Tail Light Stress Crack

[Edson8r]

Has anyone had this issue on their tail lights getting random stress cracks? I noticed it Sunday night when I thought I had a leaf on the tail light and when I looked it turned out to be a crack. I checked the next morning to make sure nobody just hit me, and it was all good. My car had been sitting at home in my driveway all weekend long. Monday I didn’t drive my car and I called my local dealer to get it checked out, and when I got home that afternoon it developed a crack on the other side of the same tribar. I recorded it as best I could before I took it to the dealer on Tuesday. Even the service advisor said there’s no clear sign of someone hitting it when I had dropped it off, and I have seen some people mention it in the Steeda S650 FB group regarding moisture and stress cracks. Today I get a call back and was told it was denied for warranty replacement and they want me to pay just for them looking at the tail light. They also told me I had caused the damage myself and that’s why it was denied.

Just want to see who else has had this issue, and how to go about getting it fixed without paying out of pocket. Don’t want to pay over a grand for one tail light either..

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[smurfslayer]

This is how you lose customers @Ford Motor Company

Monday I didn’t drive my car and I called my local dealer to get it checked out, and when I got home that afternoon it developed a crack on the other side of the same tribar. I recorded it as best I could before I took it to the dealer on Tuesday. Even the service advisor said there’s no clear sign of someone hitting it when I had dropped it off, and I have seen some people mention it in the Steeda S650 FB group regarding moisture and stress cracks. Today I get a call back and was told it was denied for warranty replacement and they want me to pay just for them looking at the tail light. They also told me I had caused the damage myself and that’s why it was denied.

This is a possibly big problem if not caught early. 2 or 3 Raptors I’ve heard of have had something similar; busted or cracked taillight that was a surprise, then, at some point after the light takes on water from regular rainfall, you get a literal Christmas Tree of dash warnings, a few PAGES of diagnostic trouble codes, all tracing back to the taillight embedded (BLIS?) module, connected to the truck’s various networks. Drive modes are disabled - which is how the Rap changes to 4wd, suspension defaults to FULL non-compliant, etc.

I suspect you’re going to get nothing out of the stealership, or Ford and if that’s the case, make sure you’re not going to be taking on water as a result of the damage. Even the LED’s only being out is enough to throw a BCM fault.

Good luck.

 

[Edson8r]

This is how you lose customers @Ford Motor Company



This is a possibly big problem if not caught early. 2 or 3 Raptors I’ve heard of have had something similar; busted or cracked taillight that was a surprise, then, at some point after the light takes on water from regular rainfall, you get a literal Christmas Tree of dash warnings, a few PAGES of diagnostic trouble codes, all tracing back to the taillight embedded (BLIS?) module, connected to the truck’s various networks. Drive modes are disabled - which is how the Rap changes to 4wd, suspension defaults to FULL non-compliant, etc.

I suspect you’re going to get nothing out of the stealership, or Ford and if that’s the case, make sure you’re not going to be taking on water as a result of the damage. Even the LED’s only being out is enough to throw a BCM fault.

Good luck.

Yeah… I’m hoping it’s all good. It hasn’t taken any water in yet but I’m in Texas and should be raining this week supposedly so we shall see how the tail light holds up. Kind of sucks since I’ve seen this issue as far back as 8 weeks ago. Spoke to someone and they got it resolved by going to another dealer, and I was sent a YouTube video of someone getting denied and eventually getting it replaced as an electrical issue if the dealership sends it up that way for you. I’m waiting to hear back tomorrow and will see Saturday in person about getting it resolved because no way I’m paying them to look at a tail light for a couple seconds and not paying $1700 for a tail light plus labor to remove the rear bumper to get it replaced.

 

[Mr Hyde]

had the same happen to me split the black area open and fortunately just a surface crack. dealer was like it still works and would not warrantee as its just cosmetic, i was like listen )&$#%&#$*%&#$*(%&#$(*&%*($& its 3 months old you son of a broken prophylactic. they said also denied it because i polished and installed a ceramic. Why do we even worry warrantees when they do this shit.

