[amg2000]

So my Volt's left tail light always gathered water, sometimes up to half a centimeter or so of a little mini-lake, and fogged up. The pooling stopped when I drilled a tiny 1/16" hole on the bottom of the housing to let the water drain today. But in doing that I peeked in and see that the plastic actually warped, I assume from heat, I assume from some sort of electric short! Oddly the tail light and brake light work perfectly.

Thoughts on what caused this without damaging the blinker or shorting the fuse? Pic below.

 

[freshcut]

mine have similar warping as well. I was curious what caused it since there aren't any heat sources that could cause that (incandescent bulb). I just figure it's heat related due to hot summers. It's actually present on both of my taillights. I've never noticed water, but it does get some condensation on cold days.

 

[amg2000]

Thanks very interesting. Wonder what's causing it. My other one doesn't have this warp.

 

[Steverino]

Some have experienced warped plastic due to parking in a spot where sunlight from a building window is focused on the lens, like a magnifying lens. So given enough heat, the lens can indeed soften and distort.

See http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?16268-Melted-tail-light-reflector-High-desert-Area
Here's a rear spoiler warped by a sun magnifying glass (building window): http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?100705-Rear-Spoiler-Heat-Warping

Fog accumulation in the lens is actually normal. The lens have a small vent to let water out, but a side effect is it can also allow a fogging condition. The fog clears. But perhaps something could clog the vents, causing condensed water to accumulate. Or, it's possible you have a small adhesive failure where the lens is sealed to its body. One reported that the seam had come unglued at the top inner edge, right below where the "rain gutter" for the hatch dumps all of it's runoff. It was a tiny gap.

See http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?9431-Fogging-in-rear-light-lens
Related: http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?240682-Tail-Light-Water

 

[amg2000]

Mystery solved.

 

[VoltenRock]

I had my taillights replaced under warranty for this (took two repairs to get it right, though). Not sure if you still have B2B warranty available.

 

[amg2000]

It's a 2013 and I'm not bothered by it any way. I was just wondering what caused it.