2017 double cab 3rd Brakelight Leaking - Toyota won't cover it

SSIA

I've been having the leak issue with my 3rd breaklight housing like many other 2017 owners. Toyota has agreed to cover parts for a new 3rd brake light and also a new head liner. They want me to pay for the service which is like $700 total.

Truck is technically out of warranty and has 44k on the odo and also was bought in Feb 2017.

My complaint is that this is a known issue and also has been an issue for me since about 30k on the ODO, but I live remotely and can't make it to the big city until about two weeks ago.

Does anyone have advice on how I can convince Toyota to cover the whole cost? This is my second brand new Tacoma, and I've always heard good things about service. Help please

 

While I agree with you, this may be all you get, having said this Have you contacted Toyota Customer Service directly ? ( be sure to have your VIN handy when you call) be polite, explain your situation, ant tell them you would like assistance with this.
Good Luck

 

I'd say you're doing better than most getting them to cover parts after the 3/36 expired. Your only other choice is to silicon it yourself. I'd quit while you're ahead, pay the $700 and consider it a lesson not to wait until its convenient for you to go to the dealer.

Not trying to be harsh but they are meeting you in the middle and it's not the dealers fault.

 

I did mine myself, and i would never do it again. toyota decided to be fancy and have the 10mm nuts on the inside of the headliner, so you have to drop the headliner to get to it, which means all the upper plastic trim peices need to come down, at least enough to get the back of the liner down enough to work. i was told it was around 700 to do from multiple people, so that seems about right.

since your out of warranty, they obviously can tell you flat no and not do anything. But- seems like they are trying to help some and at least cover parts, which that brakelight is 100 bucks and the headliner is around 8-900.

If it were me- I'd pay for it, time vs. money kinda deal.

 

lawyer up and delete facebook. hit the gym too.

 

Thank you all for your replies. Yes, I contacted Toyota corporate directly with the claim. Looks like this is the best that they can do for me. My argument stems from my remote location, the global pandemic and being just over warranty. I still think Toyota is not doing enough for me based on the fact that this is a known issue with TSB.

Lesson learned for sure about getting my truck down to Denver sooner. With that said, I wouldn't have ever thought I'd be dealing with this type of repair in a brand new truck. This is my second Tacoma, and it's got me pretty uneasy dropping a large repair into a vehicle that is so new.

 

I feel so good right now. I actually starting working out again when the pandemic hit, I started eating a vegetarian diet, and lost 25 pounds. I have no idea who I stole this status from on facebook but I like it.

 

The warranty is a performance contract between the owner of the vehicle and Toyota. Your obligation was to report the issue in person or by phone during the warranty period by not doing so is not acting in good faith. Unfortunately you have no claim.

 

Old-fashioned snail mail to Toyota USA top-level corporate personnel. That's what helped me to get my 2021 Taco ordered.

 

Fair enough. I am learning as this is the first warranty claim in the last two vehicles that I've owned. Just wish I didn't have a bad taste in my mouth about this.

 

Give me a name and address

 

1. Your location is not their problem.
2. You're right, the pandemic is global. Which means every single one of us is dealing with it so that doesn't really make your case special.
3. If you were at 36,001 miles, they technically don't owe you anything.
Also, if it's been an issue for 14k miles, how have you not made it down the hill for any of those miles? I don't mean to sound harsh but the deal they're cutting you is the best you're probably gonna get. If I were you and didn't wanna pay the $700 I'd grab a tube of clear silicone and run a thin bead around the light. There's a thousand TSB's out there for every vehicle and none of them will get fixed for free outside of warranty. Once it becomes a safety issue, then it will turn into a recall which will get footed by the MFG, but all a TSB does is tell the tech how to fix the problem.

 

Understood but I'm not going to let a 2017 vehicle have some shitty silicone fix

 

It sounds like they're being very fair,,,, even helping out.
You have to admit, your extreme remoteness isn't their fault. It does sound cool though, where the hell do you live where you don't go in to civilization for months? I need to move there, I can't stand people.

 

Pulled off FB thread " remove both rear "oh-shit" handles. Remove rear laundry hangers, partially remove rear door seals and then it can be pulled down gently enough to reach those nuts just be VERY careful not to drop them or they'll be gone forever"
" Uptop overland has a pretty nice instruction video on how to install their rack.. it describes how to drop the headliner down partially to get to the shark fin antenna. Maybe that video might help you out. It didn't involve pulling the rear seats."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4T...Yt_mcLuZ14bDipsQftEVFRW4kJ8ieL4BbX5M0LHWV3hYc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Rb..._Oa-Bfr0kjhPKTTDinTdYGPLzRaEDon-YmAXTlKtVvpgU

 

I live in the middle of nowhere. Not sure why I don't go into civilization more, maybe I should. I'm lucky enough to have a hot wife, couple of kids and a wood burning stove.

 

Just figure how they fi=

like this?

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Hotwife

sorry man, just messing with ya. if i lived out i the sticks i wouldn't be headed for civilization even if there wasn't a pandemic going on.

 

How long are vehicles covered for manufacturers defects? Because sure as shit no vehicle is supposed to leak around the third brake light. Unless they're saying the leaky seal is our responsibility because of lack of maintenance? An act of God? Show me that in the fine print.

First, write a letter explaining everything. Then send a copy to the dealership and corporate saying "this is your copy of a letter I'm sending to the BBB, DOT, 60 Minutes, 20/20, and all my local news channels. I wish you had owned up to this and it didn't have to come to this but I don't believe there was anything I did to cause this issue".

I'd be fucking irate!

 

Sounds seven better,,,, send pics man
Of the scenery, not your hot wife! Haha





Unless you want to

 

Seems like EVERY 2016-2017 is going to need a new brake light and headliner eventually.