Broken Rear Tail Light

[armingh]

Hi all,

I was looking at my MME today and noticed that a portion of my rear tail light was broken. I'm pretty sure I didn't hit it anywhere myself.
As you can see in the pictures, it doesn't look like it was a driver error (or someone else hitting it) since that portion of the tail light is not the first thing that would get hit to be broken. Every other area around the tail light (including the bumper) is scratch free and no sign of accident is visible.

I wanted to ask for some help regarding:
1. Has something similar happened to anyone else?
2. Would I be able to use my warranty to get this replaced? since it doesn't look like it was the result of an accident.
3. How much would it cost to buy the part and if it's too difficult to replace it myself?

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[Murse-In-Airy]

Looks like it all sells as a single assembly. Yours for only $844. Shouldn’t be hard to change but ….that price. Ouch.
You can always try to claim warranty but that would require proof of manufacturers defect. Which is probably a long shot unless you had a documented crack in the light on delivery.

 

[Nklem]

Probably best to claim on insurance if your deductible is less than $844….

 

[Kabish]

Kind of hard to tell, but it looks like you have some scuff marks around the light and down on the body line. You sure you did not back into anything??? If not, that location looks like vandalism as I can't think of any reason that part would break otherwise. And ya, light assemblies are $$$$$ as hell. At least its not one big piece like it is typically. A lot of insurance companies won't even pay for new light assemblies, they make you do used ones lol Of course for our car it would not be an option.

And it is possible to back into something. I would had 100% hit that truck if not paying attention. I was actually only maybe a six inches away if that cause I was trying to get the sensor to go off. A-Hole is parked over the vertical line and also the horizonal line by a good bit.

 

[armingh]

Kind of hard to tell, but it looks like you have some scuff marks around the light and down on the body line. You sure you did not back into anything??? If not, that location looks like vandalism as I can't think of any reason that part would break otherwise. And ya, light assemblies are $$$$$ as hell. At least its not one big piece like it is typically. A lot of insurance companies won't even pay for new light assemblies, they make you do used ones lol Of course for our car it would not be an option.

And it is possible to back into something. I would had 100% hit that truck if not paying attention. I was actually only maybe a six inches away if that cause I was trying to get the sensor to go off. A-Hole is parked over the vertical line and also the horizonal line by a good bit.

Thanks for the input

About the scuffs that you see: it's actually not scuffs. I was hand cleaning the car myself and I sprayed the cleaner on the side/rear bumper and then I noticed the broken piece. Didn't think of cleaning the spray out before taking the pictures

I'll probably talk with my insurance to see if they would cover it.

And for backing up: it seems unlikely since that portion of the tail light would not be the first point of contact... unless someone's car had something sticking out!

I am actually leaning towards vandalism too. I live in a condo and I will ask my concierge to check the video footage for any evidence of vandalism

 

[armingh]

Looks like it all sells as a single assembly. Yours for only $844. Shouldn’t be hard to change but ….that price. Ouch.
You can always try to claim warranty but that would require proof of manufacturers defect. Which is probably a long shot unless you had a documented crack in the light on delivery.

Thanks for the diagram and the price quote! If I end up replacing it myself, I'll take a video and put it up here

 

[Motomax]

Rogue shopping cart?

 

[armingh]

Rogue shopping cart?

Haha possible

 

[TRP]

Me.........I'd chalk it up to "shit happens" and not bother the insurance company for it.

Good luck getting the replacement. I've been waiting for a mirror turn signal for a while now

 

[armingh]

Me.........I'd chalk it up to "shit happens" and not bother the insurance company for it.

Good luck getting the replacement. I've been waiting for a mirror turn signal for a while now

Yea true. I was going over my policy and I noticed my deductible is $1000 which doesn't make sense to make a claim anymore as the cost of the light is ~$850.

I'm just worried about vandalism. If that was the work of someone in my building (or maybe their visitor), it might not end there.

But hopefully, as @Motomax mentioned, it was a rogue shopping cart.

 

[e-pony]

Thanks for the diagram and the price quote! If I end up replacing it myself, I'll take a video and put it up here

I believe the outer tail lights are 13405 not 4. The inner tail lights are 13404. Gonna diy too. And touchup paint scratches. Damn

 

[rzanzerkia]

Other than cosmetic issue your safety inspection will fail.
At least in USA they don't allow broken tail lights.
There is a simple solution though.
3M sells a clear plastic (it's hard and thick) that you can cover the hole with.
Depending on the shape you may be able to cover it up nicely.

Many years ago I did that on my Rav-4 tail light and never had a problem.

 

[SpongeBad]

And for backing up: it seems unlikely since that portion of the tail light would not be the first point of contact... unless someone's car had something sticking out!

I am actually leaning towards vandalism too. I live in a condo and I will ask my concierge to check the video footage for any evidence of vandalism

Any kids in your area? I once had similar random damage on a Saturn SL1 I had - was parked at my in-laws house and a kid on a bike ran right into the back of the car while it was parked on the street. His handlebar took out a chunk of the tail light.

 

[Maquis]

Other than cosmetic issue your safety inspection will fail.
At least in USA they don't allow broken tail lights.
There is a simple solution though.
3M sells a clear plastic (it's hard and thick) that you can cover the hole with.
Depending on the shape you may be able to cover it up nicely.

Many years ago I did that on my Rav-4 tail light and never had a problem.

The last time I checked, only 12 US states require a safety inspection.

 

[rzanzerkia]

The last time I checked, only 12 US states require a safety inspection.

Hmm! I didn't know that.
I thought all required it.

My state does require it...

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