2013 Ford Fusion tail light differences

[puppybone69]

"Oh, now that it's dark, I see by your tail light pattern that you're driving a Ford Fusion Titanium!"

 

I found this posted on the Blue Oval forums:

 

http://www.blueovalf...se-tail-lights/

 

Apparently, the Titaniums have a much different tail light pattern than the S & SE models do when the lights are lit up. This really makes no sense at all. Why on earth would Ford advertise that all 2013 Fusions feature LED tail lights, but not mention that the light pattern varies between models? Did they really think it was that necessary to distinguish the Titaniums from the S & SE models at night? Did they really think that it was something potential buyers wouldn't want to know about before they made their purchase decisions? For a car this hyped and anticipated, shouldn't it have been mentioned?

 

Needless to say, this has more than a few people upset, and already planning to make their first mod a tail light swap. However, it would be a very cost prohibitive mod, to the tune of nearly $1000 just to upgrade SE tail lights to Titanium tail lights. This really makes no sense at all either, since LED's really aren't that much more expensive than regular bulbs. More costly yes, but nearly $1000 more, just to get a different tail light pattern installed? I'm sure everyone who bought a Titanium was thinking that it would be a deal breaker if it had no visible improvement over an S or an SE at night... NOT!

 

Personally, I have to agree with those who feel that this unmentioned difference between models is sneaky and deceptive, when so much has been mentioned about all 2013 Fusions featuring LED tail lights. Here in the south, we refer to this type of bait & switch as "chickenshot", although we use a less polite spelling. If it weren't for the fact that I didn't want push button start or MyFord Touch on my new Fusion, I'd feel cheated that I wasn't told about this very noticeable (at night) difference between models before I made my decsion to get an SE instead of a Titanium too. What do you think of it?

Edited November 26, 2012 by puppybone69

[FusionDiffusion]

Yet another good reason to wait and buy your car after you've seen it in person. I don't think they were trying to be sneaky or deceptive. There are always going to be small differences between trims that aren't going to be listed anywhere, so it's always best to examine the final product after all the early production changes are settled.

[Waldo]

There are always little differences among trim levels that are not covered in marketing guides. The SE comes with LED taillamps. There is nothing sneaky or deceptive about that. If you really want to get into sneaky and deceptive, you should look at parts that are added/deleted amongst the models for fuel economy reasons. For example on the Focus the S and SE have accoustic laminated windshields not because of noise, but because they are lighter and keep the car in a lower weight class for fuel economy testing. But if you pay more and get a Titanium, you get the cheaper, heavier and louder windshield. You won't find that in any marketing documentation...

[ctrcbob]

There are always little differences among trim levels that are not covered in marketing guides. The SE comes with LED taillamps. There is nothing sneaky or deceptive about that. If you really want to get into sneaky and deceptive, you should look at parts that are added/deleted amongst the models for fuel economy reasons. For example on the Focus the S and SE have accoustic laminated windshields not because of noise, but because they are lighter and keep the car in a lower weight class for fuel economy testing. But if you pay more and get a Titanium, you get the cheaper, heavier and louder windshield. You won't find that in any marketing documentation...

 

Are you saying that the Titanium does not have a laminated windshield???? I doubt that, as all windshields must have a sheet of plastic between two sheets of glass, for safety reasons. That is what laminated windshield means.

 

There may be differences due to rain sensing or top tinting, but not lamination.

 

Where did you get your information about the different windshields on the S/SE and Titanium? (If you read it on the internet, it must be true)?

[akirby]

Are you saying that the Titanium does not have a laminated windshield???? I doubt that, as all windshields must have a sheet of plastic between two sheets of glass, for safety reasons. That is what laminated windshield means.

 

There may be differences due to rain sensing or top tinting, but not lamination.

 

Where did you get your information about the different windshields on the S/SE and Titanium? (If you read it on the internet, it must be true)?

 

Acoustic lamination vs. non acoustic lamination.

[drolds1]

Are you saying that the Titanium does not have a laminated windshield???? I doubt that, as all windshields must have a sheet of plastic between two sheets of glass, for safety reasons. That is what laminated windshield means.

 

There may be differences due to rain sensing or top tinting, but not lamination.

 

Where did you get your information about the different windshields on the S/SE and Titanium? (If you read it on the internet, it must be true)?

 

You're talking about laminated safety glass, which has been used in cars since the 1930s. Waldo is talking about acoustic laminated glass, which aids in sound deadening, a completely different concept.

 

As to his source, I'd say- trust him.

