Ford Warranty Denied Internal Taillight Cracks Claim

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

D-Dub

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2017
Posts
26
Reaction score
13
Location
Oklahoma
Has anyone who recently purchased a Gen 2 Raptor had warranty claims denied? I am asking because I found visible hairline cracks inside my taillight lens (both sides) along the white/clear outline light. I removed my right taillight to wire trace the reverse lights to add auxiliary reverse lights. When the lower forward corner flange, where the lense came apart in my hand. No tools were used in the removal except the 8mm socket to remove the retainer screws. The taillight pops out by pulling straight back. However, Ford Warranty denied the claim stating improper removal technique was used to remove the taillight and there was no indication cracks were present prior to removal. I found similar hairline cracks on the left side, and evidence of glue separation between the lens and housing. I reported that to the dealer and that claim was also denied. The left side was never removed. I stopped buying Fords in 1996 because of the Warranty Claim process. Hell they were trying to make me pay for a factory recall on my ‘89 5.0, Mustang, because according to the dealer, it was older then 5 years.... I thought the dealer was jerking me around, and the service manager showed me the FOMOCO memo that said not to perform the recall repair on vehicles older then 5 years. My vehicles VIN was identified in the recall. I can go on and on about Ford’s Warranty process, but I have always wanted a Raptor, and when I was in a financial position to purchase a Gen 2, I did. The truck is great as are other products, but I find myself once again being hosed by Ford Warranty. So I will pay $423.00 for a new taillight and 1/2 hour for the dealer to install it. But will never again buy a ford.
 
Last edited:

chi_weezy

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 5, 2017
Posts
556
Reaction score
251
Damn that sucks. I don't have mine yet. You're saying the clear lense came apart from the other half when you removed it? Sounds odd
 

smurfslayer

Be vewwy, vewwy quiet. We’re hunting sasquatch77
Joined
Dec 16, 2016
Posts
16,065
Reaction score
23,541
Has anyone who recently purchased a Gen 2 Raptor had warranty claims denied? I am asking because I found visible hairline cracks inside my taillight lens (both sides) along the white/clear outline light. I removed my right taillight to wire trace the reverse lights to add auxiliary reverse lights. When the lower forward corner flange, where the lense came apart in my hand. No tools were used in the removal except the 8mm socket to remove the retainer screws. The taillight pops out by pulling straight back. However, Ford Warranty denied the claim stating improper removal technique was used to remove the taillight and there was no indication cracks were present prior to removal. I found similar hairline cracks on the left side, and evidence of glue separation between the lens and housing. I reported that to the dealer and that claim was also denied. The left side was never removed. I stopped buying Fords in 1996 because of the Warranty Claim process. Hell they were trying to make me pay for a factory recall on my ‘89 5.0, Mustang, because according to the dealer, it was older then 5 years.... I thought the dealer was jerking me around, and the service manager showed me the FOMOCO memo that said not to perform the recall repair on vehicles older then 5 years. My vehicles VIN was identified in the recall. I can go on and on about Ford’s Warranty process, but I have always wanted a Raptor, and when I was in a financial position to purchase a Gen 2, I did. The truck is great as are other products, but I find myself once again being hosed by Ford Warranty. So I will pay $423.00 for a new taillight and 1/2 hour for the dealer to install it. But will never again buy a ford.

Honestly, for $500 sustaining a warranty denial would be counterproductive.
I’d be sorely tempted to sue the dealer; they’re the ones denying coverage here. I don’t expect the dealer to cover my F*** ups, so I try to be straight with them, but yeah when ****** around, I get displeased quickly.

That said... Gorilla Glue. worked on my Mac 10, will work for lesser repairs too. Freakin’ 400 bucks for a tail light?
 

03Cobraraptor

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2015
Posts
352
Reaction score
198
I gave up on Ford bumper to bumper warranties as well. It's a sack of complete dogshit.
Had my 2013 driver's side mirror replaced twice with no improvement of lens bluriness. Had a leather seat claim denied as Ford said it looked as if someone tried to dye the seat black after it was torn at 15,000 miles. No way this happened lol
What a joke!

Good luck OP it seems the only way I can move on is to try not to let it eat you up. This isn't an excuse but It's still a Ford at the end of the day!
 
