3rd tail light on 2017 tacoma trd off road

I'm needing some advice on how to get mold out of my 2017 tacoma. I did take it to the dealership and they were no help, they claimed I pried my light off and tried to change it myself and I did not it was intact when I took it to them and they also claimed they fixed the recall in 2021.

 

It was not a recall. It is a limited campaign that closed in April 2025.

Shitty design where you have to drop the headliner off the cab to access the hardware to remove the third brake light assembly.

Did you buy the truck new? Do you have the paperwork from the dealer who did the campaign work in 2021?

 

Yes I bought it from them new and I have all my paper work they fixed the campaign in 2021 and it says I asked for it done but I did not know of the campaign and did not ask for it to be done. They said I busted my light and tried to pry it off and change it myself which I did not so it wasn't something that they could fix from that campaign. I will fix it myself just needed any ideas on how to get mold out of the carpet its not that bad. They wanted to charge me 8000 to fix it meaning tear the carpets out and fix the light and damages done from the leaking.

 

Ugh, damn, so sorry. Horrible situation. Did they not do the campaign third brake light seal?

There is the normal Toyota 1-year warranty on the campaign parts.

I would ask Service Pro, Toyota uses them. It wouldn't be that hard to pull the seats and console to remove the carpet.

 

FYI, I think the first “fix” was a new light assembly with an upgraded seal. Their second “fix” was a new trim piece around the light on the outside.
I replaced the light with the new assembly before the campaign, then tried to get reimbursed when the campaign started to no avail.

Remove the seats to access the molded area, rent a carpet cleaner and go to town. If it is a big spot you may need to remove the entire carpet.

 

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10202456-9999.pdf