Headlight replacement

I own a 2011 Tacoma and am looking to replace the headlights due to melted lenses for the daytime running lights, I've read a few threads on the subject with differing info on part numbers and availablity of upgraded versions of headlights from Toyota. I would prefer OEM Toyota, does anyone have part numbers for the supposed upgraded headlights from Toyota that corrected the running light melting issue and if they're in fact available or not? Thanks, Mike.

 

I replaced my headlights a couple of years ago and the new version were replaced by the old part number. When I ordered I received 1 new version and 1 old version.

I ended up with the old version and disabled the drls to prevent the issue.

 

Toyota OEM 09-11 Smoked lens

Old part number 81110-04210 = new part number 81110-04173 for the right
Old part number

$350 81150-04210 Toyota Genuine Parts - Headlamp Assy, Lh (81150-04210)

81150-04210 = new part number 81150-04173 for the left

edit: see post #5

 

Thanks for the reply. Would these part numbers be for headlights that remedy the lens melting DRL issue?

 

TSB with part numbers is available here.

Note that last I checked the fixed versions of the lamps were no longer available, and Toyota is superseding the new part number with the old one, meaning if you order the new one Toyota can sub the old one. They will tell you they are doing so by listing a superseding part number, but pay close attention as it is easy to miss.

 

Well crap, that's bad news - and kinda shady on Toyota's part. Mine are getting to the point where I need to replace them before winter sets in as well.

 

I know it's probably an unaswerable question but why would Toyota discontinue the upgraded lights and continue selling flawed parts? I had a front end accident around 3 years ago and my insurance would only cover my damaged right side headlight so I paid out of pocket for a new left side so that the lights would match. A coworker had told me that Toyota corrected the problems of the DRL burning the lens so I just assumed all was good with the new lights since they were OEM Toyota, three years later I think the lights look just as bad or worse than the original lights on my truck.

 

I don't think they are discontinued, I think they are just out of stock. I can still buy brand new made in the USA OEM lights for my 2003 Tacoma. Toyota does an outstanding job of supporting older vehicles with parts. I suspect they ran out of the newer stock and rather than ordering a new parts run decided to deplete their older stock first. I anticipate that at some point in the future the newer lights will be available again.

An available work around, that is less than ideal, is to run LEDs in the DRLs or disable the DRL so it isn't on all the time at full power in the daytime.

 

Stock became an issue during Covid, so I am assuming that affected production.

My 2011 came with the old style headlights and just started having the melting issue in 2021. I went ahead disables the dtrl as a precaution to keep them from melting since I couldn’t get the tsb version.

 

Did your insurance company pay to replace your headlights with OEM Toyota parts or CAPA Certified aftermarket parts? I know more than a little about how insurance companies and collision shops work. Unless you specifically state (in writing) that you demand OEM parts, you will get aftermarket crap - justified by the "CAPA Certified" label. Trust me on this one. CAPA Certified doesn't even hold a candle to OEM.

 

Yes they are OEM Toyota lights, when I dealt with the body shop I requested OEM too which the manager replied they use anyways. When I received the invoice after repairs were done it listed the Toyota parts w/numbers ordered and used including fender, grill, etc.

 

I ordered OEM headlights a bit over a year ago and was only able to source the old part number. I replaced the stock DRL with VLED V6 Tritons with the hyperflash fix. If you don't require a plug and play solution, a quick search yields a few threads with far less expensive LED DRLs.

 

Update: I ordered the part numbers from the TSB in post #5 above, 81110-04200 and 81150-04200. Took about 2 hours to replace, watched a couple YouTube videos which helped.

 

Nice! Did you buy them from a dealership?

 

I ordered them through a dealership in Arizona, paid a little over $600 including shipping and tax. Local dealer here in Hawaii had them in stock at around $900, initially tried to purchase them off eBay from a Florida dealership at $540 but they do local pickup only - sent a few messages about shipping but no replies.