Toyota Recall ( Melting DTRLs)

Mission complete. New headlights and even got them adjusted for my lift. They even did actual good job on the wash. Temecula Valley Toyota is under new ownership and their customer service much better now. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this Thread.

 

Are they keeping your old headlights? Or are they letting you keep the old ones? Mine are the 09 "smoked" housings OEM and id like to use them for a retrofit

 

They keep them.

 

Yup. The dealerships keeps the old ones.

 

Had no idea about this. Was talking to a former member (whippersnapper) last night and he said to check my truck. Sure enough, one of the lights was bubbling. Went to Miller Toyota in Anaheim today after work, and the service writer looked at one, then we went to his office. He asked me if BOTH were bubbling and I said yes. He said they would order them for me, but wasn't sure how long it would take. Sounded like I wasn't the first one there with that issue. Hopefully, they will replace both without issue. I would be pi$$ed if they only replaced one and they looked different!!

 

You told them they both were... because they both were, or so they would have both lamps when you go (and take the TSB printout with you)?

 

seems like they are just lazy to me. they see so many vehicles go through a day that when it comes to stuff like this they overlook it or read it too fast and dont even try to really understand what the TSB is stating. thats what the case was with my experience anyway

 

Brought my truck in to get a transmission flush and brought in the paper for the headlight warranty. Changed out both of them no questions asked. Both my lights were melting and i tried to get them changed 2 years ago but they refused because i was 3000 miles over warranty even after complaining directly to Toyota. I have a 2010 Tacoma with 99500 miles. When i picked it up they told me it would have cost over 800.00 if I had to pay to replace the head lights.

 

Went to dealership today. Ordered 2 new lights. No push back at all. Were quick to order 2 lights even without inspection. Only sucky part about all this it that my headlights cant come out without taking the bumper off. Dealer said I needed to take my bumper off before I come back for install otherwise they would charge me for extra labor. Thats BS! But I dont really trust then to disconnect my projectors, winch, and lightbar and reinstall it all without messing something up. This is gonna turn into a 2 day project for me or 1 long day atleast

 

I can understand this, but then after they did the one lamp, and I complained since it looked different than the original, the service manager said she would call Toyota corporate and see if they could do the other light as well. I got called the next day and was told Toyota said NO, only the defective lamp is to be changed... This of course was a lie.

I can be cool with them not reading the TSB as they have plenty of other things to do, but I am just not cool to being lied to. When I called Toyota corporate they wanted to know this service manager's name... I did not give it to them, I deal only with the service writer, who is a great guy. I only want the work to be done and am taking time here to post my story so that others will know how to handle it if their service department refuses to change out both lamps if just one is melted/ cracked.

What is interesting about this problem is it seems to be directly related to the issue of condensation forming inside the lamp I have asked about here and to my service writer. The condensation and cracked turn signal lens date back to the same point in time. I wonder how the crack causes condensation build up?

 

For those having issues with the dealership replacing BOTH lights and refusing the second light, instead of going through the battle trying to prove you are right even though we all know you are, maybe just pop the bulb out of the light and stick a stricker in there for a few seconds. Itll melt the lens real fast then they have no choice but to replace it haha. Cant say its really immoral or dishonest since we are entitled to both lights anyways. This just makes it less of an argument. I had no problem getting both and probably would NOT do this on my own truck , but hey its an idea and you can take it how you wish.

 

I'm not so sure that the cracked lens for the DTRL would cause it to build condensation I'm the headlight. That would be a problem with the sealing g around the light in my opinion because there is no way for condensation to get in through the DTRL unless you had the bulb removed for some time and left open

 

The inside of the headlight plastic began to get foggy and wet almost a year ago... on just the passenger side light. There wasn't much here on TW to deal with it. I tried to air it out by removing the halogen bulb for hours, as well as blow compressed air into the lamp... This all began about the same time I noticed the cracked/ melted turn signal lens on the passenger side.

Now that I have that lamp replaced, no more condensation... How else do you explain it, but being related to the crack? Doesn't make sense to me either, since it is not an air tight area, any moisture should evaporate?

 

Just started getting some bubbling in the DTRL lens on the driver's side of my 2011 Tacoma. There are only five or six tiny bubbles, but I'm sure it'll get worse soon.

Looks like I'll be taking it in.

 

That's unfortunate to hear... I also would've definitely liked to keep the spares. I'm going to start this big ordeal this weekend to have mine headlights replaced. ONLY on the condition they would either let me keep my HLs or even let me buy them back. I need a spare set for a retrofit!!

 

Yeah, good luck. Never heard of any dealer doing that. They have to keep them to see d them back to toyota. If we don't have them when they request them back, the dealership gets debited the total cost of the repair.

 

Your 2008 didn't come stock with running lights, correct? 2009 started it... I doubt you will be allowed to get the recall first off. Second, if you go in with them changing them out only if you can have them, you aren't going to get anywhere with any service manager.

Plus, you have eyelids. You might want to remove them before you go in there to get them fixed. You will never get the eyelids back.

 

Most of what you said is correct, except, the WARRANTY EXTENSION (not a recall) does cover from 2005-2011. Otherwise all you said is spot on.

 

While it does cover 2005-2011, every person I have talked to with 2005-2008 has no bubbling in their housings. Unless he modded his truck to have DTRLs, then he shouldn't have any of the melting to the housing. So, won't get the extension on the items.

 

No, I don't have eyelids.. My signature is way out of date.


I added the DTRL relay. Thanks for the info. I won't ask for them back, but I'll let them run my VIN # just to find out on my next service. It's not a big deal either way.