2009 TOYOTA TACOMA Exterior Lighting Problems

Headlight shows visible signs of over heating of the amber lenses on both driver and passenger side. Amber lenses are melted, obscured, burned through and causing additional discoloration to the clear lens of the headlight itself. This creates a safety issue for both driver and passenger side headlights and amber lights not illuminating properly but also reducing the reliability and longevity of the lighting systems themselves.

The daytime driving lights are too hot causing the plastic housing to melt, crack and, in some cases, break. My research has found that this is a common problem in Toyota Tacoma trucks from 2005-11. In April 2015, Toyota replaced the headlight assemblies with a supposed "redesigned" assembly to address this issue. However, now in April 2021, the "redesigned" assemblies have again melted, cracked and broken due to the daytime driving lights being too hot and too close to the light assembly. Nothing was redesigned in 2015. Whatever safety or fire hazard in the owner or operator that caused Toyota to replace the headlight assemblies in 2015 still exists today. I have contacted Toyota and my dealer and they have offered no assistance or remedy.

THERE IS AN ISSUE ON DRIVING AMBER SIGNAL LIGHTS LOCATED ON FRONT OF VEHICLE. BULBS ARE TOO HOT, AND HAVE MELTED AND CRACKED THE LENSE COVER ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT IS HAMPERING LIGHT OUT PUT, AND COULD FORM A HOLE IN THE FUTURE WHICH WILL PROVIDE A HIGH BEAM OF LIGHT TO ON COMING TRAFFIC. ALSO, IT COULD IGNITE DUE TO HEAT AND PLASTIC MELTING. REPORTS OF THIS OCCURING ON TOYOTA VEHICLES HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS WITH NO RESOLVE. MIND YOU, THIS IS A ENGINEER OR MANUFACTURING MISHAP AND ERROR AS THEY FAILED TO CONSIDER AT THE MOMENT OF DESIGNING /MANUFACTURING, AND NOW THE RESULTS ARE MORE THAN EVIDENT. OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES ARE NOT HAVING THIS ISSUE WHICH MEANS THAT SOMEONE FIGURED OUT A RESOLVE ON THEIR FUTURE PRODUCTION IN ORDER TO AVOID BAD PUBLICITY. IT IS FAIR TO SAY, THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE SUCH A DEFECT, OR REIMBURSE ITS CUSTOMERS WHO DECIDE TO REPLACE THEM DUE TO SUCH A DEFECT. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE VALIDITY OF THIS MANNER!

RUNNING LIGHTS ARE MELTING THE HEAD LIGHT CLEAR ASSEMBLY...THIS IS THE SECOND TIME FOR THE RUNNING LIGHT BULBS TO MELT THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY..THE HEAT IS 233 DEGREES USING A DIGITAL HEAT READER...THE YELLOW BULBS ARE 24 WATTS..

Mileage: 60

BURNT HEADLIGHT LEN. THE RUNNING LIGHT LENS IS BURNT AND CRACKED DUE TO OVERHEATING. WHEN I TRIED TO CONTACT TOYOTA'S RECALL PHONE NUMBER, AFTER OVER A DOZEN ATTEMPTS, THE NUMBER WAS ALWAYS BUSY.

Mileage: 120,000

HEADLIGHT LENS GET HOT MELTED LENS, LIGHT BULB PLUG IS ALSO BURNED READY TO CRACK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE

FRONT HEADLIGHTS HAVE YELLOW SIGNAL AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT ARE ALWAYS ON AND THE LIGHT BULB HEAT UP CAUSING THE PLASTIC TO HEAT AND MELT AND STILL FEEL HOT WHEN USING ON A LONG DRIVE. I WORRY ABOUT MY CAR CATCHING ON FIRE

2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BUBBLE AND CRACK IN PASSENGER FRONT TURN SIGNAL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXPIRATION DATE FOR THE REPAIR TO BE MADE ENDED IN 2015.*JS

THE RUNNING LIGHTS MELT THE PLASTIC HEADLAMP COVERS AND LITERALLY MELT THE PLASTIC, THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY SECOND SET THAT ARE ALSO MELTING

Mileage: 70,000

HEADLAMPS DRL BULBS BURNED THROUGH LENS. TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS RECALLED PREVIOUSLY. THE DESIGN OF THESE HEADLIGHTS IS FLAWED!

DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS MELTED HEADLIGHTS

PARKING LIGHT ASSEMBLY BUILT INTO HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAVE BROKEN AND LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE READY TO CATCH FIRE. SPLIT IN TO CAUSING LENS TO BLACKEN

Mileage: 83,000

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE BURNED AND CRACKED LENSES. TOYOTA CORPORATE SAYS THE RECALL IS OVER. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED--REPAIR COSTS OVER $500. PLEASE HELP--

BOTH HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES INNER LENS DISTORTED/BUBBLING, AND ONE SIDE IS CRACKED WITH THE INNER LENS SEPARATED

FRONT AMBER TURN LAMPS BUBBLED, LOOK VERY HOT ON PLASTIC LENS, BURNT THROUGH, COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE FIRE? LENS CRACKED. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIGNAL LIGHTS STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE LENS LOST COLOR. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. ...UPDATED 04/08/15 *BF UPDATED 4/13/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE HOUSED IN A HEATED LAMP MODULE AND THEY CONSTANTLY BURNED OUT/ THE MELTED THE SIGNAL LENS INSIDE THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY AND CRACKED THE PLASTIC AND NOW THE SIGNAL LAMPS ARE FOGGING UP INSIDE THE LENS OF THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES. UPDATED 04/21/15*JB UPDATED 10/22/2015*JS

Mileage: 60,000

DRL BURNING LENS. AFRAID IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

AT APPX. 24,000 MILES, I NOTICED THAT MY 'DAYTIME' RUNNING LIGHTS WERE CLOUDY AND THAT BOTH LENSES WERE CRACKED. I NEGLECTED TO TAKE IT IN FOR THIS, SINCE I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENGINE HESITATING ON ACCELERATION. WHEN I FINALLY REMEMBERED TO TELL/SHOW THEM, THEY WEREN'T CONCERNED, BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS OUT. THEY DID OFFER TO SPLIT IT WITH ME. MY COST WOULD HAVE BEEN $492.00. SCREW'EM... THIS IS CLEARLY A FACTORY DEFECT. ESPECIALLY WITH AS MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS I HAVE FOUND FOR THIS. YOU'D THINK THE DOT WOULD DO SOMETHING. *TR

Mileage: 12,000

AMBER INSIDE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS ATTACHED TO FRONT HEADLIGHTS ARE SCORCHING INSIDE LENS OF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

