Rear window leaking

I though the 2018's still had the issue?

 

I've never seen one here. Is always been the 16 and 17 with the leaking problems.

 

if its just a matter of tighting down the bolts then all you need to do is remove the headliner. save yourself 400.

 

Toyota could put it in the tailgate if they wanted to. They know how.
Although if they put it in the tailgate, someone will get rear-ended while carrying a load with the tailgate down and then be unhappy that Toyota didn’t put it up high on the cab.
They can’t win.
They just need to make a high mounted light that doesn’t leak.

When my truck was new over two years ago, after reading about leaks around the light, I put beads of silicone around it.
No one will notice from several feet away.
Easy, cheap, fast and no problems with leaks.

 

Good point, however you still have the tail lights anyways if you have the tailgate down. A lot of people also have a camper like your picture above and loose the third brake light still. I rather have the third light in the tailgate regardless.

 

Most campers now come with the third brake light. You just need to connect it.

 

Or over $600 in my case! Just ridiculous!

 

Had to get mine replaced earlier this year, 2018 TRD OR. Hopefully they fixed it in the 2019 but I doubt it. I know they changed up the shark fin antenna on the 2020’s so maybe they fixed it in that “redesign”.

OP- If you haven’t already for sure open a case with Toyota Corporate. Give them a heads up about the mold.

 

So I talked to Dealer again "Come on in we'll do what the TSB says. We can't just seal if for you. So that will be $178 for the brake light assembly, and about $350 for the labor."

Called my local auto body shop and he quoted me $300 to take it all apart and get to the light then re seal it.

Now i'm contemplating just taking some clear silicone and doing a nice thick bead around the outside. I just feel thats the "cheap" way to fix the issue and might look bad from the outside.

 

I called and made a fuss but they shrugged me off. Said they would open up a customer relations ticket with my local dealership and see if they will help me but I feel that was worth jack squat. I complained and they said "well you are outside the 3 yr/36k warranty." I said "I've heard of dozens of cases online of people dealing with the same issue and was made aware of the TSB about the issue" and The Rep goes "yeah well we can't comment on what is talked about in online forums and chat groups." Basically talking like TacomaWorld is just a bunch of dirtbags who only complain. Lol

 

For the love of god I hope so. I have a 2018. I have kids. I'd lose it if this happened to me.

 

You better read post #28 .

 

Fawk

 

Like I said let the pros do it, then take it to Small Claims Court. They'll settle before the court date.

 

If the new third brake light from the dealer is in fact an updated design. I'd sway toward replacing with the OEM part. Silicone or sealant probably won't last, and you may end up back at square one with a leak. Dropping a headliner is not hard.

 

Go break the garden hose out and let water run over the light, if you can feel water get through inside make an appointment to bring it in.

 

I looked at the TSB. My vin is before the correction, so my truck could be affected. I will test it for leaks.

This is some BS. One would think Toyota would do the right thing and make this a recall.

 

Call them and complain. The only way it becomes a recall is if enough people call them angrily and pissed off on how they could spend 43K on a truck and then have to deal with mold in their back seat and headliner.

 

did you play up the "my lungs" angle? lol

 

Part number 81570-04051 Lamp Assy, Stop Ctr.

In my mind, Id rather have just siliconed it.

I made them give me the old part though, for sure.