2018 low beam headlight angle awful

I love my new truck, but the low beam headlight angle is awful and easily the worst I've experienced. It's pointing downwards and on the country roads near my house it seems to illuminate just a few feet ahead of the car and my eyes actually feel tired after driving the car on these country roads with just low beams because visibility is so poor. High beams work fine. I took it to the dealer who said it's at factory spec ( and didn't do anything ) which I find really hard to believe. Does anyone else have an issue with their headlights?

 

Correct them yourself if it bothers you. Aim them against a wall, mark the stock height and gradually raise them until you’re happy.

 

I was thinking of doing that - any pointers to how? I don't see the screw as mentioned for 2016/17 from looking back there.

 

Haven’t looked myself, but there’s got to be an adjustment screw somewhere back there.

 

Really? This truck has probably the best low beams I've ever had... Shit, ppl flash their brights at me because they think my highbeams are on.

 

Instructions in this thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/headlight-adjustment.428450/

 

I agree with the OP assessment that the Tacoma headlights are bad.

If you’re getting flashed, your front end has perhaps been raised a bit, or rear end lowered by weight?

I purchased brighter low beam bulbs and they gave me perhaps another 20 feet of throw down the road, and I’ve not been flashed by oncoming vehicles.

Try Phillips halogen headlight bulbs. Their +60% or +80% are a bit brighter than stock bulbs and throw just a little more light down the road, don’t blind oncoming traffic and are decently priced.

For high beams, I think you can get +100%, which aren’t actually 100 percent brighter, but as you turn off your high beams when vehicles are approaching, they too are a bit brighter with better throw than the stock high beams.

IIHS headlight ratings:

I first read about the Tacoma headlight ratings 2 years ago.

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks That’s very illuminating, no pun intended. Will look up the philips.

 

Try turning your head lights on actually

 

Are they similar to the silverstars? I tossed those in my wife's Subaru 4 or 5 year's ago thinking they were great out of the gate. Unfortunately, they only lasted like 8 months. I also feel like they lost their intensity just a few months into it.

 

That's a Toyota built-in feature.

As your OEM rear leaf springs start to sag and flatten, your front end will rise, and the low beams will be proper. Just give it a little time.

 

Go ahead, raise them up and blind all of the oncoming cars. Nothing wrong with that! Why do they need to see?

 

Hmmm interesting!

 

You lost me once that picture said the Ridgeline was a large pickup...

 

I think they have a time limit on the assembly line. My '13 tacoma lights were high, constantly being flashed until i adjusted them down some. This was after asking at the dealership about adjusting them and being told they were not adjustable??? WTF. That's why i do as much of my own work as possible. On my '17, the lights are fine. Nice and bright, rarely use the high beams they are too bright, the reflected light from signs hurts my eyes.

 

Use your highs then?
Lows are not ment to illuminate that far down the road. If you adjust them up you are blinding other drivers.

 

You have an 18, use the auto high beam feature, it's awesome!

@crashnburn80 has some excellent write ups for upgrading your headlights

 

The dealer already checked it out and told you its at factory spec. I have a factory spec 18 as well. These low beams are fine. They are aimed quite well actually. There is a reason they stop where they do, and its to protect other drivers.

 

My 17 off road is a great truck however the low beams also are pathetic on dark hilly back roads I’m not a fan of the projector style lights they are bright but the dark is only darker and it’s right in front it’s ok if there is no traffic oncoming and I can use high beams just wish they kept the reflector style lights . The highway safety administration should have made toyota fix