1. Toyota Tacoma
  2. Problems
  3. 2009
  4. Exterior Lighting

2009 Toyota Tacoma Exterior Lighting Problems

102
Owner complaint records in our dataset

Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.

Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.

Among these 102 stored complaint records:

  • 0 indicate a crash
  • 0 indicate injury
  • 16 indicate fire

What owners report

  • running lights · 56 records
  • daytime running · 50 records
  • running light · 18 records
  • turn signal · 18 records
  • melted cracked · 16 records
  • fire hazard · 14 records

Mileage in stored records

BandRecords
30–60k mi58
60–100k mi15
1–30k mi12
100–150k mi4

Complaint records

Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.

  • March 15, 2019

    Electrical System · Exterior Lighting

    Headlight lens get hot melted lens, light bulb plug is also burned ready to crack this is a safety issue

    ODI 11187394

  • March 4, 2019

    Exterior Lighting

    Front headlights have yellow signal and daytime running lights that are always on and the light bulb heat up causing the plastic to heat and melt and still feel hot when using on a long drive. I worry about my car catching on fire

    Fire reported

    ODI 11183962

  • August 28, 2018

    Exterior Lighting

    2009 toyota tacoma. Consumer writes in regards to bubble and crack in passenger front turn signal. *ld the consumer stated the dealer refused to repair the vehicle due to the expiration date for the repair to be made ended in 2015.*js

    ODI 11122568

  • September 20, 2017

    Exterior Lighting

    Headlamps drl bulbs burned through lens. Toyota will not cover even though this was recalled previously. The design of these headlights is flawed!

    ODI 11024696

  • April 7, 2017

    Exterior Lighting

    DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS MELTED HEADLIGHTS

    ODI 10993102

  • February 15, 2016 · 83,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Parking light assembly built into headlight assembly have broken and looks like they are ready to catch fire. Split in to causing lens to blacken

    ODI 10826160

  • February 4, 2016

    Exterior Lighting

    Daytime running lights have burned and cracked lenses. Toyota corporate says the recall is over. This needs to be fixed--repair costs over $500. Please help--

    ODI 10824547

  • January 22, 2016

    Exterior Lighting

    Both headlamp assemblies inner lens distorted/bubbling, and one side is cracked with the inner lens separated

    ODI 10823195

  • August 19, 2015 · 120,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Burnt headlight len. The running light lens is burnt and cracked due to overheating. When i tried to contact toyota's recall phone number, after over a dozen attempts, the number was always busy.

    ODI 11252528

  • August 7, 2014 · 80,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    The running lights melted the lenses at 35000 miles and i took my truck back to toyota and they replaced the lights, said they put bulbs in there that would not get as hot. Now at over 80000 miles they have melted again, the plastic is turning black, looks like a possible fire hazard. I have seen this same issue with other similar models. Toyota is aware of the problem, needs to recall and properly fix! *tr

    ODI 10619534

  • August 2, 2014 · 40,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    My amber driving light lens within the headlight assemblies are burned, one has broken in half. *tr

    ODI 10618415

  • August 1, 2014 · 96,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Amber inside turn signal lamps attached to front headlights are scorching inside lens of headlight assembly. *tr

    ODI 10621143

  • July 2, 2014 · 55,046 miles

    Air Bags · Exterior Lighting

    Air bag light on, toyota found dtc s b1785 occupant classification sensor front left collision detection, b1650 occupant system malfunction, zero point calibration and sensitivity check done but toyota hawaii says we need to replace front right seat sensor mat assy. Is that a safety issue and is this a manufacture defect? Took to toyota 3 times now for the same issue of the air bag light coming on. Please advise,…

    ODI 10607942

  • April 12, 2014 · 47,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Front turn signal lights burning and melting lens. Inspection of plastic bulb socket shows signs of heat damage and potential fire hazard. *js

    ODI 10579348

  • March 3, 2014 · 56,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Lens covers for amber daytime running light (drl) bulbs have melted and cracked due to heat output of the bulb. A brief investigation indicates this is a common issue in this model. *tr

    ODI 10566830

  • February 28, 2014 · 67,000 miles

    Electrical System · Exterior Lighting

    Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the day time running light system failed which caused the lens to fracture and the bulbs to burn. The turning signals that are connect to the daytime running lights also failed. The contact replaced the daytime running light bulbs several times; however, the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The daytime…

    ODI 10568733

  • February 27, 2014 · 34,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Noted scorched spot of about 2" diameter in center of both front amber daytime running lights/turn signals. Vehicle has only 34,000 miles but is over warranty age limit. I was at dealership for seatbelt recall and asked service mgr to look at. He stated that there was no recalls but that he had seen "some of this" before. He gave me # for "my toyota experience" and eventually talked to someone in california. They…

    ODI 10566631

  • February 25, 2014

    Exterior Lighting

    The daytime running lights that's also the turn signals have melted and cracked the lens on my 2009 toyota tacoma crew cab sr5 4x4. *tr

    ODI 10565890

  • February 22, 2014 · 48,057 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Driving light/amber signal light on front of vehicle. Bulbs are too hot and have melted the lens inside the headlight assembly. Socket that bulb plugs into is also charring from heat. Concern that plastic will ignite if left unresolved. Vehicle is toyota tacoma 2009 pre-runner. *tr

    ODI 10565412

  • February 15, 2014 · 500 miles

    Electrical System · Exterior Lighting

    The daytime running lights have melted the lens and the high heat has also cracked and distorted the main head light lens on my 2009 toyota tacoma. *tr

    ODI 10564551

  • February 15, 2014 · 110,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Lens covers for amber daytime running light (drl) bulbs have melted and cracked due to heat output of the bulb. A brief investigation indicates this is a common issue in this model. *tr

    ODI 10564461

  • February 3, 2014 · 38,500 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    The bulb to the daylight running lights melted the lens in front of it and broke it in two pieces. This is for both lights. This bulb is too close to the lens, probably a defect in engineering or design. These lights are constantly on and there is no way to turn them off. I'm afraid something will catch on fire. I called toyota dealership and was told they couldn't fix it because i didn't have extended warranty. I…

    ODI 10587526

  • January 2, 2014 · 14,035 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Both headlamp lenses are melted and cracked from the drl (daytime running lights) bulb heat. Either bulbs are too close to the lenses or the wattage is too high. This defect is not the relult of any accident or incident, just from normal use. *tr

    ODI 10559085

  • December 29, 2013 · 65,000 miles

    Electrical System · Exterior Lighting

    The day time running lights that also doubles as turn signals are burning a hole through the plastic lens inside the headlights and cracking the lens as well. These are a known issue with toyota and they put out a t-sb-0129-11 on september 7th, 2011 and called it an "appearance concern". It is also a fire hazard as i don't believe the lenses should be melting. *tr

    ODI 10559258

  • November 16, 2013 · 103,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    The amber running lights have melted and on the drivers side has had cracked in half. Seems to me tpo much heat from the factory bulbs used. Seems to be a safety hazard could possible case a fire? Do to the heat.i asked dealer says no recall. I have looked at other used trucks on lots and they have the same problem.. Go on the internet and your site, you will see i am not the only one with this problem. *tr

    ODI 10552558

Catalog parts for this system

Catalog year/make/model rows for 2009 Toyota Tacoma.

Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.