2010 Ford F-150 Lighting Problems

An aftermarket LED headlight kit was purchased from a large retailer of these products (Americantrucks.com). After receiving the kit and installing, condensation appeared inside the passenger side headlight. I contacted customer support to let them know of the defect. They told me that the part was not defective and I could take the headlight apart and wipe the inside out if I wanted to. I am concerned that the headlamp will fail in use from corrosion on electrical components exposed to the condensation. These headlights are supposed to be completely sealed.

AFTER NOTICING THE INSIDE OF MY TRUCK WINDOWS STEAMING UP, I FELT AROUND AND FOUND THE BACK SEATS AND FLOOR WERE SOAKED. IT HAD BEEN RAINING HARD FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND IT TURNED OUT THE 3RD BRAKE/CARGO LIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR THE CARGO BED WAS FULL OF WATER AND HAD ALLOWED WATER TO INSIDE OF THE CABIN.THE CEILING LINER, SEATS AND CARPET WERE SOAKED. I HAVE DUCK-TAPED IT FOR NOW, BUT WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY. THE LIGHT BULBS HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED. FORD IS SAYING IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT BUT WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE NET, IT CERTAINLY ISN'T THE CUSTOMER'S FAULT. STEP UP FORD AND DO WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING; MAKE A RECALL ON THIS PART AND FIX IT. WE SPEND ALOT OF MONEY FOR YOUR PRODUCT; STAND BEHIND IT. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN FORD MEANT QUALITY, BUT IT SURE SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T ANY MORE. *JS

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE CABIN THROUGH ON OF THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THIRD REAR TAIL LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,974. DJR

VEHICLE WAS SITTING OUTSIDE AFTER A HEAVY RAIN NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM INTERIOR ROOF. MY WINDOWS FOGGED UP IMPAIRING MY VISION FROM THE EXCESSIVE MOISTURE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ALSO MY VEHICLE SMELLS MUSTY AND MOLDY CAUSING HEALTH CONCERNS TO MYSELF AND OTHER PASSENGERS. I TURNED ON THE LIGHT IN THE EVENING AND COULD SEE LIGHT SHINING THROUGH BETWEEN THE GASKET OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE METAL OF THE CAB. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT SO THEY COULD LOOK AT IT WHEN I ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS. I ASKED THE SHOP PERSON IF HE COULD TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT IT SO HE COULD SEE WHAT I WAS SEEING AND HE TOLD ME IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ASSURED BY THE FORD DEALER THAT I NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND THAT FORD WILL NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE FOR THE LEAK OR THE WATER DAMAGE. *TR

THE ORIGINAL CENTER HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT ON THE CAB OF MY TRUCK HAS A FAULTY GASKET AND DOES NOT FORM A PROPER SEAL AGAINST WATER. WATER HAS LEAKED INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HEADLINER OF THE VEHICLE, AND UNKNOWN DAMAGE/RUST TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO WATER RUNNING DOWN THE INTERIOR TRIM PANELS AND UNDERNEATH THE CARPETING. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND THAT THE GASKET AND LAMP HOUSING ON NEWER MODELS OF TRUCKS WAS REDESIGNED TO FORM A BETTER SEAL AGAINST WATER. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD EITHER BUY A NEW LAMP ASSEMBLY AT THE COST OF APPROX. $115, OR COULD USE SILICONE SEALANT AROUND THE LIGHT. THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT HEADLINER WAS NOT ADDRESSED, HOWEVER A NEW HEADLINER FOR MY VEHICLE WILL COST APPROX. $895 (PLUS LABOR) BRINGING A TOTAL IN PARTS ALONE TO APPROX. $1010.00. THIS IS ALL DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGNED GASKET THAT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND REDESIGNED. THERE SHOULD BE A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY FORD MOTOR CO. AS A QUALITY ISSUE, NOT NECESSARILY A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SAME OCCURRENCE IN YOUR "COMPLAINTS" SECTION ON BOTH 2010 & 2009 MODEL F-150 TRUCKS. IN SOME INSTANCES, THE DEALERSHIPS TOOK RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACED THE FAULTY PARTS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD MOTOR CO. AND AM AWAITING A RESPONSE, HOWEVER, THERE ARE POSSIBLY SEVERAL HUNDRED, IF NOT SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF OTHER TRUCK OWNERS FACING THE SAME ISSUE. FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT, OR THIS COULD RESULT IN A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT. *TR

THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT DOESN'T SEAL PROPERLY, ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK THROUGH DURING RAIN & CAR WASH. TOOK THE TRUCK TO FORD ONCE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THEY CAULKED AND RESEATED THE LIGHT, BUT IT STARTED AGAIN. WE TOOK THE RAPTOR BACK TO FORD DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE US $215 TO PUT IN A NEW LIGHT. #1. MANUFACTURER/FORD DEFECT & #2. AFTERMARKET AND OEM ARE CHEAPER ONLINE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, THAT ISN'T BEING PROPERLY ADDRESSED. HTTP://WWW.FORDRAPTORFORUM.COM/F39/3RD-BRAKE-LIGHT-ISSUES-3350/. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HAD A BROKEN SEAM THAT ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER AND LEAK ONTO THE REAR SEATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEATS HAD BECOME MOLDED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT WATER LEAKED THROUGH THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE NECESSARY PARTS TO PERFORM REPAIRS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

