Door Reflectors

[Glen Baker LLC]

Cheap and functional! but I'd stick another piece of it farther out on the door where the edge widens (near the top of your picture)

I realize that.
But if I had put it anywhere else on the door. I'd have someone complaining that it wasn't on the exact spot where the lens is and therefore the reflection is different and not a good comparison..etc...etc.
I would have preferred to use yellow and larger myself.
In the interest of heading off criticism. I stayed with red and covered the lens.
The beauty is that it's tape, you can cover the whole edge of the panel with it and it won't affect the closing of the door as a plastic reflector may.

Funny thing is my wife's 10-year-old 2016 base Escape has reflectors on the door.

Sponsored

 

[Dad]

They're not reflectors. They're the same on all trims. @Glen Baker LLC shows this in his photo above. They're just translucent red plastic.

Apologies. I didn't notice @Glen Baker LLC initial post on these red panels not being reflective. Call me crazy, but I thought Ford would have made them reflective, otherwise what's the point.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Apologies. I didn't notice @Glen Baker LLC initial post on these red panels not being reflective. Call me crazy, but I thought Ford would have made them reflective, otherwise what's the point.

I did kind of explain that in post # 11.
In post 46 above. I show that my wife's 10-year-old Escape actually has reflectors as a cover panel for the door panel bolt.

 

[Dad]

I did kind of explain that in post # 11.

I read your post, (thanks for the explanation) but I just don't see Ford being that overly concerned over color matching such a minor piece. Maybe reflective was never considered and they just wanted to highlight access to the door bolt. Or maybe they wanted it reflective, but the provider screwed up. I went ahead and installed red reflective tape on the jams and called it a day. Not to say I don't appreciate your more than helpful and informative posts. The club is lucky to have you as a member.

 

[Tbone289]

Call me crazy, but I thought Ford would have made them reflective, otherwise what's the point.

100% agree.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I read your post, (thanks for the explanation) but I just don't see Ford being that overly concerned over color matching such a minor piece. Maybe reflective was never considered and they just wanted to highlight access to the door bolt. Or maybe they wanted it reflective, but the provider screwed up. I went ahead and installed red reflective tape on the jams and called it a day. Not to say I don't appreciate your more than helpful and informative posts. The club is lucky to have you as a member.

My wife's 2016 Ford Escape base model they were reflective. Ford found a way to cut an expense.
As far as color matching. Buyers with OCD would have a crap fit, if the colors didn't match exactly. Why risk it. Make them all red. One style, one color for the life of the vehicle.

 

[Dad]

My wife's 2016 Ford Escape base model they were reflective. Ford found a way to cut an expense.
As far as color matching. Buyers with OCD would have a crap fit, if the colors didn't match exactly. Why risk it make them all red. One style one color for the life of the vehicle.

I agree that cost savings is the most likely explanation. An odd item with which to do that. How much did they save with that?

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I agree that cost savings is the most likely explanation. An odd item with which to do that. How much did they save with that?

How much they save it's not an issue as long as it's something. It's a non-critical part.
I know an engineer with Stellantis. I was talking to her last year about vendors. The scenario I set up was.
Buying good quality parts from a well-known vendor. Along comes a new vendor offers you the "same part" 10 to 25 cents cheaper. Without skipping a beat she said, they would go with the cheaper new vendor.

Sponsored