'23 Lariat Tail Light Replacement - a personal saga

[Waffle]

I mildly crushed the passenger tail light cover backing into a parking spot. Yes, I heard the warnings. Yes, I thought it was just a bush and didn't see the metal rail. Yes, I despaired when I heard the crunching sound. The next week I took it to the local dealer where they promptly gave me a quote of $5223 for a replacement (screenshot below). There are posts in this forum for up to $2500, so this may be a new record.

Since the original MSRP of the truck was about $80k, it's difficult to believe that over 5% of the value of the truck lies in a single tail light assembly. This is absolutely criminal, folks.

Because the sensor and electronics were still working, and having read that it is easy to move sensors between assemblies, it was worth the $650 gamble to buy one on ebay and give it a shot. First I just installed the new assembly to see what would happen. Sure enough, although the lights worked, the truck immediately threw a fault in the blind spot and cross traffic sensor systems. The fact that these sensors need to be "programmed" to pair them to the vehicle is criminal step #2.

So I removed the assembly again, swapped the sensors, reinstalled and everything works! For anyone that may need to do this in the future, the swap really is very simple. There are five T20 torx screws that need to be removed to get to the back of the sensor to plug/unplug it to the wiring harness.

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[TaxmanHog]

https://www.tascaparts.com/oem-parts/ford-tail-lamp-assembly-nl3z13405h

 

[The Weatherman]

I mildly crushed the passenger tail light cover backing into a parking spot. Yes, I heard the warnings. Yes, I thought it was just a bush and didn't see the metal rail. Yes, I despaired when I heard the crunching sound. The next week I took it to the local dealer where they promptly gave me a quote of $5223 for a replacement (screenshot below). There are posts in this forum for up to $2500, so this may be a new record.

Since the original MSRP of the truck was about $80k, it's difficult to believe that over 5% of the value of the truck lies in a single tail light assembly. This is absolutely criminal, folks.

Because the sensor and electronics were still working, and having read that it is easy to move sensors between assemblies, it was worth the $650 gamble to buy one on ebay and give it a shot. First I just installed the new assembly to see what would happen. Sure enough, although the lights worked, the truck immediately threw a fault in the blind spot and cross traffic sensor systems. The fact that these sensors need to be "programmed" to pair them to the vehicle is criminal step #2.

So I removed the assembly again, swapped the sensors, reinstalled and everything works! For anyone that may need to do this in the future, the swap really is very simple. There are five T20 torx screws that need to be removed to get to the back of the sensor to plug/unplug it to the wiring harness.

First off, YES the dealer is an extortionist organization for prices the replacement at such a ridiculous price.
However, buying the unit off eBay at a price of $650 dollar ought to be a red flag also. There is an epidemic of thieves stealing these lights. Wonder where they are translating them into cash?

 

[Heliian]

First off, YES the dealer is an extortionist organization for prices the replacement at such a ridiculous price.
However, buying the unit off eBay at a price of $650 dollar ought to be a red flag also. There is an epidemic of thieves stealing these lights. Wonder where they are translating them into cash?

Most likely an aftermarket one. They're cheap but worth it.

 

[Scorpio3d]

I paid $2500 for a 66 Mustang coupe around 1983 so if I got a quote from a dealer for more than double that for a tail light for my truck, I would probably….(fill in the blank )
I understand, tariffs and inflation and all that stuff as I have a bachelors degree in international economics… but come on give me a break!

On the other hand for people who are talking about the massive depreciation on these trucks apparently, you could part it out for at least $250,000!

 

[FloridaMan655321]

I mildly crushed the passenger tail light cover backing into a parking spot. Yes, I heard the warnings. Yes, I thought it was just a bush and didn't see the metal rail.

Pics or it didn't happen
Seriously though, would like to see pics of the truck

 

[MaintGrl]

Even $650 is outrageous for some part made out of 7 ounces (just guessin) of plastic. Highway robbery...

 

[Steddingbear]

I mildly crushed the passenger tail light cover backing into a parking spot. Yes, I heard the warnings. Yes, I thought it was just a bush and didn't see the metal rail. Yes, I despaired when I heard the crunching sound. The next week I took it to the local dealer where they promptly gave me a quote of $5223 for a replacement (screenshot below). There are posts in this forum for up to $2500, so this may be a new record.

Since the original MSRP of the truck was about $80k, it's difficult to believe that over 5% of the value of the truck lies in a single tail light assembly. This is absolutely criminal, folks.

Because the sensor and electronics were still working, and having read that it is easy to move sensors between assemblies, it was worth the $650 gamble to buy one on ebay and give it a shot. First I just installed the new assembly to see what would happen. Sure enough, although the lights worked, the truck immediately threw a fault in the blind spot and cross traffic sensor systems. The fact that these sensors need to be "programmed" to pair them to the vehicle is criminal step #2.

So I removed the assembly again, swapped the sensors, reinstalled and everything works! For anyone that may need to do this in the future, the swap really is very simple. There are five T20 torx screws that need to be removed to get to the back of the sensor to plug/unplug it to the wiring harness.

Excellent info! Ty!!

