My daylight running light keeps burning out and splitting the lens. It's the second set of light I've had to replace them.
2011 Toyota Tacoma lighting problems
severe 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
3fires
When does it fail?
Of the 27 lighting complaints filed for the 2011 Toyota Tacoma, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 9 model years of Toyota Tacoma in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2011 Tacoma has a well-documented daytime running light design flaw that causes the plastic lenses to overheat, melt, and crack—often within the first few years—creating both visibility and potential fire hazards. Toyota acknowledged the problem with a technical bulletin and warranty extension, but those programs have expired for most used buyers, leaving owners responsible for expensive headlight assembly replacements.
The 2011 Tacoma has a persistent daytime running light design flaw. Owners report the plastic lenses bubble, discolor, and crack from excessive heat buildup in the housing. Bulbs burn out, sockets char and deform, and the resulting scorched residue dims light output—making turn signals and running lights less visible to oncoming traffic. Failures start as early as 25,000 miles and continue to 210,000 miles. Many owners discover the problem within their first 2–3 years of ownership.
Toyota released a technical bulletin in September 2011 addressing the issue and offered a voluntary recall with a warranty extension covering repairs up to 5 years or 70,000 miles—whichever comes first. However, owners report not receiving proactive notification and dealers were often unaware of the defect. The warranty has expired for virtually all used buyers today. One owner was quoted $1,300 to replace both front assemblies. Some owners who had the lights replaced under warranty report the same melting and bubbling problem recurring within 2–3 years, suggesting the replacement parts carried the same defect. Separately, plastic headlight lenses yellow over time, reducing light transmission at night; buffing offers only temporary relief. Condensation inside headlight housings has also been reported, occasionally splitting or melting under lamp heat.
Same Toyota Tacoma lighting reports on nearby years: 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Daytime Running Light (DRL) Lens Melting and Damage
The daytime running light housings overheat, causing plastic lenses to melt, bubble, discolor, crack, and separate. The bulbs themselves burn out and can char the sockets. The overheating creates brown scorched residue that obscures the light output to oncoming traffic, compromising visibility of turn signals and running lights.
When: Failures reported from 25,000 miles up to 210,000 miles; many owners report the problem occurring within the first 2–3 years of ownership. Some failures recur after dealer replacement under warranty programs.
Symptoms owners cite: Plastic lens bubbling and distortion; Brown or scorched discoloration on lens; Lens cracking or separation; Bulb burnout; Socket charring and deformation; Extreme heat buildup in housing; Light output dimmed or obscured
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of entire headlight/daytime running light assemblies required. One owner quoted $1,300 for both front assemblies. Repairs done at dealerships; some owners report replacement under warranty programs only to experience recurrence within 2–3 years.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota released Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) in September 2011 addressing the design flaw. Toyota offered voluntary recall coverage and warranty extensions (up to 5 years or 70,000 miles); coverage expired for many owners. Policy Bulletin POL14-03 mentioned by one owner; no proactive owner notification confirmed in narratives. Manufacturer stated warranty enhancement had expired in several cases.
Headlight Assembly Yellowing and Clarity Loss
Plastic headlight lenses yellow over time, reducing light transmission at night. This is described as a widespread issue affecting multiple vehicles. Buffing provides only temporary improvement. The yellowing compromises visibility and is cited as a safety concern.
When: Reported as occurring around 6 years or so; one owner mentions yellowing as a long-term degradation issue.
Symptoms owners cite: Lens yellowing; Reduced light output at night; Poor visibility despite functioning bulbs
Repairs/costs cited: Buffing restores clarity temporarily but does not last long-term. Full lens replacement is expensive and not covered under warranty; OEM replacements are very costly ($1,300+ per pair mentioned).
Headlight Condensation and Internal Moisture
Condensation accumulates inside headlight housings. At least one case describes the condensation splitting and melting when daytime running lamps are illuminated, requiring full assembly replacement.
When: One failure reported at 25,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Condensation visible inside lens; Condensation splitting or melting when lamps are on; Lens separation
Repairs/costs cited: Headlight/turn signal assembly replacement required. One owner's repair recurred after initial dealer repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer opened a case (number redacted) for the failure.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
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…
Both left side and right side day time running light lens inside head light assembly are burned and discolored. Head light assembly lens are cracked.
1.) Headlights are yellowing. 2.) Hard to see at night. 3.) Everyone has the same problem. The government should mandate going back to glass headlights for safety reasons. Buffing them only lasts a short period of time and the elderly can't afford to buy new OEM headlights every 6 years as they are very, very expensive. This is a safety issue, as yellow lenses equal more nighttime accidents,…
Had lighting trouble with your 2011 Toyota Tacoma?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2011 Toyota Tacoma?
It's a meaningful issue. 27 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 23 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 38,670 and 77,000 miles, with the median around 62,220. A quarter of owners report trouble before 38,670; a quarter make it past 77,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Toyota/Tacoma.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.