Cab (still) leaking after lengthy dealership stay - what would you do?

[Jhbryaniv]

Everybody saying lemon law that's great, but it doesn't make the OP whole again.

How long until they can get a new vehicle?

They may not be able to wait that long, or spend the extra money to order a new truck.

Ford should do what's right and make the vehicle whole, if that means they keep it for a few weeks until they figure it out, so be it but they should provide a rental vehicle at no charge.

I see two routes forward if it were me (it sort of is) take it to a seperate dealer and talk it over with them. Tell them what's going on, and give them an opportunity to fix the problem. OR call Ford regional or what ever it's called and let them look into the issue, tell them you don't want to go to the same dealer, and ask what they reccomend.

You could also combine both too I guess... Go to the new dealer, see how they handle it and be up front with them that this is very frustrating for you and you want to get it handled at the lowest level but also think Ford corporate needs to know what's going on. Giving them the opportunity to fix it, but also letting them know hey, I'm going to call Ford and tell them about the other dealer and notify them that the truck is with you right now.

Shrug.

Its also really easy to suggest what someone else should do from the comfort of my desk... ?

I mean, it's not like we bought Bugatti chirons or Kia fortes. We bought reasonable trucks that shouldn't have these simple issues (leaks).

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[Capt Jon]

I had the same issue with GM dealer and new oldsmobile. When I took it in for warranty issues they would break something else fixing the problem. After 11 mo dealing with this I thru in the towel when they refused to give me a new vehicle under the warranty terms. I sued them under the state lemon law. The jury agreed with me and made them reemburse me every $ including cost of trade-in.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

The key being you sued them, which requires time and money upfront.

Not everyone has the ability to take that course of action...

I know I wouldn't have the ability to take time off work to hire an attorney, take more time off to meet with attorney, take even more time off to go to court to fight it. And this isn't counting the time spent in depositions etc.

It really would be a better world if companies just did what was right by their customers without requiring government and legal intervention.

 

[that408guy]

Didnt read through the posts but your 3rd brake light can possibly leak too around the seals or if it was over tightened and cracked the housing.

 

[Ranger Tremor]

Any update on this? My truck has been in the shop for over a month now for the same thing. They were supposed to put a whole new rear window on it. Any compensation?

 

[TheAssuager]

Any update on this? My truck has been in the shop for over a month now for the same thing. They were supposed to put a whole new rear window on it. Any compensation?

Hey man. Yes - I ended up bringing the truck back in to replace the defrost connection on the back window. They replaced the back window. Took a day which was a nice change. After curing I dumped water all over it. It has rained multiple times - no more leak. It was the rear window. So all in all, they replaced both rails, the shark fin and rear window. Now fixed. I didn't pay a cent, however I am now out of my bumper to bumper which is scary. Not sure if that helps!
I also discovered a fantastic headliner cleaner solution. Chemical guys all purpose cleaner degreaser diluted 1:10 with water. Cleaned up my head line stains like new because, of course, the dealership did the worst job cleaning it.

 

[TheAssuager]

most of the water leaks we see at our dealership on any truck is the third brake light. I would be really surprised if it wasn't from there.

Could have been that also! They replaced that as well when I first brought it in, but it did leak after that. However, that was after a biblical rain. I was in Santa Barbara and my truck was basically under water for 1.5 days. Hard to say in my situation what was actually leaking then...

 

[Ranger Tremor]

Hey man. Yes - I ended up bringing the truck back in to replace the defrost connection on the back window. They replaced the back window. Took a day which was a nice change. After curing I dumped water all over it. It has rained multiple times - no more leak. It was the rear window. So all in all, they replaced both rails, the shark fin and rear window. Now fixed. I didn't pay a cent, however I am now out of my bumper to bumper which is scary. Not sure if that helps!
I also discovered a fantastic headliner cleaner solution. Chemical guys all purpose cleaner degreaser diluted 1:10 with water. Cleaned up my head line stains like new because, of course, the dealership did the worst job cleaning it.

I just got mine back two days ago and it rained. Noticed new stains in the headliner again. They replaced the third brake light and the rear window. Really thinking about selling but I won’t get what it’s worth now.

 

[Fawnbuster]

Brutal story. About 2 months ago I notice my headliner has water stains. Only on back corners and in the middle. Take it to Ford. Ends up staying for a week. They replace both roof rails and antenna/shark fin assembly. Best part of the story - the tech rips one of the rear window defrosters off the back window when reinstalling headliner. Have to wait a couple weeks and bring the truck back to replace the entire back window.

This weekend after some rain, I find that it is leaking still. But only in one corner. It is either the back window seal or underneath the roof rail (not sure if that's what it's called) leaking.

Would you take it back? And have the dealership drop the headliner again? I do not have any idea even where to start fixing this myself. Any input would be really, really appreciated.

Still in love with my truck - just need to get past this issue. I am confident I can fix the water stain, it is the leak I need fixed.

Thanks,

My last Durango I had with the Sheriff's Office leaked at a weld seam. Long story short driving in rain or going thru a carwash would push water inside the cab and it would sit in a pocket of the plastic molding for the Pillar, it would hold 12-16 oz of water. 1st time it happened I was driving in a rain storm after midnight and when I made a left turn and accelerated the water shot out from the top of that trim at the headlinet and hit me square on the nose ?. Took it to the dealer, they said they ran water over the area and found no leak. Well DUH! It wasn't water under pressure! Happened again after a couple of car washes took it back and this time I asked that they leave all of the trim off if they didn't find a hole. Got it back, no hole found. Drove to the local firehouse and had one of my hose dragger buddies blast the area with water and the water shot straight in so after it dried out we circled the hole with a sharpie and wrote leak with an arrow, I even suggested they drive thru a carwash this time to verify!

Got the Durango back, they charged Dodge for a full windshield replacement, when all they did was squeeze a tube of black silicone rubber into the area and called it a day. Leak fixed. I have a pic of the before and after area on a hard drive elsewhere. Point is the hole was about the size of a mechanical pencil lead but at pressure it let the water in, the dealer might be overlooking obvious areas. Maybe they can remove the pillar trims and top windshield trim then run it thru an automatic carwash to see if it's in those areas. Mine was not a weather stripping or sealant problem it was an incomplete weld problem. Same for the area around the rear window.

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