Anyone else getting moisture in their tail lights?

Hi,

I seem to be getting moisture in my left tail light on rainy days.

I attached a pic. Anyone else?

 

Dang and those are OEM too...dealership warranty service!

 

Just make sure to keep a few photos and warrantying the tail lights won't be an issue.

The FR-S had this issue when it first came out and Toyota warrantied all of them.

 

Yep the early 5th gen 4Runners too. I had both of my 2011 4Runner tail lights replaced under warranty. And people think Japanese mfg is perfect lol.

 

I have been noticing moisture in mine but never bothered with it as it goes away. I have noticed a little bit in the headlights as well on a cold day. Better take it in I guess!

 

It only gets worse overtime and will corrode connections from the inside out. Lamp assemblies are supposed to be 100% sealed.

 

Wrong. They are not “100 % sealed”. There are holes all over the back of factory lights for pressure equalization, and breathing vents. But yes, I agree if there is condensation getting inside it’s not good for the internal electronics over a long period of time.

 

Can't debate you almighty @mesojdm !!! However, is that the point of ingress typically then? Or is it the seal between lamp cover and housing the culprit in these situations? Or weak bulb wedge seal? By sealed I did mean where the cover meets housing though...

So how big are these pressure equalizing holes? I never knew! Learn something everyday, thanks dude!

 

I’m always curious as how moisture gets in on factory brand new lights. The tail lights are actually plastic fused at the seam (between the outter lens and the backside bucket) if I were to bet, that’s not the culprit. Could be a bulb adapter not seating correctly, or even the breather vent cap not on all the way.
The tails have 2 vents, and the headlights have 3 IIRC.
They look like this (black cap upper left of the bulb hole) then to the right is a grey membrane seal that allows only air to pass



Here is the other side you can clearly see the hole in the chrome reflector bucket(upper right)

 

I have a 2018 and have noticed moisture in mine as well.

 

Make the dealer swap them out for a TRD Pro tail lights

 

I've noticed a little condensation on my OEM pro tail lights after I wash the truck. Didn't give it too much thought but will check if bulbs are seated properly today.

 

The OP already has a TRD PRO with PRO tails so he wouldn’t have to do anything to get his PROs replaced. I also have OEM PRO tails on my limited, no moisture so far.

 

Im going to tell the dealer at my 10k miles service.

This and the howling rear are my only issues.

 

I'd focus on the howling rear.

 

Notice this as well today. 2018 Tacoma TRD Off-Road.

Has anyone had them replaced just with a picture?

 

I was looking at some 2019s yesterday and noticed several sitting on the lot with moisture in this exact same location.

 

My 2019 has moisture in both taillights. Would Toyota replace them with PRO tails?

 

The lights cannot be sealed. If they were, the expansion and contraction of the air inside the housing would cause them to blow the seals. Typically there is a Goretex membrane or duckbill valve that allows some gasses and sometime moisture to enter and leave the lamp housings. In the old days, this trace moisture was driven off by the heat of the incandescent lamps. Luckily we still mostly have those in our Tacoma’s, so the solution is often to just drive the truck with the lights on, or don’t worry about it.

A trip to the dealer for new tail lights is unlikely to solve anything.