[Waldo]

Please note my comment was about the FOCUS, not the FUSION. Also safety glass is not a piece of plastic between two sheets of glass, it's a piece of plastic on top of one sheet of glass. Accoustic laminated glass is two sheets of glass with some sort of goo between them.

[ctrcbob]

You're talking about laminated safety glass, which has been used in cars since the 1930s. Waldo is talking about acoustic laminated glass, which aids in sound deadening, a completely different concept.

 

As to his source, I'd say- trust him.

 

Just looked up this acoustic laminated glass. Learn something new every day. What happens if you need to replace your windshield for any reason? Will your insurance company tell you that you must use a less expensive glass, like the regular laminated glass?

 

I have no idea what the windshields on my two FoMoCo cars are. I guess I'll have to look for the signs to see which glass they use.

[akirby]

Most insurance will replace it with the OEM glass but probably not all of them. You'd have to ask to be sure.

[drolds1]

Just looked up this acoustic laminated glass. Learn something new every day. What happens if you need to replace your windshield for any reason? Will your insurance company tell you that you must use a less expensive glass, like the regular laminated glass?

 

I have no idea what the windshields on my two FoMoCo cars are. I guess I'll have to look for the signs to see which glass they use.

 

Your cars have acoustically laminated windshields. Ford uses the trade name Soundscreen. The logo on your w/s should look like this:

 

Your insurance company might only authorize aftermarket glass but they can't refuse to pay for what is standard equipment from the factory. If the car comes from the factory with an ACL, then they're obligated to replace it.

[ctrcbob]

Your cars have acoustically laminated windshields. Ford uses the trade name Soundscreen. The logo on your w/s should look like this:

 

Your insurance company might only authorize aftermarket glass but they can't refuse to pay for what is standard equipment from the factory. If the car comes from the factory with an ACL, then they're obligated to replace it.

 

Well I'll be. Went and checked my windshield and there it was. Just as you said. Funny that I never noticed it before.

 

Thanks.

[puppybone69]

I think I'm gonna request that my dealer do the Titanium tail light swap for me as part of the make-ready before I accept delivery, just for spite, since I ordered my SE with the 2.0 EcoBoost engine and the dual exhaust, along with the SE appearance package that includes the rear spoiler also. Take that, Ford! Everyone who sees me driving my new SE at night is gonna think that I'm driving a Titanium!

[ctrcbob]

Only people on this forum will notice. Most people will have no idea.

 

If it means that much to you, go ahead and do it, assuming the wireing and connection accepts the Titanium tail light.

 

(It's like guys that ride a Harley - they know each and every different model, but to the non Harley person, they are all Harleys with no difference. - matter of fact, to the non biker, its just a motorcycle, does not matter what the brand is).

[Waldo]

I think I'm gonna request that my dealer do the Titanium tail light swap for me as part of the make-ready before I accept delivery, just for spite, since I ordered my SE with the 2.0 EcoBoost engine and the dual exhaust, along with the SE appearance package that includes the rear spoiler also. Take that, Ford! Everyone who sees me driving my new SE at night is gonna think that I'm driving a Titanium!

 

Next time I go into McDonalds and order a regular hamburger, I'm going to request that they put the lettuce and tomatos from a Big Mac on it before I accept it, just for spite. After all, I'll order the combo including fries and I might even upgrade to a milkshake...

[Poirot1959]

I think I'm gonna request that my dealer do the Titanium tail light swap for me as part of the make-ready before I accept delivery, just for spite, since I ordered my SE with the 2.0 EcoBoost engine and the dual exhaust, along with the SE appearance package that includes the rear spoiler also. Take that, Ford! Everyone who sees me driving my new SE at night is gonna think that I'm driving a Titanium!

 

Why don't you simply change your order and get the titanium, unless you don't want AWD. After all the money you will have to pay to get everything you want you will probably be very close to the rpice of the titanium but whithout all the + that comes with it

[puppybone69]

Well I finally heard back from my dealer about it. It's totally doable! The parts, labor and all is only $900 to do it, so I'm going for it! Now the only outwardly visible differences between my SE and a Titanium will be the chrome door handles and the chrome trim all the way around the side windows, since I got the SE appearance package instead of the luxury package, and of course the name badges. Say what you will, but I think the Titanium tail lights make for a much safer car at night, since they light up way more than the SE tail lights do. If you've ever had somebody rear end you while sitting at a stop light at night, because the other driver "didn't see you" like I have, you'd understand it. It's not just because they look better! That's just a happy bonus that will make my SE different from every other SE on the road, and of course at night it'll look like a Titanium!