THE RUNNING LIGHTS MELTED THE LENSES AT 35000 MILES AND I TOOK MY TRUCK BACK TO TOYOTA AND THEY REPLACED THE LIGHTS, SAID THEY PUT BULBS IN THERE THAT WOULD NOT GET AS HOT. NOW AT OVER 80000 MILES THEY HAVE MELTED AGAIN, THE PLASTIC IS TURNING BLACK, LOOKS LIKE A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE SEEN THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER SIMILAR MODELS. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, NEEDS TO RECALL AND PROPERLY FIX! *TR

Mileage: 80,000

MY AMBER DRIVING LIGHT LENS WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE BURNED, ONE HAS BROKEN IN HALF. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

DAYLIGHT HEADLIGHT BURNED AND BROKE IN TWO PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

AIR BAG LIGHT ON, TOYOTA FOUND DTC S B1785 OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR FRONT LEFT COLLISION DETECTION, B1650 OCCUPANT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, ZERO POINT CALIBRATION AND SENSITIVITY CHECK DONE BUT TOYOTA HAWAII SAYS WE NEED TO REPLACE FRONT RIGHT SEAT SENSOR MAT ASSY. IS THAT A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS THIS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT? TOOK TO TOYOTA 3 TIMES NOW FOR THE SAME ISSUE OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON. PLEASE ADVISE, THANK YOU! BOTH LENS BULBS MELT INNER SIDE OF PLASTIC PARTS ON THE HEADLIGHTS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS IS ALSO A RECALL/DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 55,046

THE DTRL AMBER BULB HAS MELTED BOTH LENS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM BULB.THE LEFT/RIGHT LENS ARE CRACKED AND FALLING APART. *TR

Mileage: 32,000

THE BULB TO THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS MELTED THE LENS IN FRONT OF IT AND BROKE IT IN TWO PIECES. THIS IS FOR BOTH LIGHTS. THIS BULB IS TOO CLOSE TO THE LENS, PROBABLY A DEFECT IN ENGINEERING OR DESIGN. THESE LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY ON AND THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN THEM OFF. I'M AFRAID SOMETHING WILL CATCH ON FIRE. I CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIX IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I CALLED CORPORATE OFFICES AND WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO GET VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AT COST OF $150 BEFORE THEY CONSIDERED TAKING ANY ACTION. AND IF IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAN I WOULD HAVE TO PAY HALF OF THE COST OF THE NEW HEADLIGHTS, WHICH WOULD BE AROUND $300, PLUS THE $150 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. TOLD THEM OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM, TO NO AVAIL. THIS IS NOT FAIR AS IT'S OBVIOUS THIS IS DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT/DESIGN. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 38,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HOUSING MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 25,000

DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS OVERHEATING AND MELTING THE PLASTIC INSIDE HEADLIGHT WHICH LOOKS LIKE IT IS BURNT AND BLACK CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO CRACK AND DAMAGE TO THE BULBS. I HAVE REPLACED DRIVER SIDE NOW AND PASSENGER SIDE HAS STARTED TO MELT. *JS

Mileage: 36,000

FRONT TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS BURNING AND MELTING LENS. INSPECTION OF PLASTIC BULB SOCKET SHOWS SIGNS OF HEAT DAMAGE AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *JS

Mileage: 47,000

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENS WOULD CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEAT AND BECOME CRACKED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD POSSIBLY CATCH ON FIRE SINCE THE BULB WAS SO CLOSE TO THE LENS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 3/13/14*CN

Mileage: 50,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LENSES FOR THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS AND THE TURN SIGNALS WERE MELTED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 40,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT SYSTEM FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE LENS TO FRACTURE AND THE BULBS TO BURN. THE TURNING SIGNALS THAT ARE CONNECT TO THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULBS SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT SYSTEM WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT DTRL LENSES ARE MELTED FROM HEAT FROM THE BULB, I AM WORRIED ABOUT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, OR FIRE. DEALER SAYS IT IS COSMETIC AND DOES NOT WANT TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES SINCE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD ADDRESS WITH URGENCY. *TR

Mileage: 93,545

LENS COVERS FOR AMBER DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) BULBS HAVE MELTED AND CRACKED DUE TO HEAT OUTPUT OF THE BULB. A BRIEF INVESTIGATION INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE IN THIS MODEL. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

NOTED SCORCHED SPOT OF ABOUT 2" DIAMETER IN CENTER OF BOTH FRONT AMBER DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 34,000 MILES BUT IS OVER WARRANTY AGE LIMIT. I WAS AT DEALERSHIP FOR SEATBELT RECALL AND ASKED SERVICE MGR TO LOOK AT. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS BUT THAT HE HAD SEEN "SOME OF THIS" BEFORE. HE GAVE ME # FOR "MY TOYOTA EXPERIENCE" AND EVENTUALLY TALKED TO SOMEONE IN CALIFORNIA. THEY WOULD NOT ADMIT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS CONDITION BUT SAID THEY COULD ONLY EVALUATE IF DEALERSHIP ANALYZED AND TOLD THEM WHAT THE CAUSE WAS. THERE ANALYSIS; "YELLOW TURN SIGNAL BULB SEEMS TO GET TOO HOT AND BURNING LENS". MY COST TO FIX; $932.72. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE APPARENTLY TALKED TO DEALERSHIP AND WILL PAY FOR THE ASSEMBLIES TO REPLACE WITH MY COST BEING $192. WITH THE NUMBER OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH HAS FIRE HAZARD POTENTIAL. INSTEAD OF STONE-WALLING THIS DEFECT TOYOTA SHOULD OWN-UP AND FIX IT AT THEIR TOTAL EXPENSE. PEOPLE AND COMPANIES MAKE MISTAKES. IT TAKES A COMPANY WITH A QUALITY CONSCIENCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

Mileage: 34,000

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT'S ALSO THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE MELTED AND CRACKED THE LENS ON MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA CREW CAB SR5 4X4. *TR

DRIVING LIGHT/AMBER SIGNAL LIGHT ON FRONT OF VEHICLE. BULBS ARE TOO HOT AND HAVE MELTED THE LENS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. SOCKET THAT BULB PLUGS INTO IS ALSO CHARRING FROM HEAT. CONCERN THAT PLASTIC WILL IGNITE IF LEFT UNRESOLVED. VEHICLE IS TOYOTA TACOMA 2009 PRE-RUNNER. *TR

Mileage: 48,057

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE MELTED THE LENS AND THE HIGH HEAT HAS ALSO CRACKED AND DISTORTED THE MAIN HEAD LIGHT LENS ON MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. *TR

