Just after driving home from the dealer in our brand new Ruby Red King Ranch, my wife stood up on the passenger side running board, looked at the top, and noticed big depressions in the surface. My first guess was shipping damage, but after a second look, I suspect it was just manufactured this way. Maybe it's a poor weld line? Before I ask the dealer, I'd like to hear a few opinions from the forum.


This picture is just above the passenger door. (We did not get the Moon Roof, so it is a solid top.)


Here is another picture of the same area, with a dime on the left and a quarter on the right, for size perspective.


The next morning, I decided to look around a little more, and check out the driver's side. This is a picture of the channel that runs all the way down the left side of the top, with the key fob for size perspective. On this side, the depressions are much smaller, but they do run down the entire length of the top channel. None of this is visible from the ground, as it is on top of the truck, and it is all down inside the rain channel.


This last picture is back to the passenger side, but taken from front to back, to show the entire channel, like the previous photo down the driver's side. In comparison, there are only a few depressions, just over the passenger door, but they are much deeper.

What do you think? Are these just a crappy weld lines? Has anyone else noticed this on their new truck? What conversation should I have with the dealer? Even if I did, is there any reasonable way to correct it?

 

I just washed my 21 Lariat Saturday and didn’t recall seeing that. I just went and looked at it and I do not have anything resembling that on mine.

 

Wow, very abnormal.... I would certainly take er back. Appears that they were there before the paint was applied.... I don't see any other damage like scratches from a chain dropping etc.

Whew!

Scott

 

That area isn't metal, what you are seeing is seam sealer. Other generations of trucks have had a trim that goes in that channel so you don't notice it.

 

sad to say, but if your truck is not leaking water, i would just leave it. If it is a seam sealer like mentioned above, who knows once they tear it out and put in a new one if the color will match, or the seam will be sealed tight.

 

I agree with @itsmert09. Leave well enough alone. It's not typically visible and after sitting out in the sun this summer, it may level some on its own.
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Exactly right. It's also heat cured by the paint bake process, so you would create a much bigger mess trying to do something with it.

Yes, it cosmetically looks bad, but it's in an area not easily seen, and has no affect to the durability of the seam. I would personally leave it alone.

 

Nice color truck. Like mentioned above it is a sloppy job with the seam sealer. Ford I’m sure would tell you that is normal. I wouldn’t mess with it. And whatever you do don’t look underneath the truck. You’ve been warned.

 

Mine looks fine after 15 minutes of "work". No sympathy for the whiners from me....

 

My 2020 Lariat has kind of a 'rippled weld look' to it, but MUCH more uniform and consistent than what you are showing.

You know...no one will ever see it but...you probably plunked down somewhere in the $70K range for that vehicle and...yeah, I'd not be real happy myself with that look.