Dealer trying to deny 3rd brake light repair, saying it’s broken from inside...

Edit/update:

They’re telling me that bc it’s broken from the inside it’s not covered under the TSB. I’ve heard of them taking this tack with others. I’ll file a case with Toyota If they call back again to deny the repair. Any other advice?

**********

Dropping my truck off this am for some likely run around about how my AM roof rack has caused my third brake light to develop a leak.

Have any of you had your headliner replaced? Rear seats or seatbelts? Other parts damaged as a result of the leak?

My headliner has water marks from the leak, not sure if they’ll come out. My pass rear seat belt also has some light rust on it in an area that coincides with where that section of the belt stores inside the seat back, and the same belt is slow to retract as well.

 

Bump. Any help appreciated

 

Opening a case with corporate is probably the best thing at this point.

 

Can you prove that it isn't from the rack?

 

Unfortunately one of the risks of aftermarket mods is warranty denial where they can 'link' cause and effect.

So the question becomes can you prove it didn't get broken during the rack install?

If not you become reliant on either a dealer or Corporate showing goodwill by taking your word for it.

Hope you get it fixed!

 

May not be a bad idea to check with the rack manufacturer. They might be willing to prove their product isn't the cause.

 

Have to pay to play sometimes...

Just get a new third brake light housing, reseal it, and move on with life.

 

Confused - did the roof rack leak or was it the 3rd brake light?

 

Questions:
1. Did the leak start before or after the rack install?
2. How long have you had the truck before the leak started? I ask this because most 2016 trucks presented the 3rd brake light leak well before now.
3. Is there any installation hardware near the area of the light from the inside, or was any drilling required?

 

IMO go to the next dealer..good luck!!

 

The dealer has acknowledged that the leak is at the brake light. They said it is broken internally and that it wouldn’t be covered.

Reading T-SB-0055-18, there is no mentioning of what, specifically the malfunction is caused by. Simply that if it is found that the lamp is leaking, to complete the repair.

I just got off the phone with Toyota. A case has been opened.

 

I'm going to guess that they are not saying the rack install caused the leak, but the weight put on a non OEM rack is what caused the brake light to fail.

 

Pictures? How exactly does a taillight break internally? If it is cracked on the outside, caused by an outside force (say something in the bed hit and cracked it), then I understand the dealer denying... however an “internal” damage seems to be a manufacturer defect, no?

 

Yes. They suggested that something broke it from the inside despite there being no damage to the headliner etc

 

If there is nothing derogatory that indicates you’re at fault, then call corporate and open a case... you have certain steps to follow according to Toyota, see the “Owner’s Warranty Rights Notification” booklet that came with your truck purchase.

1 - Contact the Dealership, you’ve done that... don’t bother with them any longer (corporate will)
2 - Call the Toyota Customer Experience Center (800) 331-4331, have VIN, mileage, and name of dealership on hand
3 - if the above fails to achieve a resolution, file for arbitration with the National Center for Dispute Settlement (800) 777-8119 (no charge for this service to you)

Toyota will be bound by the arbitration decision, however you will not. If you still are not satisfied, you may then go to small claims court. All this info, including the customer claim form, is in the aforementioned booklet. Good luck...

 

That sucks.
Someone should start a sticky with a big list ‘naughty and nice’ dealers and locations that have screwed people around vs a list of honest dealers that have helped owners out (and yes, I realize it’s very subjective but just by reading this forum there seems to be multiple people complaining/complimenting some dealers)

 

It works the opposite, the dealer has to prove that the rack broke it. They can't just point at a modification and arbitrarily blame it.

 

Thanks. I’ve opened a case with Toyota. We’ll see what happens.

I know it’s only a brake light. Except it’s not just a brake light. It’s the time I have to find to fix it myself, and I’m not garaged, and it’s raining, which has significant implications for my schedule. That is the actual problem here. If my roof weren’t leaking and this wasn’t my DD, I could deal with it myself, like I did last week when they denied my battery warranty and I just bought a new one out of pocket.

 

You can file a battery claim with corporate as well... you should find a new dealership also..!

 

That's a contradiction. GL with your case.