8.3

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$50
Average Mileage:
46,200 miles
Total Complaints:
12 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (7 reports)
  2. removed and resealed (3 reports)
  3. new rear light (1 reports)
  4. replace 3rd brake light unit (1 reports)
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problem #12

Oct 012017

F-150 EXT 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles

2010 F-150. I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF THIS TRUCK, IT HAD 53,000 MILES ON, WHEN I BOUGHT IT.

I NOTICED STAINS ON THE BACK HEADLINER BY THE BACK WINDOW.

I HAVE KEPT A COVER ON IT, BUT WHEN I TOOK IT OUT IN A POURING RAIN STORM, IT WAS LEAKING ON THE RIGHT BACK HEADLINER. WATER DRIPPING OUT FAST.

FORD NEEDS TO MAKE A GASKET, SO I CAN REPLACE IT ON THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT. OR BETTER YET, RECALL THIS PROBLEM !

- Cindy R., Wampum, US

problem #11

Dec 172015

F-150 XLT 4.6V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

Ford does not offer better seal, only solution to seal it with sealant.

- Witold R., Princeton, US

problem #10

Mar 112014

F-150 XLT 4.6L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,300 miles

During hard rains or the auto car wash, water pours through the top of the back window. By using a garden hose we found the third tail light was leaking between the two layers of the plastic lens. The lens fills up and then leaks into the cab and drips out by the edge of the headliner. Puts enough moisture into the cab that the defroster cannot clear the inside of the windows, which makes a BIG SAFETY HAZARD!. Not to mention the soaked seat and floor.

Called Ford dealer - there is not a recall - said someone must have pinched the gasket while replacing a light bulb. But that is not the problem.

Ford Motor Company come up with a fix for this!

- Ed A., Medford, OR, US

problem #9

Nov 052013

F-150 Lariat 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

My third brake light leaks and the dealer wants to charge $300 plus dollars to fix it. My overhead liner is also ruined from the leak and I am not sure how much that would cost to replace. There needs to be a recall for this problem. I have owned Fords for years but this is really bad.

- Trevis R., North Charleston, SC, US

problem #8

Apr 032014

F-150 XLT 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

pretty disgusting I gotta pay for the fix myself. thanks ford!!! my headliner looks like hell, maybe i'll get a respiratory problem(mold) from it. Maybe ford otta fix their product! Wish the other folks would speak up

about their leaking ford, better than cursing, haha. Hey ford big cheeses, does your leak and if it does, do you have to pay also?

- John M., Sigel, PA, US

problem #7

Feb 172014

F-150 XLT 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,200 miles

while changing my oil,I noticed a rust hole on bottom corner of my cab.This was the result of the infamous leaking 3rd brake light which had been replaced earlier.Ford said I made the holes myself and are refusing to fix under warranty..I would not recommend any Ford products to anyone I like.especially since they said it was my fault !Keep in mind this is a 2010 !!!!! rusting!!!! Way to stand behind your product Ford.This is my last Ford I'll ever own !!!!

- markfla, Melbourne Beach, FL, US

problem #6

Jun 222013

F-150 Lariat

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,900 miles

After go around with moonroof, see previous complaint. Continued to have water showing up on back seat during rain. Turned out it was the third brake light/cargo light. Bad seal. Once again a common complaint/problem with F 150. Seems a manufacturing defect or engineering blunder in designing the darn thing if seal is constantly failing. Makes you sick when you spend that kind of money on a vehicle and some stupid design or manufacturing flaw ends up costing you more, just after warranty expires.

- chipflorida, Winter Haven, FL, US

problem #5

Sep 172011

F-150 Lariat

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles

went to ford to get fixed and all they did was caulk around the light to stop it for awhile, this lasted about a year and now it is doing it again. They could have put in a new light but it wasn't under warranty and they were back ordered at the time and was going to cost about $250 just for the light! Now a year later it is leaking again and has damaged the inside lining in my truck with water stains. I do believe ford needs to do a recall on this, there are many complaints on the internet about this and Ford knew exactly what was wrong with it when i brought it in...... Plus the light are back ordered????? why would they be back ordered if it wasn't a problem. I found a light on ebay for $50, guess I am going to try it don't know if it will fix it. I have read that they make the lights the same so probably wont make much of a difference will more than likely start leaking within a year. Wish I knew how to get Ford to fix this problem.

- Laci K., Boswell, OK, US

problem #4

Feb 152013

F-150 STX 4.6L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

click to see larger images

3rd brake light (cargo light) leaks 3rd brake light (cargo light) leaks 3rd brake light (cargo light) leaks 3rd brake light (cargo light) leaks 3rd brake light (cargo light) leaks

We bought both our trucks, new in 2010, for almost $80,000. If it was a beat up truck then whatever I'd slap the "caulk" on...no problem, but its not. If only one truck had the problem...well...again no problem, but its both and it turns out that there are A LOT more F150 owners who have the same problem and even when we took it to the service department they said they had a lot of F150 owners that came in to have it replaced for $300! Yes $300! I am frustrated because we paid a lot of money for these trucks and we expect it to....well...not have this kind of a problem. We are now considering getting rid of BOTH trucks and never going back to ford...ever!

- Chloe S., Pooler, GA, US

problem #3

Apr 052013

F-150 XTR 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,826 miles

Not worth bringing in for repairs, easy to fix myself.

- Rick C., Langley, BC, canada

problem #2

Dec 092012

F-150 FX4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles

I have top of line extended warranty, and is not covered!!!!! Ford has no reported recall on this light.

This leak saturated my head liner and water all over leather seats. I filed a case with ford and are waiting for a return call from Them about this problem. I am sure That,I am not the only one with this problem?????

The dealer wanted to charge me over two hundred dollars to replace this light. FU to them!!!!

- Steve K., Burlington, NJ, US

problem #1

Jul 282010

F-150 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,105 miles

During rain, or when washing the truck, water apparently leaks through the 3rd brake light (cargo light) leaves a stain on the headliner and drips onto my rear leather seats. I noticed the drops on my leather seat the night I purchased the vehicle at Beach Ford Suffolk. Driving home during a heavy rain, I noticed water on the rear seat and attributed it to my playing with the button that opens the rear window. Unfortunately, I've noticed water on the seat three times since. Does Ford have a repair for this??

- edva, Chesapeake, VA, US