POLL: For those who have DTRL and its melting your lights.

2010, 45,000 miles, both melted.
Will check wires this weekend and let you know.
Plan on killing my DRLs soon, I don't like them, don't need them and don't want to have to replace expensive headlights every couple of years.

 

Bought a 2010 PreRunner used about a month ago. One headlight cracked, one melted, not happy. And here I just chalked it up to the PO putting the wrong bulb in when it burned out.

I already had a side marker light burn out on me, and one thing I noticed was that even the socket around that tiny little amber lamb was burnt looking. Can't believe this is even an issue. Count me in the camp that thought they were buying a Toyota for the reliability, and over engineering.

I also have a 2014, with OEM, DTRL's and with just 2800 miles on it, all is still good. Hopefully it's not an issue on that truck.

 

I'll look on them tomorrow and see if I can find them. I didn't get any paperwork when they did it.

 

I found a TSB here from another thread that has the part numbers for the replacement headlights.



OEMparts123.com has the sport ones for $413 for the pair, and another $74 for shipping. Anyone know where to get a better price?

 

Ya... Depo brand on Amazon. As close to OEM as you're going to get, one of the few that don't leak.
Should be less than $180 for the PAIR including shipping. Be careful because there are some vendors that are getting $140 for just one... make sure the description says "pair"
They are available off the shelf with the BHLM already done.

 

Just to add to the database,
2010 TRD - 39,700 - 2-wire - looks like they've just begun to melt - bulb sockets are also looking slightly burnt - lived in Alabama, now in New Mexico.

And I just have to say: most of the US is pretty friggin hot. Even Minneapolis sees summertime highs in the 90s, Boise Idaho hit 115 last year, and how many Toyotas do you see in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East...not exactly cool there. Really, the whole hot-climate theory is just dumb (no disrespect intended)

 

not taking any chances on mine I just leave them off. If I get on low visibility conditions then I just turn on the headlights

 

anyone had luck getting the smoked TRD headlights as replacements on a non-trd taco?

 

My 2009 PreRunner has this issue and I brought it to my SAs attention today, Rick Emerson at Larry Miller in Peoria 623-876-3531. He looked it up and found that there is a replacement program in place for the affected Tacoma trucks and even though I have 102K on the truck it was covered. He said the program has no mileage limit so every truck affected is covered as long as it makes the list, manufacture dates.

He also printed it out and made it part of his file for other customers that come in. Just thought I would share this with everyone as this has been a concern for us for a number of years now and we had pretty much figured we would have to buy new ones on our own some day. They have to order them so we have to go back but, that is no big deal and worth it.

 

I got the attached notice in the mail yesterday. I had noticed the tiny "bubbles" inside one of my DRL lenses about 4 months ago. I thought they were eggs laid by some kind of insect . . .

 

I finally got around to taking my truck in to have the headlight assemblies replaced yesterday . . .

Old headlights:


New headlights:

 

I installed Jumpers LEDs and havent looked back. No need to worry about melting lights anymore.

RJM

 

In my case I think that replacement was the best option. I have less than 21k miles on the truck (yes really) and in addition to the "bubbly" looking effect on the inside of the orange DRL lenses, the clear outer lenses that encase the entire headlight assemblies were cracking in several places (for no reason at all). They had never been hit or bumped in any way. The service ticket when I picked up the truck referenced both the melting and the cracking lenses, due to "poor quality in plastic material". I think Toyota's offer of free replacement ends in November, so I wanted to go ahead and get them replaced.

 

My stock 2011 TRD smoked lights are fine, but not sure on the amount of wires. Will check and add to the poll next time I go out to my truck.

 

MY DTRL sockets were melting, as well as the plastic lense cracked and started to melt.

Toyota replaced mine for free under the headlight silent recall/warranty. New model assemblies have glass DTRL lenses like mentioned above, dealer actually helped me out this time!

 

I have an '09 Taco I bought new and did the DTRL install myself using Toyota parts per the thread on this forum. With about 40k on it now I just noticed both DTRL lenses have a brown spots on them and some cracking. I wonder if the "silent warranty" would cover me? I am still under a 7 year Toyota extended warranty also.

 

Does not hurt to try but since the DTRL was not OEM it will most likely not be covered if they check your VIN.

 

I will be by there soon so will stop in and ask. Hopefully seeing the damage they will consider it a defective lens. Will post back when I get back.

 

Good news so far. I stopped by the Toyota Dealer I bought the vehicle from. The service manager looked at the lights and said, "Yep these need replacing." The tech took down the Vin# and did all the typing and said that they will call me when the parts are in. I asked if this was covered under "warranty" and he said yes. I didn't ask if the "Warranty Enhancement" covered it or my 7 year Toyota Corp. warranty. Nothing was ever mentioned or asked about whether the DRL was an OEM installation or not. I am guessing that if your vehicle fits the dates of the warranty enhancement and the lights are showing distress from the DRL bulbs that they will be replaced due to a defect in the light assembly materials. I asked if the new ones come with a different type bulb and he said that the assembly comes with all new bulbs.

I am keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Very cool. Glad my 2015 has a position on the light stalk for DTRL. I only use it when I need to be seen a little.