LDV T60: Premature rust and corrosion — subject of ACCC Federal Court action
Premature rust and corrosion — subject of ACCC Federal Court action is a very common body & rust fault on the LDV T60 on the 2017 onward cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs ≈A$460 to ≈A$5,520 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 8 documented faults on the LDV T60.
- Vehicle
- LDV T60
- Years
- 2017 onward
- System
- Body & Rust
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The ACCC took LDV's Australian distributor (Ateco) to the Federal Court in 2025, alleging T60s have a propensity to rust or corrode within five years of manufacture; LDV received over 5,000 rust/corrosion complaints on T60 and G10 models between 2018 and 2024. The ACCC also alleges the 10-year anti-corrosion warranty advertised in 2019–2020 was misleading. The Australian distributor has acknowledged the corrosion concern and moved newer models to a 7-year/200,000 km warranty, but older utes carry the shorter 5-year/130,000 km cover and many are now outside it.
What you would notice
- Rust bubbles on tailgate, wellside seams, door bottoms and roof gutters
- Corrosion on chassis rails, tray mounts, underbody welds
- Rust around windscreen surround
- Paint blistering on panel edges
How to check it
Where to look. Body seams, tailgate, doors, chassis and underbody
Crawl underneath with a torch: check chassis rails, spring hangers, tray mounting points and seam welds for scaly rust, not just surface film.
Run fingers along tailgate seams, wheel-arch lips and door bottoms for bubbling.
Ask whether any rust warranty claims were made and get the outcome in writing; a pre-purchase inspection on a hoist is strongly advised for any T60.
What it costs to put right
≈A$460 to ≈A$5,520 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Has this ute ever had a rust warranty claim or rust repair?”
- “Was it used near the coast, on beaches or for boat launching?”
- “Is any of the anti-corrosion warranty still in place, and can you show the paperwork?”
Now check the LDV T60 you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car still has money owing on it, has been written off or reported stolen, what kms it showed in past sale ads, whether it has had accident repair claims and what it is worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate and its state for the A$17.90 Vehicle Check, or the full history from A$24.99.
Where this comes from
- ACCC media release: 'LDV Automotive Australia in court for alleged misleading advertising' (April 2025)
- carsales.com.au: 'LDV headed to court over T60 and G10 rust issues'
LDV T60 buyer questions
Is premature rust and corrosion — subject of accc federal court action serious on a LDV T60?
We rate it critical and very common on the LDV T60. The ACCC took LDV's Australian distributor (Ateco) to the Federal Court in 2025, alleging T60s have a propensity to rust or corrode within five years of manufacture; LDV received over 5,000 rust/corrosion complaints on T60 and G10 models between 2018 and 2024. The ACCC also alleges the 10-year anti-corrosion warranty advertised in 2019–2020 was misleading. The Australian distributor has acknowledged the corrosion concern and moved newer models to a 7-year/200,000 km warranty, but older utes carry the shorter 5-year/130,000 km cover and many are now outside it.
How much does it cost to fix on a LDV T60?
≈A$460 to ≈A$5,520 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which LDV T60 years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2017 onward LDV T60. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Crawl underneath with a torch: check chassis rails, spring hangers, tray mounting points and seam welds for scaly rust, not just surface film. Run fingers along tailgate seams, wheel-arch lips and door bottoms for bubbling. Ask whether any rust warranty claims were made and get the outcome in writing; a pre-purchase inspection on a hoist is strongly advised for any T60. Look here: Body seams, tailgate, doors, chassis and underbody