all rear lights work correctly during the day, but when the lights are turned on for night driving, the driver's side brake light does not light. i eliminated the bulb and bulb socket by switching the passenger and driver's side with the same results on the driver's side not lighting when hitting the brake.
has anyone else had this same issue?

 

sounds like a wiring problem. try running a wire from the brake light on the passenger light over to the driver side and see if you can get it to light up

 

What year? If the older style, it could be the contact for the + brake light got hot and recessed in the housing a bit and isn't making contact. (bulb will have 2 bumps on the bottom). Newer style uses a bulb with a plastic slot that goes into the socket.

 

i have a 2004.

 

IMO, the answer to you problem was discussed at length in a post by Rizmonkey on 10-27 titled "Need help Fast! No Brake light issue." Check it out. It's on page 5.

 

the switch under the brake pedal? try that...sometimes it's just dirty/loose

 

It might be a bad circuit board in the taillight on that side. Very common issue on the 99-04 Grands.

If that's what it ends up being we carry new tail lights for it on our website. Here's a link to them. We also sell just the circuit board.

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/TailLights/...ampaign=1ATony