Mileage: 500

LENS COVERS FOR AMBER DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) BULBS HAVE MELTED AND CRACKED DUE TO HEAT OUTPUT OF THE BULB. A BRIEF INVESTIGATION INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE IN THIS MODEL. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

THE DRL (DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS) BULBS WERE DESIGNED TO CLOSE TO THE LENS COVER AND THE BULB IS TO HOT. IT BURNT / MELTED THE LENS ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLIGHTS. IT LEAVES A DARK SPOT ( APPROX 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER) . IT HAPPENED WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS HOT (GREATER THAN 105 DEG F) AND THE RUNNING LIGHTS WERE ON (THEY COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN TRUCK IS STARTED). I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE (GOOGLE SEARCH) AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THERE HEADLIGHTS HAVING A MELTED / BURNT SPOT ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES. THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO FIX OR RECALL CURRENTLY. I HAVE READ THAT SOME PEOPLE WERE GETTING THIS PROBLEM FIXED IF THE MILEAGE OR TIME WAS WITHIN THE WARRANTY. MINE OCCURRED AFTER. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A FIRE CONCERN AND THE BURNT SPOT IS SEMI BLOCKING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DRL. THE DRL IS SO PEOPLE CAN SEE YOU COMING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL! *TR

Mileage: 39,000

THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT ALSO DOUBLES AS TURN SIGNALS ARE BURNING A HOLE THROUGH THE PLASTIC LENS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS AND CRACKING THE LENS AS WELL. THESE ARE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY PUT OUT A T-SB-0129-11 ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2011 AND CALLED IT AN "APPEARANCE CONCERN". IT IS ALSO A FIRE HAZARD AS I DON'T BELIEVE THE LENSES SHOULD BE MELTING. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

BOTH HEADLAMP LENSES ARE MELTED AND CRACKED FROM THE DRL (DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS) BULB HEAT. EITHER BULBS ARE TOO CLOSE TO THE LENSES OR THE WATTAGE IS TOO HIGH. THIS DEFECT IS NOT THE RELULT OF ANY ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT, JUST FROM NORMAL USE. *TR

Mileage: 14,035

THE AMBER RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE MELTED AND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS HAD CRACKED IN HALF. SEEMS TO ME TPO MUCH HEAT FROM THE FACTORY BULBS USED. SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD COULD POSSIBLE CASE A FIRE? DO TO THE HEAT.I ASKED DEALER SAYS NO RECALL. I HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER USED TRUCKS ON LOTS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.. GO ON THE INTERNET AND YOUR SITE, YOU WILL SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULBS ON BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE BURNED STRAIGHT THROUGH THE ORANGE PLASTIC COVERS, CAUSING THEM BOTH TO BUBBLE, AND CRACK IN HALF. THIS IS NOW CAUSING THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO FOG OVER! BOUGHT TRUCK BRAND NEW FROM DEALER SO THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL, FACTORY EQUIPPED HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES. THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN CHANGED. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

BURNING INTERIOR LENS COVER DUE TO BULB PLACEMENT TO CLOSE TO THE LENS. REMEDY : CHANGING TO A SHORTER BULB WITH LOWER VOLTAGE ( LESS HEAT ) OR LED, WHICH WILL BE POSITIONED AWAY FROM THE LENS. I HAVE BEEN ALWAYS LOVING TOYOTA VEHICLES BUT I BELIEVE DEEPLY IT IS A PRODUCT DEFECT TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE FOR THOSE OWNERS. THEY SHOULD KNOW AND AVOID BULB ( HEAT ) / PLASTIC LENS ( POSITION ). *TR

Mileage: 24,258

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD LIGHT BULBS WERE OVERHEATING AND CAUSING THE LENS TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC FOG LIGHT COVER WAS FRACTURED AND BECAME MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHT COVER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

Mileage: 56,000

MY VEHICLE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL), ARE BURNING THROUGH THE LENSES. THE LENS IN FRONT OF THE BULB IS DISCOLORED AND SEEMS TO BE MELTING AND CRACKING DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE PLASTIC IS DARK AND LOOKS BURNED. BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT THERE IS CONCERN FOR DRIVER SAFETY AS THERE SEEMS TO BE AN OBVIOUS FIRE HAZARD THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS IN BOTH OF MY FRONT HEADLIGHTS. *TR

Mileage: 49,567

BOTH FRONT AMBER DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL) ARE MELTING THE PLASTIC LENS COVERS AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS RISK OF A FIRE. THE ORIGINAL BULBS ARE IN THE TRUCK. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE NEVER OPENED OR CHANGED ANY OF THE LIGHTS ON THIS TRUCK. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN LIKE THIS, BUT I WOULD GUESS THAT IT HAS BEEN OVER-HEATING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE PLASTIC IS BUBBLING AND IS TURNING A BURNT COLOR. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA X-RUNNER HAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES AND HAS DTRL (DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS) AND THE TURN SIGNALS (WHICH ARE USED FOR THE DTRL) HAVE BURNED, MELTED AND CRACKED. I AM GUESSING THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE LIGHTS ARE RUNNING CONSTANTLY AND THIS IS CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT ON THE PLASTIC LENSES. I WILL BE SHOWING A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK, AND IF THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS (I AM OUT OF WARRANTY) THEN I WILL HAVE TO BEAR THESE COSTS TO ENSURE SAFETY FROM POSSIBLE FIRE. I WILL BE LOOKING INTO REMOVING THE DTRL OPTION, AS WELL AS POSSIBLY LOOKING INTO LED BULBS TO CUT DOWN ON THE HEAT. *TR

Mileage: 34,000

UPON NOTICING THAT THE LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL WAS NOT WORKING, I INSPECTED THE TURN SIGNALS, NOTING THAT BOTH FRONT TURN SIGNALS/DTRL'S ARE CRACKED AND APPEAR BURNED. I REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL BULB, BUT THE TURN SIGNAL STILL DOES NOT WORK. *TR

Mileage: 57,851

DAYTIME AMBER RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE MELTED AND CRACKED THE LENS. HAPPEN AROUND 30,000 MILES BUT TOYOTA SAID THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF PROBLEM, BUT I KNOW BETTER AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS. TO COSTLY FOR THEM TO FIX. MAYBE SAFERCAR.GOV MIGHT HELP. *JB

