21-23 F150 HEADLIGHT Scuffs / Spots ... Normal?

[JessEm]

Hello, this is my first post. I have a '21 F150. 30K. This truck is new to me. My question is about the headlights. Whether this is normal.

Description: Both headlights have matching spots, or "scuffs." Specifically, they are on the plastic cover / headlight assembly. Two scuffs on each headlight. Each spot is oval shaped, a few inches long. The spots are located directly above & below one another. The 'lower' scuff being more pronounced. Again, this is exactly the same on both headlights.

This is causing weird shadows at night. However, being new to me, I'm not sure how they're "supposed" to look. At first, I just thought the headlights were drastically out of alignment.

These "spots" are only visible with the headlights "on." With the lights "off" the spots are completely invisible, and the plastic looks perfectly clear.

I'm getting conflicting info from the Ford dealer on this. "Service" says they've never seen this before (from a car wash is the best we could do, for lack of a better explanation). "Sales", however, is saying this is normal.

So, my question for 21-23 owners is simply, do your headlights have these spots?? Especially 21 owners.

Furthermore, Service submitted to Ford for warranty, but was declined. They also attempted buffing-out the spots, to no avail... Sales originally offered to "make it right", but now seems to have changed their tune, claiming it's normal.

One of the pics is the shadows in my driveway. The truck is stationary and it's not a great representation of the weirdness when driving, but it's enough to get the idea.

Input from other owners is appreciated.

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[medic455]

I had that same thing on my old Ram, haven’t looked at the ford yet, but I will. I just figured it was some type of breakdown of the plastic from heat of the headlights.

 

[JessEm]

Thank you. Please let me know if your Ford has them.

 

[JessEm]

Anyone else here with a 2021 F-150?

 

[whizkidder]

2022 Lariat, July 22 Build, purchased in December 22, now with ~16,000 miles, been this way since new. (My wife's VW Jetta has also done the same thing since new).

 

[JessEm]

2022 Lariat, July 22 Build, purchased in December 22, now with ~16,000 miles, been this way since new. (My wife's VW Jetta has also done the same thing since new).

whizkidder, thanks for the info. And for the picture.

 

[jhelrey]

Anyone else here with a 2021 F-150?

I do, I am in MN, and mine look the same.

 

[JessEm]

I do, I am in MN, and mine look the same.

Excellent. Thanks for weighing in.

 

[HammaMan]

The likely cause of these oval looking things are likely individual LEDs that are making up the light source. It's not 1 big LED but a series of them. The lens itself is creating what you see (prism effect, also the back of the lens is fresnel style). With the light off (duh) look into it and see if you can see individual LED elements. In the mach es with matrix headlights you can see each of the 20 or so LEDs that make up the light source on the outer plastic despite it coming out of a single lens.

edit: yeah, you're seeing individual LEDs. On the lower light I count 22 LEDs, the upper one is a bit more odd

 

[JessEm]

The likely cause of these oval looking things are likely individual LEDs that are making up the light source. It's not 1 big LED but a series of them. The lens itself is creating what you see (prism effect, also the back of the lens is fresnel style). With the light off (duh) look into it and see if you can see individual LED elements. In the mach es with matrix headlights you can see each of the 20 or so LEDs that make up the light source on the outer plastic despite it coming out of a single lens.

edit: yeah, you're seeing individual LEDs. On the lower light I count 22 LEDs, the upper one is a bit more odd

HammaMan appreciate the comprehensive response.

It looks like this is normal then. Thanks again everyone for weighing in.

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