Last edited:

Mahoney

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2017
Posts
93
Reaction score
26
Honestly, for $500 sustaining a warranty denial would be counterproductive.
I’d be sorely tempted to sue the dealer; they’re the ones denying coverage here. I don’t expect the dealer to cover my F*** ups, so I try to be straight with them, but yeah when ****** around, I get displeased quickly.

That said... Gorilla Glue. worked on my Mac 10, will work for lesser repairs too. Freakin’ 400 bucks for a tail light?

If the advisor did his job correct he would have to submit pictures of the tail lamp for warranty replacement to Ford, Ford will review the pictures and decide if there is coverage or not. So, if done correctly, Ford is denying the coverage NOT the dealer.

Although, if you took it/take it to your selling dealer, they have customer satisfaction money from Ford (P18) for these situations and a good dealer will typically cover all of it for you or at least half.

Also, $400 for a tail lamp isn't too bad, the side view mirrors are around $1500 if they are motorized/folding with spot lights. The tail lights, if they have blind spot I'd assume would be much more expensive alone. There's technology packed into a lot of parts on new vehicles these days with all these options available.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
D-Dub

D-Dub

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2017
Posts
26
Reaction score
13
Location
Oklahoma
Yes - 100% correct. Photos were taken. It was not the dealer. It was denied by Ford Warranty. Funny thing is when I called customer satisfaction (Regional) they opened a claim, and was sent an e-mail from the Regional Manager, stating they couldn’t substantiate if I caused the damage on removal of the taillight, so that will be denied. However they are willing to find out what programs are available to resolve the left side cracks... that are the same as those on the right... this cost for a taillight is with the BLIS. I agree with you, never would I expect Warranty to fix things if I screw them up, as a matter of fact, If it is a small thing that would be covered under warranty, less then $100 I’ll just buy the part and fix it, because it is far cheaper for me then to give up my truck for three days minimum and drive 100 miles each way to the dealer for the repair. I went from Ford to Dodge and gave up on both of them because of poor Warranty Service. Been with GM ever since, but they didn’t have an equal to the Raptor, so I traded in my Sierra for a Ford. Don’t get me wrong, Ford has some good products... it’s the after sale stuff that causes problems to the customer base.

---------- Post added at 06:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:29 PM ----------

I told them I did it and why. The curious part is the initial denial stated based on the two pictures submitted by the Service Manager, they concluded improper removal procedure was followed causing the damage. Then they changed their position when the cracks were discovered on the opposite side. Now they claim they can not determine if the cracks were present before or after the removal of the right side... at least stick to one reason for a denial. Don’t change positions because evidence of existing cracks are found on the opposite side, in the same location as those on the right taillight.

---------- Post added at 06:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:37 PM ----------

No, that isn’t what I am saying. When I pulled the taillight off, there was a crack in the plastic at the forward lower corner, I can only assume that was there prior to removal, because that edge is where the lens is glued to the housing all the way around the taillight. It creates a flange where it fits into the bed. Also there are cracks in the clear band of the lens along the mold lines that began to form. There is what appears to be glue separation bubbles forming on the left lens flange. That lower forward corner of the taillight fits very tight against the bed. I even mentioned to the dealer the taillight fits better, with an equal gap between the taillight and the bed. I looked at three brand new Raptors at the dealer. No cracks or separation in the taillights. But they do have uneven gaps spaces and that corner is very tight against the bed.
 

smurfslayer

Be vewwy, vewwy quiet. We’re hunting sasquatch77
Joined
Dec 16, 2016
Posts
16,065
Reaction score
23,541
Yeah, I can totally see Mahoney’s points. That doesn’t make it any more customer friendly. I have typically been hands on in my vehicles, with a few exceptions. One of which - my wife lost a headlight in her subaru legacy; long story short, you need a lift to change the headlight bulb (easily). I drew the line here and made her got to a shop because I -knew- in my heart something was going to get broke. In my mind, money well spent.

I could totally see myself doing what OP did pulling the lights, but I am having a really hard time believing this is being denied.

Gorilla glue. FTS. And NEVER return to that dealer, but be sure to let them know you won’t ever return as a customer, and be sure to let them know everyone you know won’t ever set foot there either.
 
Top