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
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 58 |
| 60–100k mi | 15 |
| 1–30k mi | 12 |
| 100–150k mi | 4 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the dtr lights malfunctioned and melted the headlight case. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised him that the dtr light bulb assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. The current mileage was approximately…
Fire reported
ODI 10505409
Exterior Lighting
We have noticed the daytime running lights lens are melting and cracking on both sides. I think this is a safety issue,possible fire hazard. *tr
ODI 10478521
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the daytime running lights became overheated and fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised the contact that there were no recalls for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted who stated that there was no defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 66,000.
ODI 10490358
Exterior Lighting
The running / parking lights are burning through and melting the lens covers on both sides of headlight assemblies. There are visible burn marks and cracks on the lens for both sides of the vehicle. *tr
Fire reported
ODI 10473096
Exterior Lighting
Both front amber daytime running light lenses melting, bubbling and cracking from bulb heat. Active tsb but not valid after 36,000. *tr
ODI 10469976
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I have a 09 tacoma and the drl's have actually burned, melted and popped the lens in front of them. Also, the bulbs themselves, upon examination, have burned the socket in which they are held. You can see black around the base of them. Took it to toyota at 59k miles and i have the platinum 7year/100000mi warranty and was told it would cost me 1100 for parts alone to fix, offered no help and lied to me and said they…
ODI 10494392
Exterior Lighting
The lens on my daytime running lights are melting, and i'm worried about it might causing electrical problems or even causing a fire. *tr
ODI 10465614
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The drl (daylight running lights) bulbs were designed to close to the lens cover and the bulb is to hot. It burnt / melted the lens on both the right and left headlights. It leaves a dark spot ( approx 2.5 inches in diameter) . It happened when the outside temp was hot (greater than 105 deg f) and the running lights were on (they come on automatically when truck is started). I have looked on line (google search) and…
ODI 10559314
Exterior Lighting
Day time running light covers burnt from the heat of light bulbs being mounted to close to lens cover. Lens cover cracked, burn and at some times smolders. *tr
ODI 10515374
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My trucks headlight unit has daytime running lights "amber turn signal lighting" and its continued to cause melting around the housing. This has been going on for a year now and the dealership has been informed on more than one occasion and they refuse replacement because its not a declared recall from toyota. The light issue continues to get worse and is almost completely melted around the turn area. *tr
ODI 10460424
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he noticed that the turn signal bulbs had burned through the turn signal covering. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the turn signal bulbs were positioned too closely to the casing. The manufacturer was notified and offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
ODI 10459898
Exterior Lighting
Daytime running light (dtrl) housing burned/melted/cracked on both lh & rh. Safety related system with proper oem factory bulbs still installed. *tr
ODI 10514053
Exterior Lighting
The headlight lenses are melting in the front of the daytime running lights/turn signal. Both sides have the same issue. They both have a horizontal crack and a melted blob of plastic that will likely keep getting bigger. I consider this to be a safety hazard. While at lowes yesterday, i checked the headlights of one other tacoma, and he had the same issue. When i got home, i performed a google search and found…
ODI 10455374
Exterior Lighting
Day time running lights overheating and melting the plastic inside headlight which looks like it is burnt and black causing headlight to crack and damage to the bulbs. I have replaced driver side now and passenger side has started to melt. *js
ODI 10585414
Exterior Lighting
The headlight lenses are melting in front of the daytime running light bulbs/turn signals. I feel that this is a safety hazard and should be recalled by toyota. I was told by toyota customer service that my toyota extended platnium warrentee will not cover this part and they will not authorize the replacement of the headlights. *tr
ODI 10452762
Exterior Lighting
Tl * the contact owns a 2009 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the headlight lens would continuously overheat and become cracked. The contact was concerned that the vehicle would possibly catch on fire since the bulb was so close to the lens. The vehicle was not taken for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was…
Fire reported
ODI 10573851
Exterior Lighting
Front amber turn lamps bubbled, look very hot on plastic lens, burnt through, could possibly cause fire? Lens cracked. *tr
ODI 10694228
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Daytime running lights are to close to the plastic in front of the bulb, which has cracked and melted the plastic lens, which is a fire hazard. *tr
ODI 10450706
Exterior Lighting
The plastic lens covering the daytime running lights/blinkers are melting and cracked. The cause appears to be from the lights which are on when the engine is on. Left and right side lens are melted. *tr
ODI 10472857
Exterior Lighting
Daytime running lights are too hot causing the plastic lenses to crack, melt, and burn. Toyota is treating this as purely cosmetic in t-sb # 0129-11 (for 6 model years they were aware of it). This listing should be changed to a safety recall, that amount of heat could start a vehicle fire. *tr
ODI 10497745
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the daytime running lights were melting the headlight lenses. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the lenses would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and offered to pay for the cost of the lens but not for the labor costs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was…
Fire reported
ODI 10487209
Body · Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The daytime running lights have melted and cracked the lens/plastic. These are also used as front end turn signals. If these fail, it could be a major safety hazard. While there is a tsb, the dealership denied to pay for replacements since my 36k warranty has now expired. This is not something that just started to happen and toyota is aware of the problem. *tr
ODI 10480100
Exterior Lighting
The drls/turn signals of the 2009 toyota tacoma have a faulty design resulting with the lens melting (toyota calls it bubbling) and cracking. Toyota did issue a recent tsb (t-sb-0129-11) to replace the headlight assemblies on impacted trucks. Several model years were included. The tsb is worded that only trucks with less than 36k miles and less than 36 months old will be repaired. My truck had about 40k miles and…
ODI 10468007
Exterior Lighting
I noticed that the dtrl had started to melt the amber lenses and brought it to the attention of my local dealer. Although i was still within the warranty mileage, i was over by a few months on the 36-month warranty (i bought the truck used in dec-2011.) i just heard from my local dealer that i've been trying to work with concerning the melting lenses in my '09 tacoma trd. I tried to get toyota to replace the lamp…
ODI 10464632
Exterior Lighting
The running lights melt the plastic headlamp covers and literally melt the plastic, this is a picture of my second set that are also melting
ODI 11058589
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2009 Toyota Tacoma.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.