While hand washing and waxing my 2004 SEBRING LX yesterday, I was shocked to discover four (4) dime-sized rust spots above the left rear wheel well. Two of the spots are blistered/bubbled with the paint still intact and the other 2 show exposed rust. Since she has been washed and waxed religiously for 7 1/2 years, is this type of oxidation/deterioration normal on Chrysler sheet metal? I will sand and repaint the spots but am wondering what kind of primer I should use to prevent further rusting? Thanks for any suggestions you can provide!

 

If the rust has perforated the sheet metal, you'll need to see what's going on behind it, too. Is this normal? Not in my experience with my '02 sedan and '01 convertible. And I live in Michigan where they like to put down an inch of salt on a half inch of snow.

 

Do you live near the ocean? I'm originally a So California boy and it's amazing how cars that reside near the ocean rust out like crazy....usually from the bottom up. I've lived in Northern Utah now for 20 years where salted roads are common (like dcotter's in MI) but have not experienced excessive rusting.