C Pillar Trim Panel Peeling Off

Skeek · Mar 22, 2023

Hi guys,

I'm curious if anyone has encountered this issue. While travelling under highway speeds, I looked at my passenger side mirror and noticed a trim piece (circled in blue) baffling around in the wind. It looks like Ford attached this with a double-sided tape that must have dried out somehow. I'm thinking it may have been loose and the overzealous air-dryers at the local car wash did it in (hand washing from now on).

After taking a closer look I noticed that the bottom rubber trim is also slightly loose at the corner (circled in yellow), but doesn't appear to be peeling off. This is the case on both sides.

A couple of questions for you guys.

1. Has anyone re-attached these trim panels before? Is there any adhesive or process that you would recommend using? Bumper-to-bumper is expired so hoping I can fix this issue myself.

2. Is your bottom trim (yellow) fixed tightly against the window, or slightly loose towards the back like seen in the image?

Appreciate any advice.

MaestroSeven · Mar 23, 2023

Skeek said:

Hi guys,

I'm curious if anyone has encountered this issue. While travelling under highway speeds, I looked at my passenger side mirror and noticed a trim piece (circled in blue) baffling around in the wind. It looks like Ford attached this with a double-sided tape that must have dried out somehow. I'm thinking it may have been loose and the overzealous air-dryers at the local car wash did it in (hand washing from now on).

After taking a closer look I noticed that the bottom rubber trim is also slightly loose at the corner (circled in yellow), but doesn't appear to be peeling off. This is the case on both sides.

A couple of questions for you guys.

1. Has anyone re-attached these trim panels before? Is there any adhesive or process that you would recommend using? Bumper-to-bumper is expired so hoping I can fix this issue myself.

2. Is your bottom trim (yellow) fixed tightly against the window, or slightly loose towards the back like seen in the image?

Appreciate any advice.

View attachment 17062

What year is your st?

79GearHd · Mar 23, 2023

I had that same piece come off of mine. I just removed the remaing tape Ford used from both the trim piece and on the vehicle, then cleaned it up with some alcohol and reattached with 3M Double-sided Automotive Tape from local parts store = still holding strong.

Skeek · Mar 24, 2023

MaestroSeven said:

It's a 2020 ST with only about 34k miles on it. 2nd owner but the first seemed to take decent care of it.

Skeek · Mar 24, 2023

79GearHd said:

Good to know. I was thinking about doing the same thing but started overthinking which tape to use

Is this the one you went with? Might seem like a silly question but I'm concerned with how flush it will fit given that the tape from Ford seemed a little on the thicker side.
https://www.amazon.com/3M-38582-Exterior-Attachment-Tape/dp/B00JR4D70K/

I appreciate the tips man.

GearHead_1 · Mar 24, 2023

There are a variety of double-stick tapes out there, some are very thin. The one pictured looked to be thick.

The one pictured here is what comes to my mind. There are several widths of this available too.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-38582-Exterior-Attachment-Tape/dp/B00JR4D70K/?th=1

Skeek · Mar 24, 2023

GearHead_1 said:

Thanks! Will be ordering some tonight to get this patched up.

79GearHd · Mar 25, 2023

That's what I used!

Dbee · 2025-08-08T22:13:55-0500

Skeek said:

I just had the exact thing just happen to me last weekend. Last Thursday evening I had an oil change before I took a road trip Friday morning. After driving for about an hour I noticed on my passenger side rear window there was something flapping. I pulled over and took pictures and called the dealership. 8 days later, the dealership told me it couldn't possibly be anything that happened in their car wash. They will reach out to Ford and try to get them to pay for the replacement since I have low miles on my 2020 explorer. Otherwise they said I would have to pay for it myself and it would be would be $510.86 just for the part. He also told me there was no adhesive used on the part and all the rubber needs to be replaced because it's just held in there when the car is put together. This all happened at a Lincoln dealership in wixom Michigan to which I will never return unless they're going to do my service for free. My BF all along told me it should have an adhesive back and after I returned over the weekend he removed the part and cleaned it off and though it's bent said that if the dealership isn't going to do it that he would use 3M adhesive double stick tape to fix it. Varsity Lincoln time to fix your car wash

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C Pillar Trim Panel Peeling Off

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