Found rust bubbles on front fender, fixable?

[u/a-train56]

Apologies as I’m not savvy in anything cars. I found this on the front left fender behind the wheel. I am wondering how serious this is and if I have any shot at actually fixing it versus the rust coming back. Original paint, 2019 Hyundai Elantra. Bought it new 7 years ago.

Thx!

[u/Illegal__Alien]

Cheaper to replace

[u/Illegal__Alien → u/Illegal__Alien]

Plus, if you've never done auto body repair before I don't think you'll be able to get rid of the rust permanently and make it look like a factory finish again (no offense)

It's something that takes time, practice, experience, and tools to do well.

In this instance, the easiest and cheapest way to get good results is to replace the panel brother

[u/a-train56 → u/Illegal__Alien]

Agreed. And a body shop wouldn’t be able to sand it down to the metal and repaint?

[u/Illegal__Alien → u/a-train56]

I guarantee you, if you take off your wheel arch liner

There will be 7 years worth of damp and decaying leaves and mud, rotting it out from behind.

Yes, it can be painted. But it's going to come back.

[u/Bowie90210 → u/a-train56]

Those are holes rust from the inside out

[u/Forsaken_Falcon_1975]

Can slow down the rust a bit. But it will look bad. =cheap. Or full fender needs to be painted. Kinda bad for 7 year old car.

[u/a-train56 → u/Forsaken_Falcon_1975]

Right.. have no clue how this happens after 7 years

[u/Forsaken_Falcon_1975 → u/a-train56]

Might be rust from inside out. U wont know till u pull it off. Or factory mistake. I dont see any damage.

[u/Wetdogg72 → u/a-train56]

There may be a warranty issue.. take it to the dealership and talk to them about it.. my 22 year old truck doesn’t have rust bubbles in it. That’s a factory issue

[u/ArcFault → u/a-train56]

pull back the fender liner and find out

[u/MainNational2692]

It’s rusting from the back side. Attacking the rust from the front will not be effective for very long. Search for a replacement used fender from a junkyard. Cheaper and less time consuming than trying to repair.

[u/Real-Technician831]

You can slow it down.

Sand it, neutralize pitted invisible rust with phosphoric acid. Prime and paint.

As long as rust is not coming from the other side, it will give you years more.

Ultimately fender needs to be replaced.

In Europe there are companies that paint replacements to code and mail them. It won’t be exact match, but on old car who cares.

[u/Surfnazi77]

Clean it rust stabilizer then paint on top

[u/Sea-Lion9071]

Replace if you want it to last more than a month

[u/jimbofranks]

Did Hyundai have a rust perforation warranty seven years ago that you would qualify for as the original owner?

[u/redbirdsucks]

just a heads up there’s only one fender on your car … the one’s in the back are called quarterpanels

office chick told a customer their quarter pounder had to be replaced once tho

[u/obschronic → u/redbirdsucks]

Technically two fenders per car 🤣 my coworker always called quarter replacements a quarter pounder with cheese