Mileage: 36,000

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS GENERATED ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT. THE INTERIOR COLORED LENS ON BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, I NOTICED DISCOLORATION AND CRACKS IN THE COLORED LENS WITHIN 1ST 12 MONTHS. MORE RECENTLY THE COLORED LENS BEGAN TO MELT AND RUN, LOOKS AS IF THEY WERE EXPOSED DIRECTLY TO FLAMES. THERE IS ALSO NOTICEABLE HEAT DAMAGE TO THE CLEAR EXTERIOR LENS COVER NEAR THE AREA OF THE DRL. TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT DID NOT NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD THIS MAY CAUSE. HEAT DAMAGE HAS CLEARLY BECOME MORE SEVERE OVER TIME. *JB

Mileage: 63,000

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL) LIGHT BULBS ALONG WITH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES GENERATED ENOUGH HEAT TO CAUSE BUBBLING AND CRACKED BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES. THIS MAY POSED A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

MY VEHICLES DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL), WHICH ARE LOCATED IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, ARE BURNING THROUGH THE LENSES. THE LENS IN FRONT OF THE BULB IS DISCOLORED AND SEEMS TO BE MELTING DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE PLASTIC IS DARK AND LOOKS BURNED. BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT THERE IS CONCERN FOR DRIVER SAFETY AS THERE SEEMS TO BE AN OBVIOUS FIRE HAZARD THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS IN BOTH OF MY FRONT HEADLIGHTS. *TR

Mileage: 30,500

EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT BULBS CAUSE MY VEHICLE HEADLIGHT LENSES TO SLOWLY BURN AND CRACK. *TR

Mileage: 59,069

TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN# T-SB-0129-11 TOYOTA KNEW THERE IS A MELTING/SAFETY ISSUE WITH DRL YET I WAS NOT INFORMED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN WARRANTY BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2011, WHEN THE TSB ABOVE WAS PUBLISHED BY TOYOTA. TOYOTA STILL WANTS ME TO PAY AT 31,000 MILES 2009 TACOMA ALMOST $300 TO FIX IT. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MELTING HAS DIMMED THE LIGHTING OUTPUT & POSES A FIRE HAZARD AS THE MELTING HAS ALSO REACHED THE BACK OF THE BULB SOCKET WHERE THE WIRING IS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

Mileage: 30,500

2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. LAST WEEK I HAVE TO CHANGE THE BURNT LIGHT BULB FOR THE TURN/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT AND NOTICED THAT THE LENS INSIDE THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN IN HALF. BY LOOKING FROM THE FRONT SIDE I CAN SEE THAT THE PLASTIC LENS HAS BEEN MELTED DOWN. AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A TRACE OF OVERHEATING ON THE SOCKET. THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE A FIRE ON THIS VEHICLE. I HOPE TOYOTA WILL STAND FOR IT'S REPUTATION AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE. BECAUSE, IT WILL CREATE A FIRE HAZARD IN THE FUTURE. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

THE PLASTIC HOUSING/PLASTIC LENS COVERING THE AMBER DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND THE CLEAR FOG LIGHTS ARE BURNED, MELTED, CRACKED AND BROKEN. THIS IS NOT DUE TO ANY FRONT END COLLISION BUT DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT GENERATED BY THE ORIGINAL FACTORY-INSTALLED LIGHT BULBS. THE LIGHTS ARE GENERATING SO MUCH HEAT THAT THEY ARE MELTING, BURNING AND CRACKING THE PLASTIC HOUSING WHICH THEN BREAKS UNDER DRIVING STRESS. COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN OFF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. EITHER THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS MUST BE ON OR THE HEADLIGHTS MUST BE ON. THEREFORE, THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BURN THE PLASTIC HOUSING. TOYOTA WILL NOT COMPLETELY COVER THE COST TO REPAIR AND REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE LIGHT SYSTEMS STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS ONE YEAR OUT OF THE 3 YEARS MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY THIS PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR OVERNIGHT BUT IS THE RESULT OF 4 YEARS OF USE. THE LENS HAVE BEEN PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. BECAUSE THE LENS ARE BURNED, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT A FIRE COULD OCCUR. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS TURN SIGNAL/DTRL LENS IS BURNED AND CRACKED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM BULB. APPARENTLY FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IN FORUMS AND OTHER ON LINE SOURCES, TOYOTA IS AVOIDING THIS PROBLEM BY SAYING NO REMEDY DUE TO FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED OR COMPLETELY DENYING IT. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE MADE AVAILABLE UPGRADED REPLACEMENT PARTS. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN MARCH 2011 AND NOTICED THIS CONDITION RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE. IT HAS NOW WORSENED TO THE POINT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE NOW HAS 48,381 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 24,811

THE PLASTIC HOUSING/PLASTIC LENS COVERING THE AMBER DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND THE CLEAR FOG LIGHTS ARE BURNED, MELTED, CRACKED AND BROKEN. THIS IS NOT DUE TO ANY FRONT END COLLISION BUT DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT GENERATED BY THE ORIGINAL FACTORY-INSTALLED LIGHT BULBS. THE LIGHTS ARE GENERATING SO MUCH HEAT THAT THEY ARE MELTING, BURNING AND CRACKING THE PLASTIC HOUSING WHICH THEN BREAKS UNDER DRIVING STRESS. COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN OFF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. EITHER THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS MUST BE ON OR THE HEADLIGHTS MUST BE ON. THEREFORE, THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BURN THE PLASTIC HOUSING. TOYOTA WILL NOT COMPLETELY COVER THE COST TO REPAIR AND REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE LIGHT SYSTEMS STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS ONE YEAR OUT OF THE 3 YEARS MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY THIS PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR OVERNIGHT BUT IS THE RESULT OF 4 YEARS OF USE. THE LENS HAVE BEEN PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. BECAUSE THE LENS ARE BURNED, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT A FIRE COULD OCCUR. *TR

Mileage: 54,700

DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT COVERS BURNT FROM THE HEAT OF LIGHT BULBS BEING MOUNTED TO CLOSE TO LENS COVER. LENS COVER CRACKED, BURN AND AT SOME TIMES SMOLDERS. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DTRL) HOUSING BURNED/MELTED/CRACKED ON BOTH LH & RH. SAFETY RELATED SYSTEM WITH PROPER OEM FACTORY BULBS STILL INSTALLED. *TR

