Finally a recall for the third brake light leak

I was looking at recalls on my truck and see there is actually a recall for the third brake light leak. This has not affected me but according to the recall, I can take my truck in and they will do it anyway like they should. In the past on some recalls, they look at it, determine it don't need it and send you on the way.

Just a heads up for those who don't know. Also, in the past, If you had this repaired and paid out of pocket for it, if you have receipts, they will reimburse you since it is now a recall. Worth a try.

 

In before the obligatory “it’s a service campaign not a recall” posts to suggest they also call Toyota and tell them to fix their website since it says “one or more recall items is ready to repair…” and that is just WRONG.

 

Why fix something that isn’t broken?

 

Ah, I see. Wonder if my 21 is affected..

 

Thanks, I’ll check it out.

Edit: Checked. Nothing

 

Ya, going to schedule mine next month when work slows down a bit. See if they will do the TSB's (T-SB-0062-18/T-SB-0058-18) for the ECU flash while they have it anyway. Mine is a 2017.

They are mailing out recall notices this week as well.

 

Thanks for the heads up @suprafastcelica. I just checked my VIN and it came up too. Wonder if this has any relation to the email my local dealer sent me on Sept 12 saying there is an open safety recall for my vehicle.

@nightcrawler did they end up replacing it? Mine doesn't leak either, but it's prob worth doing if it will prevent it later on.

 

I haven't taken mine in yet since I have a cap and don't feel like messing with it right now. Luckily I have no issues with it leaking.

 

I noticed some discoloration on the headliner of my 2016 when I was cleaning it to trade in, I guess it's the dealership's problem now.

 

It always makes me laugh shit like this. Like, apparently we can launch celebrities into space, but we can’t make a gasket that doesn’t leak? How many trillions of gaskets, how many decades of making them………I digress.

 

One is the surge between 40 and 50 mph, I believe this is the one that fixes where it feels like it is hunting for gears when you try to speed up on the highway. I may be wrong.
The other is the stumble when you hit the gas and it takes a little bit to launch. They list it happens at high altitude, but people say it happens on hot days, cold days, sea level, etc. I think the fix to both is just to go up to the current update that covers both.

 

The improved gasket design has been around for a couple years or more so I doubt newer trucks still have the old design.

 

My brake light (and Sat radio antenna) started leaking in 2018. I park it outside so after every heavy rain I'd have a 1/4" of water in the damn floorboards. I complained to the dealer and at the time they told me it'd be $650 to repair, so I caulked the damn thing myself. It is in the shop now getting the recall and I told the service manager and he just laughed. I was not laughing.

 

I took my truck in for service today and they said there was a recall on it - turns out it’s this, and they’re doing it now.

 

Thanks for the update......looks like the solution was to put a thicker border around the light.

 

Does anyone know if/when Toyota started putting these updated brake lights in new vehicles? I ask because I have a camper shell being installed in a few weeks and if this becomes a phased in recall (like the fuel pump) that might eventually apply to all 3rd gen years, then it would be a lot easier to deal with it now with the shell off... even if I have to pay out of pocket and wait for reimbursement from Toyota. Mine is a ‘21 which I’ve owned for almost a year and I haven’t seen any water coming in, but thought I’d ask.

 

Dealer told me it was a 15 minute fix (as long as it hasn't been leaking, then it's up to 2-3 weeks to replace All interior and have it treated for mold) but I have to remove my camper shell. but worth the piece of mind. Now just have to recruit a neighbor to help take it off and put it back on.

 

@brian2sun I think you should be ok.....but double check.

When I made the appt it said this "LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN 21TD03 (Remedy Notice) - Certain 2016-2019 Model Year Double Cab Tacoma - Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp - Water Leak"

ends at 2019...but I dunno if there are any 20's or 21's that may have had this issue.

there is also another thread if you wanted to read through it

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-brake-light-safety-recall.732883/

 

What's the official fix? Do they need to remove the stop light to install a gasket or does it sit over the light on the exterior only? I had mine leak in March 2020 and got denied warranty on it at the time so I repaired myself with some industrial RTV. Its been bone dry since but I don't want the dealer messing with that if they have to remove the light for the service

 

They remove the brake light and add a different gasket which appears to have some sort of adhesive to it.