Splitting seam on hornI

[jgillmer]

I'm having an issue with a seam on the rubber covering the horn splitting - getting slightly worse over time.

No accidents, so it's not damage from that. Sure, I lay on the horn if someone is being a tool and nearly causing an accident, but this is the first time I've seen this happen to a horn cover in the 31 years I've been driving.

Warranty issue do you think?
7/20/23 Update: Sheehy Ford of Springfield evaluated the horn issue during my 20,000 mile service and determined it was a warranty issue. Part ordered.
7/28/23: replacement horn/airbag component complete - 100% warranty coverage under the 3yr/36,000 warranty. If you have this issue, have it checked before you get to the 36,000 mile mark.

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[Mach1E]

I'm having an issue with a seam on the rubber covering the horn splitting - getting slightly worse over time.

No accidents, so it's not damage from that. Sure, I lay on the horn if someone is being a tool and nearly causing an accident, but this is the first time I've seen this happen to a horn cover in the 31 years I've been driving.

Warranty issue do you think?

Must be a lot of tools where you live.

Hard to say if they’ll cover it under warranty. Wear and tear aren’t covered. Only manufacturer defects. Worth a shot though.

 

[jgillmer]

Must be a lot of tools where you live.

Hard to say if they’ll cover it under warranty. Wear and tear aren’t covered. Only manufacturer defects. Worth a shot though.

Yup, my thought, as well. 50-50 chance. It definitely shouldn't be splitting, even if I'm wailing on it, but then again, it could easily be chalked up to normal wear. Do, I don't think it's a slamdunk I'll get it fixed under warranty. It's not lost on me the split is on the left side, and I'm left handed. And, yes, in DC and the DMV area, a-hole drivers grow on trees here.

 

[generaltso]

I'm having an issue with a seam on the rubber covering the horn splitting - getting slightly worse over time.

No accidents, so it's not damage from that. Sure, I lay on the horn if someone is being a tool and nearly causing an accident, but this is the first time I've seen this happen to a horn cover in the 31 years I've been driving.

Warranty issue do you think?

Can you post a pic?

 

[Gimme_my_MME]

Must be a lot of tools where you live.

Can you post a pic?

 

[RickMachE]

Fun!

 

[jgillmer]

Here's the pics of the splits

 

[jgillmer]

It started with what seemed, at first, a dirt line, and has slowly spread and separating for about a year now.

 

[generaltso]

Here's the pics of the splits

Hmm. That doesn't really look like it's along a seam. And the horizontal line even seems to have damage across the plastic piece, so I'm not sure the dealer would cover it under warranty. It certainly doesn't heart to ask though.

 

[jgillmer]

 

[jgillmer]

Hmm. That doesn't really look like it's along a seam. And the horizontal line even seems to have damage across the plastic piece, so I'm not sure the dealer would cover it under warranty. It certainly doesn't heart to ask though.

When see it in real life, you can see that it's a clean horizontal line and if you look close at the vertical, you can see that underneath there is a separation point.

It's really weird. I would expect such splitting if it had been deployed in accident or if a head slammed into it at high speed. The most it's got is the button of my hand (and maybe hurt feelings from my expletives)

 

[jgillmer]

Hmm. That doesn't really look like it's along a seam. And the horizontal line even seems to have damage across the plastic piece, so I'm not sure the dealer would cover it under warranty. It certainly doesn't heart to ask though.

The plastic break happened since the separation (the image doesn't show that the horizontal at the plastic piece is about a millimeter lower on one side vs. the other.

On the vertical, you can see the outline forming of the underneath as you follow it toward the top.

My bet is that Ford would duck a warranty claim no matter. But it's odd that it's happening at all. First time in my life I've seen that short of an accident or someone trying to do self fix after an airbag deployment.

For a $65k car, it shouldn't be doing this.

 

[jgillmer]

Ooo, I just typed in Google "Steering wheel airbag horn cover cracking" and the Bronco forum site popped up with a whole series of similar cracks (different design but the same type of pattern split) and the posters there said it's a known issue with the with airbag assembly and to take it to the dealer (at least for the new Broncos).

 

[jgillmer]

Ooo, I just typed in Google "Steering wheel airbag horn cover cracking" and the Bronco forum site popped up with a whole series of similar cracks (different design but the same type of pattern split) and the posters there said it's a known issue with the with airbag assembly and to take it to the dealer (at least for the new Broncos).

Many of the posters shared that it started so very slight that they thought it was a haircaught under the rubber or a dirty scratch and then it gets worse over time (my situation, too - so slight at first that I thought it was a smear). Some had to fight with thr dealership to get past claims of user abuse, but then have it happen again within days for some new owners.

I'm sure I'll have a fight on my hands, but almost certainly a defect.

 

[jgillmer]

The F-150 forum has a whole thread of the same type of issue with the platinum ($100k+)

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