Mileage: 35,254

INSIDE THE FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS A COMBINATION TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR/ EMERGENCY FLASH INDICATOR/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT. *TR THE LENSE FOR THIS COMBINATION INDICATOR INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS MELTED AND AFFECTED THE INTEGRITY OF THE COMPONENT. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TWICE AND TOYOTA CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BY TELEPHONE. BUT THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEM, EXCEPT FOR TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE ASSEMBLY AT MY EXPENSE. BY THE REGULATIONS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH THE DOT TOYOTA SHOULD COMPLY WITH PART 564 OF THE SAFETY REGULATION REQUIREMENTS, AND BY THIS SHOULD NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE OPTIONAL REPLACEMENT PARTS AS A SERVICE BULLITIN WITH A MAILED NOTIFICATION LETTER. BECAUSE OF THIS OVERSIGHT TOYOTA HAS CHOSEN TO ADAPT A STRATAGY TO USE AN EXCEPTION TO THEIR WARRANTY CONTRACT BY LIMITING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN EFFECT OF COMPONENT EXCLUSIONS I.E. LIGHT BULBS BECAUSE OF TOYOTA'S INABILLITY TO RECOGNISE AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH A NOTIFICATION. MANY OF THE DEALERS AND OWNERS WHO COULD HAVE CORRECTED THE IMPROPER MATCHING OF THE ASSEMBLIES, BEFORE DAMAGE TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE SIGNAL INDICATORS REQUIRED SAFE OPERATION WAS LOST AND TOYOTA GAINED CONSIDERABLE FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE AT THE EXPENSE OF SAFETY.

Mileage: 41,000

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL'S) ON MY 2009 TACOMA HAVE BUBBLED UP AND CRACKED THE LENS/PLASTIC. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS BECAUSE THE BULB IS TOO CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC OR THE WATTAGE IS TOO HIGH FOR THE PLASTIC. THE DRL'S ARE ALSO USED AS FRONT END TURN SIGNALS. IF THESE FAIL, IT COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. DEALERSHIP DENIED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT FOR IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE AGREEMENTS OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 37,000

WHEN I TOOK MY TACOMA PICKUP TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR ITS 35,000-MILE OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION, THEY POINTED OUT THAT THE LENSES ON BOTH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE BURNED AND DISTORTED, APPARENTLY FROM THE HEAT OF THE AMBER BULB. THEY SAID THERE IS NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT MODULE ON BOTH SIDES. PARTS AND LABOR WOULD BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $700 AND $1,000. I'M PAST THE THREE-YEAR WARRANTY COVERAGE. I SENT AN E-MAIL COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THIS IS A COSMETIC PROBLEM THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX. WRONG. THIS IS A FIRE SAFETY PROBLEM. FROM ONLINE RESEARCH, I HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH TACOMAS. ON NEW MODELS, IT HAS BEEN FIXED WITH A REDESIGNED HEADLIGHT MODULE THAT MOVES THE BULB SOCKET FARTHER BACK TO PREVENT THE HEAT FROM THE BULB FROM DAMAGING THE LENS. ON OLDER MODELS, YOU COULD JUST REMOVE THE BULB TO AVOID A FIRE EXCEPT THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULB IS ALSO THE TURN SIGNAL BULB. I HOPE YOU WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DTR LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED AND MELTED THE HEADLIGHT CASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE DTR LIGHT BULB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,569. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE TOO HOT CAUSING THE PLASTIC LENSES TO CRACK, MELT, AND BURN. TOYOTA IS TREATING THIS AS PURELY COSMETIC IN T-SB # 0129-11 (FOR 6 MODEL YEARS THEY WERE AWARE OF IT). THIS LISTING SHOULD BE CHANGED TO A SAFETY RECALL, THAT AMOUNT OF HEAT COULD START A VEHICLE FIRE. *TR

I HAVE A 09 TACOMA AND THE DRL'S HAVE ACTUALLY BURNED, MELTED AND POPPED THE LENS IN FRONT OF THEM. ALSO, THE BULBS THEMSELVES, UPON EXAMINATION, HAVE BURNED THE SOCKET IN WHICH THEY ARE HELD. YOU CAN SEE BLACK AROUND THE BASE OF THEM. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AT 59K MILES AND I HAVE THE PLATINUM 7YEAR/100000MI WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME 1100 FOR PARTS ALONE TO FIX, OFFERED NO HELP AND LIED TO ME AND SAID THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS NATURE AND ITS A RARE PROBLEM NEVER BEFORE SEEN. I HAVE REMOVED MY DRL BULBS OUT OF CONCERN OF A FIRE STARTING AND THEN I PROBABLY GET STUCK WITH THAT BILL OF A BURNT FRONT END. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE TOYOTA PUT IN A BULB THAT'S TOO HOT OR BECAUSE TOYOTA DECIDED TO MAKE A CHEAP PLASTIC COVER FOR THE BULBS. I HAD ZERO INFLUENCE ON THIS FAILURE. THERE ARE COUNTLESS POSTS ON ALL KINDS OF WEBSITES CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. I CAN TRACK DOWN OVER 1000 IN LESS THAN 30 MIN. PLEASE HELP. WHEN I CALL TOYOTA I JUST GET BULLIED AROUND AND TALKED TO LIKE I'M DUMB OR DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS LENS MELTED AND CRACKED ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHT LENS MELTED AND CRACKED. UNIT WAS INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND DETERMINED TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO DEFECT LENS. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR LATER LENS MELTED AND CRACKED AGAIN. CALLED TOYOTA TO REPORT AND FIND OUT IF THERE IS A RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE INITIATED A REPORT AND INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE AT THAT TIME AND WILL NOT BE REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. AT THIS TIME I AM NOT SURE AT WHAT POINT THIS LENS MELTING; DUE TO THE LIGHT BULB HEAT MAY CAUSE A FIRE AND I AM TAKING UNDER CONSIDERATION TO REMOVE THE SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS WHICH WILL MAKE SIGNAL LIGHTS NONOPERATIONAL. IT HAS TO BE A BAD MANUFACTURE HEADLIGHT DESIGN THAT IS CAUSING THAT AREA TO MELT AND AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE INITIATED FOR RECALL CONSIDERATION. YOUR RESPONSE WILL BE APPRECIATED. *TR

Mileage: 35,948

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BECAME OVERHEATED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

Mileage: 66,000

RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE MELTED, CRACKED AND HAVE BROWN COLOR ON PLASTIC. CONTACTED TOYOTA DEALER (SUN TOYOTA) AND THEY SAID IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. CONTACTED TOYOTA CORP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. I BELIEVE THERE IS A POTENTIAL OF A FIRE HAPPENING. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE MELTING THE HEADLIGHT LENSES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LENSES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THE LENS BUT NOT FOR THE LABOR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

Mileage: 51,000

THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY: RUNNING LIGHTS BUILD UP EXCESS HEAT AND BURNS/CRACKS THE LENS. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDES. ON THE DRIVERS SIDE THE LENS HAS BROKEN AND FALLEN OUT OF PLACE. *TR

