LED factory replacement tail light indicator flashing and sending a signal that indicator failure.

cmmoore66 · September 25, 2023

So I broke my rear tail light loading 2X4's into the bed of my truck 2021 Silverado with OEM LED Tail lights. The broken light still works with no issues just has a small broken red plastic hole where the 2x4 hit it. I purchased a new tail light and now it says on my dash "Rear indicator failure". I re installed the broken tail light and now it gives me the same error code on my dash, so i re installed the new tail light, same isssue. My question is, Does the new tail light need to be reprogrammed some how? Has anyone else come across this issue?

I was going to stop by a local body shop and ask them as well.

Bikerjon · September 25, 2023

55 minutes ago, cmmoore66 said:

So I broke my rear tail light loading 2X4's into the bed of my truck 2021 Silverado with OEM LED Tail lights. The broken light still works with no issues just has a small broken red plastic hole where the 2x4 hit it. I purchased a new tail light and now it says on my dash "Rear indicator failure". I re installed the broken tail light and now it gives me the same error code on my dash, so i re installed the new tail light, same isssue. My question is, Does the new tail light need to be reprogrammed some how? Has anyone else come across this issue?

I was going to stop by a local body shop and ask them as well.

Interesting. I will be following this post as I am going to replace the halogen taillights on my 2023 Trail Boss Custom with LEDs. I have already purchased the retrofit wiring harness from Gen5DIY with resisters. Does the new taillight work? Taillight and brake light? In the process of installing front turn signal LEDs the LEDs can only be installed in one direction. If you get it wrong the turn signal doesn't work and you will get "Front indicator failure". When I reinstalled the LED correctly the turn signal operated and the fault indicator went away. Possibly check the wiring and the connection to the taillight assembly.

If I may ask. Where did you get the OEM taillight? From a dealer? How much?

newdude · September 25, 2023

1 hour ago, cmmoore66 said:

So I broke my rear tail light loading 2X4's into the bed of my truck 2021 Silverado with OEM LED Tail lights. The broken light still works with no issues just has a small broken red plastic hole where the 2x4 hit it. I purchased a new tail light and now it says on my dash "Rear indicator failure". I re installed the broken tail light and now it gives me the same error code on my dash, so i re installed the new tail light, same isssue. My question is, Does the new tail light need to be reprogrammed some how? Has anyone else come across this issue?

I was going to stop by a local body shop and ask them as well.

Check the fuse. Fuse 42 in the underhood fuse block.

cmmoore66 · September 26, 2023

19 hours ago, Bikerjon said:

Interesting. I will be following this post as I am going to replace the halogen taillights on my 2023 Trail Boss Custom with LEDs. I have already purchased the retrofit wiring harness from Gen5DIY with resisters. Does the new taillight work? Taillight and brake light? In the process of installing front turn signal LEDs the LEDs can only be installed in one direction. If you get it wrong the turn signal doesn't work and you will get "Front indicator failure". When I reinstalled the LED correctly the turn signal operated and the fault indicator went away. Possibly check the wiring and the connection to the taillight assembly.

If I may ask. Where did you get the OEM taillight? From a dealer? How much?

I bought the light form Amazon, $230.00 The Dealer wanted $535.00. I know if you go from halogen to LED you will need the resisters tee into the harness. Mine is factory LED. mine just says right rear indicator failure, the brake lights work, but they flash really fast when i turn on the turn indicator. I will check my fuse, as NEW DUDE suggested, thanks you! i'll keep posting if I have any luck.

newdude · September 26, 2023

2 hours ago, cmmoore66 said:

I bought the light form Amazon, $230.00 The Dealer wanted $535.00. I know if you go from halogen to LED you will need the resisters tee into the harness. Mine is factory LED. mine just says right rear indicator failure, the brake lights work, but they flash really fast when i turn on the turn indicator. I will check my fuse, as NEW DUDE suggested, thanks you! i'll keep posting if I have any luck.

If the fuse is fine, I think your choice in tail light is the problem.

All of the ones on Amazon are all aftermarket reproduction LEDs. They are not genuine OEM. Don't be surprised if this ends up being your cause for your signal failure message. One of them from the brand "Clidr" has couple complaints of turn signal errors.

An OEM lamp will probably be your only fix here.

Edited September 26, 2023 by newdude

Bikerjon · September 27, 2023

6 hours ago, newdude said:

If the fuse is fine, I think your choice in tail light is the problem.

All of the ones on Amazon are all aftermarket reproduction LEDs. They are not genuine OEM. Don't be surprised if this ends up being your cause for your signal failure message. One of them from the brand "Clidr" has couple complaints of turn signal errors.

An OEM lamp will probably be your only fix here.

Newdude is usually right. I just bought 2 new OEM LED taillights on ebay for my halogen to LED swap.

cmmoore66 · September 27, 2023

I put my original broken plastic taillight back in that worked fine, but it now throws the same code as the aftermarket Amazon taillight.

just the plastic has a small hole in it. it doesn't make any sense; all my fuses are good.

newdude · September 27, 2023

15 hours ago, cmmoore66 said:

I put my original broken plastic taillight back in that worked fine, but it now throws the same code as the aftermarket Amazon taillight.

just the plastic has a small hole in it. it doesn't make any sense; all my fuses are good.

