[Roger]

Thought this might be of interest... I had a theory before, but this one seems more plausible...

This relates to the Romania factory, but it does at least imply that ALL the cars should be galvenised.

http://www.daciagroup.com/en/about-us/dacia-industrial-site/car-assembly-plant

If you read about the "logistics direction" http://www.daciagroup.com/en/about-us/dacia-industrial-site/logistics-direction it also implies that the stamping is conducted in Romania and then shipped out to India for building as part of a huge kit of bits.

Not being a metallurgist I am not sure if I am right, but logic tells me that if the panels are produced in Romania then shipped to India, there's probably a good chance that the steel is going to be rusting on route and before it gets a chance to be treated (esp. by sea). Going on previous (but limited) experience I think I am right in saying that an area that is galvenised after it has already had a chance to rust, isn't going to accept the plating, which will mean zero protection other than microscopically thin primer/paint. The potentially rusty areas should be cleaned up before being treated which I'd say isn't happening.

I'm sure with a bit more digging I can find the page that relates to the Renault factory in India too.

The way I read it is that the car body parts, when assembled into the shell of the car is immersed into some sort of electro-protection fluid (galvanization ?) in the Romanian factory. I wonder if the same is true in India ? :wacko:

 

[Roger]

Cancel the Duster. Dacia lie to customers, they lied to me. My car is 10 weeks old and has rust. Save yourself some heartache and money You are doing what I did, I ignored good advice from forum members and bought a Duster, wish I had never seen it.

Maybe, look at a Stepway ?

 

[Roger]

Try this one; Its astounding!!

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=http://www.zf.ro/zf-24/de-ce-refuza-dacia-sa-cumpere-tabla-de-caroserie-din-romania-ce-i-a-determinat-pe-francezi-sa-declanseze-cea-mai-mare-campanie-de-rechemare-10884975&prev=/search%3Fq%3DU.%2BS.%2BSteel%2BKosice%2Bdacia%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D643

Seems like its an open secret elsewhere!!

I think it can be inferred that she says there is nothing protective under the paint if we are being cynical.....its a way of avoiding saying they are not galvanised!

Thanks it is appreciated. I think I will make sure to pay some of the money on a credit card!

Your choice & your money, it's up to you how you spend it. At least you are now armed with all the information !!

 

[Roger]

Try this one; Its astounding!!

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=http://www.zf.ro/zf-24/de-ce-refuza-dacia-sa-cumpere-tabla-de-caroserie-din-romania-ce-i-a-determinat-pe-francezi-sa-declanseze-cea-mai-mare-campanie-de-rechemare-10884975&prev=/search%3Fq%3DU.%2BS.%2BSteel%2BKosice%2Bdacia%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D643

Seems like its an open secret elsewhere!!

Interesting !!

 

[Roger]

Less than a year after the Logan was launched back in the fall of 2004 folks in Romania experienced the same kind of disappointment you do. Everybody knew the car was a "low cost" product but nobody expected rust problems ( Dacia has history in this area, older cars before the Logan arrived rusted badly, these, however, never got exported).

People thought that Dacia will become what Skoda has become for Vokswagen. They were wrong. Dacia is somehow in his own league (low cost) so Renault can do pretty much what it wants with this brand.

My advice to you, considering the current situation of the UK Duster: don't buy one to use it as your workhorse. The bodywork won't take it. I'm saying this by seeing how the Logan performs in this department ( is has the same amount of "rust proofing" and "thin paint). Used as the second car, being garaged and looked after it may behave differently and age a lot better.

I thought the same about Skoda/Seat/Volkswagen senario with Dacia/Renault. Didn't think anyone would make a car that would be known to rust in this day and age. How wrong could I be !! I must say my Stepway appears to have a good paint finish, so I will have to wait and see as time goes by !!

 

[Roger]

I've weighed it up and will go ahead with it, I plan to keep it for as long as it lasts so not worried about resale.

As I said previously, your choice, your money, you have obviously made a calculated risk, hope it works out for you !

 

[Roger]

From what I have found out, they only repair what you show them. They dont go looking for rust. My dealer has put in for a full strip down, engine out the lot.....and full respray. ......yes it is that bad. I have spoken to several independent body shops who say that it would cost around four grand plus. I really cant see that happening. We will see. Still pushing for full refund.

Posted Via The DaciaForum.co.uk App

Then you have got to hope that they put it all together again properly, no broken clips etc. and rattle free !!

 

[Roger]

If the dealers had any backbone, they should inspect the cars upon delivery for rust and paint work etc. and refuse to accept them by putting them back on the transporter. This could save them having to deal with unhappy customers !! Oh !! look out the window, a flying pig !! :wub:

 

[Roger]

Has anyone seen the statement today from Dacia UK admitting there is a problem with the paint finish on a number of cars ?

Posted Via The DaciaForum.co.uk App

From Dacia Official Web Site

Dacia Duster Statement

• Use CTRL + D to add this page to your bookmarks.

A limited number of Dacia Duster have been identified to have concerns with the paintwork protection. The potentially affected vehicles are exclusively amongst right-hand-drive Duster.

Customers in the population of potentially affected vehicles will be contacted to arrange an inspection and repair, if required. Any repair required will be covered under the Dacia warranty at no cost to the customer and a courtesy car will be provided free of charge.

Dacia Duster owners may also contact their local Dacia dealer or call Dacia Customer Relations on

0151 212 1242 for any related enquiries.

