Way OT - Any Mechanics out there?

can you post a picture? what car?

It's a 2005 ford five hundred.  No pics unfortunately.  There's also a little rust on the inside of the trunk lid.

Aluminum doesn't 'rust'. You can oxidize aluminum, but it's very difficult, and requires a VERY high tempurature and a bunch of additional oxygen. Thermite is this reaction. Very very dangerous, but also very cool.

If you're sure the hood aluminum, it's possible

1.)the paint is breaking down, UV light breaks down polymers (which is why you put clear coat on it)

2.) the paint was applied poorly, say, after repair work, and never bonded properly with the hood

3.) It's not actually an aluminum hood, and it's rusting.

Regardless, it's fixable by taking the paint off, sanding, and putting on a new coat.

However, if you're concerned with rust, you should check the body of the car, particularly the exhaust, suspension, and subframe for other signs of rust. Remember, rust begets rust. If there's a little, it will spread.

EDIT: Ford 500s have steel OEM hoods. Sounds like rust.

Is it underneath the hood or on top? Only reason I ask is Fords have issues at the seam on a lot of there vehicles. Google it. Ford also has a rust warranty for 5 years, but there has to be a hole. From what I found sometimes people are getting them fixed without a hole, but most times they don't. Going through the same process except mine is on the rear fender. Got an estimate of 400-800 bucks to get it fixed, but I got a good deal on the car. Its a Ford Edge. 

Bubbling sounds like to hood was repainted.  Pay for the Carfax and see if the car has been in any accidents.  If you are worried about rust you may want to especially avoid a car that has had the front end smashed up and has been repainted.

The report shows no accidents.  Apparently, Ford messed up and made the aluminum hood come into contact with steel inserts when it closes, causing a reaction between the metals?  How much would this affect the value of a car?

it?  The car is 7-8 years old and it is just starting to rust so it's not really a big deal. It will be a few more years before it starts getting ugly, even then you can buy a used hood from a junkyard or a store like partsright for about 100 bucks. This is not really a question for a mechanic though..rust is not a sign of engine wear or damage... rust is only a sign of more rust

This is not a problem for a "mechanic". Mechanics fix the mechanical parts of a car. This is either a question for an auto body specialist, a professional painter or a metalurgist.

This bubbling was part of a recall and a well known major paint defect. You'll probably want to negotiate the cost of a trip to maaco to have it stripped and repainted into the purchase price, or the cost of ordering an aftermakret hood without this problem.

It has nothing to do with the hood aluminum. Just the paint. You may find that the rear quarter panels bubble up with rust near the front of the wheel wells, however.

turns out i forgot their team name. incidentally, technicians is a pretty good team name, but there really should be a detroit high school that competes as the mechanics, no?

For a quality shop to shoot that hood, with sanding, priming, and all, over $1000.00.  I had a hood shot for a caravan, aftermarket, already primed and payed $650.00.

Yeah it's been said several times already, but I'll reiterate..........there's no way it's an aluminum hood.  Car companies can't afford that.  If anything it's a fiberglass hood, but I doubt it.  It's steel and there's rust.  Fairly normal for a car around here.

http://www.fordtaurus.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14805

Should a 7 year old car be rusting, especially in those locations and with modern anti-corrosive paints/sealers? That's what I would be concerned about. I had a '97 Ford stored almost exclusively outside and it didn't start getting rust on the body until it was about 10-11 years old. Yes this is anecdotal, but it should be something to consider when negotiating for this car.