[alfredfife]

Can anyone tell me about the Headlight assembly recall on the 2013 Fusion. What will the replacement be....HID? It is recall 12C27.

[akirby]

The replacement is exactly the same as the original. They're not HIDs.

[imccrea83]

I still don't see why you don't just get a FWD Titanium. It's $30,995 compared to $28,040 for a 2.0 SE 204A then add your $900 in for your tail lights.

 

You're losing remote start, push button start, leather seats, heated seats, Sony audio, HD radio, memory seats, power passenger seat, etc.

 

That is more than $2,000 worth of adds alone before you consider resale value/trade value/etc.

[dwmilton]

Yeah, I'm all for whatever someone wants to do to their own car. But if I wanted mine to look like a Titanium model, only in the dark, when my lights were on; AND it was gonna cost me $900 for the privilege; I'd have bought a Fusion Titanium. If I see that the tailights are THAT badass, them I'll wait for totalled Titaniums to start showing up @ the junk yards. Not gonna pay that much for them.

[dwmilton]

After seeing the difference between S/SE & Titanium tail lights, I do indeed like the "up level" ones more. BUT, not $900 more. I'm happy. They light up the same in braking, it's just the "halo" lights up for the Titanium for normal lighting, where the S/SE do not.

 

If someone rear-ends me w/ LED brake lights & CHMSL, they'd probably hit me just the same with "full" LED tail lights, too. Once the "new" wears off, and Fusion Ti's end up @ the wreckers, then MAYBE I'll see what the cost is.

[fusionguy23]

If your going to post pictures of your car, you should include the the equipment that is advertised. as you can see this is a se model. I like my car but I am very disappointed by the bicycle reflectors i have on my car. They should tell you if there is a difference in models. Not a deal breaker, but definitely disappointed.

 

long list to fix on my first oil change also

car sputters going from reverse to drive for a second

automatic windows work sometimes. sometimes the driver side passenger side or both

the F in fusion on the back fell off on my first car wash

getting a lot of road noise complaints from the microphone system from people i am calling

trunk only pops half way up when open (maybe the way its designed. i have to ask)

i have to have them check the anti-lock brakes. stomped on them twice and both times the car nosed dived and screamed so much, i had to let off of the brakes and re-engage them with less pressure. I haven't felt that with any of the cars i have owned in 20 yrs. felt like it was out of control.

 

weirdly still like the car. just needs to be fixed. had many fords. always took them to almost 130000 miles. first on i have had with so many problems. i hope ford gets them straightened out

 

 

[Titanium_2013]

If your going to post pictures of your car, you should include the the equipment that is advertised. as you can see this is a se model. I like my car but I am very disappointed by the bicycle reflectors i have on my car. They should tell you if there is a difference in models. Not a deal breaker, but definitely disappointed.

 

long list to fix on my first oil change also

car sputters going from reverse to drive for a second

automatic windows work sometimes. sometimes the driver side passenger side or both

the F in fusion on the back fell off on my first car wash

getting a lot of road noise complaints from the microphone system from people i am calling

trunk only pops half way up when open (maybe the way its designed. i have to ask)

i have to have them check the anti-lock brakes. stomped on them twice and both times the car nosed dived and screamed so much, i had to let off of the brakes and re-engage them with less pressure. I haven't felt that with any of the cars i have owned in 20 yrs. felt like it was out of control.

 

weirdly still like the car. just needs to be fixed. had many fords. always took them to almost 130000 miles. first on i have had with so many problems. i hope ford gets them straightened out

 

 

As far as the windows go, you can learn them yourself.. There is a posting on here that I myself created because I was having issues. It was a 2 second fix and they work fine now. As for the trunk, that's by design!

[jinx8402]

If your going to post pictures of your car, you should include the the equipment that is advertised. as you can see this is a se model. I like my car but I am very disappointed by the bicycle reflectors i have on my car. They should tell you if there is a difference in models. Not a deal breaker, but definitely disappointed.

 

 

 

I'm guessing this is the picture you're saying is advertising the car? That is from a car show, pre-production, and not what I would consider an advertisement. Things can and do change prior (and even during) production.

[Ownix]

Yeah, I'm all for whatever someone wants to do to their own car. But if I wanted mine to look like a Titanium model, only in the dark, when my lights were on; AND it was gonna cost me $900 for the privilege; I'd have bought a Fusion Titanium. If I see that the tailights are THAT badass, them I'll wait for totalled Titaniums to start showing up @ the junk yards. Not gonna pay that much for them.

 

I figure it will be virtually impossible to find Titanium taillights from a pick-n-pull unless you get really lucky.