3rd Brake Light Safety Recall?

Took my 2017 in today. It leaked when I bought it but it was already out of warranty. I put some silicone on it and it stopped the leak. When they looked at it today they said I had mold. So I'm getting all new carpet, but all the parts are on backorder so I may be a couple months without my truck.

 

Hope they put you in a loaner.

 

They gave me a 2022 TRD off road w 1800 miles, so basically the same truck, even the same color. So for a couple of months I get to put miles on a newer version of my truck. The tech had already started pulling up the carpet, there was mold on the padding all the way up to the front.

 

I had the 3rd brake light recall done this past Saturday along with brake fluid flush, rotors turned and new brake pads...never had a leak but thought I'd better get the recall done for peace of mind. The gasket is way more robust than the original.

 

Had mine done today. Dropped it off and asked them to check for leaks. Guy said they can’t check unless I have a problem. I told him just look please. Geeeeezzzz…. All was good. Only a handful of new vehicles on the lot. Used vehicle everywhere.

 

I managed to get the parts myself. Includes a new gasket, a silicone applicator, and what looks like a stencil (for applying the silicone?). Anyone have instructions on how to install this, beyond the basic instructions of removing the headliner and popping the light out?

 

Here ya go

 

Thanks. Just installed this myself (dealer wanted me to remove my Prinsu rack before they would do it. I just spent the $20 on the parts kit and did it myself). Took about 10 minutes total and was a piece of cake. I didn't get the official tool kit for this, but used what I already had including some marine grade RTV silicone and a caulking edge tool.

 

Dropped mine off last Friday. Told them i was going to need a new headliner 2 weeks before not to take the truck until they had 1 in stock. They said I was all set to drop it off. They called me Saturday to pick up a loaner. I asked why they said to bring it in they had everything. They lied. They stuck me in a Camry. I couldn't get a hold of them until yesterday. They said they received the carpet but headliner is back ordered until the 4th of April. Took a huge fight to get a Tacoma loaner off of them as I work construction. With they had listened when I said don't take it till you have all the parts

 

Have an appointment for this Limited Service Campaign 21TD03 on 14 March 2022. See how it goes. I don't see any stains on the black headliner.
Thanks to VicNic3 for posting the pdf of the instructions as I now have a better idea of the inspection process and how Toyota may proceed.

 

Spent about an hour at my local Toyota dealer for the service campaign. No water intrusion apparent. Good news. So the procedure was to apply sealant around the perimeter of the third brake light and add an additional bezel. Not a new gasket. The light is not removed.

 

Very strange. I just received my vehicle back, plenty of mold so per the official Toyota guidance, headliner was cleaned, new foam for seats, etc. a new third brake light was installed, not the fix kit. Kind of weird how it’s still the same shitty design as the old one which has plenty of obvious gaps and once the foam gasket degrades again, same thing is going to happen. The gasket appears thicker than the stock one, but you can see it. The fix kit at least addressed this gap with the bezel (that up you can clearly see looks much better in the post right above mine)

 

It would interesting to know why some identical year 2017 Tacoma's leak and other don't. Mine has spent some time in a garage, but the majority has been outside. So, is it due to poor installation, poor quality, poor design, perhaps a different vendor supplying an inferior part, outside exposure? Toyota, please tell!

 

On my old one it was very obvious the gasket just degraded overtime. It will happen eventually. My truck is in NC and Florida and that contributes to breakdown but the difference in the two seals is substantial.

 

Hope the "band aid" fix by Toyota with the exterior sealant and bigger bezel is a "good" fix. Time will tell.

 

Hopefully. I actually had mine covered all the way around with marine grade sealant back in 2017 when we knew this would become and issue. It still happened as the silicone broke down over time. The bigger bezel makes more sense. It is very strange how they just went with bigger gaskets but still use the same stupid design where the gasket can even run into water. Why not just fix it and not expose that gasket (something at least that band aid fix does, the new lamp doesnt even address this)
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In case anyone wants to install the kit themselves

 

Toyota Canada has finally issued LSC-L57 to address this. Good until April 30, 2025.

 

Allriiiight!! ‘Bout time.

 

I ordered the kit from above link last night. Immediately got an email from the seller to verify vin was included in recall. I knew mine was, but just a heads up.