The supplier for the soft plastic on the A-pillar brackets went out of business, so they had to switch to a different material. Unfortunately, the new plastic doesn’t seem as durable.
I’m in VA too, and my 2017 is having the same trim issues.
I had my windshield replaced a year and a half ago, and the cowl crumbled after that. Ordered an OEM replacement, and it’s been fine since. The A-pillar trim also got replaced with the windshield, but they tried using aftermarket trim at first, and it didn’t fit right—there was a gap at the top. After I complained, they ordered the OEM parts.
Also, my driver’s door weather stripping is falling apart.
I heard Ford changed their rubber manufacturing process to be more eco-friendly, which is why it degrades faster. Not sure when that change happened, though.
There’s nothing you can do to stop that kind of wear…
West said:
There’s nothing you can do to stop that kind of wear…
Yeah, it doesn’t get much sun at home because of the trees, but my work parking lot is prime sun exposure!
West said:
There’s nothing you can do to stop that kind of wear…
Yeah, it doesn’t get much sun at home because of the trees, but my work parking lot is prime sun exposure!
Oof, hope it’s not too expensive to fix.
It’s normal to replace the windshield cowl every 5 years or so. It costs around $250 and takes 10-30 minutes depending on your skill level. You’ll need a ‘windshield wiper puller’ to safely remove the wiper arms.
The other trim is below the A-pillar and usually comes with the new plastic pillar.
@Zahari
That’s not normal.
August said:
@Zahari
That’s not normal.
Welcome to planet Earth, where UV rays weaken the organic polymers in rubber over time.
August said:
@Zahari
That’s not normal.
Welcome to planet Earth, where UV rays weaken the organic polymers in rubber over time.
It’s not normal for this to happen so quickly, though. I’ve had Nissans and Dodges for way longer, and none of them ever degraded this fast. This is just cheap manufacturing.