Illuminating Sill Plates Gone Again.

[StevenST13]

So Here we go again with the illuminated sill plates yet again. This will now be the 3rd set that have been fitted to the car and not one set has lasted longer than 3months. When I bought the car I had to get them replaced as they didn't work at all now 3months later the passenger side has gone and the drivers lights most times but has its moments when it won't at all.

Is there anyone else having the same problems?

I really can't believe that ford are still selling these things that keep failing. Surely there is some sort of design faults that they should have fixed by now. My local ford dealer isn't going to like me on Monday lol!

[Phil 87]

That's bizarre, mine have been working fine since I got the car nearly a year ago. I wonder if it's something to do with water getting in them, although I always open the doors and wash the sills on mine, so maybe you've just been unlucky 3 times in a row.

[MarksST]

I've not had an issue with either of my cars (touch wood) originally I thought the issue was with the cable. Someone on face book opened one up and the LEDS are fitted to a thin plastic sheet and the soldered joints are very brittle so the LED breaks off.

[StevenST13]

I have heard of others having the problem but I do reckon I've been unlucky with them. The drivers side seems to be working fine for now but does have its moments. The passengers side has completely gone now so will be speaking to dealer shortly about them. I just don't no how far ford will go replacing them under warranty as this will be the third set now.

[Phil 87]

I don't think it should matter how many times they have to replace something, if it's not working it needs fixing. That's what I'd say to them anyway if they get funny about it.

[Barryh1988]

The back half of my passenger one has gone

Sent from my iPhone using Ford OC

[MarksST]

I think it's become so common ford have even extended the warranty on them to 3 years on the older cars.

It's probably still cheaper for them to replace than redesign the part, yes a lot have failed but, it will only be a fraction of them that have been made.

Apart from the cover these are used on the upcoming focus RS and current focus ST

[StevenST13]

Well it's booked back in a week on Saturday for replacement. Local dealer wasn't happy about it but that's not my problem like Phil said if it needs replacing due to being faulty it needs doing. They did try say it was something I was doing but soon put them straight as I have never used the Presure washer on them. This is apparently the cause of most that are going. Any excuse if you ask me!!!

[Phil 87]

Apart from the cover these are used on the upcoming focus RS and current focus ST

I hope they are at least tying to fix the problem for upcoming cars, and if so they should be sending out replacements which have less than 50% failure rate :P

[StevenST13]

From what I was told when they where replaced last time that the part had been updated mid 2014 to stop the failure of the plates. Doesn't seem like they have in my case 😞

[MarksST]

I doubt they'll change the design, changing would cost more to than it would to carry on and replace them when needed.

They've made 10s of thousands so they won't cost ford much to produce, where as a redesign and manufacture will.

[Phil 87]

From what I was told when they where replaced last time that the part had been updated mid 2014 to stop the failure of the plates. Doesn't seem like they have in my case

That sounds about right because I got mine in April last year, although it was more like early 2014 when it was built.

[StevenST13]

Yeah I reckon you will have the adapted units on yours. It's something to do with the wiring from what I can gather from reading on the internet.