1. Toyota Tacoma
  2. Problems
  3. 2011
  4. Exterior Lighting

2011 Toyota Tacoma Exterior Lighting Problems

27
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 27 stored complaint records:

  • 0 indicate a crash
  • 0 indicate injury
  • 3 indicate fire

What owners report

  • running lights · 17 records
  • daytime running · 16 records
  • running light · 6 records
  • turn signal · 4 records
  • distorted bubbled · 4 records

Mileage in stored records

BandRecords
60–100k mi10
30–60k mi8
1–30k mi4
100–150k mi1

Complaint records

Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.

  • August 15, 2019 · 148,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    I have had to replace my headlights 4 times in two years.

    ODI 11268724

  • September 27, 2018

    Electrical System · Exterior Lighting

    The running lights are running too hot burning the headlamp and burning the connecting wires

    ODI 11132222

  • August 15, 2018 · 80,812 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Daytime running lights bubbling again after recall and replacement. Noticed it yesterday (8/15/18). The truck has 80,812 miles and the recall notice said warranty only good until 5 years or 70,000 whichever comes first. Seems to me they put new bad ones in when they replaced them under the recall. Not sure exactly when they started bubbling again.

    ODI 11120365

  • May 7, 2018 · 58,000 miles

    Electrical System · Exterior Lighting

    This is a complaint with toyota. I bought my 2011 toyota tacoma pre runner sport brand new. this is a complaint with toyota. I bought my 2011 toyota tacoma prerunner sport brand new. About a year ago, i noticed my amber "daytime running lights" were becoming discolored, it had the appearance of the bulb becoming hot, melting and discoloring my amber lenses. At that time it was just starting to turn colors.…

    ODI 11092384

  • March 10, 2018 · 65,282 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    The inner daytime running light/turn signal lens becomes distorted and bubbled with a brown, scorched residue which obscures and/or diminishes the running light and turn signal functions to on-coming traffic. Additionally, the inner lens is cracked and/or separated. Toyota did offer a warranty extension on this defect so it has been acknowledged as a problem. This warranty extension has since expired although the…

    ODI 11078773

  • March 6, 2018 · 93,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the daytime running lamps became really hot. The contact then noticed that the daytime running lights turned brown and melted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called temecula valley toyota at [redacted] ([redacted], temecula, ca 92591) and was informed to call the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified and informed the…

    Fire reported

    ODI 11076649

  • November 1, 2017 · 75,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    My daytime running lights quit working because they got too hot and burned the lens and bulb socket. This caused my front and rear right blinkers to cease working and could have had disastrous results.

    ODI 11045356

  • July 21, 2017 · 52,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Day time running lights are too hot. The bulbs have melted and bubbled the plastic housing. Called toyota and they said it was out of warranty and that a notice was sent out about this issue which i never received. Took my truck to two different dealerships and was never told about any issue. Toyota will not cover any repairs or replacements.

    ODI 11006740

  • July 7, 2017 · 40,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    The plastic headlight housing over the daytime running lights is melting / bubbling. The truck has only 40,000 miles. Toyota will not replace or repair under warranty enhancement. Possible fire hazard.

    ODI 11004273

  • June 1, 2017 · 80,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    My headlight assembly lens were distorted and bubbled on both side of the vehicle. Toyota replaced the headlights twice on the right & 1 on the left. Now the one on the right is distorted and bubbled again and toyota refused to replace it because it is outside the 5 years/70,000 mi warranty. This is a potential fire hazard and a defect from the design. Please see attached picture for reference.

    ODI 11020006

  • May 22, 2017

    Exterior Lighting

    The bulbs in the daytime running lights are melting the lenses.

    ODI 10991610

  • May 1, 2017 · 65,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    The running light lens on driver's side is fogged and cracked. Toyota issued a voluntary recall and sent me a letter that they would replace part up to 5 years or 70,000 miles. I have 65,000 miles but my truck is greater than 5 years old, and they would not replace the part after i contacted them. According to my local dealer this will eventually happen to the other side as well.

