Will the 4S store provide any compensation if a new car rusts?
3 Answers
Currently, there are no relevant regulations stipulating compensation for such situations. However, if this issue occurs with a new car, compensation can generally be negotiated with the 4S store. Below are the reasons for car rusting: 1. Humid environment: If the vehicle is submerged in water for a long time, it may affect performance at best or cause rust and decay at worst. 2. Design flaws of the vehicle itself: Incomplete structural design during the design phase, such as sharp corners or dead angles in the sheet metal, may lead to insufficient electrocoating of the car body. Alternatively, inadequate consideration in the process design may result in incomplete and comprehensive electrocoating and wax injection processes for the sheet metal.
I bought a new car last time and found rust spots on the chassis within less than half a year, so I drove straight to the 4S dealership to demand an explanation. After inspection, they admitted it was an issue with the rustproofing process and immediately performed rust removal and respraying, plus gave me three free maintenance services. The key is to assess the extent of rust and the purchase time—if rust appears right after taking delivery, it definitely counts as a quality issue, and the Three Guarantees policy allows for a refund or replacement. My case wasn’t severe, but the 4S store manager proactively offered a maintenance card as compensation. I recommend taking photos and videos immediately upon discovering rust, then bringing the purchase contract to negotiate—usually, you can secure free repairs plus additional compensation, or at the very least, vouchers. If they evade responsibility, call the manufacturer’s 400 hotline to complain—it often works.
I've worked in an auto repair shop for seven or eight years and often encounter cases of rust on new cars. Compensation mainly depends on three factors: whether the rusted part is covered by the warranty, whether it's a factory defect, and whether it affects safety. If the door hinges are rusted, they might replace the door panel. For severe chassis rust, I've seen cases where the entire vehicle's warranty was extended by a year. Some 4S shops offer free bodywork and painting services or maintenance packages, but you have to actively negotiate for them. I strongly advise car owners not to deal with rust themselves and to preserve the original evidence. Among the clients I've handled, about 80% received compensation, including vouchers and physical gifts. If the manufacturer confirms a quality issue after investigation, the compensation is more substantial—I once saw a case where they directly paid out 5,000 yuan in cash.
