Paint chipping above the tail light

[Raiken1]

The Ford collision center had my truck for a week and made some sort of tweak and touched the paint up. It had a paper thin gap when I picked it up. It moved within a couple days and I figured out that they barely tightened the top bolt. They believe that my fender was manufactured improperly and said that if this didn't work they would have to replace the whole fender. I would rather not do that if I can. Mine is touching at the top inside corner and lower outside corner at the same time. I did find that you can pull it out a little and add plastic shims around then tighten. The shims prevent the tightening of the bolts from pulling it in or up (Then remove the shims once tight). I have 1/32-1/16 gap on top now and a paper thin one on bottom so I just slid a small piece of ppf at the rub point.

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[embedded rock]

My 300 mile RR has the beginning of this problem as I can see primer in the location. So to stop this rubbing, I removed the tail light and removed some material from the contact location. Then, since I have shelter green, a flat black paint was used to hide the exposed primer. Reassembled and see there is a good clearance now.

 

[Raiken1]

My 300 mile RR has the beginning of this problem as I can see primer in the location. So to stop this rubbing, I removed the tail light and removed some material from the contact location. Then, since I have shelter green, a flat black paint was used to hide the exposed primer. Reassembled and see there is a good clearance now.

How much plastic did you remove? I was afraid of damaging the light and Ford voiding the warranty. Those things are $1500 each! It looks like the tail light moves about 1/32" when the body flexes during driving.

 

[embedded rock]

How much plastic did you remove? I was afraid of damaging the light and Ford voiding the warranty. Those things are $1500 each! It looks like the tail light moves about 1/32" when the body flexes during driving.

It wasn't much. Maybe that 1/32nd. Also, only material from behind the facing, polished surface.

The picture does a good job of capturing the area, and looks less noticable looking down at it. Once I hit the area with some Chem Guys stuff, it won't be noticable at all

Maybe this picture looks better. The area has been hit with the Chem Guys quick detailer.

 

[Johnny 5]

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.

I think you might be on to something there and I'll tell you why. So we know my wife's RR had the chip, and she bought hers April 2024. Mine came in October of 2024 and it didn't have the chip. I just went out and looked at it this morning when I got my email about a new post, and I now have one. Looks like we are both taking a trip to the dealer. Maybe they are tightening the light too much, and it needs to be more loose so things "can" flex? I'll post the results.Thanks !

 

[embedded rock]

No, the left tail light is too big for the sheet metal opening. Just like other places on the Ranger body where the sheet metal is not quite right--and never will be with those stamping dies and jigs being used in the body assembly process.

 

[Johnny 5]

No, the left tail light is too big for the sheet metal opening. Just like other places on the Ranger body where the sheet metal is not quite right--and never will be with those stamping dies and jigs being used in the body assembly process.

Ah, thanks. So the opening for the tail light is too small. Maybe because the fender is Raptor specific, they can fix the die when the Raptor is not being built, hopefully. I plan on selling mine in 3 years and getting another one.

Did you use a Dremel, to remove material from the light ?

 

[embedded rock]

Ah, thanks. So the opening for the tail light is too small. Maybe because the fender is Raptor specific, they can fix the die when the Raptor is not being built, hopefully. I plan on selling mine in 3 years and getting another one.

Did you use a Dremel, to remove material from the light ?

Started and ended with a smaller flat file. I did use a Dremel with a disc for a bit. The file cleaned up the higher spots left from the Dremel.

If you remove some material, stay behind the polished surface of the light that is visible once installed.

 

[gripstick]

Exact same thing. 2025 with 170 miles. Same paint chip.

 

[gripstick]

I would like to take a closer look at your paint concerns. Can you please send over a message with your VIN and estimated mileage so I can start looking into this on my end?

I have the same issue in my 2025 I just purchased

 

[Raiken1]

Exact same thing. 2025 with 170 miles. Same paint chip.

That’s rough! The dealer collision center halfway touched up my paint and remounted it after having it a whole week. It moved after a few days and I realized they didn’t even tighten the top bolt. Last weekend I took the light back out and applied 5 coats of paint and one of clearcoat and let it dry overnight. I made small plastic 1mm thick shims from abs plastic. I pushed the light back on and put the shims around the light especially where it was touching (for me it was top right and lower left). I slowly tightened the bolts and the shims prevented much movement. I am a week since the install and it is still good! I believe that the taillight pocket is too small on some of these trucks, but if you don’t push it in too far and prevent it from moving while tightening the bolts it’s good enough and shouldn’t touch.

 

[Grabber]

Hate to say it, having orders (2) RR and looked at over a half dozen on dealer lots, this is a very common issue. It seams the raptor tail light assembly is a little to big for the fender socket (Standard rangers don't seam to have this problem as bad). Both the ranger raptors I ordered had this along with other paint issues from either shipping or poor quality. Look over your trucks carefully as I refuse to pay top dollar for this type of quality. Ford has some amazing products, however there quality control is in the toilet and it shows. While I still really want one, however bin cross shopping Bronco lately. Not saying their perfect either, however from what I have seen on dealer lots, the paint, fit/finish is way better.

 

[gripstick]

Hate to say it, having orders (2) RR and looked at over a half dozen on dealer lots, this is a very common issue. It seams the raptor tail light assembly is a little to big for the fender socket (Standard rangers don't seam to have this problem as bad). Both the ranger raptors I ordered had this along with other paint issues from either shipping or poor quality. Look over your trucks carefully as I refuse to pay top dollar for this type of quality. Ford has some amazing products, however there quality control is in the toilet and it shows. While I still really want one, however bin cross shopping Bronco lately. Not saying their perfect either, however from what I have seen on dealer lots, the paint, fit/finish is way better.

It would be nice if @Ford_motor

I would like to take a closer look at your paint concerns. Can you please send over a message with your VIN and estimated mileage so I can start looking into this on my end?

is Ford going to respond with anything helpful or just ignore completely? Does Ford care to even answer or acknowledge any of these multiple posts bout this shotty paint job and fit of the components on a $60K truck? Can we please get a real answer here from Ford and not some bullshit response?

 

[Grabber]

So I stopped by a local dealer on my way home from work that just got a white RR instock to look it over. Passenger side tailight almost touching the paint, drivers side touching the paint, however it doesn't appear to have damaged it, but was hard to tell. Other than that looked to be in good shape with everything else. Even the hood was lined up perfect. For being one of their halo trucks, this should have been addressed before ever shipping them to customers. I also looked at several regular rangers they had in stock and none of them had this issue.

 

[Johnny 5]

I looked at a couple of new Ranger Raptors on my dealers lot and here's the picture of them, no paint chip. I took mine in and had them look at it. They took some pictures and they're sending them to Ford to see what they're gonna do about it. We shall see....

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