    ODI 11001301

  • January 28, 2017

    Electrical System · Exterior Lighting

    [xxx] lightning/electrical i want to report safety issues with my toyota tacoma. When i bought tacoma in san antonio, brand new in 2011, a few months later the daytime running light (drl) and turn signal lens become distorted, bubbled, and cracked. I did a google search, and it was an extremely common issue with many owners complaints. I told my dealership and it was "normal" and i was required to pay to get it…

    ODI 11022801

  • January 1, 2016 · 20,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Headlights are forming cracks in lenses, and they are growing.

    ODI 11098374

  • September 1, 2015 · 65,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    My 2011 toyota tacoma has apparently has had a design flaw since even before 2009 in the front turn signal housing. The design flaw causes the lense to melt from extreme heat build up in the housing causing the bulb to burn out and ultimately the socket to char and in my case deform to the point i couldn't replace the bulb. Toyota has in september 2011 released a technical bulletin instructing there techs on how to…

    Fire reported

    ODI 10934539

  • April 8, 2015 · 38,564 miles

    Exterior Lighting · Structure

    The running lights area developed cracks and a round shape cloudy area in front of the light bulb like it melting the plastic. *tr

    ODI 10704483

  • March 26, 2015 · 35,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Purchased new toyota tacoma 2011 from local dealer. Problem is with daytime running lights getting too hot and burning and cracking lens. Customer service says they sent out warranty policy bulletin (pol14-03) , but i never received notice. They also say both warranties they created because of this problem, have expired, and will not pay for repairs. I am worried they may start a fire because of the overheating.

    ODI 11025324

  • June 19, 2014 · 77,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    This vehicle has 2 front daytime running lights. The lights in this area are overheating and causing the lighting case to have a "bubble" in the bulb casing. This is causing damage to both driver and passenger headlamps. This is caused when as soon as the vehicle is turned on and when parked or driving. *tr

    ODI 10604444

  • April 5, 2014 · 38,670 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Looks like burn marks from the amber driving lights. Also, there are bubbles and cracks in the headlight covers. *tr

    ODI 10577579

  • March 4, 2014 · 62,220 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    My daytime running light bulbs are beginning to melt the lenses. The drl are a safety item and toyota has not issued a recall for this. I feel as the truck ages the drl will continue to melt and will not be as visible to other drivers. Also if the headlamp assemblies build up enough heat it could pose a fire risk. *tr

    ODI 10567068

  • January 8, 2014 · 40,350 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Took vehicle in to dealer for other work. Was told by service advisor that technician found my headlights to be melting. Service advisor showed me problem and said it was daylight running lights. They were cracked and burned as was the assembly. I was quoted a price of $1300 to replace them. I purchased the vehicle new and have had it for 2 1/2 years. This is a hazard and a danger and they should be replaced by…

    ODI 10559333

  • December 18, 2013 · 69,300 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Noted during wash that the daytime running lights have a quarter size melted spot directly in front of the bulb and one lens has cracked apparently from heat and the near proximity of the bulb to lens. Potential may exist where this could cause a fire. It appears that no recall is being processed to address this manufacturer issue and many people are experiencing the problem form the 2008/9 year through 2011. Toyota…

    ODI 10559113

  • July 31, 2013 · 25,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the contact noticed burn marks on both front head lamps caused by the daytime running lights. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the head lamps needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure who stated that a voluntary recall for the failure had expired.…

    Fire reported

    ODI 10888711

  • October 19, 2012 · 44,000 miles

    Exterior Lighting

    Daytime running lights melting, may cause possible fire to vehicle. Several toyota tacoma truck owner's at workplace have same problem with their drl. Toyota dealer stating unaware of problems and they never heard of any issues regarding the drl melting. *tr

    ODI 10481083

  • May 1, 2012 · 25,000 miles

    Electrical System · Exterior Lighting

    The daytime running lights have burned into the inner areas of my headlight assemblies and it continues to get worse. Seeing as they cannot be turned off and they continue to get worse i fear they may one day cause a fire or further damage. I have talked to the dealer, toyota corporate and they will do nothing and show no concern for the issue, i drive alot of miles and purchased a toyota due to dependability. When…

    ODI 10592975

Catalog parts for this system

Catalog year/make/model rows for 2011 Toyota Tacoma.

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