Headlight problem

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by ttabbal

It seems that HID bulbs just die this way. Not like the old incandescent bulbs that generally just stop working. At least this way, you get some notice that you need to get them replaced. My 2006 had the driver side start going out intermittently. Turning them off then on would re-light both of them fine. Replacing the bulbs corrected it and I haven't had a single problem since.

With the insane costs from the dealer, the only way to go is EBay, IMO. And you can change the color a bit if you're into that.

This has gotten ridiculous!... bear with me while I rant..

But these are dying prematurely! An HID bulb should last 8 - 10 times longer than a Halogen... which is well over 100K miles.. even if you run them in the day "which I don't".

I have tried to impart this for a long time, but only a few are getting it... "Its the bulbs and only the bulbs!"... you don't need to spend tons of money making the dealers rich!

I think people sense my anger and frustration and so discount the credibility of what I say.

These bulbs from the factory are either of poor design or the ballast that fires them does not quite match the needed voltage they desire and so start dying prematurely needing a refire while still warm to continue the burn.

My gut tells me its the bulbs or else other bulbs would have the same fits..... so far they are holding up for 30K+ miles after changing. Only time will tell if they go bad too.. if so, the ballast is underpowered.
Regardless, the immediate fix is to replace the bulbs. If you can get the ballast replaced to.. more power to you!

Either way,... ebay bulbs seem to fix the problem "69.00 for two".
*Its really ashamed Toyota has still not given special grace for such premature failures....ridiculous!.
*Dealers only fixing one side..... ridiculous!
*Charging for labor and parts when this is an exception to normal wear.... ridiculous! as its become quite obvious this is a bad lot of bulbs or a bad match with the ballast... other bulbs seem to work just fine... even the cheap chinese bulbs?.....
*wanting to run expensive diagnostics when the problem is so widespread its obvious what the fix is....... ridiculous!
*wanting to replace parts at the owners expense that doesn't fix the problem nor ever has as it is very well documented now that a bulb change is the only fix yet they can't seem to get it!...... ridiculous!
*Not admitting that parts are fallible and Toyota making this whole thing good as repeat customers are one of the biggest draws for new car sales......ridiculous!
*Toyota should be looking for an excuse to take care of the customer and make them happy rather than look for an excuse not to......ridiculous!

This whole process is out of order!.... this whole issue is ridiculous!.. I feel like Al Pacino!!!
We've gone almost 500 posts and still going... and thats just this particular thread on this issue as there are others.......ridiculous!
*This problem has been crazy since 2006 and now even the 2008 cars are showing up with the problem and Toyota's fix is to just do away with HID in their new 2010's?........ ridiculous!
*Other manufacturers aren't having this problem with thier HID's?
HID is an awesome light source... very efficient and bright for the power used and almost impossible to beat for lighting up the whole road both in the foreground as well as the distance at the same time.... it just flat out has allot of lumens!
*I"ve seen enough LED's on the road now to know there is no comparison in performance.... the 2010 has taken a step backwards in performance in the lighting department yet the cost has risen. We now get Halogen again and the expensive LED's which "as efficient as they are", just don't light up the world like HID.. sorry, but true.

I am dissappointed Toyota has not stepped up the the plate and fixed the problem but rather ran from it.....

Its a real let-down to find the company I idolized as being so special apart from all the others is no different in thier ethics.

This is like paying for an expensive dinner and having everything perfect, except the two flies in the soup and the owner denying there is a problem but to appease us is willing to "split the bill".

Would you walk out of that restaurant wanting to come back?

For those of you who think I"m excited and over-reacting... I"ve followed this issue from the beginning and its gone on far long enough... this is now flat out ridiculous!


Thanks.. I feel better now!

[yardman 49]

Originally Posted by windstrings

This has gotten ridiculous!... bear with me while I rant..

That's ok, Alan. You are allowed to rant. After all, you were kind enough to post your experiences and solutions, to the benefit of all of us.

