New home with a concrete driveway and garage floor that is Scaling along with Chert Pops. Is the Contractor at fault?

We have a new home, less than a year old, with a concrete driveway and garage floor that is Scaling and Flaking. The damage is has progressively gotten worse. The home builder wants us to pay $1500 to have a core sample taken to show if it is a material or finishing issue. If we do not pay the $1500, the home builder will not do anything to correct the issue. If the core sample comes back showing an issue, the home builder will reimburses us the $1500 and "take corrective actions". Isn't the home builder/ contractor liable for the concrete issue? Why would we need to risk the $1500 for the core test to show them their poor work? Thoughts or suggestions are appreciated. Thank you