Rear window leaking

Howdy,

After some hard winter rains, I've come to find an extensive leak somewhere in the rear that is soaking my seat and gravity is taking it to the carpet on the floor. It's made my backup sweatshirt soaked and moldy that is in the rear compartment below the back window.

I have exceeded the 36k mile warranty and the dealership has basically said " bring it in, we'll do a water test and see what needs to get replaced but your footing the bill."

Even the service rep said " yeah i've seen a few of these 3rd brake lights leaking and require a repalcement."

So has Toyota released a TSB about this? Am I screwed with the whole replacement of the brake light because I didn't catch it before 36k miles?

 

Yes there is a tsb. I'd call Toyota corporate and bring it to the dealer.

 

I think it's BS and hope they fix it at their cost . If they don't I would buy a new light and install it myself .

 

I'm so pissed. Finally found the TSB. Basically TSB's are for if anyone comes in complaing about a certain issue. It's not like a recall where the dealership or toyota is required to contact you about it. This TSB came out A YEAR AND A HALF AGO when I was below 36k miles.

https://toyotatalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/T-SB-0055-18.pdf

 

Update:

Dealership says "sorry bud it's out of our hands."

Toyota pretty much told me too bad too sad your outside the 36k warranty. They did send a case to the "customer relations" manager at my local dealership to possibly resolve the issue but sounds like i'm on the hook because im 10k over the limit.

 

Hope you can get it taken care of
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/leaking-2017-tacoma-bad-mold-need-advice.643784/

 

why would you think it was covered if it has expired?

 

Bull... Problem was always there, just because you didn't experience it soon enough doesn't mean it didn't exist. I'd pay the bill and then take Toyota to a Small Claims court with that TSB to get my money back and then some.

 

Go to corporate. Maybe they’ll have sympathy. This is a known issue and they oughta cover it.

 

It's obviously a Toyota created problem and by the amount of people complaining about it, they are aware they fudged up. They made a faulty 3rd brake light seal which is resulting in damaged vehicles. Luckily my mold problem is not too severe yet but it is creating a health hazard that could potentially hurt me. To me this is an easy set up for a lawsuit I would hope they want to avoid. Why fight me over a faulty piece of equipment that costs pennies to them to replace and fix. Because i'm 10k over the 36k warranty I have to spend probaly $400 for parts and labor for an issue that toyota created? I'd rather sue them for damaging my lungs and vehicle that I spent 42k on.

 

Holy shit that's bad. It's my daily driver and i noticed it started to smell bad. That's when I checked the back seat and voila, mold everywhere.

 

I guess it depends on whether or not you believe that it started leaking at exactly 36,001 miles.

 

It's not what you "believe" that's not how warranty periods work.

 

You will be lucky to get a Goodwill repair from Toyota. How much do you think it will cost to sue Toyota? Do you have doctor records documenting your damaged lungs?

 

If anything it will goto arbitration.... toyota is responsible for the first 5k of that process.

 

I feel for you Man! I just discovered water coming down from both rear seat belts and the window seal too. I’m near 95,000 miles on my 2016, so I’m sure it’s all going to be my cost but I’m PISSED! Just because it’s sunny most of the time, it’s never been discovered. Son just happened to be ridding with me today and noticed he was getting dripped on.

 

Does anyone know the part number for the 2016 3rd brake light? I've looked online and can't seem to find the right one. I don't think this is it as the 3rd gen's have the bolts on the inside of the cab under the headliner.

https://toyotaparts.mcgeorgetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-high-mount-lamp-8157004030/?c=YT10b3lvdGE=

 

@Jeff Lange

 

I truly wish that the third light was on the tailgate just like the Gladiator to prevent this from happening. Toyota fixed the problem on 2018+. Good luck OP and hopefully they have a resolution for you soon!

 

Seriously Toyota put the camera in in tailgate handle but can't put the 3rd brake light right above it? When you cut holes in cabs the risk of leaks is there and now i'm sitting here comparing prices with different body shops because im 10k miles outside warranty and going to be on the hook for over $400.