Ranger Raptor May 2026 Build - Both Missing & Steel Pop Rivet Wheel Well Liner Fasteners

[Chippewa76]

My Ranger Raptor was just built in May 2026.

When installing Ford Splash Guards, I noticed that:
1) The rear passenger side wheel well liner was loose.
Three fasteners were missing.
One on the forward side.
Two on the back side.

2) The driver side wheel well liner was secure. However, it had steel pop rivets in the same locations as the passenger side empty holes.
The rest of the fasteners used inside the wheel wells are all black phillips headed plastic rivets.
One steel pop rivet on the forward side.
Two steel pop rivets on the back side.

I took it to the local dealer and they installed three black phillips headed plastic rivets in the missing holes on the passenger side wheel well liner.

My question is:
1) Has anyone seen this before?
2) Why would steel pop rivets be used?
3) For you Ranger Raptor owners, are all the fasteners used on your wheel well liners black phillips headed plastic rivets?

Thanks for your assistance in advance.

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[dpAtlanta]

My 2026 was built on 05-04-2026.
I have no missing fasteners.
Here is the driver's rear facing rearward,
The top two on the upper left are steel; the others are plastic:

Here is the driver's front facing forward.
The upper right one is steel; the others are plastic:

Both drivers and passenger's side are the same.

 

[Chippewa76]

My 2026 was built on 05-04-2026.
I have no missing fasteners.
Here is the driver's rear facing rearward,
The top two on the upper left are steel; the others are plastic:

Here is the driver's front facing forward.
The upper right one is steel; the others are plastic:

Both drivers and passenger's side are the same.

Thank you for this post. I appreciate it.
I’m surprised that the steel rivets appear to be the correct fasteners.

 

[dpAtlanta]

Thank you for this post. I appreciate it.
I’m surprised that the steel rivets appear to be the correct fasteners.

If the dealership replaced the ones that were missing that were supposed to be steel with plastic ones... they screwed up.
The plastic ones have very little holding power compared to a steel rivet.

 

[Chippewa76]

If the dealership replaced the ones that were missing that were supposed to be steel with plastic ones... they screwed up.
The plastic ones have very little holding power compared to a steel rivet.

Maybe so. But the Tech that worked on it, said the fastener type wasn’t called out on the drawing he had access to.

The real issue started with non-installation of the steel pop rivets.

I do not know the design intent of placing steel rivets in those locations.

Quite frankly, as caustic as the winter road chemicals are that are used on the roads here in Wisconsin, I would prefer plastic/composite over untreated steel if at all possible.

 

[Hot Pepper Red Zeppelin]

Quality is Job 1

 

[Bluestra1n]

I was missing steel rivets on my 25 xlt. Got a dealer to install them at no charge when I was in for another recall. At least for a non-raptor, they are the only steel rivets in the fender. Everything else is scrivits or push clips. The part is called a “wheel house liner rivet”. Could be a different pn on a raptor, but I doubt it.

 

[Chippewa76]

Quality is Job 1

As a retired manufacturing engineer with over 30 years experience, I've seen some stuff. This is minor. Stuff happens. Not acceptable, but it happens.

I get critical too. But most people who harshly criticize a product issue, have never, ever, manufactured a single product. It is not easy.

I was missing steel rivets on my 25 xlt. Got a dealer to install them at no charge when I was in for another recall. At least for a non-raptor, they are the only steel rivets in the fender. Everything else is scrivits or push clips. The part is called a “wheel house liner rivet”. Could be a different pn on a raptor, but I doubt it.

Thank you very much for this informative post.

I'll pass this information on as well as look at other Rangers in the local dealers lot. They haven't had a Ranger Raptor on their lot for over 6 weeks. But I'll swing by and look at the Rangers they do have and compare.

 

[Jason B]

Is there anything behind it that would require steel rivets? Or is it only holding the liner?

 

[Chippewa76]

Is there anything behind it that would require steel rivets? Or is it only holding the liner?

All I can see body colored steel in the empty holes. Im guessing they are structural support points to secure wheel well liner in place.

I did not bother to remove the wheel well liner in its entirety.

 

[some_guy]

im going to check mine right now.... ooof guys!

 

[some_guy]

Looking at the liners again reminds me of another item I do not like about the Ranger: the felt liner is really cheap and I cant imagine it lasting. I would like to use a laser scanner and 3D scan the wheel wells and 3D print plastic liners with more coverage and a better material like HDPE or something.

 

[ATestBishop]

I drilled the XL steel rivets out on both rear sides and replaced with certain plastic reusable fasteners, it wasn't easy to drill out the rivets at all because at some point the rivets spin along with drill bit, but it is doable. Totally solid mount without the rivets seemingly and I want to be able to remove and replace the liners easily.

 

[Chippewa76]

The 3 Steel Pop Rivets on the Rear Wheel Well Liner are fastened to the Steel Cross Members thats attached to the underside of the trucks bed. One Steel Pop Rivet in front of the wheel, 2 behind.

Here’s a pic behind the driver side rear wheel well liner.

I’ll just have steel pop rivets put in the passenger side as intended.

I don’t want to drill these out for fear that I’ll disturb the paint protecting the steel.

Thanks for your help guys!

(For those wondering, that's black undercoating on the steel cross member)

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