I'm betting the original is doing it because there is moisture or corrosion in the logic board or the wiring for the taillight. Once moisture gets in these it can screw them up quick. We had a customer who drove almost a month with a hole in his with regular bulbs and the harness was green and it had messed up the truck side connector as well.

Edited September 27, 2023 by newdude

becky146 · January 29, 2024

On 9/25/2023 at 3:18 PM, Bikerjon said:

Interesting. I will be following this post as I am going to replace the halogen taillights on my 2023 Trail Boss Custom with LEDs. I have already purchased the retrofit wiring harness from Gen5DIY with resisters. Does the new taillight work? Taillight and brake light? In the process of installing front turn signal LEDs the LEDs can only be installed in one direction. If you get it wrong the turn signal doesn't work and you will get "Front indicator failure". When I reinstalled the LED correctly the turn signal operated and the fault indicator went away. Possibly check the wiring and the connection to the taillight assembly.

If I may ask. Where did you get the OEM taillight? From a dealer? How much?

$93.00 from Amazon. There r a few to pick from. They r not exactly as the factory (inside the red glass lighting)but fit perfectly, same issue now it says check rear turn signal. It works. I cracked mine as well and if filled with 4 inches of water and actually froze solid in the week of -6 degree weather we had here In Pittsburgh. So when it melted, I drilled a small hole and it drained but the original light, the turn signal was shot.

Bikerjon · January 30, 2024

6 hours ago, becky146 said:

$93.00 from Amazon. There r a few to pick from. They r not exactly as the factory (inside the red glass lighting)but fit perfectly, same issue now it says check rear turn signal. It works. I cracked mine as well and if filled with 4 inches of water and actually froze solid in the week of -6 degree weather we had here In Pittsburgh. So when it melted, I drilled a small hole and it drained but the original light, the turn signal was shot.

Welcome to the forum. The taillights on Amazon are not OEM, I have read about them setting off fault lights. I got 2 new OEM ones on ebay but they were not cheap!

Edited January 30, 2024 by Bikerjon

silveradosid · January 31, 2024

to fix this problem, you need a scanner that can scan all modules. the code will be in the bcm, plug in the original light and then hook the scanner up and clear all codes, even if doesn't show any clear the codes. the bcm remembers the resistance of the light, when you plugged the aftermarket light in it didnt match and you get the code, and the bcm remembers the the new light and now the original sets the code. i have used this method many times and it works, good luck

Beneagle83 · July 18, 2024

Hi,

Just wondering or hoping here!

Can I replace only the Rear Turn Signal bulb OR I really have to change the whole light assembly?

If so, I am the only one thinking it makes kind of no sense?!?

I have a Silverado 1500 2021!

We are talking about 125$ Canadian vs a little light bulb at like 10$

I can't find anywhere how to replace it!

The assembly is removed at the moment and everything seems sealed.

Thanks guys

JimCost2014 · July 20, 2024

On 7/18/2024 at 3:01 PM, Beneagle83 said:

Hi,

Just wondering or hoping here!

Can I replace only the Rear Turn Signal bulb OR I really have to change the whole light assembly?

If so, I am the only one thinking it makes kind of no sense?!?

I have a Silverado 1500 2021!

We are talking about 125$ Canadian vs a little light bulb at like 10$

I can't find anywhere how to replace it!

The assembly is removed at the moment and everything seems sealed.

Thanks guys

Can I replace only the Rear Turn Signal bulb OR I really have to change the whole light assembly? Whole assembly.

If so, I am the only one thinking it makes kind of no sense?!? You are the only one, KIDDING, have replaced both taillights on my 18, and now live on the street in it.

I have a Silverado 1500 2021!

We are talking about 125$ Canadian vs a little light bulb at like 10$ $600.00 - $800.00 for the K2 LEDS.

I can't find anywhere how to replace it!

The assembly is removed at the moment, and everything seems sealed. You are correct, it is a sealed unit, which makes it non serviceable. One and done, garbage, then new assembly.

Edited July 20, 2024 by JimCost2014

jgoines02gmail.com · October 5, 2024

Same problem guys. 2018 high country Didn't wanna spend over five for new tail light. Bought mine from ebay dbb auto parts. They've sent me 2 new ones that do the same thing flash quickly and get an error message on dash. Fuses are all good, no moisture or corrosion. Haven't tried the scanner method yet. What kind of scanner do I need?

TnyHat65 · May 9, 2025

My 2016 silverado had led's and i bought new tail light assemblies because i was getting rear turn signal failure for both sides. I put the news ones in, fit perfect and turn signals worked great all for about 10 minutes, then went back to blinking rapidly and the message came back that my rear turn signal indicator has failed. Any suggestions?