The new car warranty had expired in May 2016. In August 2016, I noticed some of the glossy finish/clear film protecting the paint coming off the back panel of my trunk above the bumper. The same month I saw another 2013 Mustang with the same issue in the same location of the car, so I took a picture of it. Also, when consulting the body shop for an estimate I was told that they had fixed the same problem on another Mustang in September 2016. Since then, I have seen multiple 2013 Mustangs over the state of Florida with the same issue.

In the beginning of January 2017, I consulted the Al Packer Ford Body Shop in Wellington, Florida to have the panel fixed. Their estimate came in at $606.85 which included the price of the panel, labor, and taxes. I called the Ford corporate office to inform them that the issue started right after the warranty expired and that I believe it was due to a defect with the paint seeing that the problem occurred on other Mustangs from the same year as well. They informed me that they would not cover any of the cost of the repair as the damage occurred after the warranty period. The customer service representative told me that my complaint had been filed and that if enough people also complained about the same issue that I may eventually receive a refund for the repair.

I believe that Ford has a responsibility to cover the cost of the damage to the paint seeing as the warranty had only been expired for a few months and that a three-year-old, brand new car should not be experiencing issues with the paint. I have not been in any accidents that could have caused the damage. Seeing as though that other cars of the same model have experienced the same issue makes me believe the damage was due to a defect with the paint/film of the panel.

Paint bubbling on drivers side of hood on lip above headlight. Took it to my local stealer-ship where they advised me that the car was out of basic warranty. When I bought the car I purchased the 3rd party extended warranty from EasyCare that the salesman told me would cover everything bumper to bumper. "Even if you jump in the car with screwdrivers in your back pocket and rip the seats...you're covered". My stealer-ship took pictures and sent them to see if they would cover it and of course they denied coverage. They cover "oxidation" but not rust...and how the heck is my aluminum hood rusting?? These bubbles are caused by aluminum "oxidizing" under the paint. This is a problem Ford has known about from the very start and like every other Ford screw up they deny, hide and deflect and accept no fault for their lack of quality control. I got burned by their 03'-06' 6.0 Diesel head gasket/egr cooler failure that they issued countless TSB's on but no recall and now this TSB but no recall shell game on my Mustang(Rustang?). I sure wish Toyota made a 400+HP rear wheel drive car....at least they own up to their rust.

Update from Feb 7, 2019: Looks like Toyota to the rescue...New 355+HP rear wheel drive Supra sure fits the bill !! Farewell Ford. My Tacoma is getting a sibling!

My 2013 Mustang GT Convertible in mint condition has two spot on the hood where it is corroding badly. The car is under on its mileage in terms of warranty, yet over by 10 months on it's age. The ford representative told me that repair or replace would only be covered if the corrosion put a hole right through the hood. However, they said that because the paint is only blistering and there is no evidence of a hole that the warranty would not cover it. They then told me, this is a joke........... That I can pay them to use high pressure air to blow on the spot blistering, if after the paint is blow off there is a hole they will replace the hood, if there is no hole, then I would have to pay for the cost of either a new hood or paint job. How silly is that? The hood looks terrible and you can see the corrosion but .....no hole yet? no coverage.. So disappointed with Ford but i will keep on fighting them through media coverage.

I'm so pissed off at Ford's lack of warranty coverage for this bubbling paint on my aluminum hood. The bubbling occurred after 36k miles. There will never be a rust perforation in my aluminum hood. Elizabeth Weigandt, Ford Spokeswoman, says "Ford is committed to top quality and customer satisfaction." What a line. Ford basically needed to comply with gas mileage standards starting in 2000, changed to aluminum hoods and so f#^$ed their customers. Take care of your customers, Ford. PAY FOR IT OUT OF YOUR OWN POCKET. You caused the issue. Now fix it. So disgusted with Ford right now. My next plan is to write the president and CEO of the company.

I own a 2013 Ford Mustang Convertible of which has always been stored in the winter. I'm now having a problem with rust on the aluminium hood. I noticed last summer there were a few rough spots under the edge of the front tip of hood near the release latch. In the fall before storing the car I noticed the rough patches were spreading towards the front edge above the lights. Of late I see bubbling "rust like bubbles" on the surface of the hood. NOTE The car is now just off warranty in age and mileage. Called Ford and they're blowing me off. They claim it can be expected and completely natural living on the east coast in a humid area that rust can appear and without finishing that sentence they claimed the car is off warranty. My first response was this isn't the 70's where Fords would disintegrate in front of you eyes. Well actually its like Ford is still in the 70's come to think of it. I'm having it looked at by a body shop as I write this. Even they are flabbergasted Ford will do nothing. What every happened to "Quality is job #1"?

Update from May 27, 2016: So beware if your thinking of buying a new Mustang or any other Ford vehicle with aluminum body parts. Maybe you should think of an alternative retro like Challenger or Camaro.. And here is the followup and why! Just off the phone with Ford. So what they are saying is the car now off warranty is not their responsibility. If there is an issue with rust according to Ford even if you see an issue 3 years + 1 day and/or you store you car away in winter, its your problem not Ford's even though logically the rust began inside the 3 years of which the government says they are responsible for it. Now where is the backing of "Quality is job 1" slogan bunch of bull?
You know Ford always had issues with body quality in the 60's through 80's where bodies would disintegrate in front of your eyes..... well maybe that's not happening anymore with some aluminum body parts Ford produces but NOW if they can just stop the oxidation and get the paint to stick to the aluminum life would be good. So now we can't drive Fords in winter, in the rain, in humid areas or areas with too much SUN and God forbid you store it in the garage in winter months. So where can we drive or not drive a Ford? So the Mustang convertible is headed to the Body shop next week to be repainted at my expense and I will have the body treated at a center for anti corrosion even though I don't drive it in winter. What a joke!