2017 F-250 Dash cracking issues
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 778
Likes: 14
From: Seattle area, WA USA
I blame YouTube.
All the self appointed pickup truck pundits who whined about trucks not having "soft touch" materials, while equating the tough hardened plastic that Ford used 20 years ago with "cheap", while pining for "stitching", "cushioning", and "plush" interiors.
Check out their truck review videos. Kids who have never so much as held a 2x4 in their hand, never mind hauled a pallet of them, are running their soft hands along the dashboards while running their mouths about what constitutes quality versus cheap... and enough of these yahoos yammering about it finally convinces the market that soft touch and stitching should be a minimum requirement for a $75,000 truck.
So Ford gave the market back what they wanted.
And now we all have to live with it.
I have a 2000 that has never once been in a garage, nor under a carport, in 20 years. No carpet dash cover, no aluminized windshield foldaway screen, no tint whatsoever on any of the windows, not even factory tint, as it's a chassis cab.
And not one crack in the "cheap looking" factory dash.
The so called truck experts on YouTube ruined a good thing.
All the self appointed pickup truck pundits who whined about trucks not having "soft touch" materials, while equating the tough hardened plastic that Ford used 20 years ago with "cheap", while pining for "stitching", "cushioning", and "plush" interiors.
Check out their truck review videos. Kids who have never so much as held a 2x4 in their hand, never mind hauled a pallet of them, are running their soft hands along the dashboards while running their mouths about what constitutes quality versus cheap... and enough of these yahoos yammering about it finally convinces the market that soft touch and stitching should be a minimum requirement for a $75,000 truck.
So Ford gave the market back what they wanted.
And now we all have to live with it.
I have a 2000 that has never once been in a garage, nor under a carport, in 20 years. No carpet dash cover, no aluminized windshield foldaway screen, no tint whatsoever on any of the windows, not even factory tint, as it's a chassis cab.
And not one crack in the "cheap looking" factory dash.
The so called truck experts on YouTube ruined a good thing.
The cloth seats in my '94 Suburban are in perfect condition. As is the plastic dashboard. There is one rear door armrest made of a soft plastic that has started to harden, get shiny and crack. Not bad for having raised a family, carried big dogs, and hauled building materials to build a house. That kind of durability and longevity is what I expect in a truck.
I hope my new Ford will be able to do the same.
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 715
Likes: 337
From: Texas Hill Country
The only way leather would crack out like that was that they used vinyl cleaner on it instead of a leather cleaner and restorer. I worked at a Cad/Olds dealer. Our cleaning crew was instructed to use a good quality leather cleaner on all Cads because most of what we sold had leather seats and dash covers. I would talk to the GM and find out what they used to clean and restore on your dash. Then go talk to your lawyer! That dash should last longer than the truck with the right items used on it.
Smokeploe
Smokeploe
.OP, can you remove the section yourself! If so, you could probably remove the covering yourself and get the material of your choice from Tandy and glue it down. You just need to clean it up well, get some leather that's skivved down thin, and take your time. Leather bonds very will with glue. Not sure about the material under that cracked covering though. A good leather man of saddle maker might be interested in the job. Just a thought. Good luck!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 169
Likes: 27
From: Pensacola/Molino
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 715
Likes: 337
From: Texas Hill Country
Here you go is way cheaper https://www.tascaparts.com/oem-parts...OC1kaWVzZWw%3D
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,944
Likes: 2,653
From: The Great State of Texas
That's a shame on two fronts...
1. Fords quality on the current trucks dashboards is unacceptable. I've read about warped dashboards for years now and this is on the hard plastic version that doesn't have the soft touch materials and now the cracking on the padded surface.
2. No at the dealer knows that this piece part is replaceable and wants to replace the entire dashboard. Perhaps Fords part of $1,100 is to cover the part and labor to replace the defective part and not towards the entire dashboard.
1. Fords quality on the current trucks dashboards is unacceptable. I've read about warped dashboards for years now and this is on the hard plastic version that doesn't have the soft touch materials and now the cracking on the padded surface.
2. No at the dealer knows that this piece part is replaceable and wants to replace the entire dashboard. Perhaps Fords part of $1,100 is to cover the part and labor to replace the defective part and not towards the entire dashboard.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,944
Likes: 2,653
From: The Great State of Texas
I blame YouTube.
All the self appointed pickup truck pundits who whined about trucks not having "soft touch" materials, while equating the tough hardened plastic that Ford used 20 years ago with "cheap", while pining for "stitching", "cushioning", and "plush" interiors.
Check out their truck review videos. Kids who have never so much as held a 2x4 in their hand, never mind hauled a pallet of them, are running their soft hands along the dashboards while running their mouths about what constitutes quality versus cheap... and enough of these yahoos yammering about it finally convinces the market that soft touch and stitching should be a minimum requirement for a $75,000 truck.
So Ford gave the market back what they wanted.
And now we all have to live with it.
I have a 2000 that has never once been in a garage, nor under a carport, in 20 years. No carpet dash cover, no aluminized windshield foldaway screen, no tint whatsoever on any of the windows, not even factory tint, as it's a chassis cab.
And not one crack in the "cheap looking" factory dash.
The so called truck experts on YouTube ruined a good thing.
All the self appointed pickup truck pundits who whined about trucks not having "soft touch" materials, while equating the tough hardened plastic that Ford used 20 years ago with "cheap", while pining for "stitching", "cushioning", and "plush" interiors.
Check out their truck review videos. Kids who have never so much as held a 2x4 in their hand, never mind hauled a pallet of them, are running their soft hands along the dashboards while running their mouths about what constitutes quality versus cheap... and enough of these yahoos yammering about it finally convinces the market that soft touch and stitching should be a minimum requirement for a $75,000 truck.
So Ford gave the market back what they wanted.
And now we all have to live with it.
I have a 2000 that has never once been in a garage, nor under a carport, in 20 years. No carpet dash cover, no aluminized windshield foldaway screen, no tint whatsoever on any of the windows, not even factory tint, as it's a chassis cab.
And not one crack in the "cheap looking" factory dash.
The so called truck experts on YouTube ruined a good thing.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 515
From: WNY
We own commercial greenhouses. When buying poly covers, cost goes up as UV inhibitors are increased in the plastic mix for longevity. Obviously...their UV inhibitor wasn’t up to snuff in that batch of dashes.
Ford should cover that without question.
Ford should cover that without question.
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
I agree George. That makes sense and it was likely a batch issue rather than an entire product line issue. If it wasn't, we'd be seeing a lot more posts like this.
OP, and chance you'd consider doing the swap yourself? If I was in your situation, I'd buy it at Tasca and swap it out. Yes, I'd upset that Ford didn't cover it but for $350, I'd get over it so I could forget about it.
OP, and chance you'd consider doing the swap yourself? If I was in your situation, I'd buy it at Tasca and swap it out. Yes, I'd upset that Ford didn't cover it but for $350, I'd get over it so I could forget about it.
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