"Edge & Fold Corrosion"???

[Gordo997]

Our 9 year old Passat started to develop corrosion on the tailgate as hopefully you can see here but Volkswagen seem unwilling to honour the 12 year warranty despite the fact that we've had the car from new and has never been repaired / repainted before. The guy at the dealership conceded that the paintwork hadn't been damaged either but instead of classifying it as "through corrosion" he's recorded it as "edge and fold" corrosion and so all VW will offer is a 50% goodwill gesture.

Is there really a type of corrosion called "edge and fold"? Surely a panel either corrodes from the outside if the paints been damaged (not the case here) or from the inside out which is what I think has happened? How can there be any other type?

Tried submitting a claim via the Motor Ombudsman only to get a reply that they need some evidence that this is "through" corrosion and not some other type of corrosion. How would I go about doing that? Seems its just VW's word versus mine even though they admitted the paintwork hadn't been damaged.

I know there are loads of stories about VW not honouring the 12 year warranty but if anyone has a good suggestion as to how I prove this is "through corrosion" it would be great.

ETA - this picture was taken last year and the damage has spread further given the time its taken going back to VW etc

cheers

[Dr G]

Does the warranty cover perforation or simply 'corrosion' - I'd always understood it to be the former but have never had cause to make a claim myself.

I think I get the description but I've never heard that term used either.

[Gordo997]

The warranty says it covers "through corrosion" and the only conditions stated are that "the perforation must not have been caused originally by damage, neglect, insufficient care or maintenance or by external corrosion (rusting)".

No where is there any mention of "Edge & Fold Corrosion" but as others have subsequently pointed out to me if you google "Edge & Fold Corrosion" all it seems to bring up are Volkswagen Audi Group warranty problems I.e. It's something they've made up as an excuse not to honour the warranty.....that's the way it seems anyway

[catso]

Gordo997 said:

if you google "Edge & Fold Corrosion" all it seems to bring up are Volkswagen Audi Group warranty problems I.e. It's something they've made up as an excuse not to honour the warranty

Surely they folded the edge so should have rustproofed it sufficiently? or cover it under warranty if they didn't?

[SuperchargedVR6]

VW have used the "edge and fold" excuse since the MK4 Golf platform, so good luck trying to talk them into a 100% contribution.

They replace rusty wings FOC though, so one can only assume it's because they are easy and cheap to replace. Tailgates and welded panels are not, so out come the fun you excuses.

As consumers, we ought to know by now warranties are rarely just honoured, no questions asked, especially in the easy pickings UK.

I don't believe it's main dealers being stubborn, but rather the corporate machine in Wolfsburg. Try a sob story approach and the dealer might swallow the 50% themselves. One thing's for sure, banging tables and getting angry may net you a 0% contribution. Seen that happen way too many times.