Ford F-150 vehicles, like most other trucks and cars, are built to be reliable and safe to operate. Over time, problems can develop after they are in the operation of owners. When problems occur, including to the windows, the manufacturer has to issue a recall for the repairs.
Are there any Ford F-150 recalls relating to the rear windows leaking?
As of September of 2020—no, but there are others to watch out for, including:
- Daytime running lights may not dim
- Excessive sealant adhesive on battery cables
- Reduced seat back strength
It’s important to know the risks. Even though there are no window leak recalls on the Ford F-150 right now, things can change, especially when there are numerous complaints.
Customer Complaints on Ford F-150 Rear Window Leaks
There are two significant complaints reported about the rear windows on the Ford F-150. In some cases, owners report that the rear window leaks, noticing water damage in the vehicle’s interior.
Some report this leak as being severe, allowing a significant amount of water to get in. In older models, the complaints center around the sliding window.
The second common complaint about the rear windows is shattering. Some owners report that when they turned on the defroster for the rear window, they heard a loud popping sound minutes later.
This leads to the rear window shattering suddenly. This does not happen right away, but as the vehicle gets slightly older. In some cases, the problems are covered by a warranty.
There are no recalls issued on the Ford F-150 rear windows at this time. This could change over time, though.
Daytime Running Lights May not Dim
NHTSA Recall ID: 20V097000
Ford recalled the 2018 to 2020 F-150 trucks with a high series LED headlamp that have an Autolamp on-off functionality.
In these vehicles, the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) remain on instead of dimming as they should when the driver moves the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) to the “Headlamps On” position. The owner switches from the “Autolamps” position, which should turn the lamps to a dimmer position.
Because of this problem, the F-150 fails to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108 called, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”
The problem with this is that the DRL does not dim as it should. That leads to limited visibility to other drivers. This can increase the risk of an accident occurring.
To fix this problem, Ford alerted owners in February of 2020. They then had dealerships reprogram the body control module to prevent this problem from occurring. These repairs began in March of 2020.
Excessive Sealant Adhesive on Battery Cables
NHTSA Recall ID: 19V805000
Ford issued a recall related to the vehicle’s electrical system in November of 2019. This recall was for 2019 and 2020 F-150 vehicles.
In them, the fasteners that secure the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable along with the Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets are not properly positioned and secured.
This can lead to the eyelets loosening. It can also lead to the instrument panel not displaying the proper information about power steering assist, braking, or other features. It can also cause an engine stall.
This problem creates a number of risks for drivers. An inaccurate instrument panel display can make operating the vehicle safely hard to do. It can also lead to reduced braking and steering control. If the engine stalls, or these other situations happen, there is a higher risk of an accident occurring.
Ford alerted owners of this problem. They then had the dealerships inspect the positive battery cable as well as the PDB and BMS joint.
They looked for any buildup of sealant adhesive in this area, which was determined to be the cause of the problem. If it was present, they removed it.
They also reassembled the joint and retorqued the fastener properly to avoid any additional concerns. The work for this repair started in November of 2019.
Reduced Seat Back Strength
NHTSA Recall ID: 19V633000
Ford recalled 2018 through 2020 F-150, and numerous other F-series vehicles, due to a problem related to the seats. In these vehicles, the recliner mechanism may not have the third pawl that is necessary to provide seat back strength. This can lead to a loose seat back.
This is a problem for driving safety, which is why it fails the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202 called “Head Restraints” as well as number 207, “Seating Systems.”
In these vehicles, the seat back may have reduced strength. That may mean it cannot restrain the occupant in the event of an accident. This increases the risk of an accident.
Ford alerted owners in August of 2019 to this problem. They then had dealerships inspect the seats to determine if a problem existed. If so, they replaced them. This work began in October of 2019.
How Do You Handle Open Recalls on the Ford F-150?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides updated information about all recalls on its website. You can visit the site, enter the VIN for a vehicle you own, and learn about all pending recalls on it.
If there are still repairs that need to be made, you can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
If you are thinking about buying a Ford F-150 pre-owned vehicle, you can also use the site without a VIN to check out recalls. Just enter the make, model, and year into the system. This will provide a full list of recalls related to the trucks. It does not provide specific car information, though.
Photos: Ford
