File your melted/cracked DTRL complaint with NHTSA, force Toyota to recall and fix

If enough of us file complaints with the National Highway Safety Administration, they can force Toyota to recall and repair the defective lamp assemblies.

The on-line form is here: https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/index.xhtml

So far NHTSA has only received 4 (counting mine-5) complaints but I know that there are a lot more than that.

Ray

 

This is probably a good idea.

However for those that are still under the 3-year, 36K mile comprehensive warranty, Toyota will replace them with an updated lens assembly. It's T-SB-0129-11, issued September 7th, 2011 and is applicable to 2005-2011 model Tacoma's.

I disabled my DTRL by cutting a wire, so that's another option as well.

 

My 09 that I bought 4 months ago had melted drl and the dealership replaced them for me...now the NEW "upgraded" lights are coming apart! Ill definitely be in on this.

 

Is this a safety (fire or electrical) issue or just something we don't like cosmetically?

 

Take a look at the photo in post #97 (http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...ttn-09-11-12-headlight-lense-will-melt-5.html)

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108 covers: "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment - Passenger Cars, Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles, Trucks, Buses, Trailers, (except pole trailers and trailer converter dollies), and Motorcycles (Effective 1-1-68 for vehicles 2,032 mrn (80 or more inches) in width and Effective 1-1-69 for all other vehicles)
This standard specifies requirements for original and replacement lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Its purpose is to reduce traffic crashes and deaths and injuries resulting from traffic crashes, by providing adequate illumination of the roadway, and by enhancing the conspicuity of motor vehicles on the public roads so that their presence is perceived and their signals understood, both in daylight and in darkness or other conditions of reduced visibility"

I think that this defect certainly reduces the effectiveness of the DTRL as well as the turn signal if the lens is melted/cracked/broken and reduces the amount of and proper distribution of light.

Ray

 

I did my own DTRL mod. SO I guess if they melt it is on my dime..Would be a excuse to upgrade..

 

I filed a complaint with NHTSA online with link posted here. I also called Toyota corporate. They opened a case. I'm to receive a call in 2 days. Judging from responses her I'm not optimistic but pray they take care of it. Will post result.

 

How's this working out ?

 

I filed a complaint with NHTSA online with link posted here. I also called Toyota corporate. They opened a case. I'm to receive a call in 2 days. Judging from responses her I'm not optimistic but pray they take care of it. Will post result.

 

Y U copy and paste response to OZ?

 

I'm pretty sure this would fall under a cosmetic issue rather than a safety issue which is where the NHTSA would get interested. Now if you could prove the light output dropped below the minimum required due to the bubbling, I think you would get somewhere.

 

How about getting an led bulb....no heat

 

No electronic flasher available to replace the 12-pin unit used in the DRL Tacoma.
Only option is to add load resistors, and being on DRLs, they are hot full-time and generate too much heat.

Best option is to hang a 1-2 ohm resistor in series with the lamps. This reduces the wattage slightly, but your turn signals still work properly.

 

Mine are both broken like this. Has anyone had any luck with getting them replaced?

 

Plug and play, no resistors, no splicing or tapping. I have them and love them. Hated the price, but they are brighter than the stock incandescent bulbs and, like you said, no heat in the headlight assembly. I don't even feel heat coming from the heat sinks on the back of the bulb,

Triton switchback V3 LED bulbs

 

Considering my dad has replaced his front blinker bulbs multiple times only to have them burn out within a week, it seems to me that it's more than a cosmetic issue.

 

The bulb socket gets scorched, mine is now a tan color with streaks of black. It used to be gray. I'd call that a fire risk, especially if the insulation on the wires gets brittle, cracks and shorts out. Has your dad traced the wires back a few inches, maybe he does have a short?

 

No clue, but I'm sure that's the issue. He's just ticked off at the fact that they told him it's not an issue and that he can have them install new one for $850 parts and labor. Which, if the wiring is shorted out, it's not going to fix anything except the melted lens. Even the actual headlight lenses are beginning to crack.

 

just an interesting fun fact, i never looked until i read this post, but after i did 2005 to 2012 front end swap, the DTRL's do not ever come on, with headlights on or off or fog lights on or off or anything. but even with the 2005 original front they never came on either (thank God because i think they are useless and would prevent driving blacked out using only infrared lights) i have all the connectors hooked up. never thought about it before, why have the connector if they never come on, LOL!

cheers,
disco

 

Like is all kinds of screwed up....

Triton switchback V3 LED bulbs

or

http://www.vleds.com/tacoma-v3-triton-white-amber-switchback-drl-turn-signals.html

Looks interesting... so it's just plug and play, or are there any extra connections to the battery or headlights/parking lights?
It would be nice if they would put the instructions up for DL.