Clear coat on OEM headlights peeling

I’ve had my Tacoma since 08/21 and I bought it brand new off the lot with 0 miles. When I purchased the truck, it had the OEM led light package. Today I noticed the clear coat on the drivers side headlight is peeling. Is that normal or has anyone else ever have the same issue?

I live in SoCal and it does get hot but I don’t ever purposely park in the sun or anything like that. Does anyone have any fixes for this? Or should it even be peeling after 4 years? I’ll include some photos.

Thanks in advance.

 

Mine is a 2019 and has some peeling. Not as much as yours though. I’m in SoCal as well.

Things like ceramic coatings and waxes will help preserve the coating from further peeling. Not too sure if a full restoration helps/is possible as I’ve never bothered to look into it.

 

I literally just noticed it today and it’s only on one side so it’s crazy to me. Should it be peeling this soon?

 

My '18 has it probably similar to yours, just not the bubbly kind of effect, just big spots where you can see the edges of the clearcoat. I'm in MD. UV rays really do a number on plastic the more it sits outside causing the clearcoat and whatnot to become brittle and flake off. Could probably wet sand them down, polish them down, and give them a new clearcoat if you wanted, though I'll probably just upgrade my housings at some point.

 

I’m going to look into getting a wax or ceramic coating from a detailer in my area. I’m guessing it’ll stop the deterioration but do you know of any way or someway to try to restore it? I’m guessing I can go to a shop too.

 

My 16 has it starting in a few spaces. Bought new and garaged, but plenty of time in the Florida and Arizona sun. I liberally apply Gtechniq CSL to them every 2 years.

 

I saw a spot the other day on the top of my headlight. Gonna have to put in a poll, led or halogen, year, and latitude.

 

I installed the OEM LED's on Jan. 1, 2020 on my 2018 Tacoma and I started noticing the top micro layer peeling around the beginning of this year, or at the five year mark. Seems way too soon for a $1500 item, but it'll probably be another two years until it starts to impact the light output. I'm pretty sure that the manufacturers don't give a crap about this as they expect that most of their customers are leasing and will be trading their cars in before this is a problem, passing it on to the subsequent owner. Same exact degradation on my wife's 2020 Forester at five years out.

 

To be honest, it’s hit and miss for everyone it feels like.

 

How long is the warranty on the truck? I ask because some people might have extended warranty when purchased.

 

This is pretty wild. And yet Toyota will claim their increased prices year after year on new trucks is justified. Total sham.

My suspicion is likely there isn't a recall on it, but you never know. I say that b/c when I was still in the VW world, there were a few model years that had actual paint clearcoat issues that became a recall. So on the one hand, be glad it isn't the paint, on the other hand, this is total crap from Toyota.

Headlights should not need restoration after 4 years....

 

Yeah, it seems way too soon. It just disappointing because I would have expected it to last much longer.

 

I didn’t purchase extended warranty. I meant it more as if there was some sort of recall or anything I might have missed out on. I remember reading a while ago that Toyota tried to do right by those with white Tacoma’s and were already seeing paint issues. I know it’s completely different than a clear coat issue on headlights but I just thought that there were other people who had similar problems and have had them fixed.

 

Yeah I would think so as well. 4 years seems way too soon.

 

For sure, it's crazy. Knowing Toyota they would tell you go fly one. I'd find a good detailer and have them do a restore on it. Not sure what would be another option that's even remotely reasonable in cost.

Sometimes manufacturers will do a courtesy "warranty claim" - but that's pretty few and far between I think. They like to lean on the warranty period as firmly as possible.

 

My '18 looks similar. I got some of that 3M coating but haven't put it on yet.

 

My 19 looks like that too but I opened them up to black them out. So wasn't sure if it was a factory issue or from me putting them in the oven.

 

Good luck on your resolution hunt.

 

My 19 has it on the top portion, where it seems most have it. I suspected this would happen on the top, I think it was inevitable on the top.

 

Won't help, you need to wet sand them and have them re cleared. That's the correct way to fix it. Ceramic won't help much!