Third brake light leak warning.

Not being an alarmist. And aware this has been discussed. I just went over 20k on my 2016 sport DC. Recently went through a car wash and in my rear view mirror I saw water drizzling from the headliner just above the rear window, in the middle. I took it to my dealership, service manager said this is a "known issue" with Toyota and they are "aware" of the problem. One week wait on getting the "inner seal".
I just post this out here for folks to keep an eye out for this so you catch it before your headliner and seats get ruined with mold. Appears to be happening on DC only and as the truck gets older.

 

That is definitely a known issue.

 

I put silicone on mine during re installation. Sorry, I don't trust Toyota Techs

 

So if this is known issue what is Toyota doing?

 

They are replacing the entire 3rd brake light assembly. There are a couple other threads on this. I just took mine into the dealership. They ran it through their car wash, saw the leak, ordered the parts, called me back and set up a date to put it in, it takes a good deal of time cause they have to remove the headliner. Done. I also contacted Toyota customer care and tactfully complained and got a case number in case of mold or water related damage later on.

 

My dealer blaming me for damage. Telling me to turn into my insurance company.

 

Call Toyota customer care if you didn’t do the damage.

 

I may be incorrect but I think this goes beyond ACs. Any 4 door tacos with this problem care to chime in?

 

I have a DCSB and had to have mine replaced. I was told by dealership that it was caused by an incorrectly set torque setting on a robot that tightens the torque nuts.

 

I thought the problem was double cab only

 

Dclb here and they replaced the headliner and the brake light assembly. No hassle at all. I just saw a thread about a cracked one but that's the first I have heard of the light cracking.

 

Just make sure it’s tightened and seal around the edge with clear silicone

 

Does this still affect 18's?

 

Where was your Tacoma made? I'm wondering if it's happening to both Baja Tacomas and San Antonio Tacomas.

 

Lucky for you, the access cabs aren’t affected. But a little extra silicone never hurt.

 

I have an original build from Baja. My vin starts with 3TMCZ

 

Yeah I figured it couldn’t hurt, a small bead of clear you can’t even see

 

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but when I took my truck into the dealership and they confirmed the leak, I asked if it was okay to put silicone on it until the replacement part came, in 4+weeks. He said not to, because if the work is done as warranty work, putting silicone on voids the warranty because you are doing a “permanent alteration”. Toyota Corp. won’t credit the dealership for the repair if they find silicone on the returned defective part. Dealership said to use clear packaging tape on the seams. It did work, but you can bet I gave Toyota Customer care an earful about having to drive around in a $38k truck being held together with packaging tape.
Take it for whatever it’s worth.

 

Understood, but if needed you can take the silicone off in about 30 seconds with some solvent before going to the dealer.

 

I was thinking to do the same....that or just order that sweet light from @mesojdm