I’m still filling up my vehicle with water. Totally new 2023 F150 with an extended warranty and 12,000 miles on it. Somewhere, a large leak is present. The carpet on the passenger’s front and rear seats is totally wet, and mold is growing behind my kids’ child seat in the back. My local dealership made me an offer to get my truck inspected in late December, but they won’t give me a loaner until the inspection is complete. I’m not going to let my two-year-old sit in this Petri dish in the meantime. It just annoys me. I will get it serviced under warranty and will never purchase a Ford again.
So you take it in and MAKE THEM look at it. You take it on now. DO NOT COMBINE. Take your child to the doctor and get her examined for respiratory issues.
If the dealer lets you down, you can reach Detroit’s large Ford company. You justify by saying that the mold in your truck is the reason your child is becoming ill. You act like this is a STINK. Because mold is a serious issue. Water damage is not either.
However, I’m almost positive that the leak is coming from the third brake light or the rear window.
Had this experience on a 2013, if my memory serves me well. That third brake light was it. I used a tiny bit of silicone and never experienced any issue. I drove that vehicle till the wheels almost came off.
I do concur that there should be a major uproar over the mold. Mold in a car is a major problem that is very difficult to eradicate once it has taken hold. Massive remedial work is required. I’ve even heard of insurance companies writing off vehicles entirely due to mold growth.
You move quickly… You drive it directly to the dealership, where you sit in a public setting and discuss the issue openly until it is resolved. It won’t take long, I can promise you.
Sure, I did it with my 2012 Lariat. I removed the brake light and replaced the gasket using a very thick gasket material. Reassembled it using RV sealant, and it has remained waterproof for the past ten years.
Examine the vents in the cab beneath the back seats. The issue with my father’s truck was that one of the vents wasn’t fully installed, which let water seep into the carpet in the rear cabin. Under the rear seat, feel for any wet spots on the carpet. Fun fact: The passenger side fuse box can be ruined by the electrical current pulling water up the wire loom. $2400 for a replacement.
Proceed to the dealer and raise a fuss in the lobby. In order to keep you quiet and prevent someone else from purchasing a vehicle that day, they will get right to it.
This is the path. Declare aloud as you enter the foyer that you are coming to inquire about the lemon lawing of your brand-new Ford vehicle. They’ll figure out how to assist you.
I like my 2023 XLT, but I would never, ever wait until December if anything very bad happened without raising a big fuss.
One leak and a rude local dealer don’t warrant discarding the entire car. I had a Subaru Forester with a damaged head gasket, an engine rebuild, and ongoing oil issues. Subsequently, a Chrysler Pacifica with significant transmission problems and an engine that randomly died twice while traveling on major roads was discovered, something that neither the dealer nor my neighborhood garage could identify. Those were gremlin-filled. You have a fully working automobile, but it has some torn carpet and water damage, my guy. Saying that.
However, mold resulting from a manu flaw is a serious concern.