jimp Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 I have a 2010 Focus and it's just passed 5.5 years (6 months after rust warrante ends) and both rocker panels are rusted through front to back. I was wanting to know if this is normal or am I just very lucky? I live where they use salt, but it very seldom got into my garage without a wash (2 blocks from car wash) until I moved this spring. I looked it over and it looks like they made no attemp to keep water out of the rockers, great big drain holes (also allow salt and water to get inside). When I sprayed up in these holes the water just leaked out all along the bottom seam. This does not seem like a good idea. I have since used a rust conversion spray inside the panels to slow it down, but the car is only worth about $4,000 or less so it's drive till dead. I am brand loyal (2014 KR Expedition, 1996 EB Bronco and 1996 F 250 4x4) but this is putting a real strain on that loyalty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 I have a 2009 with 160k on it. I also live in a state that uses salt. Do you have any pictures you could post of the rust? I have a couple spots in the rear fender wheel well lip and the bottom rear corners of the rear door openings but they are just surface rust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 It didn't happen within the last six months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Actually drain holes like that prevent rust. Trapped moisture will lead to rust through very quickly. It also lets the factory rust treatment get in there. First I've heard of this type of problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimp Posted October 23, 2015 Author Share Posted October 23, 2015 It didn't happen within the last six months. I know it's been rusting for a long time from the inside, it just broke through to the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimp Posted October 23, 2015 Author Share Posted October 23, 2015 Actually drain holes like that prevent rust. Trapped moisture will lead to rust through very quickly. It also lets the factory rust treatment get in there. First I've heard of this type of problem. All the cars I have seen before had channel drains in the pinch seam. This allowed moisture to drain while limiting the amount of road salt and water that could get inside. My Focus has 5 or 6 holes on the bottom of the rocker that opens directly to the inside of the rocker allowing salt and water to freely enter the rockers as you drive down the road, I still think it's not one of Ford's better ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 If it was a design issue I think we'd see a lot more like yours and this is the first time I've heard of it. And we have plenty of owners who live in similar snow and salt situations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 (edited) I know it's been rusting for a long time from the inside, it just broke through to the outside. You knew this yet didn't bring it to the dealer to look at it? Edited October 23, 2015 by twintornados Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimp Posted October 23, 2015 Author Share Posted October 23, 2015 You knew this yet didn't bring it to the dealer to look at it? I could not see inside the rocker. The first I noted was raised paint a couple weeks ago as it rusted from the inside out. I now have about 20 rust blisters about ready to pop open. I wash the car often and if they were visable I would have done something about it when it was under waranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimp Posted October 23, 2015 Author Share Posted October 23, 2015 If it was a design issue I think we'd see a lot more like yours and this is the first time I've heard of it. And we have plenty of owners who live in similar snow and salt situations. I still don't think that it is one of Ford's best ideas. However, as in my original post, am I just unlucky and got a car that missed one of the rust proofing steps? Since it does not seem to be a big issue I guess that's the case. It still pisses me off that Ford let it happen and the timing. I like to keep my cars for a long time and this one not likely to make my goal. The 96 F 250 is rust free and my Bronco has had to have the rear wheel wells replaced not bad for 20 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-150 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I've seen these in Southern Ontario. Especially around rear wheel openings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I've seen these in Southern Ontario. Especially around rear wheel openings But rear wheel openings are not rocker panels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 (edited) I could not see inside the rocker. The first I noted was raised paint a couple weeks ago as it rusted from the inside out. I now have about 20 rust blisters about ready to pop open. I wash the car often and if they were visable I would have done something about it when it was under waranty. Did you wash the car with blindfolds on?? Sorry....I am not "buying" it....rockers don't rust out to that extent in six months.... Edited October 23, 2015 by twintornados Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Did you wash the car with blindfolds on?? Sorry....I am not "buying" it....rockers don't rust out to that extent in six months.... He's saying they were rusting from the inside out. In that case you wouldn't see the rust until it came through the top of the rocker panel. And you can't see inside the rocker like you could see the inside of the wheel well e.g. Sounds perfectly plausible to me - just not sure what caused it since it seems to be an isolated case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Sounds like there was a chip in the paint or something on the inside of the panel. Something not easily discovered until it's too late Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-150 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 But rear wheel openings are not rocker panels. No but it's a rust through on a Mk 2 Focus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 No but it's a rust through on a Mk 2 Focus. Wheel well rust is common for obvious reasons. Rocker panel rust through isn't common at all on a Mk 2 Focus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-150 Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Wheel well rust is common for obvious reasons. Rocker panel rust through isn't common at all on a Mk 2 Focus. As I said above, I've seen it. Just because you haven't doesn't make it untrue. You may know many things, but you do not know everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 As I said above, I've seen it. Just because you haven't doesn't make it untrue. You may know many things, but you do not know everything. You never said you saw rusted rocker panels - you said you saw rusted wheel wells. I said I had never heard of another case like this on this forum or other forums. I never said that it never happened. If it was a common problem I would have expected to have seen someone else posting about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-150 Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 You never said you saw rusted rocker panels - you said you saw rusted wheel wells. I said I had never heard of another case like this on this forum or other forums. I never said that it never happened. If it was a common problem I would have expected to have seen someone else posting about it. I said I have seen it, but especially around the wheel openings. I have observed many Mk2 Foci with lower body rust. Which includes wheel openings, doors and rocker panels. Percentage wise it may be low, but it definitely happens to these cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I think you missed the point. jimp was implying the design with holes was the cause of the rocker panel rusting. If that was true then it would be a widespread problem and it's not. The rocker panel rust isn't any worse than wheel well rust or other areas, so it's not a design problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-150 Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Actually, I got the point. You are correct again and everyone else is wrong. I bow to your intellect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Actually, I got the point. You are correct again and everyone else is wrong. I bow to your intellect. Now you're just arguing to be arguing, which you've done quite a bit of lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 And if I'm wrong then just post the links to all the folks with a 2005-2011 Focus with rusted through rocker panels and no other rust and I'll gladly admit I'm wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kattay Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Both sides of car. Quote to fix? $5000. Thanks Ford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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