skiplexus13436

I have a 2001 LS430 with the same problem. The panel is rusting from the inside out. I have owned the car since new and there has never been any body damage to the door. The rust is coming from where the clips that hold the door trim go into the panel. That is why the spots are evenly spaced. I took the door panel off and there is musch more rust on the inside than outside. I had three spots that were rusting but three more were about to. I cut out each bad spot bonded some metal to the panel from the inside, totally painted the inside and then had to bondo the panel from the outside. looks pretty good but cannot match the paint, will have to have it professionally painted. Seems like all of the complaints just involve the driver's side door, no others. I would guess that somebody missed a process where the inside of the panel is coated after the trim clips are put in. The clips must chip off a small amount of paint when inserted and over the years the rust sets in. Being in the snow belt surely didn't help. You don't think of a Lexus having rust issues.