The halogens on my VW Beetle would only get about a year out of them before dying. If I can get a few years out of my HIDs, I'd be happy!

Best wishes,

[NoVaSnow]

Originally Posted by NoVaSnow

I just started experiencing the problem on my '06. Two weeks past 36 months (and at about 44K), my driver's side light went out. So far, it's just the one light, and of course it's intermittent and unpredictable. I just filed my NHTSA complaint. I am due for an oil change this week and was going to ask my dealer (Miller Toyota, Manassas, VA) to look into the headlight problem while I'm there.

Should I call the Toyota Customer Experience people first? Or should I just see how the dealer handles it before I open a case?

I filed my NHTSA complaint Monday, June 15.

I got my Toyota case number Tuesday, June 16. The Toyota rep. said I should contact the dealer and that someone should call me today. She implied that I would probably have to pay up front but may be reimbursed under the goodwill policy.

The car is at the dealer now. I'm awaiting their analysis.

Meanwhile, I'm driving a rental Corolla. Ugh. What a step down.

[GreenIsGood]

My Toyota customer service rep said that the company was aware that bulbs installed on car manufactured during a certain period of more than a year (lucky me, I got in right on the tail end of it because mine was built in October 2007) were the ones we're all talking about.

Now, my car was still under warranty so having this done was just a matter of time and frustration on my part, but the rep did hint that had I been beyond the warranty period, Toyota would have made it right anyway.
Couldn't hurt to ask...
Good luck

[NoVaSnow]

Originally Posted by NoVaSnow

I filed my NHTSA complaint Monday, June 15.

I got my Toyota case number Tuesday, June 16. The Toyota rep. said I should contact the dealer and that someone should call me today. She implied that I would probably have to pay up front but may be reimbursed under the goodwill policy.

The car is at the dealer now. I'm awaiting their analysis.

Meanwhile, I'm driving a rental Corolla. Ugh. What a step down.

Just got the call from the dealer. The guy said it was working fine. I said I didn't care. I didn't want to pick it up and have it go out again and have to bring it back. I was persistent in wanting it fixed. At that point, he said he had already talked to the service manager and the manager had agreed to cover the cost of the bulbs (he said about $200 each) and they would charge me the labor ($150). I said go ahead and do it. I still intend to fight Toyota for the $150.

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by NoVaSnow

Just got the call from the dealer. The guy said it was working fine. I said I didn't care. I didn't want to pick it up and have it go out again and have to bring it back. I was persistent in wanting it fixed. At that point, he said he had already talked to the service manager and the manager had agreed to cover the cost of the bulbs (he said about $200 each) and they would charge me the labor ($150). I said go ahead and do it. I still intend to fight Toyota for the $150.

I keep seeing these reports of negotiation among dealers.
It only makes me think Toyota could possibly be paying the whole tab, but the dealers may try to get paid again by the customer as much as possible?

Otherwise, do we really think the dealer is "eating" the cost of the bulbs for 150.00 of labor?... the math doesn't add up.

I'm sure Toyota knows the scoop but cannot reveal whats up to us because the dealers have the right to demand whatever price the market will bear for their products once purchased from Toyota.

And I also "doubt" Toyota pays for the parts and not the labor too!
They are too black and white, it will be none or all.

Sorry I'm so skeptical, or am I?

[NoVaSnow]

Originally Posted by windstrings

I keep seeing these reports of negotiation among dealers.
It only makes me think Toyota could possibly be paying the whole tab, but the dealers may try to get paid again by the customer as much as possible?

Otherwise, do we really think the dealer is "eating" the cost of the bulbs for 150.00 of labor?... the math doesn't add up.

I'm sure Toyota knows the scoop but cannot reveal whats up to us because the dealers have the right to demand whatever price the market will bear for their products once purchased from Toyota.

And I also "doubt" Toyota pays for the parts and not the labor too!
They are too black and white, it will be none or all.

