car hauler with rust under them. I've never really gave it much thought honestly and to be honest don't really care.

 

[whiteglad]

As above, minimize the problem with Rustoleum or similar rattle cans. It also helps a lot to live in the desert southwest.

 

[chorky]

I can imagine the hard core rock crawlers were all over you - but if you live where I do - you nip that in the bud or end up with a frame ready to break in several years (and yes, I've seen it)

It's funny, in a not so funny way, how many people have gotten pissed at me for pointing out rust like that, even just surface rust. Especially when said person says 'oh theres no rust on this vehicle', or 'thats not rust it's just surface'. Well. Rust is rust. Yea bubbling and flaking is bad but it starts by first being surface rust. I think a lot of people just don't care or don't have the attention to detail or are trying to just ignore what they know deep down to be true.

 

[TinMan2020]

It's funny, in a not so funny way, how many people have gotten pissed at me for pointing out rust like that, even just surface rust. Especially when said person says 'oh theres no rust on this vehicle', or 'thats not rust it's just surface'. Well. Rust is rust. Yea bubbling and flaking is bad but it starts by first being surface rust. I think a lot of people just don't care or don't have the attention to detail or are trying to just ignore what they know deep down to be true.

It seems to me, judging by the problem existing on every single vehicle, that this is a quality control issue. Something in the process causes those scratches and scuffs that result in rust on a brand new vehicle. You would think after four years of making a vehicle they would have been notified and corrected the problem. What I’m realizing is that’s probably not gonna happen because 75% of Jeep owners know about the rust and just don’t care.

It blows my mind to even think about buying a $40,000-$80,000 vehicle, driving it home and immediately having to rattle can after sanding the frame.

 

[JW Jeep]

Ya mine had the scratches underneath. Probably jig or carrier marks ? Just a few spots and a couple see through spots around the welds. I touched up spots with vht spray can and brushed rust oleum on a couple spots before there was even rust. Doesn’t really even get wet out here in western Colorado except for washing or an occasional rain. Even the air is dry out here ?

 

[PuddleJumper]

Anyone else noticing rust on the frame and suspension? I've looked around on different threads and people mention the welds and such but what about non weld spots? My gladiator is currently at the dealership having the spots sanded and repainted. Claim is opened with Jeep and it's over 30 different spots between welds and actual frame.

I only have rust on the spots i dragged frame on while offroading. I need to get around to treating it and covering it up. But I have noticed especially at the welds that there appears to be gold zinc coating under the frame paint. Maybe they just started doing that, my truck was build less than 6 months ago.

 

[JW Jeep]

It seems to me, judging by the problem existing on every single vehicle, that this is a quality control issue. Something in the process causes those scratches and scuffs that result in rust on a brand new vehicle. You would think after four years of making a vehicle they would have been notified and corrected the problem. What I’m realizing is that’s probably not gonna happen because 75% of Jeep owners know about the rust and just don’t care.

It blows my mind to even think about buying a $40,000-$80,000 vehicle, driving it home and immediately having to rattle can after sanding the frame.

Ya when I first got mine home and looked underneath it pissed me off. I was sure it probably happened at my dealer when they checked it in. I bought it the same day it was delivered to the dealer. I searched on here and I think I even posted about it and found out it was common. Doesn’t even bother me anymore in the least. I was in the auto body field from the 70s To 2008 and I remember frames that had no real coating at all. Just a wax sort of fluid film coating at best When brand new.

 

[BlackRuby23]

Picture 3 (1) looks a bit concerning. My opinion is that it's not so much a rust issue as it is a substandard steel issue. A lot of these newer vehicles, irrespective of brand, are rusting much faster than older ones did. It's like the frame is rusting internally even before the paint was applied. GM, Toyota, Jeep, etc.

I happen to have a 1997 Ram pickup that has almost no rust to speak of on the frame, has spent its entire life outdoors, has driven on snowy roads out west where they use salt and brine, and which looks like the body and frame will last another 30+ years.

I have not gotten under my new Gladiator but will once the nasty weather is gone. If I see any issues I will take care of them myself. I trust I'd do a better job than the dealer.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It's funny, in a not so funny way, how many people have gotten pissed at me for pointing out rust like that, even just surface rust. Especially when said person says 'oh theres no rust on this vehicle', or 'thats not rust it's just surface'. Well. Rust is rust. Yea bubbling and flaking is bad but it starts by first being surface rust. I think a lot of people just don't care or don't have the attention to detail or are trying to just ignore what they know deep down to be true.

If you've seen what I've seen, at least around here, and in my restorations, you at least try to minimize it. I figure when new, start as if it's new - it will get bad enough fast enough.

My opinion is that it's not so much a rust issue as it is a substandard steel issue. A lot of these newer vehicles, irrespective of brand, are rusting much faster than older ones did. It's like the frame is rusting internally even before the paint was applied. GM, Toyota, Jeep, etc.

Not sure how "substandard steel" is an issue in rust. Treatment, prevention, etc. can make any steel last. "Substandard" would be an alloy and that's not going to play much into rusting.
besides, much of these frames are high strength steel - better than "standard".

I'll definitely argue the point - new vehicle rusting faster.
Naw, You've not seen fast rusting like I've experienced over the decades. Todays vehicle, with even only decent care, can outlast older vehicles.

 

[BlackRuby23]

If you've seen what I've seen, at least around here, and in my restorations, you at least try to minimize it. I figure when new, start as if it's new - it will get bad enough fast enough.


Not sure how "substandard steel" is an issue in rust. Treatment, prevention, etc. can make any steel last. "Substandard" would be an alloy and that's not going to play much into rusting.
besides, much of these frames are high strength steel - better than "standard".

I'll definitely argue the point - new vehicle rusting faster.
Naw, You've not seen fast rusting like I've experienced over the decades. Todays vehicle, with even only decent care, can outlast older vehicles.

I have read a lot about frame rust on Toyotas, GM, etc. in recent years, and I don't think I've ever seen any sort of conclusion as to why some of these newer vehicles have accelerated rust versus the older models of the same brand.

Maybe with your expertise you could get paid to resolve the issue and save the companies hundreds of millions of dollars. In fact, I think Toyota's frame replacement on the Tacoma cost the company over $3 billion.

 

[ZoMojave]

What was missed is the common frame end rail rust/bubbling at the rear tow hooks. Mine started rusting in the Summer a few months after I took delivery even before the sloppy and salty road conditions began in the Winter months.

I'm sure many here are familiar with this area. ?

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