Standing Water in Rear Tail Lights

[Bdusell]

Need some advice, I have bad condensation, more like large droplets, AND standing pooling water in my psgr tail light. I bought a 2020 ST used, 19,850 mi on it on Sept 5, 2022. I noticed this moisture in the light housing among other issues a week or two after purchase and called to make an appointment with the dealer for the water, a defective rear camera, a trans issue, and an exhaust issues. Soonest appt open was Oct. 17, so I’ve been trying to get this light replaced since then. Dealer says factory and my extended all state premier care warranty will not cover lenses. I don’t even care about the warrant, the point is they sold me the car this way, I just didn’t notice right away. They’re telling me $700 to replace the lens where I think it should be replaced no charge. Any advice how to get this fixed before it becomes a major electrical problem?

 

[Bdusell]

I should mention the service tech at the dealer, Gjovik Ford in Plano, IL actually told me to drill a hole in the light housing to let it drain. Unbelievable. A $60,000 basically brand new car and Ford solution is to tell the customer to drill a hole in it. They won’t help out on this at all other than offer to sell me a new light for $700.

 

[Garda934]

I have drilled holes in headlights and taillights before but not on anything less than 5 years old let alone new. Take it to a different dealer and see what they say it should be covered under warranty.

 

[Bdusell]

I have drilled holes in headlights and taillights before but not on anything less than 5 years old let alone new. Take it to a different dealer and see what they say it should be covered under warranty.

Thanks for the input. I’ve been to two dealers, I’m being told no warranty will cover “trim” or light housings. I wish I would’ve noticed it before I drove it off the lot.

 

[Garda934]

Well that is is total BS. Well you can check the vent holes for blockage and you could always put windshield gasket material around the lightbulb sockets.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BKEBO...imm_JW8YVVQM8RWNXQJ9NQFE?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Cdubya]

My MY2020 did the same thing but not as bad. I tried sealing up the edges but it didn't change. Ended up buying a used one off Ebay. Just make sure it's off of an ST because those rears have tinted sides.

 

[Bdusell]

Well that is is total BS. Well you can check the vent holes for blockage and you could always put windshield gasket material around the lightbulb sockets.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BKEBO...imm_JW8YVVQM8RWNXQJ9NQFE?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Thank you, I’ll have to do that once I take it back out again and figure out exactly where the vent holes are at lol.

 

[Bdusell]

My MY2020 did the same thing but not as bad. I tried sealing up the edges but it didn't change. Ended up buying a used one off Ebay. Just make sure it's off of an ST because those rears have tinted sides.

Thanks for the info. I’ve seen some on eBay for around $250 or so but I’m kinda sketchy about those particular ones I’ve seen as it says they come from China. Haven’t seen any “used” ones just yet.

 

[RJS]

I agree that it should be replaced as it was like that when you purchased it.
IIRC the Ford extended warranty does cover LED lights and lens but it's about a $70 upcharge when you buy the policy.

 

[Bdusell]

I was told by the dealer that my 3rd party Allstate Premier Care policy does not cover trim, lights, etc. I asked is there a warranty I can purchase that does and they said even their best warranty, the Ford Protect warranty, he described as “the best in the biz” doesn’t cover lenses etc. Do you have further info on the warranty you’re talking about. I’m going to the dealer, again, today here in a little bit and this will be my last trip there and their last chance to make this right. If they don’t, I’m contacting Ford corporate, the regional manager, I will review Ford and this dealer on Google, Fb, and social media and let everyone know what to expect from Ford when things go wrong. If need be I’ll be contacting the BBB and possibly talking to an attorney as well.

 

[RJS]

I was told by the dealer that my 3rd party Allstate Premier Care policy does not cover trim, lights, etc. I asked is there a warranty I can purchase that does and they said even their best warranty, the Ford Protect warranty, he described as “the best in the biz” doesn’t cover lenses etc. Do you have further info on the warranty you’re talking about. I’m going to the dealer, again, today here in a little bit and this will be my last trip there and their last chance to make this right. If they don’t, I’m contacting Ford corporate, the regional manager, I will review Ford and this dealer on Google, Fb, and social media and let everyone know what to expect from Ford when things go wrong. If need be I’ll be contacting the BBB and possibly talking to an attorney as well.

This is the Ford ESP brochure and if you look lower left under PremiumCare Electrical you will see the first entry at the top says that LED lights and assemblies are covered when you add that coverage at higher cost. I did that when I bought my ESP and I believe the cost was about $70 extra.

 

[Bdusell]

This is the Ford ESP brochure and if you look lower left under Electrical you will see at the top that LED lights and assemblies are covered when you add that coverage at higher cost. I did that when I bought my ESP and I believe the cost was about $70 extra.

Awesome thank you, I will definitely be checking that out!!

 

[Bdusell]

This is the Ford ESP brochure and if you look lower left under PremiumCare Electrical you will see at the top that LED lights and assemblies are covered when you add that coverage at higher cost. I did that when I bought my ESP and I believe the cost was about $70 extra.

Yup it sure does say that. I will be inquiring about this when I go to the dealership today.

 

[hbalek]

Awesome thank you, I will definitely be checking that out!!

For my 2020 with 34K miles, I just purchased the FordProtect Premium for 7 years/85K miles $100 deductible with first day rental but without the lighting coverage. I paid $1525 on Cyber Monday from Anderson & Koch Ford in MN. This was the best price I could find online. I wonder if it's too late to add the lighting option upcharge...

 

[Bdusell]

For my 2020 with 34K miles, I just purchased the FordProtect Premium for 7 years/85K miles $100 deductible with first day rental but without the lighting coverage. I paid $1525 on Cyber Monday from Anderson & Koch Ford in MN. This was the best price I could find online. I wonder if it's too late to add the lighting option upcharge...

That I’m not sure of but considering if it’s only $70 extra I’d say do it because the dealer wants to charge me $700 for a single light housing…and that went down from the original $949 installed, neither of which I am going to pay. I refuse to pay that kind of money for something they sold me this way.