Sorry I'm so skeptical, or am I?

Nothing wrong with being skeptical!

I figure I'm almost where I need to be, based on the experience of others. Since I already have a case number, I don't expect to have a problem being reimbursed. Of course, I'm an eternal optimist (not that there's anything wrong with that).

[NoVaSnow]

Originally Posted by NoVaSnow

Nothing wrong with being skeptical!

I figure I'm almost where I need to be, based on the experience of others. Since I already have a case number, I don't expect to have a problem being reimbursed. Of course, I'm an eternal optimist (not that there's anything wrong with that).

My optimism took a hit.

I spoke with my Toyota caseworker (Nader Nolastname) and told him of the offer (free bulbs; $150 labor). He said that it sounded like the kind of offer that would come from Regional and was the best I would get. I said that I understood that others had gotten full reimubursement at similar mileage but beyond 36 months. (My 36 months were up 5/13. I first noticed the problem about 5/30.)

He put me on hold to call the dealer. When he came back, he said he was not able to speak with anyone at the dealer. I said I would pay the $150 but I intended to pursue this further to seek full reimbursement.

I picked up the car last night. The new headlights are nice and bright. I will be curious to see how long they last.

I was disappointed to discover that the shop gouged a significant scratch into the bumper cover just below the right headlight. There were some smaller gouges just below the seal on both headlights. It makes me wonder whether they actually removed the bumper cover (as they claimed they had to do). There was also a small chip on the edge of the hood, right next to the left headlight.

It was raining and getting dark, so I couldn't do a real good inspection. I went back inside and told them what I had seen. They said I would have to call today and speak with either my service writer or some other guy and of course they would take care of it. I have not called yet.

The damage is not significant, and I could certainly live with it. However, I don't want them to get away with it.

I still intend to press Toyota about complete reimbursement. I don't know what I'll do about the gouges. I'll see how the dealer handles it before I make my next move.

I have had all my servicing done at this dealer (Miller Toyota, Manassas, VA) and have been very happy with them. This is my first bad experience with them.

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by NoVaSnow

I was disappointed to discover that the shop gouged a significant scratch into the bumper cover just below the right headlight. There were some smaller gouges just below the seal on both headlights. It makes me wonder whether they actually removed the bumper cover (as they claimed they had to do). There was also a small chip on the edge of the hood, right next to the left headlight.

A sidenote, for around 6.00bucks or so you can get a bottle of paint from the dealer "has a little brush inside and pen" that matches your paint exactly. Without that, by car would have tons of little dings and chips visible from rocks etc.

Unless you get about 1 foot away and have good eyes, you can't tell at all unless your really know what your looking for.

Of course.. do that "after" you finish your negotiations!

[Cynda]

Well, here I am, adding to this horrible 50 page string of nonsence regarding headlights.
Our car is an 06. We replaced one headlight in 2007, under warranty. The other went out in 2008, not under warranty,but replaced free of charge as a 'courtesy' now we're in 2009, and both headlights went out on me last week while I was driving home in the dark. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and then GGGGGGGGGGERRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
We took it to the dealer on saturday, where we have had every maintenance check done from the day we purchased the vehicle. They gave us an estimate of "a little over 700$, if it's just the bulbs"....but asked me to bring it back in this week to do a full look-see, to make sure it isn't something electrical. Of course I figure this is just their way of saying it's something else, and charging us, because it's not the headlight problem. I HAVE HAD NO OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE, EVER.

We came home and called the Toyota customer care, they assigned us a case number, and said they would call the service center this week, before making a determination. They were nice enough, but offered no concrete promises. We explained that we had a full maintenance history, that each headlight had been replaced previously, and if there was a competent "fix" why didn't they do it when the lights were a problem the first time. We also let them know we were aware of the NHTSA filings for this problem, and did not expect to have to pay annually for a repair that doesn't resolve the problem. Sigh....we'll see what kind of answer we get on Wednesday.