Symptoms
Rust along the bottom of steel door frames, door skins bubbling.
Likely cause
Water collects in the bottom of door frames.
Suggested fixes
Listed roughly in the order most owners try them.
- 1
Repair door frames
Repair sections are available for steel door frames.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate DIY
- Cost:
- ££ (About £50 to £300)
- 2
Fit replacement doors
New doors save time when frames are badly rotten.
- Difficulty:
- Easy DIY
- Cost:
- £££ (Over about £300)
This is general guidance gathered from owner experience and workshop practice, not a substitute for a workshop manual or a qualified mechanic. Costs are rough parts-only guides. Brakes, steering and suspension work affects safety, so if in doubt have it checked professionally.
Related faults
- Chassis & bodyHigh severity
Bulkhead footwell and door pillar rot
Holes in footwells, bubbling around door pillars, water leaks into the cabin.
Series I · Series II / IIA · Series III · 90 / 110 / 127 · Defender2 fixes - Chassis & bodyHigh severity
Rear crossmember and outrigger rot
Holes or flaking in the rear crossmember and outriggers, MOT failure.
Series I · Series II / IIA · Series III · 90 / 110 / 127 · Defender3 fixes - Chassis & bodyMedium severity
Windscreen frame rot
Rust in the bottom corners of the windscreen frame, water leaks.
Series I · Series II / IIA · Series III · 90 / 110 / 127 · Defender2 fixes - Chassis & bodyLow severity
Bubbling aluminium body panels
White powdery corrosion and bubbling along panel edges.
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