Does this much rust on a new Mazda seem normal?

I have a 2024 CX-30 with less than 300 miles. I noticed some rust and wanted to ask if this is normal for a new car.

That looks like surface rust. It probably sat on the dealer’s lot for a while. I live in eastern Canada, and brake rotors rust after just a week of no driving, especially in rain or winter.

@Ty
Same here. If I wash my car and don’t drive it the next day, the rust is already visible.

Alby said:
That looks like surface rust. It probably sat on the dealer’s lot for a while. I live in eastern Canada, and brake rotors rust after just a week of no driving, especially in rain or winter.

Thanks, that’s what I thought might be the case.

Alby said:
That looks like surface rust. It probably sat on the dealer’s lot for a while. I live in eastern Canada, and brake rotors rust after just a week of no driving, especially in rain or winter.

I’m also in eastern Canada, near the ocean, and mine rusts overnight.

Yes, it’s normal. Heavy iron parts aren’t usually painted because it would take decades for the rust to cause actual damage. In areas with salted roads, it might happen faster, but surface rust is typical. Even just washing your car can lead to some rust on brake rotors, and it’ll rub off as soon as you start driving.

Japanese cars tend to rust because they don’t leak oil. BMWs may break down, but they stay rust-free thanks to the engine oil coating everything underneath. Just joking… or maybe not!

Lennox said:
Japanese cars tend to rust because they don’t leak oil. BMWs may break down, but they stay rust-free thanks to the engine oil coating everything underneath. Just joking… or maybe not!

Volkswagen somehow manages to do both—rusts badly and leaks oil everywhere, but only after the rust has started to hide it.

Lennox said:
Japanese cars tend to rust because they don’t leak oil. BMWs may break down, but they stay rust-free thanks to the engine oil coating everything underneath. Just joking… or maybe not!

That joke caught me off guard, lol.

Lennox said:
Japanese cars tend to rust because they don’t leak oil. BMWs may break down, but they stay rust-free thanks to the engine oil coating everything underneath. Just joking… or maybe not!

:joy:

Yes, it’s normal. These cars are often exposed to saltwater during shipping, which causes this.

Jaden said:
Yes, it’s normal. These cars are often exposed to saltwater during shipping, which causes this.

I think the CX-30 is assembled in Mexico, though. The CX-5 is made in Japan.

@Whit
You’re right. If you’re near the coast, this kind of rust is totally normal.

@Whit
Some CX-30s are made in Mexico, some in Japan. For the U.S., VINs starting with ‘3MV’ are from Mexico, and ‘JM3’ is Japan. CX-50s are built in Alabama, and CX-5s are Japan-only.

Ellis said:
@Whit
Some CX-30s are made in Mexico, some in Japan. For the U.S., VINs starting with ‘3MV’ are from Mexico, and ‘JM3’ is Japan. CX-50s are built in Alabama, and CX-5s are Japan-only.

In the U.S., all CX-30s are built in Mexico.

My 2020 Tacoma looked like this when I bought it new. A lot of vehicles do. Are you already working on the brakes at 300 miles?

Sullivan said:
My 2020 Tacoma looked like this when I bought it new. A lot of vehicles do. Are you already working on the brakes at 300 miles?

Yes, I’m upgrading the brake pads and also installing European-spec springs. Just a heads-up, the suspension on the CX-30 is very different from the CX-5.

@Linden
Good to know. I have a CX-5, and the suspension’s decent on it.

This is totally normal.

I don’t see any rust. It looks fine to me.