 

[Edson8r]

had the same happen to me split the black area open and fortunately just a surface crack. dealer was like it still works and would not warrantee as its just cosmetic, i was like listen )&$#%&#$*%&#$*(%&#$(*&%*($& its 3 months old you son of a broken prophylactic. they said also denied it because i polished and installed a ceramic. Why do we even worry warrantees when they do this shit.

wow that’s crazy.. they’re supposed to prove that caused the issue and no way a coating will cause that. I’ve had mine for a year and this happens. All that money paid just for this to happen. I also have my car ceramic coated. I hand wash my car and never take it through drive through washes. I wouldn’t even have noticed until water was in the tail light or unless someone told me it was out. I’m surprised at the amount of people having this issue. They’re wondering if it’s from using my trunk, but there’s no way because I barely use it and when I do I definitely don’t slam it hard.

 

[steveo1960]

While adjusting my rear view mirror it literally came off in my hand. Mount, chunks of glass and so forth. Ford denied my warranty claim as well because of the way the service advisor submitted the claim. He stated "mirror RIPPED from windshield" which was completely untrue. I did not see the wording until after the claim was denied. I would suggest you look at the wording in the claim your dealer submitted.

 

[Edson8r]

Yeah I will look at it. I don’t think they submitted it to ford though. I was told the manager denied it so they didn’t even try submitting it but I will see about how they word it in case I’m able to get them or another dealer to send it up as a warranty claim.

 

[roket]

unfortunately, that cracking would not be covered under warranty, per Ford's GSB 24-7068 "Exterior Lighting Concern Analysis"

 

[SSuperDave]

I've replaced two so far, one quit working and the other worked intermittently and had water in it with no signs of damage. Oddly enough, both were on the same car a few months apart. We did both under warranty without issue. BTW, those lights cost $1,600.00 EACH, and the rear bumper has to come off to replace them!
You can call Ford customer service at 800-392-3673, they may be able help, or not, but its worth a call.

 

[Edson8r]

I've replaced two so far, one quit working and the other worked intermittently and had water in it with no signs of damage. Oddly enough, both were on the same car a few months apart. We did both under warranty without issue. BTW, those lights cost $1,600.00 EACH, and the rear bumper has to come off to replace them!
You can call Ford customer service at 800-392-3673, they may be able help, or not, but its worth a call.

Thank you! Waiting to hear back but if not I plan on calling the number you gave me and see what happens. Definitely don’t want to pay for something I didn’t do and others are having issues with as well. On top of paying for them to look at it which probably took what like a couple seconds lol

 

[dusman59]

Stress cracks can happen when manufacturing process is not followed. It has happened on almost all manufactures. Headlights seem to be more vulnerable. There is a rider one can get when purchasing the extended premium warranty for not much money. It covers all led lights. Not sure about stress cracks but one might have a better chance of replacement.

 

[smurfslayer]

unfortunately, that cracking would not be covered under warranty, per Ford's GSB 24-7068 "Exterior Lighting Concern Analysis"

I think this may be taking the memo out of context. Surely Ford doesn’t mean to exclude cracks incidental to manufacturing defect as opposed to say, impact caused damage. OP doesn’t seem to show signs of impact - I don’t think... anyone else?

[QUOTE="dusman59, post: 3298166, member: 59442"
Stress cracks can happen when manufacturing process is not followed. It has happened on almost all manufactures. Headlights seem to be more vulnerable. There is a rider one can get when purchasing the extended premium warranty for not much money. It covers all led lights. Not sure about stress cracks but one might have a better chance of replacement.
[/QUOTE]

The Extended LED coverage is great for lights actually going out, but damage from impact isn’t covered and it can easily go unnoticed allowing water intrusion, which then screws up every network connection embedded within the taillight.

Impact caused cracks are definitely not warrantable and that’s understandable. The issue here is what caused the cracks.

Not the only thing possible too. A very good friend of mine, 28 year Ford tech relayed this tale of woe:

guy in an explorer gets to work, backs into his spot and lightly taps the rear bumper on a pylon. Pulls forward, gets out - not even a scuff. No need to buff it right out. Shuts down the truck and heads into the office. Leaves office after work but explorer won’t start. has it towed to the dealer. They troubleshoot and cannot find a cause, apparently the pinpoint testing is inconclusive, not showing any reason why it’s not starting. Calls exchanged with owner and finally after a few contacts, tech talks to the customer directly and hears the story about the pylon. He goes back, pulls the bumper off and bingo. wiring harness got scraped or partially cut.

Not a warranty fix! They did cover part of it in the interest of customer retention/goodwill, it was a LOT of time.

 

[SSuperDave]

^^^^^ stuff like this, every day!!

 

[Farmer Fran]

Yikes! and WOW!

 

[Farmer Fran]

It looks like molding defects to me, but hard to be 100% sure in the images.

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