Tail Light Buying Guide

Tail light faults and failures

The most common tail light failure is a blown bulb, but cracked housings, water ingress, and wiring faults can also affect function. LED tail lights rarely fail from bulb burnout but can develop segment failures.

• Blown bulb — brake, tail, indicator, or reverse light not working
• Cracked or broken lens from rear impact or thermal stress
• Water inside the tail light housing causing bulb corrosion
• LED segment failure — part of the light cluster dim or out
• Fast-flashing indicator — usually a blown indicator bulb (or LED resistor issue)

Replacement and bulb types

Tail light replacement is usually straightforward — remove a few fasteners and disconnect the wiring plug. Always check bulb type before ordering as many vehicles use specific dual-filament or offset-pin bulbs.

• Check whether your vehicle uses bulb-type or full LED tail lights before ordering
• Replace the gasket or seal if the housing shows signs of moisture ingress
• Test all bulb functions after fitting: tail, brake, indicator, reverse, fog
• Use the correct wattage bulb — higher wattage can melt the lens or socket
• LED replacement bulbs may need a CANbus resistor to prevent error warnings

Frequently Asked Questions