Mileage: 87,000

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE CAUSING MELTING AND CRACKING OF THE LENS COVERING FROM THE INSIDE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN TAMPA, FLORIDA. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON NOVEMBER 28, 2012 AND EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD AND REQUESTED IT BE REPAIRED. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED ME BACK ON NOVEMBER 28, 2012 AND SAID THAT BECAUSE THE "ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY" HAD EXPIRED SO THAT THERE WOULD BE NO REMEDY OFFERED BY TOYOTA. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ONLINE ON VARIOUS TACOMA / TOYOTA OWNERS' SITES. PERSONNEL AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE "REPLACEMENT PART" HAD BEEN RE-DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM....SO TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE HEADLIGHT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. IT SEEMS THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE NOT PROPERLY ENGINEERED IN THIS MODEL. BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT THERE IS A CLEAR CONSCIENCE THE MELTING LENSES CREATE AN OBVIOUS FIRE HAZARD. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY TACOMA IN THE TAMPA FLORIDA AREA ADVISED ME THAT TOYOTA HAS NO RECALL OF EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS "KNOWN" PROBLEM. I WAS VERY DISMAYED TO HEAR THIS BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS CLEARLY PRESENTS A THREAT TO THE DRIVER. BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME. EITHER I REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH THE TOYOTA FACTORY ASSEMBLY WHICH IS ALREADY KNOWN TO HAVE A DEFECT OR I FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DISABLE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TO CUT BACK ON THE HEAD THAT BUILDS UP WITH THEM CONSTANTLY BEING ON. I WOULD RATHER NOT DISABLE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THEY DO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY VALUE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT I AM GOING TO DO AT THIS POINT BUT CLEARLY ACTION IS NEEDED. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE CAUSING MELTING AND CRACKING OF THE LENS COVERING FROM THE INSIDE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN SUPERIOR WI. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES, ISSUER OF MY PLATINUM VEHICLE SERVICE AGREEMENT, AND THEN CALLED ME A FEW HOURS LATER TO SAY THAT MY CLAIM HAD BEEN DENIED BECAUSE "LAMPS" ARE NOT COVERED. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON NOVEMBER 15, 2012 AND EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD AND REQUESTED IT BE REPAIRED. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED ME BACK ON NOVEMBER 19, 2012 AND SAID THAT BECAUSE THE "ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY" HAD EXPIRED SO THAT THERE WOULD BE NO REMEDY OFFERED BY TOYOTA. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ONLINE ON VARIOUS TACOMA / TOYOTA OWNERS' SITES. PERSONNEL AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE "REPLACEMENT PART" HAD BEEN RE-DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM....SO TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 31,627

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD CAUSE THE HEADLIGHT LENS TO OVERHEAT, MELTING THE PLASTIC LENSES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN FROM THE MANUFACTURER THAT STATED IF ANY HEADLIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE THEY HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALER WILL REPAIR THE FAILURE OF THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE, BUT THE CONTACT HAS TO PAY FOR THE LABOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,800.

Mileage: 37,800

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENSES BECAME MELTED AND CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY ONLY TOOK PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,383.

Mileage: 37,383

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE MELTED AND CRACKED THE LENS/PLASTIC. THESE ARE ALSO USED AS FRONT END TURN SIGNALS. IF THESE FAIL, IT COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. WHILE THERE IS A TSB, THE DEALERSHIP DENIED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENTS SINCE MY 36K WARRANTY HAS NOW EXPIRED. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST STARTED TO HAPPEN AND TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

AFTER COMPLETING AN OIL CHANGE ON MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA IN OCTOBER OF 2011 I NOTICED THAT THE AMBER LENS IN THE HEADLIGHT WAS DISCOLORED AND SEEMED TO BE MELTING DUE TO OVERHEATING. OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE SITUATION AND NOTICED THAT THE MELTING AND CRACKING OF THE AMBER LENS INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. IT SEEMS THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE NOT PROPERLY ENGINEERED IN THIS MODEL. BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT THERE IS A CLEAR CONCERN FOR DRIVER SAFETY. THE MELTING LENSES CREATE AN OBVIOUS FIRE HAZARD. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY TACOMA IN THE METRO ATLANTA AREA ADVISED ME THAT TOYOTA HAS NO RECALL OF EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS "KNOWN" PROBLEM. I WAS VERY DISMAYED TO HEAR THIS BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS CLEARLY PRESENTS A THREAT TO THE DRIVER. BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME. EITHER I REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH THE TOYOTA FACTORY ASSEMBLY WHICH IS ALREADY KNOWN TO HAVE A DEFECT OR PURCHASE AND AFTERMARKET HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND HOPE THE IT IS ENGINEERED BETTER THAN THE TOYOTA ONE, OR I FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DISABLE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TO CUT BACK ON THE HEAD THAT BUILDS UP WITH THEM CONSTANTLY BEING ON. I WOULD RATHER NOT DISABLE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THEY DO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY VALUE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT I AM GOING TO DO AT THIS POINT BUT CLEARLY ACTION IS NEEDED. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. *TR

Mileage: 51,528

WE HAVE NOTICED THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS LENS ARE MELTING AND CRACKING ON BOTH SIDES. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE,POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 58,455

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL'S) ON MY 2009 TACOMA HAVE BUBBLED UP AND CRACKED THE LENS/PLASTIC. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS BECAUSE THE BULB IS TOO CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC OR THE WATTAGE IS TOO HIGH FOR THE PLASTIC. THE DRL'S ARE ALSO USED AS FRONT END TURN SIGNALS. IF THESE FAIL, IT COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. DEALERSHIP DENIED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT FOR IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE AGREEMENTS OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

THE RUNNING / PARKING LIGHTS ARE BURNING THROUGH AND MELTING THE LENS COVERS ON BOTH SIDES OF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THERE ARE VISIBLE BURN MARKS AND CRACKS ON THE LENS FOR BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

