Tail lights not fully illuminated

[klingcam]

Just bought a 2015 Fusion SE Hybrid and noticed that the tail lights don't seem to be fully illuminated. The perimeter red portion of the tail lights giving the Fusion its unique style (and visibility, I might add), isnt' lit. I've seen other Fusions driving around, and it seems some are lit and some aren't...which leads me to believe that it is a setting somewhere in the myriad of settings/combinations. Have read the manual where it seems this would be relevant, and can't find anything that indicates why this would be or how to change it. There is only one reference to the settings for the daytime running lights affecting tail light illlumination. Regardless, I turned the daytime running lights feature on and off, and there seems to be no change in the illumination of the tail lights. Presently only the center red tail light illuminates, and it gets brighter when the brake is applied. Anyone?

[murphy]

I have a 2013 so it has been a while since I looked at this but my recollection is that only the Titanium package has them lit. If I'm wrong someone will correct me.

[corncobs]

I have a 2013 so it has been a while since I looked at this but my recollection is that only the Titanium package has them lit. If I'm wrong someone will correct me.

Nope you are correct murphy no correction necessary :)

[hermans]

This was a topic of discussion when the 13's first came out. Some felt gyped when they discovered there was a difference between the SE and Titanium lights. There are a few that changed over their lights, but at a hefty price ...... $1,000+. If you do a search in the lights thread you will them.

[hybridbear]

I have a 2013 so it has been a while since I looked at this but my recollection is that only the Titanium package has them lit. If I'm wrong someone will correct me.

I think the Energi has the outer ring lit on both the SE & Titanium. No other Fusion SE has the fancier tail lights.

[garymkrieg]

This was a topic of discussion when the 13's first came out. Some felt gyped when they discovered there was a difference between the SE and Titanium lights. There are a few that changed over their lights, but at a hefty price ...... $1,000+. If you do a search in the lights thread you will them.

 

Yes they did, but they were never able to duplicate the exact behavior of the Titanium lights, it requires a computer change.

 

Gary

[klingcam]

Thank you everyone for the responses and shedding some light on this topic (too bad you couldn't shed some on the tail lights). Here's my feeling, and hoping that Ford occasionally reads this forum:

The rear styling of this car is very sleek and distinctive, in large part to the shape/styling of the tail lights. If they're not going to light up, why have them in this configuration? I would gladly have paid a couple hundred more bucks (unbeknownst to me and built into the base price) to have one guy on each side of the assembly line twisting the wires together. Or did Ford "cheap-out" and not equip them with bulbs and/or wiring? Is this where Ford is saving on production costs? I'm bettin' the wires/bulbs are there, which makes it even more ludicrous that they are not hooked up and programmed. And obviously Ford is aware of the value of this feature/styling, because the Titaniums do light up. For a car that has so many other customizable features and conveniences, this seems to me to be a major styling/safety shortcoming. Take note, Ford! Hope you improve the 2017's.

[hybridbear]

Thank you everyone for the responses and shedding some light on this topic (too bad you couldn't shed some on the tail lights). Here's my feeling, and hoping that Ford occasionally reads this forum:

You can send your feedback directly to Ford by sending a Private Message to username Ford Service. Then your feedback can be relayed appropriately. You are not the first to express this sentiment.

[Da0ne]

Thank you everyone for the responses and shedding some light on this topic (too bad you couldn't shed some on the tail lights). Here's my feeling, and hoping that Ford occasionally reads this forum:

The rear styling of this car is very sleek and distinctive, in large part to the shape/styling of the tail lights. If they're not going to light up, why have them in this configuration? I would gladly have paid a couple hundred more bucks (unbeknownst to me and built into the base price) to have one guy on each side of the assembly line twisting the wires together. Or did Ford "cheap-out" and not equip them with bulbs and/or wiring? Is this where Ford is saving on production costs? I'm bettin' the wires/bulbs are there, which makes it even more ludicrous that they are not hooked up and programmed. And obviously Ford is aware of the value of this feature/styling, because the Titaniums do light up. For a car that has so many other customizable features and conveniences, this seems to me to be a major styling/safety shortcoming. Take note, Ford! Hope you improve the 2017's.

 

lol that funny all car makers do the same thing its how they get us to pay more its not about being cheap

[klingcam]

You can send your feedback directly to Ford by sending a Private Message to username Ford Service. Then your feedback can be relayed appropriately. You are not the first to express this sentiment.

Thank you very much. This is helpful. I'll be sure to take your advice.

[md13ffhguy]

I don't really understand the concern here. There are clearly two different taillight sets used by Ford. The Titanium style are meant to be an upgrade. The other style is just not as attractive. It's what both of my cars have. Unused bulbs and wires? I doubt it.

[jeffo65]

Check out these two threads about swapping tail lights.

 

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/6456-changing-the-tail-lights-on-my-se-hybrid/

 

http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/53724-swapping-se-tail-lights-out-with-titanium-lights/

 

You can check fordparts.com for the needed parts or hit a junkyard to pick up the tail lights.

[klingcam]

Check out these two threads about swapping tail lights.

 

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/6456-changing-the-tail-lights-on-my-se-hybrid/

 

http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/53724-swapping-se-tail-lights-out-with-titanium-lights/

 

You can check fordparts.com for the needed parts or hit a junkyard to pick up the tail lights.

 

 

THANK YOU, Jeff! This is extremely relevant and useful information. I'll have to think about cost vs. aesthetics, but could definitely do the swap myself, especially with the help of your posted threads.

[klingcam]

I don't really understand the concern here. There are clearly two different taillight sets used by Ford. The Titanium style are meant to be an upgrade. The other style is just not as attractive. It's what both of my cars have. Unused bulbs and wires? I doubt it.

 

The original concern I had was that my brand new car's tail lamps were not functioning properly or I had missed a setting. However, additionally, as you said, the other [sE] style is not as attractive IMO. After a small amount of research, it's true that there are no unused bulbs/wires. I just find it very unusual and illogical that this is one of the places that Ford chose as a trim line upgrade. Addl. fog lights, ambient lighting, other luxury features? Sure. But to simply have the SE tail light configuration to flesh out the corners of the car with a dummy empty chamber seems ridiculous to me. Often, car companies shy away from producing two or more versions of a part in a car at this price point. That was all.