2021 OEM LED Headlights

[Saker]

I know it has been stated here on the forums about our 2021 OEM LED Headlights on the non TRD Pro and the Limited.

I am specifically referring to the Low Beam LED.
Light projecting from the LED Modules has a shadow from something inside that module.
Close to a wall, there are what appears as a rectangular shadow.
On the highway, out say 100 ft or more, the shadow in the projected beam is quite evident.
I have contacted my dealership after contacting Toyota Corporate to inform them of this defect in the manufacturing and release onto our vehicles.
There should not be any shadows in the projected beam of a headlight!
They acted like they have not heard of any such issues!
So I emailed them photos of what we see, asking them to have their Engineers and/or Techs look into this.
IMHO, how can this get past quality control?

May I suggest, anyone that sees these shadows in their projected beams, contact Toyota Corporate @ 1-800-331-4331 and voice their concern.

Just swapping them out for another set will not correct the issue.

Here are some photos from other members that display the shadows.

see the shadow just to the right of the black SUV?

Garage Door:

Again, Garage Door:

Wall:

I know some here say they are not worried about them, or if you turn on your high beam they go away..... well that's fine, that's your opinion and you don't have to voice your concern here.

This thread is for informational purposes for us that have, what we feel is a legitimate concern. safety being foremost!

You don't have to post here, but it may help. At least think about your safety and your family and others and contact the people that manufactured your vehicle.

Have a great day!

 

[Rainier42]

These shadows are not just with the 2021 4Runner. My wife has a 2021 Rav4 with LED lows and has the same shadows. My guess is it is across the Toyota lineup.

 

[Saker]

These shadows are not just with the 2021 4Runner. My wife has a 2021 Rav4 with LED lows and has the same shadows. My guess is it is across the Toyota lineup.

Oh I wasn’t aware of that. That’s not good!

 

[Axix23]

I see the shadows on mine too. You can see more of the shadow when it shines far away.

 

[justanothereric]

I made a thread about this too because it pissed me off so bad after coming from driving BMWs the last decade.

2021 OFP LED Headlamps

I guess it's normal..although I've driven Lexus, Acura, Mercedes and Audis all with LED headlamps and NONE of them have this missing dead zone in the light beam pattern and they all have cleaner cut off lines. Toyota just threw led modules in a xenon housing.

 

[Axix23]

I made a thread about this too because it pissed me off so bad after coming from driving BMWs the last decade.

2021 OFP LED Headlamps

I guess it's normal..although I've driven Lexus, Acura, Mercedes and Audis all with LED headlamps and NONE of them have this missing dead zone in the light beam pattern and they all have cleaner cut off lines. Toyota just threw led modules in a xenon housing.

These are still way better than any drop in hids/leds into the previous halogen headlights.
The drop in leds/hids produced a very weird beam pattern. They didn’t just throw led projectors into a xenon housing. It was a halogen housing. And there is more to it than that. You think the Toyota engineers tested the lighting and etc.?

I am just glad Toyota finally listened and threw in leds. Just have had leds in the 4 runner headlights a LONG time ago. Since the corolla got them way before!!!

 

[Saker]

Let’s please not sidetrack this thread with “they did this better than that”.
That’s not the purpose of this thread!

Thanks in advance!

 

[justanothereric]

These are still way better than any drop in hids/leds into the previous halogen headlights.
The drop in leds/hids produced a very weird beam pattern. They didn’t just throw led projectors into a xenon housing. It was a halogen housing. And there is more to it than that. You think the Toyota engineers tested the lighting and etc.?

I am just glad Toyota finally listened and threw in leds. Just have had leds in the 4 runner headlights a LONG time ago. Since the corolla got them way before!!!

I think if they did a better job there wouldn't be a blemish in the beam pattern. Lexus cars don't have them..same parent company. I feel like they just didn't think 4Runner buyers would care enough; but there's actually a handful of us that do and are aware of how great LED projection can be if designed correctly.

 

[Axix23]

I think if they did a better job there wouldn't be a blemish in the beam pattern. Lexus cars don't have them..same parent company. I feel like they just didn't think 4Runner buyers would care enough; but there's actually a handful of us that do and are aware of how great LED projection can be if designed correctly.

Yeah. Oh well

 

[steraser]

I have noticed this on my 2021 TRD Pro.

 

[Axix23]

To the OP, what are you asking from Toyota? Like a massive recall on the headlights where every 2021 4 runner goes back to the dealership for a new redesigned led headlight without the squares? That would be insane. lol

 

[Birddog1911]

I think if they did a better job there wouldn't be a blemish in the beam pattern. Lexus cars don't have them..same parent company. I feel like they just didn't think 4Runner buyers would care enough; but there's actually a handful of us that do and are aware of how great LED projection can be if designed correctly.

