Fender Panel Paint Defect

[hf995]

While cleaning my Bronco Sport recently, I noticed a paint defect on the leading edge of my driver's side fender panel, where it meets the plastic housing from the grille around the headlight enclosure. It seems there's an extraneous plastic tab on the grille surround that's been in contact with the fender panel, gradually wearing off the finish down to the metal.

I checked the passenger side, and although the same plastic tab is present, fortunately, it doesn't seem to touch the panel, so there's no damage on that side.

Living in a neighborhood where someone else parks their Bronco Sport nearby, I took a look, and they have the same issue on both sides of their vehicle.

While it's not a glaring cosmetic problem, I'm worried about potential corrosion, especially with the upcoming salting season in the northeast.

Has anyone else observed this on their Bronco Sports? Also, does anyone have definite information on whether this panel is aluminum or steel?

See photos of both vehicles below.

Appreciate your insights.

 

[SWUKU]

https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/paint-chips.4180/#post-71386

 

[wireman]

No issues like that with my 2021 Badlands.

 

[enjuhner357]

While cleaning my Bronco Sport recently, I noticed a paint defect on the leading edge of my driver's side fender panel, where it meets the plastic housing from the grille around the headlight enclosure. It seems there's an extraneous plastic tab on the grille surround that's been in contact with the fender panel, gradually wearing off the finish down to the metal.

I checked the passenger side, and although the same plastic tab is present, fortunately, it doesn't seem to touch the panel, so there's no damage on that side.

Living in a neighborhood where someone else parks their Bronco Sport nearby, I took a look, and they have the same issue on both sides of their vehicle.

While it's not a glaring cosmetic problem, I'm worried about potential corrosion, especially with the upcoming salting season in the northeast.

Has anyone else observed this on their Bronco Sports? Also, does anyone have definite information on whether this panel is aluminum or steel?

See photos of both vehicles below.

Appreciate your insights.

My ‘21 OB has this paint/assembly flaw on both sides. I’m going to try to work repair through warranty.

A decent magnet will tell you if a metal is at the very least not aluminum or a ferrous steel. If a magnet doesn’t stick, the material could be non-metallic (plastic), aluminum, or austenitic stainless steel for example. But in our case for a mass produced small SUV, these grades of non-magnetic steel are highly unlikely.

This publication suggests the fenders are steel. “Bodyside outer panels constructed of mild steel”
Source: https://fordcrashparts.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/On-Target-2021-Vol.1-FNL-3-31-21.pdf

Also, post #6 suggests steel as well:
Source: https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/what-parts-of-the-bronco-sport-are-made-of-aluminum.3422/

 

[Bucko]

Others have reported this issue in your spot, as well as in the rear, around the tail light housings. Ford covered their repair under warranty.

 

[broncojen]

My ‘21 OB has this paint/assembly flaw on both sides. I’m going to try to work repair through warranty.

A decent magnet will tell you if a metal is at the very least not aluminum or a ferrous steel. If a magnet doesn’t stick, the material could be non-metallic (plastic), aluminum, or austenitic stainless steel for example. But in our case for a mass produced small SUV, these grades of non-magnetic steel are highly unlikely.

This publication suggests the fenders are steel. “Bodyside outer panels constructed of mild steel”
Source: https://fordcrashparts.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/On-Target-2021-Vol.1-FNL-3-31-21.pdf

Also, post #6 suggests steel as well:
Source: https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/what-parts-of-the-bronco-sport-are-made-of-aluminum.3422/

Yes, I had this same issue. Ford or my dealer wouldn’t fix it so I just paid collision guy to fix it. He said he has seen the same issue on a lot of bronco sports. Looks better than new now!

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