2024 Headlight Issue

Just traded my 2020 4R for a 2024 and so far I am not impressed with the headlights. They seem to float going down the road. I am not sure if it’s the definitive line between the lit area and the dark area or what, but it’s definitely different from my 20 model and reminds me of riding in a boat. Also there are 2 rectangular shadows in the lights that make it look like something is chasing the truck on dark roads at night. I see it’s a fairly common complaint, has anyone found a remedy?

 

That is totally normal. You can adjust the headlights, or..........you can swap them out for aftermarket.

 

The clip blocks a certain part of the light to prevent glare into oncoming drivers. There is no fix.

 

The only fix is to pull the headlights apart and cut the tab off the shutter that causes the dark spot. Or swap to less performant aftermarket headlights

 

I noticed and complained about the sharp dark cut off when i got my 2022.
Unfortunately, its by design. If aimed any higher. The high beam would completely blind oncoming vehicles or shine right into mirrors of vehicles in front.
Tried local light installers.
Just switch to auto high beams. Helps.

 

I just upgraded from a 2013 4runner to a 2024 and was looking forward to having LED lights but the 4Runner lights are dangerous. Going to hill the lights project 8 car lengths and there is a flat line. Toyota needs to do something. I know a lot of people with LED lights that do not have an issue.

 

If you don't like the sharp cut off, you are not gonna like 99% of OEM LED headlights. Adjust the aim if you need to but that's just how projector headlights work.

 

Welcome. All hid and led projector headlights will have a sharp cutoff line. Some are sharper than others. Halogen headlights have so much light bleed, which is why you’re noticing the difference. Give it some time for you to adjust.

 

Welcome

 

While I like 4Runner lights, I agree they are dangerously blinding for a such high-riding car. I have no idea how they managed to get it certified without self-leveling. Anything of comparable brightness (HIDs/Xeons) I had on other cars always had self-leveling feature so you don't blind oncoming traffic.

Generally, aftermarket lights are either cheap chinesium junk or prohibitively expensive. I have retrofitted HIDs in the past into cars, and parts alone (from a wrecked car with HIDs) would be about $500. Then labor and install (you can't safely use regular wiring harness to supply startup current for HIDs and need to run a separate line).

I recommend not messing with the lights for road driving and just aim them down a bit more.

 

This is not a good idea. In my younger and foolish days I had too-bright Xeon lights on a car. When you drive at night and blind people, some retaliate and turn on high beams. This creates unsafe situation all around.

 

I am not 100% convinced that they are there to block glare, but I agree with Kezin that the only fix is to pull the headlights apart and cut the tab off.

 

Speaking of blinding people, last week I met an oncoming Jeep with a 4-row light bar wired to his high beams. He switched to low beams the instant he saw me coming, but the damage was done. I had to stop where I was and wait until I could see again.

You won't be that bad if you cut the tab or aim the lights up, but you'll be partway with just the low beams, without any mitigation for oncoming drivers.

 

Didn’t say it was a good idea. Just that’s the only solution to the problem OP is having

 

The dark rectangles in the middle of the beam path are not enough to reduce glare to incoming traffic. Mine are just 2 little rectangles, the driver's side more pronounced, that just distract me on dark roads.

 

Glad I'm not the only one who recognized this. I was slightly concerned that my truck had a manufacturing defect, but now this thread eases my mind that this is normal

 

That said, these are still way better than the dim yellow OEM headlights on my 2015.

 

I'm now seeing there are many threads on this issue.

 

Does anyone have pictures of what you’re talking about? I have a 2023 and can only see the tabs at the top when I’m pulling up in the driveway and the beam is on the garage door. I don’t notice it while driving at all. Is it just a 2024 phenomenon?

 

I went from a 2019 MDX, I would get bright lighted a lot, to a 2023 TRD Pro and have yet to be bright lighted. I'm very happy with the 4Runner led headlights and I love the auto features. I hate the jeep owners who are too ignorant to adjust their aftermarket leds and blind all other traffic.

 

I’d say this is debatable. My eyes adjust better to dimmer light with generous spill, than it does to fantastically bright low beams with a cutoff that leaves everything above it unlit. I seriously doubt the human eye has enough dynamic range to see anything above the cutoff on a moonless night.

The stock 4runner LEDs are quite good otherwise. But it’s It’s the worst on rural roads that have a lot of traffic because you can’t use high beams to fill.

It’s not a toyota problem exclusively. If the laws don’t make manufacturers change anything, they wont.

I’ve made my low beams bearable by adjusting them as high as I could before I got flashed. Then I lowered them to the point that I felt comfortable the cutoff didn’t sweep eye level on sedans in most situations. Oncoming cars will always get swept by the cutoff on rises and dips in the road, unless you make yourself blind by going excessively low.

Adjusting them high enough will make the angle they hit the road shallower, and stretches the cutoff over more area, making them less apparent.

 

I have a '24 and the only time I can see them is when I pull up to a wall or garage door. They are not visible otherwise. Not sure why people freak out about these so much. As for their purpose, I don't know for sure but I'm not buying into the theory that they block glare for oncoming drivers. I'm very happy overall with the factory headlights, very bright yet I don't get flashed by oncoming traffic.

 

I hear you. This has become a big problem here in New Jersey too...ever since they did away with standard vehicle inspections. Now the state only tests emissions....no brake system inspection, and no physical inspection which used to address things like the 20-times-brighter-than-the-sun light bars you speak of.

TimG.