[YaleM4208]

We bought a used 2018 Jetta from an online dealer. I took it to the local VW dealership for an inspection and they found some oil leaking around the filter. I got it home, jacked it up to look around myself and noticed this "glue" on the frame by the right-front wheel. Would this be from the factory or a sign of some kind of repair?

 

[Jgor]

That doesn't look good.

 

[YaleM4208]

I sent the pictures to the dealership and they said it was factory seam sealant to prevent water intrusion.

 

[biz4two]

that might be factory, but the robot that did that seam needed to be recalibrated badly.

 

[BSM]

Yes, that is sloppy factory seam sealer. When you zoom in close you can see that the ripple pattern is extremely uniform and tight - that wouldn’t be replicated by a shop. And only a robot would have lumped seam sealer on top of seam sealer in such an unproductive way.