Tail Light Switch problems of the 2009 Mazda CX-7

Both rear tail lights looked cloudy and the red color of the rear lights appeared white. I removed the light bulbs, thinking that maybe they had burned out. I noticed the light bulbs had melted through the internal red plastic lens of the tail light assembly and left a hole about the size of a quarter that allows the white light from the bulb to shine through. The melted plastic was all over the bulbs and there was a burnt plastic odor. The 7743 bulbs were both original to the car from Mazda when I purchased the car new in July 2009. I notified Mazda corporate and they had me take it to my dealer. They inspected the lights and said Mazda was willing to offer a $500 goodwill to replace the tail light assembly. That will not cover the cost of $1226. 77 without labor to have the dealer replace the tail lights. They gave me a case ref# 1-174187018. There should be a recall for this issue and the consumer should not have to pay to get the lights replaced. This is a problem when the light bulbs burn through the plastic tail light assembly. This is a design flaw.