THE PLASTIC LENS COVERING THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS/BLINKERS ARE MELTING AND CRACKED. THE CAUSE APPEARS TO BE FROM THE LIGHTS WHICH ARE ON WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON. LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE LENS ARE MELTED. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY OF MY VEHICLE BOTH OF THE RUNNING LIGHT LENSES ARE MELTING. THEY FIRST STARTED TO BUBBLE AND I NOTICED IT AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY SAID THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT AND OFFERED NO FIX. RECENTLY, I LOOKED AT THE LENSES AGAIN AND THEY ARE NOW CRACKED AND BURNT. THE PLUGS THAT THE BULBS ARE IN ARE BURNT AS WELL. TOYOTA TOLD ME THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE DAMAGES, BUT NOT THE WHOLE THING. IN TOYOTA'S SERVICE BULLETIN THAT THEY PUBLISHED IN 2011, IT STATES THAT THE 2005-2011 VEHICLES HAVE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS AND CAME OUT WITH A NEW DESIGNED HEADLIGHT FOR THEM. WITH THAT SAID, MY TACOMA IS A 2009 MODEL. ONE OF MY BIGGEST WORRIES REGARDING THIS DEFECT IS THE FACT THAT I LIKE TO GO ON ROAD-TRIPS IN MY VEHICLE WHICH SOMETIMES REQUIRES ME TO DRIVE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. I AM CONCERNED THAT OVER TIME THE LENSES WILL MELT COMPLETELY AND CAUSE A FIRE OR SHORT IN THE WIRES. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DEFECTED HEADLIGHTS CATCHING FIRE AND ENDANGERING THEM. THE LAST TIME I WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, I WALKED AROUND AND LOOKED AT THE USED TACOMA'S AND FOUND THE SAME ISSUES ON ALMOST ALL OF VEHICLES. LIKE I SAID MY BIGGEST THING IS MY SAFETY AND TOYOTA KNOWS THAT THEY MANUFACTURED A DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT AND REFUSE COMPLETE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

BOTH FRONT AMBER DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT LENSES MELTING, BUBBLING AND CRACKING FROM BULB HEAT. ACTIVE TSB BUT NOT VALID AFTER 36,000. *TR

Mileage: 77,000

RUNNING LIGHTS MELTING, POSSIBLE FIRE THREAT. *TR

Mileage: 19,250

THE DRLS/TURN SIGNALS OF THE 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA HAVE A FAULTY DESIGN RESULTING WITH THE LENS MELTING (TOYOTA CALLS IT BUBBLING) AND CRACKING. TOYOTA DID ISSUE A RECENT TSB (T-SB-0129-11) TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ON IMPACTED TRUCKS. SEVERAL MODEL YEARS WERE INCLUDED. THE TSB IS WORDED THAT ONLY TRUCKS WITH LESS THAN 36K MILES AND LESS THAN 36 MONTHS OLD WILL BE REPAIRED. MY TRUCK HAD ABOUT 40K MILES AND WAS ABOUT 34 MONTHS OLD WHEN I FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. I DIDN'T BRING IT IN WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE DEFECT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK TOYOTA WOULD EVEN CONSIDER NOT REPLACING THE LIGHTS BECAUSE IT'S AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. SOME OF THE OLDER MODELS MENTIONED IN THE TSB WOULD HAVE BEEN OLDER THAN 36 MONTHS WHEN THE TSB WAS RELEASED. DRLS WERE DEVELOPED SO OTHER DRIVERS CAN BETTER SEE YOU. A MELTED DRL LENS WILL DIM THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE LIGHT TO OTHER DRIVERS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REPAIRING ALL THE DAMAGED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. *TR

Mileage: 34,000

THE LENS ON MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE MELTING, AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT IT MIGHT CAUSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OR EVEN CAUSING A FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 52,600

I NOTICED THAT THE DTRL HAD STARTED TO MELT THE AMBER LENSES AND BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF MY LOCAL DEALER. ALTHOUGH I WAS STILL WITHIN THE WARRANTY MILEAGE, I WAS OVER BY A FEW MONTHS ON THE 36-MONTH WARRANTY (I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED IN DEC-2011.) I JUST HEARD FROM MY LOCAL DEALER THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH CONCERNING THE MELTING LENSES IN MY '09 TACOMA TRD. I TRIED TO GET TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE LAMP ASSEMBLY AND THEY WOULD ONLY COVER HALF OF THE REPLACEMENT AND SUBSEQUENT RE-AIMING OF THE HEAD LIGHTS. I THEN PRINTED OUT SOME INSTRUCTIONS TO INSTALL A TOYOTA RELAY AND JUMPER WIRES TO TURN THE DTRL FUNCTION OFF, LEAVING THE TURN SIGNAL FUNCTION ALONE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, TOYOTA WILL NOT SIGN OFF ON, NOR ALLOW THEIR DEALERS TO MAKE THIS MODIFICATION, EVEN THOUGH THE PARTS ARE ALL TOYOTA OEM PARTS. I WOULD ALSO STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT EVERY OWNER OF A TACOMA THAT IS HAVING ANY ISSUE (MELTING, BUBBLING, CRACKING ETC.) WITH THE DTRL'S WRITE TOYOTA CORPORATE EXPRESSING THEIR DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE QUALITY OF TOYOTA PRODUCTS AND THE CORPORATIONS LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE CUSTOMERS SAFETY BUYING THE PRODUCT. WITH ALL THE NEGATIVE THAT TOYOTA HAS RECEIVED DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS OVER SAFETY RELATED ISSUES, YOU WOULD THINK THAT TOYOTA WOULD BE FALLING ALL OVER THEMSELVES TO CORRECT A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE IN A REQUIRED SYSTEM, INSTEAD OF TAP DANCING AROUND LIKE THEY ARE DOING. AS A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, I FIND THAT THE RESPONSE I'VE BEEN RECEIVING FROM TOYOTA TO BE PARTICULARLY DISAPPOINTING, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVING A MANDATED LIGHTING SYSTEM. THE STAFF AT NHTSA IS WELCOME TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME TO DISCUSS THIS. *TR

Mileage: 35,600

IN SEPTEMBER 2011, I NOTICED THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS HAD AN ORANGE/BROWN SPOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LENS. EIGHTS MONTHS LATER, THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE MELTED AND CRACKED THE PLASTIC LENS. THE PASSENGER SIDE LENS HAS COMPLETELY MELTED IN HALF. THE BULB APPEARS TO SIT TOO CLOSE TO THE LENS IN THE HOUSING UNIT. FIRE RISK. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

MY TRUCKS HEADLIGHT UNIT HAS DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS "AMBER TURN SIGNAL LIGHTING" AND ITS CONTINUED TO CAUSE MELTING AROUND THE HOUSING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR NOW AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INFORMED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND THEY REFUSE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE ITS NOT A DECLARED RECALL FROM TOYOTA. THE LIGHT ISSUE CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AND IS ALMOST COMPLETELY MELTED AROUND THE TURN AREA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL BULBS HAD BURNED THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL COVERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL BULBS WERE POSITIONED TOO CLOSELY TO THE CASING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,250. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 11/29/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER EFFECTIVE