 

[dww]

I mildly crushed the passenger tail light cover backing into a parking spot. Yes, I heard the warnings. Yes, I thought it was just a bush and didn't see the metal rail. Yes, I despaired when I heard the crunching sound. The next week I took it to the local dealer where they promptly gave me a quote of $5223 for a replacement (screenshot below). There are posts in this forum for up to $2500, so this may be a new record.

Since the original MSRP of the truck was about $80k, it's difficult to believe that over 5% of the value of the truck lies in a single tail light assembly. This is absolutely criminal, folks.

Because the sensor and electronics were still working, and having read that it is easy to move sensors between assemblies, it was worth the $650 gamble to buy one on ebay and give it a shot. First I just installed the new assembly to see what would happen. Sure enough, although the lights worked, the truck immediately threw a fault in the blind spot and cross traffic sensor systems. The fact that these sensors need to be "programmed" to pair them to the vehicle is criminal step #2.

So I removed the assembly again, swapped the sensors, reinstalled and everything works! For anyone that may need to do this in the future, the swap really is very simple. There are five T20 torx screws that need to be removed to get to the back of the sensor to plug/unplug it to the wiring harness.

I am sorry this happened to you. I would e-bay it from a salvage yard too. They sent it with a sensor? Ford should be embarrassed. This feels like an insurance scam. I worry about this part a stupid amount of time even though I’ve never broken a tail light in my life… insert wife “Now you said it”. It’s a truck not a Pagani light with crystal and gold trim.

 

[dww]

First off, YES the dealer is an extortionist organization for prices the replacement at such a ridiculous price.
However, buying the unit off eBay at a price of $650 dollar ought to be a red flag also. There is an epidemic of thieves stealing these lights. Wonder where they are translating them into cash?

There are lots of part outs from wrecks now too.

 

[Upstate]

I mildly crushed the passenger tail light cover backing into a parking spot. Yes, I heard the warnings. Yes, I thought it was just a bush and didn't see the metal rail. Yes, I despaired when I heard the crunching sound. The next week I took it to the local dealer where they promptly gave me a quote of $5223 for a replacement (screenshot below). There are posts in this forum for up to $2500, so this may be a new record.

Since the original MSRP of the truck was about $80k, it's difficult to believe that over 5% of the value of the truck lies in a single tail light assembly. This is absolutely criminal, folks.

Because the sensor and electronics were still working, and having read that it is easy to move sensors between assemblies, it was worth the $650 gamble to buy one on ebay and give it a shot. First I just installed the new assembly to see what would happen. Sure enough, although the lights worked, the truck immediately threw a fault in the blind spot and cross traffic sensor systems. The fact that these sensors need to be "programmed" to pair them to the vehicle is criminal step #2.

So I removed the assembly again, swapped the sensors, reinstalled and everything works! For anyone that may need to do this in the future, the swap really is very simple. There are five T20 torx screws that need to be removed to get to the back of the sensor to plug/unplug it to the wiring harness.

Writing for a friend. He had a similar experience except I, I mean he never got to the point of actually getting a response from Ford on the repair. He did go to their parts website and saw that the taillight alone was over $2200 (not $4500!). He also checked around with body shops but ultimately went with a friend who does body work on the side. The friend charged $50 for the taillight install, including the swapping out of sensors. He buffed out the paint smear for free.

An equal amount of damage was done to my... I mean my friend's garage, where he tapped without realizing it and then kept going until a main structural support beam was cracked and the garage door came off the track (He is still trying to figure out why the back up beeper stopped!).

Anyway, long story short. $750 on ebay for a new taillight assembly (I, I mean he looked for just the red lense as that was all that was broken, the actual light was fully intact!), $50 for the buddy (and a $100 tip!). The garage repair was another $1000. It was an expensive lesson but still could have been much worse (especially since he just had solar shingles put on the roof of the garage and if there had been more extensive damage to the supporting structure, they might have been damaged too!).

Now, my friend wished to remain anonymous and here's why: The body guy related that another customer just replaced a taillight on a different car, not even a ding on the body, using the local dealership. The repair was indeed several thousands of dollars and it was reported as an accident on CarFax, meaning the resale value of the vehicle would be reduced even though it was a tap and crack of a simple taillight (no other damage). He said that swapping out the sensor counts too because the dealership would report the sensor replacement or reprogramming and that too would end up on a CarFax report.

Moral to the story: Don't back up into things and crack the taillight!

 

[TMND]

I had a similar situation with a trashcan in the street while I was pulling into my parking spot. I taped it back together and had a local body guy spray some clearcoat over it and that’s my fix until they’re making aftermarket ones for a couple hundred dollars instead of the possibly hot ones on eBay. I also drilled a little weep hole in the bottom to make sure no water accumulates too hopefully protect that radar sensor.

 

[TMND]

All that said these $2500 ones that are discounted from over $4000 have that radar unit in it. It’s also criminal that Ford is not selling these without that radar so we can get just the plastic housing. @fordmotorcompany

 

[MaintGrl]

All that said these $2500 ones that are discounted from over $4000 have that radar unit in it. It’s also criminal that Ford is not selling these without that radar so we can get just the plastic housing. @fordmotorcompany

It's all about . . . $$$$.00

 

[TMND]

Remember the days when it used to be about customer satisfaction?

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