2016 Tacoma Roof Leak

Any update on this? Went to my truck and my seats and headliners all wet. I'm guessing mine is the third brake light as both corners of my headliner are stained. Did Toyota replace the headliner?

 

Do you have a roof rack Too? I think the 2 leaks these trucks have is the brake light and the roof rack.

 

Take it to your dealership service department. The new third brake lights, 4000 of them, were shipped from the manufacturer to Toyota. The service managers have been briefed on this issue. It takes about 4-5 hours to replace as they have to completely remove the headliner. It was caused by a incorrectly programmed robot over torquing the nuts. This is an issue with double cabs that have the bed lights incorporated in the third brake light assembly. Dealership will replace the entire assembly not just the gasket. Mine had about 20K miles on it before I had a problem and it went through a New England winter with no problems. It is happening to some brand new trucks and some that are a year or more old before the leak appears. I had to wait about a month for the replacement to come in cause so many were on back order, but I think they have caught up. Do not squirt silicon or anything like into it because it counts as you attempting a permanent fix. My service boss had me put clear packaging tape over the seams until the replacement came in. If your headliner is damaged they should replace it also.

 

Did you guys with leaking 3rd brake lights see any signs on the outside that it was leaking? Or just happened to notice the cabin wet one day??

 

No roof rack ever. I'm guessing it's either the shark fin or brake light. I have the brake light that is all clear with reflectors everywhere so I can't tell if water is inside of it.

Thanks for all the info. I haven't touched any part of it so that way they couldn't blame it on me. I'm really hoping they replace the headliner as a dirty headliner is one of my biggest pet peeves.

Crazy that the headliner has to be removed to replace the light.

 

I had a truck before and the 3rd brake light leaked. One day I just happened to realize my headliner was soaked and stained.

 

What MY is your truck? Also do you recall where it was built? Sorry if you already answered this but I didn't see it in your sig

 

Car wash for me. One of those touchless ones. When the robot wash arm went over that part of the truck, it was like Snoqualmie Falls. Okay I am embellishing a little. But seriously the water streamed in from the center of the headliner just about 1/4 above the center of the rear window. Never really had any advance warning. Just started one day.

 

That will wake you up!

 

i don't think the water is going into the light assembly. It's going through the rubber gasket between the assembly and truck body on the truck body side on the top

I agree about having to remove the entire headliner just to change a bulb. Owners manual says it has to be replaced by Toyota (page 497 of owners manual). I would have like to sit in on that meeting of knuckleheads. "Hey lets make it nearly impossible for the truck owners to replace a bulb.... great idea Jim, lets go grab a drink". Jerks!

 

My current truck is a 2016 double cab sr5. Built in Mexico.

 

Old post, but thought I'd respond. I doubt you had a defective weld. The purpose of that weld is to join the roof and side member together. It has little to do with sealing out moisture. Instead there is body sealer that is applied on top of that weld. It's that sealer that keeps out moisture. More than likely there is a hole or deviation in that bead causing the leak

 

To add on top of that.. the BULB can't even be changed. It's an entire sealed housing with 5 little LED lights. And yes, it was a super retarded move for Toyota to put the mounting bolts from INSIDE the cab. I bet they are kicking themselves now paying each tech ~4hr labor to change them all..
should have just kept it simple Toyota.

 

Just to update availability. I just had my 2016 trd or dc 3rd brake light replaced after finding my leak via carwash at 24,634 miles with no prior leak to my knowledge or inspection after. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the entire brake light assembly. Wasn't in stock but only took 3 days total from start to fix. Assembly was in Texas. I live in WV and see a lot of rain. I made them show me the headliner ince out and there didnt seem to be any water damage. For what it's worth

 

Yep I'd bet on the 3rd brake light .

 

Roof racks are installed at the dealership.

 

Understood but the 3rd brake lights that are leaking are installed at the factory.

 

whats the part number on a new 3rd brake light assembly or seal?

 

You can add me on to the list, although mine is a 2017. Started on Monday during a heavy rain. Dealer replaced the 3rd brake light assembly on Tuesday and said something to the effect of "we're working to get all the bugs out" after I complained about spending way too much time visiting the service department for a truck with 11,000 miles. I called corporate customer care and all they were able to do is open a case but would not offer me anything else. Frustrating because I enjoy driving the truck, but thinking in the back of my mind "what's next?" Wet Okole seat covers actually prevented the rear seats from getting really soaked. Go figure. Of course, I had to take the covers off and now will have to put them back on, which is a project in itself...

 

81570-04040 is the part number that shows on my invoice

https://parts.toyotaofdallas.com/oem-parts/toyota-high-mount-lamp-8157004040