Help replacing/sealing leaking back window for a 2019 Tacoma.

Every time it rains I get water dripping inside my 3rd gen Tacoma’s cab from above the rear window, essentially at the edge of the liner. I know there’s a common issue with 3rd gen’s 3rd brake light gaskets getting weathered and water leaking through there, but I just replaced the whole light with an aftermarket and tested everything with a water hose outside—still leaking. I made sure to keep the water below the 3rd brake light so that it was just hitting the top of the rear window trim, started pissing water inside. I added a photo to show the max height (red arrows) I let the water come up to single out the rear window.

Is there a way to reseal the window or would I have to replace the entire window? I heard it comes preassembled with the trim already on it. Anyone else have this issue and fixed it? Thanks.

 

Welcome to TW! My first thought was the 3rd brake light TSB, but I guess you resolved that one on your own by installing a 3rd party brake light. And I don't understand why you would immediately jump to replacing the full back glass, where did you hear this was required with a leak? I would think you could take this to a reputable auto glass shop and have them remove and reinstall / seal the back glass.

 

I only stated this to preclude any options I could do on my own which involve removing the glass. Taking it into a shop would be one of my last options—I never like coughing up money for something I can do myself. If the only real efficacious fix is to remove the glass and repair it, then I have no choice other than take it in.

 

I just broke my rear window and a local guy replace it. It cost just over $1,000.

$675 for the glass and $275 for install and a few dollars for supplies. It took him a few hours and it was not an easy job. Rear window is urethaned in. Very hard to cut the seal especially up around the headliner. All of the trim behind the rear seats needs to come out. His glass price was a little high but he did a great job and earned every penny of the install cost, no way I would attempt that repair. I don’t know if you can reuse the glass in your case or would need a new unit.

You run a bead of sealant or tape across the top to test if it’s really the window leaking before committing to the full reseal. Just make sure whatever you use will come off of the paint and rubber seal.

 

Auto glass work is one of those things that I personally will always pay a pro to do.

But then again, what the hell do I know?

 

I removed my tinted rear slider assembly to replace with a clear glass rear slider, and it was indeed tough going. It got easier when I came to the conclusion that it would not be salvageable - the molding was destroyed in the removal.

My experience is a new unit. I would not worry about the paint or rubber seal in trying out a sealant. The urethane used is very tough and is not easily removed from the pinch weld - must be cut off just like with a windshield.

 

If you can access the seam of the glass from the outside by sneaking the trim back then you can lay down some low viscosity (runny) seam sealer over it to stop the leak.

2019+ half ton chev's were bad for leaking from the rear window. There is a plastic edge that cracks from the truck body flexing along with temperature changes. As per the GM tsb, repair attempt 1 was to lay down this seam sealer over the channel. I forget the name of the exact stuff we had but it was fairly runny but worked great. You clean the area the best you could with a residue free cleaner like glass cleaner then lay down around a 5/16" bead over the channel and it would level it self out and seep into the cracks nicely. I think it only had an hour set time too. I never had to deploy the alternative repair option of replacing the back window with that stuff.

You may have to acquire it from a body shop supply store. I believe the stuff we had was from a company that only sold to shops.