Motorcraft wrong air filter but right part number?

[glockholiday]

2019 GT with stock air box, I wanted to replace my air filter last minute before a long road trip. Stopped by the Ford dealer since no where else carries them in stock (only $5 more than ordering online). They set the FA1918 box up on the counter and I knew that was the right part number but I still opened the box to check and sure enough, I said that's not right. So they went and got the other 2 they had on the shelf. 2 were wrong and 1 was right. All the boxes had the right part numbers FA1918 and FR3Z-9601-A but the only difference I could find was on the correct filter printed on the filter media itself was FR3Z-9601-AA. 2 letter As at the end instead of just one. Parts people didn't know why or show any other part numbers for a 2018 or 2020.

Left is the one that fits my car and right is what were in the other 2 boxes. And for those that might say "those are pretty close" the one on the right will absolutely not seal. There is a groove between the box and lid specifically curved like the filter on the left.

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[Vlad Soare]

No, they are definitely not "pretty close". It's obvious that the one on the right will not fit.
I don't have the box anymore, but if I look at the picture on the web site I ordered mine from, I see the code with a single A on the box, but with a double A on the label and the filter. This seems to suggest that the single vs. double A doesn't really matter.

Besides, the final letter shoudn't make a difference anyway. The final letter is normally the revision code. All products whose codes are identical save for the last letter should be functionally compatible.

Maybe a glitch at the factory? Whoever was in charge with the packaging that day made a mistake?

 

[_zOmbIE_]

I don't think anyone is going to look at those and say they're pretty close.

Basically looking at a square peg / round hole situation, IMO.

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