It's not like Toyota has a stellar track record of listening to their loyal fan base and being welcome to innovation. FFS, they never even bothered with heated mirrors in the FJ Cruiser.

ETA: And yes, my '21 TRD OR has the same artifacts in the light pattern.

 

[Birddog1911]

[MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION], did you have any sort of feeling like they're receptive to criticism?

 

[Saker]

To the OP, what are you asking from Toyota? Like a massive recall on the headlights where every 2021 4 runner goes back to the dealership for a new redesigned led headlight without the squares? That would be insane. lol

So [MENTION=231803]Axix23[/MENTION], what would you compromise for safety of say, your mom, your dad, your sister, your brother ?
To say it’s Ok, because a manufacturer allowed headlights to be installed on vehicles that has obvious defects.
Do you think this is a admissible defect? If you do, you don’t have a clue.
So it would be insane for a company to recall before a vast number of headlights assemblies are installed at the risk of safety?

Maybe they will not do anything to remedy this situation, but if you or people like you don’t stand up and point things like this out then you stand to accept anything sub quality that manufactures deem you are worthy of.

Remember the airbag recall? Did enough people die from defective airbags?
What would an appropriate number have been?
How many vehicles had to go back to the dealerships for airbag recalls?
Did you lol then?

 

[Saker]

[MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION], did you have any sort of feeling like they're receptive to criticism?

They wanted me to have the dealership document the issue so it would have a paper trail. They did respond to me via phone after the first phone call to get more information.
They were responsive, but had to follow company protocols.

 

[Axix23]

So [MENTION=231803]Axix23[/MENTION], what would you compromise for safety of say, your mom, your dad, your sister, your brother ?
To say it’s Ok, because a manufacturer allowed headlights to be installed on vehicles that has obvious defects.
Do you think this is a admissible defect? If you do, you don’t have a clue.
So it would be insane for a company to recall before a vast number of headlights assemblies are installed at the risk of safety?

Maybe they will not do anything to remedy this situation, but if you or people like you don’t stand up and point things like this out then you stand to accept anything sub quality that manufactures deem you are worthy of.

Remember the airbag recall? Did enough people die from defective airbags?
What would an appropriate number have been?
How many vehicles had to go back to the dealerships for airbag recalls?
Did you lol then?

Good point, I actually feel safer driving with them now than the drop in leds. I see the void your talking about but its a tiny area and doesn't affect my down path light. it actually shines out farther than any of my oem led cars..... But I see what your saying, you paid for a brand new 2021 and expect it to be perfect with 0 defects in the lighting...... I really hope they do a recall on the 2021.

 

[TRD PANTHER]

Saker, did the same shadow appear in your 2014? I have a 2018 Pro, as you know, and my headlamps are probably the same as your ‘14. Does the halogen update to the non led headlamps create this issue? Also, what aftermarket head lamps would you go with if this doesn’t get resolved by Toyota?

 

[Saker]

Saker, did the same shadow appear in your 2014? I have a 2018 Pro, as you know, and my headlamps are probably the same as your ‘14. Does the halogen update to the non led headlamps create this issue? Also, what aftermarket head lamps would you go with if this doesn’t get resolved by Toyota?

No shadows in my 2014 OEM halogen side firing headlamp assemblies. This phenomenon appears to be on the newer headlamp assemblies with the LED Modules only. I don’t know of any halogen updates on non LED headlamps.
I don’t know what the replacement would be to the OEM headlamps. As stated, they work very well with the one caveat.

 

[TRD PANTHER]

No shadows in my 2014 OEM halogen side firing headlamp assemblies. This phenomenon appears to be on the newer headlamp assemblies with the LED Modules only. I don’t know of any halogen updates on non LED headlamps.
I don’t know what the replacement would be to the OEM headlamps. As stated, they work very well with the one caveat.

Did you do the bulb upgrade to your 2014. I can’t recall if it is the H9 or H11? I want to do an inexpensive upgrade to my 2018 lamps. Edit: I see you don’t know of any halogen updates to non LED headlamps.

 

[Birddog1911]

They wanted me to have the dealership document the issue so it would have a paper trail. They did respond to me via phone after the first phone call to get more information.
They were responsive, but had to follow company protocols.

May take a bunch of us doing this. Mine has to have a 1K check on the lift, and I'll have my dealer do the same.