Here in Buffalo, I'm getting a lot of rust on the tailgate hardware. Any suggestions?

 

what hardware? the hinges? rust can be warranty work if your under the warranty

 

I'm looking at the torq screws that hold the license plate lights and the chrome hatch handle trim. It never amazes me that they don't even use plated screws, let alone stainless.

 

Well, you are fighting the road salt in Buffalo. You can prevent this by washing the salts off with fresh water if possible, but that is tough when the digits are way down and impractical. You can remove the fasteners and figure out their size and purchase ones that are better able to handle the environment. Last suggestion which applies to the hidden ones is to remove, clean, paint and re-install. Any tool marks from installation can be easily touched up. Also, once they are clean, a little dab of vaseline on them when the weather is really hard will help carry them through until you can wash them again. I just check mine and they are like new after two years, but that's Florida, no rock salt and 10-1/2 months a year in the garage. Remember, the back of the car gets all the road crap sucked up on it, from the low pressure void there when driving, when the roads are wet and those fasteners are out of sight out of mind. When I wash the car, I wash up in that area too. If your fasteners are too far gone, just buy new ones from a auto store, ACE Hardware or the dealer. If you go the painting route, I find using a piece of cardboard works great. Simply use an awl or icepick to make an appropriate size hole, insert the clean screw half way in and paint with a spray can. Let it dry and your are done. You can do them all at once that way, just leave sufficient space between the screws so you can get all the sides.

 

I was hoping to find some stainless steel hardware. The threads looked like something that the local hardware store wouldn't stock. Very fine. The head didn't matter (torq) is on them now.
I don't know if GM does them in stainless but they should be OEM.