As part of the Renault Group, Dacia maintains a high standard of product quality and is committed to resolving product concerns quickly and ensuring customer satisfaction.

 

[Roger]

Who is Anne?

Posted Via The DaciaForum.co.uk App

Robinson, BBC 'Watch Dog' :wub:

 

[Roger]

As I told you the car was traded back in, however I have seen it at my local Asda, now carrying a camera to enable photos next time I see it. There was rust appearing on the front bumper area, little spots tiny but there, there were also other problems with the cars electrics. I took it to my local dealer who I thought were terrible. They couldn't fix the electrical problem and said the spots were stone chips. After reading the problems others were having I decided to sell the pile of crap and buy a real car. I couldn't give one as to your opinion so if I see the car again I will photograph it. Glad I had the presence of mind to sell it.

Are you sure that your 'spare wheel' didn't fall into the 'lake' as well ? Hehe

I'm lovin' it !! h34r:

 

[Roger]

The metal brackets holding the bumper on are not plastic. Even you should understand that.

My question is the same as Geraint's, I've just been outside to inspect my brackets and can't even see them ! Have you got X-ray vision ?

I'm lovin' it !! h34r:

 

[Roger]

My last contact from cs was by text, it read

"Good morning Mr -----, Just to update you, I am still waiting on an update as to which bodyshop we can get your car into to get the rust inspected and repaired. Apologies for the delay once again. Kind regards." This was one week since their last contact with me.

Sounds great but means nothing, they still want to "repair" the rust. That is probably what is causing the delay or maybe they are just stalling?

Perhaps they are having trouble finding a bodyshop/s that say they can 'repair' them. Only a thought !!

My Stepway ? I'm lovin' it !!

 

[Roger]

hoggm wrote this

The CSM explained that they had been briefed yesterday and that France were working out a fix so that I don't experience problems again. Things will be finalised in the next few weeks where specific body shops throughout the UK will be inspecting/undertaking extensive checks on vehicles to locate corrosion, not just on the visible rust but elsewhere. The work will be done effectively and correctively preventing having to come back in as a final fix.
Alternative transport would be provided. Body shops would be fully prepared and trained to undertake the work.

so from this we can assume it has come from France but they were still working on the fix , this must have been feed out to dealers and Finance companies as the ' permanent final solution' by Dacia UK .

As I have said before, I don't think that they will be able to find a body-shop that can provide a 'final fix' !!

My Stepway? i'm lovin' it !!

 

[Roger]

just had phonecall update from renault headoffice/dacia they still waiting on france for the BIG fix um................................12 day is it now or alittle more what bxxxicks no one can translate france to english ..........

I've said this before ! I bet they can't find anyone that CAN FIX it ! It's embedded rust !

My Stepway? I'm lovin' it !!

 

[Roger]

I did see that, Maud - the exact same thought crossed my mind, but I wasn't brave enough to articulate it here, lest it be misinterpreted as some sort of racial slur...

Like wise !!

 

[Roger]

Dacia Customer Relations, new telephone number 0344 335 1111. Has anybody tried ringing this one ?

My Stepway ? I'm lovin' it !!

 

[Roger]

We took delivery of a 1.6 Access 4x2 on Sunday.

Thanks to this forum I knew exactly where to look for any rusty bits and couldn't see any.

As soon as we got it home I fitted a new radio and speakers.

I found that the rear speaker wires didn't got all the way up to the radio connectors so stripped the B-pillar trims and door seals off and pulled the carpets up to fit speaker cables.

Thankfully I still couldn't find a mark of rust anywhere. In an effort to keep it like this I've sprayed inside all four doors, inside the B-pillars, around the tailgate hinges, around the child lock levers and various sharp edges and crevices under the bonnet with Wurth cavity wax.

I also sprayed some into the groove of the door seals (including the one above the doors) and painted some fresh clear Waxoyl onto the seams before putting the seals back.

When I'm off work next week it'll be going on a ramp and it's going to get a good dousing underneath too.

Seems a strange thing to have to do with a new car but I did a similar thing to the new Fiesta we got three years ago following the MOT advisory of boot floor corrosion on the three year old Ford Ka we were trading in. I admit it's faintly disappointing but it only took me an hour or so.

Fingers crossed for a none rusty three years or so of motoring.

Welcome to the forum Lenny !

It's nice ro know that all Dusters are not 'rusty' gives faith back to the brand ! :wub:

My Stepway? I'm lovin' it !!

 

[Roger]

And long may it stay that way.

I've also got an ancient VW Beetle, two 28 year old Citroen 2cvs and a 27 year old Range Rover.

Believe me, I'm no stranger to a bit of iron oxide.

Only a 'bit' with those cars ? :blink:

My Stepway ? I'm lovin' it !!

 

[Roger]

Pictures from earlier post now at home and at a PC.

First one is the driverside rear sill/body/underbody joint at the jack point.

dacia duster sill rust 2.jpg

Second is the passenger side at the same point.

dacia duster sill rust 1.jpg

I'd say that's pretty structural. Ok, so some of that is dirt, but some of it is actually rusty water stains. Looks like something has rusted within the running board plastic and the water's run down. I know it makes no difference at the moment, but it's nice to put it out there that it really does appear that Dacia are just plain wrong...

That's serious rust !

My Stepway ? I'm lovin' it !!