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Side molding is coming off, dealer says not under warranty?!


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Hi All,

 

I have a 2015 Legacy. So far I like the car, but I noticed the side door molding on the passenger side was coming loose from the car.

 

I took the car my local dealership (I purchased this one used, with a few months remaining on the factory 3/36k mile warranty, then I purchased the 7/100/0 extended warranty from Subaru). They told me that since it didn't come from the factory with the molding, it wasn't covered under warranty.

 

While I think that a genuine Subaru part, installed by an authorized dealer, isn't under warranty is a crock of crap, I need to get it fixed before it falls off the car.

 

Any recommendations for some double sided tape to use? I tried the 3M Super Strength molding tape (part# 03609 with a green #2 in the top right corner), but the tape is to thick and leaves a gap between the molding and the car... any ideas? The old tape was toast and wasn't holding onto the molding anymore...

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Accessories are typically only covered either under the 3/36 warranty but some are only for one year. Extended warranties do NOT cover these types of items. I have installed several body side moldings on various cars over the last 15 years. 3M makes a special high strength automotive trim tape which is what you need. Check amazon as I am confident it is available there. It is very thin and the same material the manufacturers use to adhere items to their cars at the factory and at the port.
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Thanks - I wasn't sure, but I did put an email into Subaru. I figure worse case I could take it to a body shop... But it really shouldn't be hard to re-tape it. If I can find the correct take with the correct width.

 

So I looked for 3M trim tape, but there are so many different choices, would you happen to remember the right kind of tape?

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This makes me think only the perimeter is taped, I wonder if the center is raised, and only the perimeter sits flush? I'd imagine you'd need some pretty thin tape for just the perimeter. With these moldings I thought the whole bottom was flat, but I guess maybe not.

 

https://techinfo.subaru.com/stis/doc/accInstallGuide/077983-j101sal800xx.pdf

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Subaru accessories installed by the dealer at the time of sale would be covered under the same warranty as the rest of the car.

 

per Subaru

 

https://www.subaru.com/owners/vehicle-warranty/warranties-2015.html

 

What is Covered

 

These warranties cover any repairs needed to correct defects in material or workmanship reported during the applicable warranty period and which occur under normal use:

 


  • In any part of the 2015 model year SUBARU which is identified on the inside front cover of this Warranty & Maintenance Booklet (the "vehicle").
  • Any Genuine SUBARU Optional Accessories.
  • In addition, adjustment services are covered one time only during the first 36 months/36,000 miles of operation, whichever comes first.

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Sadly, I couldn't find a thin enough tape. But, I did make a call to into Subaru and explained the situation. They agreed to cover the cost of having the dealer replace the molding! Woohoo.

 

Thank you everyone for your input.

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For future reference if you need it. 3M makes an automotive double sided tape for adhering just these kinds of things with a variety of thicknesses. If you have an auto body supply store near you, they will stock it.

 

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/All-3M-Products/Automotive-Products/Attachment-Tapes-Fasteners/Automotive/Post-Factory-Installations/?N=5002385+8709313+8711017+8711413+8716713+8719972+3294857497&rt=r3

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