My "New" (?) RR came loaded with debris, corrosion, rust..

[Dean Nelson]

If you find amusement in this, that's fine. I have a 40 y.o. 130,000 mile turbo car (D.D. for ~ 115,000 of that) with a full SS exhaust for the last 30 years, and it doesn't look like this exhaust at all. The un-coated driveshaft doesn't either, just slight rust, and no corrosion on on any aluminum components. Further, Sunday I had my daughter's 2,500 mile Bronco Sport (purchased used with 1,500 miles on it), and the undercarriage is spotless.

I just take my new trucks to Line-X or similar (Phoenix or Rhino here) and get a premium UV spray-in, undercoating, and rust proof @$1500 under 1000 miles and no longer worry about it. If you have the factory spray in already, you can still get the truck undercoated and rust proofed.

I'll look into that, thanks. I didn't really think that would be something I needed seeing as I live in a part of the country with a moderate climate, but I want to escape to somewhere else at some point in the next couple of years. Possibly north, possibly AZ/NM.

What is the build date?

12/02/2025, so ~ 2months prior.

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[superj]

san fransisco bay area is still a very moist climate though, and salt air about it.

i think you shouldn't have any corrosion either though. doesn't matter where you live, thats a new truck.

i live in a high salt air environment also, half a mile from the gulf coast waters of texas and my truck still doesn't look like that. i don;t think a person should have to take a brand new vehicle and get it under coated if you live in an area that doesn't deal with snow and the stuff they use on the roads in those areas.

 

[Blue Ridge Raptor]

I didn’t pull the skid plates off mine when new - but I did notice the surface rust on the drive shaft. It was irritating enough that I spent a couple hours sanding it off, prepping and spraying rust proof clear sealer on it. 18 months and 19K miles later it still looks brand new.
as far as the exhaust pipes - meh, they looked OK and I haven’t looked at them since.

 

[purdyd]

san fransisco bay area is still a very moist climate though, and salt air about it.

i think you shouldn't have any corrosion either though. doesn't matter where you live, thats a new truck.

i live in a high salt air environment also, half a mile from the gulf coast waters of texas and my truck still doesn't look like that. i don;t think a person should have to take a brand new vehicle and get it under coated if you live in an area that doesn't deal with snow and the stuff they use on the roads in those areas.

i am also in coastal California and nothing like that on my exhaust. I have a lanolin coasting on the underside and drive shaft and park in a garage.

but there is no coating on the exhaust

i conjecture it was driven at one point in a very short distance in the rain and sat around. I think if it is driven any real distance the exhaust should get warm enough that the moisture would evaporate when you stop.

but that grit….

 

[waffleso_0]

Yikes. I agree that the sales rep needs to be looped into this conversation. Although every time I buy a new vehicle of any make, the sales rep is "no longer working here" the next time I call. It would seem that new car sales reps have a shelf life similar to that of fresh fish. As soon as you buy from them - poof - they're gone.

My sales man was fired before my pick-up day. Had the katkins leather installed before pick-up. Signed paper-work with him, two days later I pick-up the vehicle and he's not there or the all weather floor mats I got them to throw in.. LOL

 

[stemplar]

Lots of talk in forums and YouTube videos about “rusty driveshafts” so I wouldn’t worry about it. As for the gravel and such, I really can’t believe some of the comments here. After 400+ miles in NY area winter roads it’s impossible NOT to have sand, salt, cinders in every nook and cranny of your vehicle’s underside. Of course I can only speculate, but I seriously doubt anyone took it for a joyride or went off-road. Many ship to the dealer with more miles than that, especially if you ordered a spray in bed liner.

Read about lanolin undercoating like wool wax, fluid film, or surface shield. When applied an touched up annually it’s a great way to arrest and prevent rust on everything but your brakes and exhaust. The rubber-based undercoating products will crack and allow rust to form underneath, and you won’t know until it bubbles and then it’s too late.

 

[Ranger_Pawl]

FWIW I live close to Michigan Assembly Plant, and even closer to shipping yards for many different vehicle manufactures. I regularly see lines of Rangers and Broncos in groups of 6 traveling on our Michigan roads between the plant and shipping yards all the time. If your truck made one of these trips, especially in the winter, it most likely was exposed to our road salts. Just one possible explanation.

 

[superj]

Of course I can only speculate, but I seriously doubt anyone took it for a joyride or went off-road. Many ship to the dealer with more miles than that, especially if you ordered a spray in bed liner.

here, they had to make it so the salesman goes on every ride or people were taking vehicles to the beach to test 4x4 out. its about a 10 minute drive from the local dealership alley to the first beach, and all our beaches are legal to drive on

 

[cc1999]

This type of thread showing the rusty drive shafts etc, have been around here for years.
US built Ford buyers have complained about the driveline rust dating back to for sure the first 6th gen Rangers to hit the lots in early 2024 on this 6th gen Forum.

Maybe before that with the 5th Gens did as well I don't know about those.

Seems it is Ford thing or rather the materials they use and unfortunate there no sign of Ford changing it.


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[Dean Nelson]

FWIW I live close to Michigan Assembly Plant, and even closer to shipping yards for many different vehicle manufactures. I regularly see lines of Rangers and Broncos in groups of 6 traveling on our Michigan roads between the plant and shipping yards all the time. If your truck made one of these trips, especially in the winter, it most likely was exposed to our road salts. Just one possible explanation.

THAT makes a lot of sense, thank you.

I'm not so concerned about the surface rust on the driveshaft (and other bare steel), just a bit surprised that it was already so prevalent. The SS exhaust is disappointing.

 

[Onceaneagle]

FWIW I live close to Michigan Assembly Plant, and even closer to shipping yards for many different vehicle manufactures. I regularly see lines of Rangers and Broncos in groups of 6 traveling on our Michigan roads between the plant and shipping yards all the time. If your truck made one of these trips, especially in the winter, it most likely was exposed to our road salts. Just one possible explanation.

That makes a lot of sense. If so, means the dealer did not do a thorough pre delivery inspection of the undercarriage on a lift and flush out that crud. Not be giving them 5 stars and would comment when Ford sends out its customer satisfaction survey. Another reason to inspect a vehicle on a lift before signing.

 

[rocsteady]

That makes a lot of sense. If so, means the dealer did not do a thorough pre delivery inspection of the undercarriage on a lift and flush out that crud. Not be giving them 5 stars and would comment when Ford sends out its customer satisfaction survey. Another reason to inspect a vehicle on a lift before signing.

I ain't one to gossip so you ain't heard this from me...but, the five star rating on any customer surveys is vitally important to the dealership. I would point out exactly what you pointed out in this thread and how you were a bit disappointed it wasn't in better condition when it was sold to you. I would be surprised if they didn't offer some sort of compensation in exchange for the five star survey score. Maybe its some Ford points or a bed box or something; who knows?

 

[Dean Nelson]

Sadly, I already did it with 5 stars. :-(

I did, however, send them a message with pictures this morning.

 

[Onceaneagle]

Sadly, I already did it with 5 stars. :-(

I did, however, send them a message with pictures this morning.

No worries. You will get another survey request from Ford after a while. Explain the lower rating and make sure to attach pictures. You can also mention you contacted the dealer, sent photos, and if they responded.

 

[RCMUSTANG]

I received mine with 21 miles on the odometer. I did the first oil change at 100 miles. The skid plate was filled with gritty sand. It definitely wasn't from me driving it around town. Lots of the aluminum parts under, like the steering rack, control arms have a heavy dried calcium type crust one them. I even see some on the front engine area.

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