: MY 2010 F-150 XLT HAS SPIDER WEB CRACKS ON THE HEADLAMP HOUSING BOTH SIDES. I HAVE KEPT MY VEHICLE IN A GARAGE EVERY NIGHT. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS A 2009 F-150 THAT HAS 65,000 MILES AND HIS HAVE NO CRACKS. I CALLED MAXWELL FORD IN AUSTIN WHO IS WHERE I PURCHASED TWO VEHICLES THERE IN JANUARY 2012 AND WAS TOLD ITS PLASTIC AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THESE CRACKS DID NOT DEVELOP FROM ROCKS OR OTHER THINGS STRIKING THE HEADLAMPS. IT LOOKS TO ME THAT IT IS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT AND I HAVE TAKEN PHOTOGRAPHS OF THEM FOR YOU TO SEE. I WANT THEM REPLACED. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON MY VEHICLE. THE SPIDER WEB CRACKS CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE HEADLAMP PERFORMANCE. [XXX] MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I AM FROM THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER (CRC). I RECEIVED YOUR EMAIL REGARDING YOUR 2010 FORD F-150 XLT. I AM SORRY TO HEAR THAT THE HEADLAMP HOUSING OF YOUR VEHICLE HAS SPIDER WEB CRACKS. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE SEEKING THIS TO BE REPLACED. FOR NOW, I RECOMMEND THAT YOUR VEHICLE BE INSPECTED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF ANY SYMPTOMS YOUR VEHICLE MAY BE EXPERIENCING. THEY HAVE FACTORY TRAINED TECHNICIANS, THE MOST CURRENT ENGINEERING SERVICE INFORMATION, AND THE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT TO RESOLVE YOUR VEHICLE CONCERNS.PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE DIAGNOSED FIRST BEFORE ANY DECISION REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CAN BE MADE. YOU MAY CHECK OUT WWW.OWNER.FORD.COM TO LOCATE A DEALERSHIP NEAR YOU. THIS WAS DONE AT BIRD KULTGEN FORD, IN WACO, TEXAS. PHOTOS WERE TAKEN AND SENT TO FORD REP. THEY SAID THEY DO NOT WARRANTY PLASTIC PARTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

DURING DAY TIME DRIVING IN RAIN OR OVERCAST THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE SPEED YOU ARE GOING. SWITCHING FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL CONTROL OF HEADLIGHTS HAS NO EFFECT ON DASH LIGHTS. THEY STAY OFF! I BELIEVE THIS AFFECTS ALL CURRENT FORD VEHICLES. *TR

LEAKING THIRD BRAKE LIGHT RESULTING IN WET ROOF LINER AND SEATS. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2010 FORD F-150 IN AUGUST 2010. I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF A LIGHTING ISSUE ON THE DASHBOARD CONTROL PANEL CLUSTER. WHILE DRIVING INTO WORK ONE MORNING AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30AM, I NOTICED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING HAD GONE OFF . IT WAS JUST SLIGHTLY AFTER SUNRISE AND WAS STILL QUITE DARK OUTSIDE. AFTER THE PROBLEM RECURRING SEVERAL MORE TIMES, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT, AND AFTER A BRIEF 20 MINUTES OR SO WAS TOLD THE CLUSTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET IF ANY OTHER CONSUMERS OF THIS MODEL TRUCK WERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS, THAT I HAD AN EXPLANATION FOR THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY FORD ENGINEERED A LIGHT SENSOR THAT SITS ON THE DASHBOARD AND TURNS OFF THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT LIGHTING WHEN THE SENSOR DETECTS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF EXTERNAL LIGHT. THERE IS NO WAY TO PROPERLY OVERRIDE THE SENSOR TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT SOMETIMES WILL SHUT OFF LIGHTING WHEN THERE ARE STILL VERY LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS OUTSIDE. IN SEVERAL INSTANCES, I WAS DRIVING IN LOW LIGHT AND THE SENSOR HAD DEACTIVATED MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING AND I COULDN'T READ MY INSTRUMENTS UNLESS I TOOK MY EYE OFF THE ROAD AND DUCKED MY HEAD DOWN ALMOST AGAINST THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. APPARENTLY, OTHER CONSUMERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND SOME HAVE REPORTED THAT THEY WERE TOLD BY FORD THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING AS DESIGNED AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CHANGE IT. ONE CONSUMER WENT ON TO SAY THEY HAD FABRICATED A PIECE OF ELECTRICAL TAPE THAT, WHEN PLACED OVER THE SENSOR WOULD DEACTIVATE IT. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN. THE DRIVER SHOULD BE ABLE TO TURN ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WHENEVER HE OR SHE FEELS THE NEED TO. DRIVING IN ALMOST NEAR DARKNESS WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS IS RIDICULOUS. I HOPE TO SEE ALL OF THEIR LIGHT SENSOR VEHICLES RECALLED AND THE SENSORS REMOVED. *TR

