Jgrif...Do you have a new/newer truck? I would love to hear if others have the same type of corrosion. I realize I live in New England so it may be a little more acute here. Secondly, if other have the same rust, than that tells me it's possible the leak isn't coming from behind the dashboard. Thanks again for all your help!

 

In California there is a "No Cool Off Period" which basically means you buy it and it is yours, no returning it because you changed your mind. I think the dealer can address the rust issue after making the repairs etc.

For the OP...your state is the same:

Cooling-Off Periods, Right to Cancel a Sale

There is no general three-day right to cancel a sale in Massachusetts.

There are certain limited situations in which a consumer has a right to cancel a contract and receive a refund for the return of the purchased item. The Attorney General's Regulations and the Federal Trade Commission's Cooling-Off Rule for door-to-door sales apply to sales of certain goods. Door-to-door sales are sales made away from the usual business place of the merchant (the main office or branch office); however, the rule does not apply to sales made entirely over the telephone or by mail.

At the time you agree to the door-to-door sale, you must be given notice of the right to cancel, two copies of the cancellation form, and a copy of your contract or receipt. The contract or receipt must be in writing, and list the name and address of the seller, the date of sale, an explanation of your right to cancel, and how you may assert that right.

To cancel, you must notify the seller in writing at the address given in the contract, by regular mail posted, by telegram sent, or by delivery, no later than midnight of the third business day following the signing of the contract. A business day under this law includes any calendar day except Sunday or holidays. Within 10 days of receiving your cancellation notice, the seller must return your payment. You must allow the seller to pick up the goods at your address, or if the seller requests, and you agree, you may ship them back at the seller's expense and risk. If the seller does not pick up the goods within 20 days of the date of the notice of cancellation, they are yours to do with as you wish.

The FTC's three-day cooling-off period applies to sales of goods priced at $25 or more. It does not apply to sales of real estate, insurance, securities, or emergency home repairs. In Massachusetts, there are similar three-day rights for door-to-door sales. There are also statutes providing a three-day right to rescind for second mortgages, timeshares, health club contracts, and home improvement contracts.

 

The dealership isolated the leak to a seal in the bulkhead where the firewall is. They are discussing the options to repair and are going to get back to me by tomorrow morning.

 

Those parts under the are pressed from cold rolled steel. They are not coated except from the oils from manufacture and they will rust. CB

 

Mine is a 2012 fx4 supercab, for the most part, if these trucks leak, it's from the third brake lamp housing or the satellite antenne, just make sure the corrosion dose not involve the electronics, the rest of these trucks are pretty solid!

 

My brackets have surface rust on them, just as your pics show and I don't have any leaks.

However, I do live in Florida where it is very humid and wet most of the time.

It's not uncommon to see that.

 

Let the dealer do a water test, as there is water intrusion somewhere. The wet carpet and pad underneath will start to smell, so that needs attention as well. The surface rust on the metal dash brackets is not a serious issue at all, but if any of the electrical plug connectors get any corrosion on them (they are sealed up very well, and not likely to be a problem), they need to be inspected. As have already been mentioned, get it looked at and documented at the dealer to get it in the system.

 

Surface rust under dash is normal like stated. I have seen it on many Ford's various years I have worked on.

 

Received truck back after being with dealer for 3 weeks. Here is the story:

The Honda dealer I bought it from took it to a ford dealer for warranty repair of the leak. The ford dealer found the leak and said that someone had tried to repair it before and didn't repair it with factory specs. Because of that, the ford dealer refused to repair it under warranty. My dealer, rather than pay ford to repair it, brought it to their body shop who repaired it. The leak is behind the dash near the drivers side front fender. Apparently they had to replace some kind of "water channel" pieces that were missing or damaged. It required them to remove the drivers side fender, replace the pieces and re-seal with a foam type sealer. After all that, the dealer isn't willing to work with me to get out of the truck.

I obviously have a lot of concerns, especially since the dealer wouldn't warranty it. I am also asking for the specific parts they replaced along with the ford part numbers.

Is anyone familiar with these channels they are referring to and the foam insulation? Below is a pic. Does this look normal?

Thanks again for your help...this is a nightmare

 

I have black rubber pieces that run inside my door jamb at the front fender, I've never seen anything like that before.