Tail light condensation

[El-Jefes-Red-Rubi]

Love the Rubicon but my Left taillight is full of water/condensate. Never scratched, bumped or bruised. Stopped at the local dealer and they said Jeep won’t cover plastic or “seals”. What gives Jeep? 2020 JLUR with 48k miles. Passed 3/36 warranty but have 7/100k maxcare

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[AFD]

That sucks and is exactly the sort of stupid thing I'd want/expect an extended Maxcare warranty to cover. Maybe try a different dealer.

Also kinda wondering if having the LED option contributes to lamp condensation. Never had any issues with my last car until I swapped out some halogen bulbs in the taillight assembly. Maybe there's just not enough heat to evaporate any condensation. Wonder if placing a desiccant silica packet in the bottom would help?

 

[El-Jefes-Red-Rubi]

That sucks and is exactly the sort of stupid thing I'd want/expect an extended Maxcare warranty to cover. Maybe try a different dealer.

Also kinda wondering if having the LED option contributes to lamp condensation. Never had any issues with my last car until I swapped out some halogen bulbs in the taillight assembly. Maybe there's just not enough heat to evaporate any condensation. Wonder if placing a desiccant silica packet in the bottom would help?

Local dealer said not covered. Called my original dealership who I am friendly with and got the same reply. Maxcare won’t cover. Why spend the money on permanent LED lighting if they leak and you have to replace. Forums are full of this issue. Design flaw somewhere.

I guess the next step is to report to NHSTA. Not that they can fix it but if enough people report it they can force the issue with Jeep

 

[Opus]

Is the taillight still working? If so, then I wouldn't worry about the condensation. When it builds to the point that it stops working, then take it in as a warranty claim. Your extended warranty may not cover the seals that prevent condensation, but it should cover the operation of the light itself.

 

[El-Jefes-Red-Rubi]

Is the taillight still working? If so, then I wouldn't worry about the condensation. When it builds to the point that it stops working, then take it in as a warranty claim. Your extended warranty may not cover the seals that prevent condensation, but it should cover the operation of the light itself.

I wish. Dealership said lighting wasn’t covered. I don’t agree. Sending message to jeepcares to see if I get a different reply

 

[Opus]

I wish. Dealership said lighting wasn’t covered. I don’t agree. Sending message to jeepcares to see if I get a different reply

Glad you're taking this to JeepCares. I can see where they might not warranty a seal, but if the stock light itself stops working that really should be covered under an extended warranty. Keep us posted.

 

[JasonInDLH]

I had the same problem with a headlight on an old Yukon. Here’s how I fixed it:

1.Removed the housing.
2.removed the light from the housing
3. sprayed it with soapy water, used a leaf blower (or air compressor, can’t remember) to blow from the inside out to see what seam(s) leaked
4. put it in a closed box and used my wife’s hair dryer to carefully warm the housing up (I didn’t point the dryer right at the housing) until all condensation was gone. Took about 10-15 minutes.
5. Caulked the leaky seam (I actually re-caulked all the seams as preventative maintenance).
6. Reinstalled.

Never had condensation again.

 

[mwilk012]

I wish. Dealership said lighting wasn’t covered. I don’t agree. Sending message to jeepcares to see if I get a different reply

what are you basing your position on? Look at the text of your warranty policy. They are either covered or they aren’t.

 

[El-Jefes-Red-Rubi]

what are you basing your position on? Look at the text of your warranty policy. They are either covered or they aren’t.

It says not light bulbs or lenses. I’m asking JCC because this is a design flaw. Too many have been replaced/reported. If I had reported it before my 3/36 ran out it would of been covered but MaxCare does not

 

[mwilk012]

You could argue from that basis that everything that fails is a design flaw.

 

[El-Jefes-Red-Rubi]

You could argue from that basis that everything that fails is a design flaw.

Don’t agree there. Wear items are not a design flaw. Bad maintenance isn’t a design flaw. An item designed to give 50000+ hours of use yet has a history of premature failure is a design flaw

 

[jaymz]

It says not light bulbs or lenses. I’m asking JCC because this is a design flaw. Too many have been replaced/reported. If I had reported it before my 3/36 ran out it would of been covered but MaxCare does not

An LED is not a light bulb, and unless the lens is cracked, it’s not the source of water intrusion.

 

[mwilk012]

An LED is not a light bulb, and unless the lens is cracked, it’s not the source of water intrusion.

the “lens” is the entire light housing. Sounds like OP purchased a policy without reading it, and expects items to be covered that explicitly are not.

 

[jaymz]

the “lens” is the entire light housing. Sounds like OP purchased a policy without reading it, and expects items to be covered that explicitly are not.

I respectfully disagree with regard to what a lens is. Do an internet search for "tail light lens". You won't find many that aren't just a piece of colored plastic that that attaches to a housing. The lens and the housing together (along with some other odds and ends) create a tail light assembly.

I do agree that the OP likely did not read every bit of the policy before purchasing. But without actually seeing the policy it's hard to be certain.

Extended warranties are laughable 99% of the time.

 

[El-Jefes-Red-Rubi]

An LED is not a light bulb, and unless the lens is cracked, it’s not the source of water intrusion.

I agree. No cracks. Never damaged but Jeep warranty does not cover.

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