2010 FORD F150...DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN IN VERY LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS OR VERY BRIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS IF EQUIPPED WITH 'AUTO LAMP'...IT WILL ONLY ILLUMINATE IN PITCH BLACK ENVIRONMENTS. INSTRUMENT PANEL IS RECESSED 8 INCHES INTO DASH AND YOU CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER OR OTHER GAUGES AS YOU DRIVE.....THIS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AS KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR SPEED IS MANDATORY FOR SAFE VEHICLE OPERATION IN ANY LIGHT ENVIRONMENT. FORD HAS ADVISED ME 'IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED'. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS THE INABILITY TO QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY READ YOUR SPEED IS PARAMOUNT TO DRIVING ANY VEHICLE. THE ENGINEERING SHORTCOMING MUST BE REMEDIED. GOOGLE '2010 FORD F150 DASHBOARD LIGHT PROBLEMS' AND YOU GET 7 PAGES OF CONCERNS....... THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE LIGHTS WORK NORMALLY DURING ANY DAYLIGHT CONDITION IS TO COVER THE DASHBOARD SENSOR WITH A RAG. THE OWNERS MANUAL SECTION ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS, HEADLAMP SWITCHES AND EVEN AURO LAMP AND DIMMER ALL STATE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL ILLUMINATE ANY TIME ANY EXTERIOR LAMP IS LIT....THIS IS NOT TRUE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS IT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN,,, *TR

3RD BRAKE LIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE CAB WAS LEAKING. WATER AGAINST THE ELECTRONICS FOR THE LIGHT COULD CAUSE THE LIGHT NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. FORD REPLACED THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

2010 FORD F150...DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN IN VERY LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS OR VERY BRIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS IF EQUIPPED WITH 'AUTO LAMP'...IT WILL ONLY ILLUMINATE IN PITCH BLACK ENVIRONMENTS. INSTRUMENT PANEL IS RECESSED 8 INCHES INTO DASH AND YOU CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER OR OTHER GAUGES AS YOU DRIVE.....THIS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AS KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR SPEED IS MANDATORY FOR SAFE VEHICLE OPERATION IN ANY LIGHT ENVIRONMENT. FORD HAS ADVISED ME 'IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED'. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS THE INABILITY TO QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY READ YOUR SPEED IS PARAMOUNT TO DRIVING ANY VEHICLE. THE ENGINEERING SHORTCOMING MUST BE REMEDIED. GOOGLE '2010 FORD F150 DASHBOARD LIGHT PROBLEMS' AND YOU GET 7 PAGES OF CONCERNS....... THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE LIGHTS WORK NORMALLY DURING ANY DAYLIGHT CONDITION IS TO COVER THE DASHBOARD SENSOR WITH A RAG. THE OWNERS MANUAL SECTION ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS, HEADLAMP SWITCHES AND EVEN AURO LAMP AND DIMMER ALL STATE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL ILLUMINATE ANY TIME ANY EXTERIOR LAMP IS LIT....THIS IS NOT TRUE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS IT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. UPDATED IVOQ 02/18/11 *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND NOTICED THAT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE REAR BACKUP LIGHTS WAS EXTREMELY POOR AND FAILED TO POSITION CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE VEHICLE OPERATED PROPERLY AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 01/04/12*LJ UPDATED 01/05/12

HID LIGHTS - THEY JUST BLIND A PERSON EITHER HEAD ON OR IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING YOU. IT IS CRAZY YOU WANT TO GRAB A WELDING HELMET TO SEE. SURE THEY ALLOW THE OWNER WITH HID LIGHTS TO SEE FARTHER BUT AT WHOSE EXPENSE? I CAN'T SEE AROUND ANYTHING WITH THAT COMING AT ME. ALSO, THIS ALMOST APPLIES TO THOSE SUVS AND TRUCKS THAT HAVE TO HAVE 4 HEADLIGHTS AS BIG AS PIE PANS FACING YOU DOWN. TWO HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ENOUGH FOR ANY VEHICLE. HOW ABOUT SOME COMMON SENSE IN LIGHTING? *TR

THE BLUE HEADLIGHTS ARE PROBLEM FOR ONCOMING VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE OUTLAWED AS WELL AS THE LITTLE LIGHTS THAT ARE MOUNTED BELOW THE HEADLIGHTS THAT COME ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON DIM,ON THE SUV'S THEY ARE THE WORST,THE ONE'S THAT ARE ON THE FORD PICKUPS AND SOME OF THE CHEVY. PICKUPS ARE AS BIG AS THE HEADLIGHT AND ARE IN SOME CASES BRIGHTER THEN THE DIM HEADLIGHTS AND THEY BLIND ONCOMING VEHICLES AND THEY TOO SHOULD BE OUTLAWED. *TR