Warranty Claim for wheel arch paint bubble 2016 Anti-Perforation Warranty

[NeilHH]

Hi

My 2016 Seat Leon has rust on a part of the front right wheel arch. I have taken the car to a car body shop and they say that there is a lip on the inside of the wheel arch and that is where the damage has started causing the paintwork to bubble. They see this a lot on Seats and VW Golfs

I then went to the Seat garage that services the car and they sent me to an approved coachworks place. This was in September 2025. The Seat garage has told me that my car is not covered under warranty

I have tried claiming under their Anti-Perforation Warranty which I understand lasts for 12 years

Does anyone have any advice ?

Thanks

 

[James_R]

There are no items covered under warranty where the cause of the issue is damage.

I take it they suggested road debris had broken the paint on the wheel arch lip?

 

[Nathan penney]

There’s a 67 reg Passat in our street that looks like it was made by British Leyland in 1975 there’s that much rust on the rear wheel arches.

 

[NeilHH]

There are no items covered under warranty where the cause of the issue is damage.

I take it they suggested road debris had broken the paint on the wheel arch lip?

Hi.
There has not been any reason given by the Seat garage as to what their thoughts are for the reason this has happened. I have written to Seat UK to see if they can explain it to me
I think the independent car body shop is right and that it is where the water collects in the back lip of the wheel arch, which has a sharp edge when you run your hand along it, and causes this to happen. The fact that he said he has seen it on other cars e.g. VW etc makes me think that it maybe a design / manufacturing fault

 

[Lucas90]

My last Leon 2015 Reg got a bad patch of rust on the sill that I had repaired, the body shop said most likely from a stone chip letting water in.... I've still got the photo from when I was getting quotes....

 

[Lucas90]

Also, my boss has a 2018 Leon Cupra 300 , he had to get the boot lid resprayed as rust developed by the boot badge, so I think it can be a common issue.

I doubt Seat will cough up anything on a warranty claim, the will most likely argue it had been caused by road debris so not covered.

It shouldn't cost much for a body shop to sort it. I paid 180 quid to get the sill rust repaired and repainted.

 

[SRGTD]

Historically, from what I’ve read on various VAG forums over the years, rejection of claims seem to be fairly common, and ‘external influence’ is often cited as the reason for rejection.

From memory, the anti corrosion / anti perforation warranty cover is limited to through-rusting from the inside out as consequence of defective workmanship or materials, so any claims for surface rusting from stone chips or other external influences won’t be covered.

IMHO it’s always worth buying a paint touch up pen when you buy another car and check for new stone chips as part of your regular car washing routine. I do this and touch in any new stone chips I notice after every car wash. It stops any stone chip damage developing into anything more serious (and costly) to fix.

 

[Mr Pig]

You've got no chance of a warranty claim on that.

Both of my front arches are rusty. I know what happened. Stone chip and I did not catch and fix it promptly. If you catch a stone chip quickly there is a good chance you'll be able to get it fixed and it won't develop, not for a long time anyway. Once rust is right into the metal, forget it. Only permanent fix is to replace the wing.

Seat will just say the paint was damaged and you didn't deal with it, and they are right.

 

[SuperV8]

You've got no chance of a warranty claim on that.

Both of my front arches are rusty. I know what happened. Stone chip and I did not catch and fix it promptly. If you catch a stone chip quickly there is a good chance you'll be able to get it fixed and it won't develop, not for a long time anyway. Once rust is right into the metal, forget it. Only permanent fix is to replace the wing.

Seat will just say the paint was damaged and you didn't deal with it, and they are right.

Agreed, it will be impossible for anyone to determine if it started from a stone chip (99% likely) or from under the metal.
Wheel arch areas are a very harsh environment area on a car, exposed to flying rocks, high pressure water and salt.
You might have a case if the corrosion was on the back end for example where it would be impossible for any foreign bodies to impact the paint, but not on a wheel arch or bonnet.