Mileage: 56,250

I NOTICED THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT LENS HAD CRACKED & MELTED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF HEAT THE BULB IS PUTTING OUT. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT A COMPANY SUCH AS TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE READ THE FIX IS OVER $700 TO FIX. IT MAKES YOU WONDER IF GREED IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE BEGINNING TO MELT THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Mileage: 60,000

THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE MELTING IN THE FRONT OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS/TURN SIGNAL. BOTH SIDES HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THEY BOTH HAVE A HORIZONTAL CRACK AND A MELTED BLOB OF PLASTIC THAT WILL LIKELY KEEP GETTING BIGGER. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. WHILE AT LOWES YESTERDAY, I CHECKED THE HEADLIGHTS OF ONE OTHER TACOMA, AND HE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I GOT HOME, I PERFORMED A GOOGLE SEARCH AND FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. MOST SAID THAT WHEN THEY MENTIONED IT TO THEIR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP ACTED LIKE NO ONE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. SOME CUSTOMERS WERE ABLE TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED AND SOME WERE NOT. I'D BE CONCERNED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM NOW. *JS

Mileage: 38,650

THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE MELTING IN FRONT OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULBS/TURN SIGNALS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT MY TOYOTA EXTENDED PLATNIUM WARRENTEE WILL NOT COVER THIS PART AND THEY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE TO CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC IN FRONT OF THE BULB, WHICH HAS CRACKED AND MELTED THE PLASTIC LENS, WHICH IS A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 46,100

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FRONT TURN SIGNAL LENSES BURNED OUT. THE CONTACT NOTICED VISIBLE BURN MARKS ON BOTH LENSES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

Mileage: 60,000

DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS BURN /MELT THE LENS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, IN LESS THEN 30K MILES. I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE DRLS. EVERY TACOMA WITH THE DRL OPTION WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE COMPARTMENT THAT HOLDS THE DLR LIGHT IS SMALL, WITH NO VENTILATION, AND THE LAMP DISSIPATES APPROXIMATELY 28 WATTS OF HEAT, WHICH IS FOCUSED TOWARD THE LENS (ALONG WITH THE LIGHT). IT IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH HEAT IN TOO SMALL AN AREA, AND THE HEAT IS SUFFICIENT TO MELT THE PLASTIC LENS IN FRONT OF THE LAMP. SINCE THE DRL IS PART OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, THE COST OF PARTS IS REPORTED TO BE AROUND $700 PLUS LABOR. I BELIEVE THAT LENSES (WITH PROPER LAMPS) SHOULD NEVER MELT. ASKING TACOMA OWNERS TO PAY $700 +, EVERY 30K MILES IS OUTRAGEOUS! MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEY ARE SURE TO FAIL AGAIN IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE TO CORRECT THE DESIGN OF THE DLRS. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA IS IGNORING THE PROBLEM AND HOPING MOST PEOPLE WON'T RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CONDITION WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TT

Mileage: 30,000

MY 09 TOYOTA TACOMA DRL (DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT/TURN SIGNAL) LENS BURNED/MELTED/BROKE. I HAVE EXCEEDED MY WARRANTY BUT I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND REPLACE MY LIGHT LENS. MY LOCAL DEALER DID DO A 50/50 SPLIT ON THE COST OF REPLACEMENT, BUT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. LIGHT LENS SHOULD NEVER BURN/MELT/BREAK REGARDLESS OF HOW OLD OR HOW MANY MILES THE VEHICLE HAS ON IT. NOT ALL TACOMA'S HAVE DRL , THIS IS AN OPTION, MY LOCAL DEALER DID NOT KNOW THIS BUT I POINTED THIS OUT TO HIM. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH SAME PROBLEM BUT HIS TACOMA IS STILL IN WARRANTY AND THE DEALER DID A 100% REPLACEMENT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA WITH A LETTER AND PICTURES AND WAS TOLD TOYOTA WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT BECAUSE I HAD EXCEEDED MY WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 137,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE MADE WITH DOUBLE CONTACT BULBS. THE HEAT FROM THE LIGHT WAS BURNING THROUGH THE LENSES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE LENSES REPLACED BUT THE DEALER DID NOT CHANGE THE BULBS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR BECAUSE THE BULBS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXTREMELY RARE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULB BURNED THROUGH THE LENS WITHIN TWO YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,600.

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE MELTING THE PLASTIC LAMP HOUSING. ALL COMPONENTS ARE FACTORY STOCK: BULBS, HOUSINGS, WIRING, ETC. MELTED PLASTIC HOUSING HAS CHANGED THE TURN SIGNAL BEAM GEOMETRY RESULTING IN REDUCED VISIBILITY AND RISK OF ACCIDENT. ALSO, MELTED MATERIAL INDICATES A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 45,900

THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO USE THE COMPLAINT THAT WAS SENT VIA EMAIL. JO. NOT SURE WHO TO CONTACT BUT I AM A SAFETY PROFESSIONAL FOR MANY YEARS AND AN INCIDENT LAST NIGHT CONFIRMED AN OBVIOUS DANGER TO DRIVERS BASED ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DASHBOARD LIGHTING AND HEADLAMP ACTIVATION. A NEAR MISS LAST NIGHT REMINDED ME OF THE SAME CONDITION I NOTED LAST YEAR IN A SIMILAR INCIDENT. I BELIEVE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO DRIVERS EXISTS, IT IS AN UNRECOGNIZED THREAT, A SIMPLE REMEDY WOULD CORRECT AND I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT CONCERN.

Mileage: 51,000

2009 TOYOTA TACOMA FRONT TURN SIGNALS BURNING LENS. AMBER TURN SIGNAL BULBS APPEAR TO BE TO HIGH OF WATTAGE FROM FACTORY. LENS ARE BUBBLING/MELTING AND DISCOLORING FROM HEAT FROM THE BULBS. DRIVERS SIDE MUST HAVE GOTTEN HOT ENOUGH TO CRACK THE TURN SIGNAL LENS ITSELF. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. A CHECK OF 9 OTHER SIMILAR TACOMA TRUCKS ON HICKAM AFB SHOWS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 3 OTHER VEHICLES OR 3 TACOMA'S COUNTING MINE. VEHICLE HAS JUST UNDER 20,000 MILES AND NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT. TURN SIGNALS ALSO ACT AS DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS WHICH ARE TURNED ON WHENEVER TRUCK IS RUNNING. [XXX] ONLY PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS TO THE TRUCK LENS, BURNT/CRACKED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR