Paint chipping above the tail light

[Garaged]

Does anyone here know how to remove the taillight or a link to a Youtube video for it? I have an imperceptible tiny chip on the inner edge that I can barely reach with a toothpick but I'm sure I could patch it perfectly (before PPFing everything) if the taillight was out. I tried removing 2 bolts on the bed side of the taillight but it didn't feel like the thing wanted to come loose.

I'd rather not push for a warranty fix and repaint the entire damn panel for the sake of a chip no one else will even know is there.

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[SubaruRaptor]

Are the taillights adjustable like that where you can slide them up or down?

They have to be pulled and remounted. I posted a thread about my experience with getting the paint chip fixed and realigning the light by the body shop.

 

[LSU-B-Rad]

New update, after getting the paint chip fixed I noticed the replaced Raptor sticker with bubbles and the tail light had moisture getting in it. So I brought it back to the dealer only to see the paint chip back again! The dealership said they are going to reach out to Ford engineers too see what else can be going on.
So with all of the issues I’m having I have started the process with Ford to Buy back the truck. Cam phasers, paint chipping, tail light leaking and a new one the GPS/antenna loose and leaking in the truck, just don’t think I can trust the truck moving forward. Too many issues and only have 1800 miles on it. So disappointing I love Fords but it shouldn’t be this way!

 

[iamweasel]

So for those who've had the chip repaired, has the new paint held up? Was thinking that the gap is so tight that even if repainted it would chip again. (Or when they repaired yours did they do something with the fender so the gap was not so tight?)

 

[LSU-B-Rad]

I’m pretty sure they only sanded it down and repainted it. They said they would be changing the light but they did not. This time they have to since it’s leaking/fogging. I have not heard back from the dealer yet to bring it back in as they said they need Ford engineering to inspect it first.

 

[Pete6114]

Same chip, same place. Build middle of July. Dealer ordered me a paint touch up stick and am still waiting for it. Has anybody managed to get one yet?

 

[Jalbano2]

Same chip, same place. Build middle of July. Dealer ordered me a paint touch up stick and am still waiting for it. Has anybody managed to get one yet?

Dealer sent mine out for paint repair. Came out nice. Looks perfect now.

 

[iamweasel]

Dealer sent mine out for paint repair. Came out nice. Looks perfect now.

Did they just touch up the spot or did they paint the whole panel?

My fear is even with the repair done, unless they grind/sand away some of the metal to give more clearance between the metal and the top of the light, it's just going to chip again after a while.

 

[hand-filer]

All, I know this is an old thread but I haven't seem a new one about this topic. I have had my truck for about 4k miles and just noticed a chip above my drivers side tail light while installing the Keko tailgate seal kit. It appears that the tail light is too high and is rubbing the paint. I don't believe this happened for a while. I think going through the dealer will be too much of a pain so I plan to try and touch up the chip and adjust the tail light myself. I removed the tail light today to adjust, but don't see a way to do so short of drilling out the mounting holes as they are tight to the bolts. Does anyone know how to adjust the tail light positions?

Having a dedicated section for files of every size and shape in my toolbox, my solution would be to remove the tail light and carefully file down the sharp edges around the perimeter of the tail light.

 

[Raiken1]

All, I know this is an old thread but I haven't seem a new one about this topic. I have had my truck for about 4k miles and just noticed a chip above my drivers side tail light while installing the Keko tailgate seal kit. It appears that the tail light is too high and is rubbing the paint. I don't believe this happened for a while. I think going through the dealer will be too much of a pain so I plan to try and touch up the chip and adjust the tail light myself. I removed the tail light today to adjust, but don't see a way to do so short of drilling out the mounting holes as they are tight to the bolts. Does anyone know how to adjust the tail light positions?

 

[Raiken1]

I pulled the light off this evening and noticed that it not only chipped the paint on the top inside corner but also is rubbing the bottom outside corner. I drilled out the holes by about a 1/16” and refit it. I was able to get the top to not touch but can’t get the bottom. These lights aren’t exactly adjustable. I’m going to put a small piece of 3m plastic under the edge for now. I may take it to the dealer next week and see if they will just order a new tail light for me. The right side is perfect and has a gap all the way around.

 

[Raiken1]

I took my truck to my local dealer yesterday and they said this is not something they would look at. They are sending me to another dealer tomorrow that has a body shop. Has anyone that has had this issue actually found the cause? Is it the light being out of spec or the body of the truck? It doesn't appear that there is really any adjustment of the lights themselves.

 

[superj]

usually tail lights don't have adjustments in mounting, though neither do any other lights. it seems like the bed is either made out of spec a hair, or the light housing is.

if they cannot fix it, maybe it will be better to sand the housing a little where its rubbing versus drilling the bed since the bed will end up rusting someday

 

[Raiken1]

I was thinking the same as those being the two options. They will hopefully start a warranty claim on it tomorrow and fix one or the other. Hopefully they will actually take care of it. I was hoping some of the dozen or so people I have also seen have this happen on this post may have learned how to dealer fixed theirs.

 

[snowman3]

I wonder if it could be caused by bed or side panels flexing while off roading, potholes, bumpy roads, etc?

July'24 build and can't see any chip (yet). Gotta keep eye on it. But only have 1/32" gap in places so could definitely rub if anything wiggle.

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