jfz219

The tip off is the location being most common in the back of the cars. This is rail dust on the surface--not a defect in the paint/clear coat. Clay bar is a great way to remove the metal shavings and the rust halo. It is very common on new cars because of shipping, but I see it every time I clay bar and polish my 2004 Lexus. The finish looks like new after 125,000 miles and 8 Midwest winters.

kitlz

There are also products that can remove iron deposits before claying like Iron X and Iron Cut.

Scaramanga

I spoke with DVN Collision Repair centre and they mentioned that the rust spot on my hatch just below the glass was damaged when a snow / ice scraper was used. I an just wondering if anyone has ever heard of this ever happening? Can this be true?

I think that this will be my first and last Lexus that I will ever purchase.....sigh...

User 41924

This is the best answer yet, in my humble opinion. Clay bar, a very light polish, and a good sealer/wax will yield impressive results. I'm not convinced it is rail dust, although I have no better explanation other than it tells you it's time for a detail. I waited too long to do my wife's car, and I had a few of these little specks on the back. They came off with little effort, using a claybar.

Personally, I use Prima products (http://www.primacarcare.com/), and Meguiars Claybar for this purpose. I love the Prima products (Swirl as the polish, followed by Hydro Seal for the sealer). Others like Meguiars, Zaino, etc. I'm not sure which of these products would be used, but I am sure they are ALL very effective.

InRBigness

I absolutely think this can happpen. I have seen people going to town on the ice on their windows to remove it. Just think that a sharp triangular piece of plastic being thrust at the ice could slip and ding the paint. It may not remove the paint chip which would actually be better as then you could fix it with touch up or in a jamb clear nail polish to keep from rusting, If the paint stays the moisture can get under it and slowly start rusting out the metal underneath without you even knowing.

I have never used a scraper on my windows. I will brush off the snow and then heat up the window and use washer fluid. The scrappers are really hard on the glass putting scratches in in over time.

Sixtyplus

I have noticed a rust discolouration on the chrome ring on right tail light. Have not investigated yet as have been ill but sure will be. 2011 RX350 bought new in April, 2011

User 41924

I have seen this on previous cars, and it is starting to show up on my 2010 RX. In my case, I'm pretty sure it is Magnesium Chloride damage. They put this crap on the roads to keep the snow off .... and (apparently) eat your car. I have worked really hard to protect this car from the damage, but saw the first signs when I detailed it last weekend. I'm at a loss for this. I was hoping that washing the car ASAP after a snow, and applying sealer would eliminate the issue, but apparently not. Maybe paint sealer doesn't work on the chrome parts?

If anyone knows how to protect your car/chrome from this crap, I will try about anything!

BerlinRX

I have bought a Lexus model RX 450 H on 2009 November from Germany dealer. I can agree that car is exceptional and pretty awesome but after few months I been truly disapointed about this car because after each rock scratch the car started to rust. Also after few months the rust started to appear on tailgate.

After long insistences to Lexus Japan I received the confirmation from our lexus representant dealer that they will change the removable parts on warranty such as tailgate. They also repainted the rusty spots on our cost.

Afterall the car continued to rust on different spots, they been realized there is a problem with the car body and they agreed to repaint the entire car but I refused because even if the care was repainted the rust could appear back, the problem was the car body not the paint.

I can not imagine that a new car named top brand in the automotive industry to rust in the first months. I made pictures to each rusty spot appeard on different sections of the car.

I would like to know if there is any other person who have meet this problem with the Lexus cars, the situatation is serious and tottaly sad.

I have uploaded several pictures of the car with the rusty spots. The pictures were made on different periods of time.

Pictures:
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...t/DSC_0711.jpg
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...t/DSC_0704.jpg
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...t/DSC_0634.jpg
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...t/DSC_0625.jpg
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...t/DSC_0624.jpg
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...t/DSC_0617.jpg
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...t/DSC_0243.jpg
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...t/DAN_5188.jpg
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...t/DAN_5187.jpg
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...DAN_5182_2.jpg
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...t/DAN_4852.jpg
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...t/DAN_4778.jpg
http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...nolight/04.jpg

kitlz

Welcome to CL, BerlinRX. I merged your thread with another thread on the same topic here in the 3rd gen RX forum. You may find the information here somewhat helpful. I am very sorry to hear about your RX.

Weighit

Seeing those photos remind me of when I was a bodyshop owner. People would complain about chips like that and all we could say was if a rock or some substance could pound the paint down to the metal, what could we do as a shop to prevent that. We switched to various different brands of paint, different primers/sealers and nothing ever stopped it. I feel your pain and know how unsightly it is.

Scaramanga

My goodness !!! All those rustspots are insane. I mean unless you constantly drive on a gravel road every day. How can you get so many stone chips?