Tail Light Switch problems of the 2007 Ford Focus

Right tail light burned out, which I noticed in a window reflection as I drove away from an auto parts store. When I opened the tail light assembly to change the bulb, I saw that the bulb and its base and socket were scorched black, and the hole in the red plastic tail light assembly where the bulb has to go through was melted and warped. The red plastic had to be scraped with a knife to open the hole enough for the bulb to go through. I had to go to more than one auto parts store to buy a new socket. I had to use black duct tape to hold the socket in place. When I checked the left tail light assembly, I saw that it had also melted and the previous owner had also used black duct tape to hold the socket in place. I read online that Ford has said the reason for the melting is that the driver keeps his foot on the brake pedal too long. Since when is there a time limit on putting your foot on the brake, especially since this is required when you are at a red light, and often happens when you stop to consult driving directions and don't want to put your car in park with the emergency brake on! what is the time limit? 30 seconds?.

Tail light assembly on both sides ($200 each to replace) are melting from the heat of the stop/tail light bulb. I see many other similar complaints to NHTSA. It necessitates putting in lower wattage bulbs which are not as bright as the original. This was discovered when replacing a bulb.

Ford Focus station wagon tail light over heating and bulb fusing to plastic light.