Taillights quit working?

STEPHENLEEDAVIS

MEMBER
2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU
1.5L
4 CYL
TURBO
2WD
AUTOMATIC
180,000 MILES

Both side rear taillights quit working on my way home from work late last night. I immediately checked to see if the bulbs needed replacing and learned that the tail lights on this year/model car are in sealed all one-piece enclosures and I am fairly certain that they are designed to be replaced as one whole unit. Thinking the odds of both sides being faulty or burning out at the same time to be extremely high, I decided to check the fuses and relays under the hood to see if any were blown. Fuse number 22 (a 5 amp) was blown. I replaced fuse and it blew again. I am stuck and frustrated. What should I do?

Saturday, April 26th, 2025 AT 6:54 PM

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
14,498 POSTS

Yes they are a sealed assembly, however as you said it's not likely that both failed at the same time causing the fuse to fail. If you had the rear lamps out, then there is a quick test you can do. Simply go back there and disconnect the left rear, put in a new fuse, turn on the lights, did the fuse blow? Yes, that light isn't the problem. Repeat with the right rear fuse still blows, not that light, leave them unhooked. I will assume the fuse still blows. Go up to the front of the trunk area and find the wiring harness that goes into the trunk. There should be a connector in that harness that powers the lights in the trunk lid, unplug that and test again. If the fuse doesn't blow now, inspect that harness for damage where the wires might be rubbing. If the fuse does still blow you will need to check the front lamps as they are also powered from that fuse. You can test those the same way. If the fuse still blows with them disconnected, then there is a harness short. I suspect you will find it in the rear harness.

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