2011 Toyota Highlander Lighting Problems

WHILE DRIVING, INTERIOR LIGHTS TURN ON AND DOOR CHIME WARNING ON DASH SOUNDS. ALL DOORS ARE PROPERLY CLOSED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DIDN'T ILLUMINATE THE ENTIRE ROAD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HIT A DEER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO AVOID THE CRASH DUE TO FAILED VISIBILITY COVERAGE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE DEALER ALIGNED THE HEADLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT DESIGN WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000. UPDATED 7/8/13 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE HEADLIGHTS COULD NOT BE FIXED, AS IT WAS A FACTORY PROBLEM. UPDATED 07/18/13

EXTERIOR LIGHTING POOR LIGHTING FROM HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS. DESIGN OF CAR SEEMS TO GET IN THE WAY OF THE BEAM CAUSING LOW TO NO VISIBILITY. IT IS ESPECIALLY HARD TO SEE THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WITH THE LOW BEAMS AND THIS HAS CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH BEING ABLE TO SEE DEER AND AVOID HITTING THEM/BEING HIT. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE CHECKED ALIGNMENT, BULBS, POSITIONING, ETC. BUT THEY TELL ME IT IS A DESIGN FAULT OF THE CAR AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. LUCKILY MY MODEL HAS WHITE FOG LIGHT. USING THEM AT ALL TIMES WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT HAS HELPED ME TO SEE. I NEED TO DRIVE WITH BRIGHTS ON WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD.THE BIGGEST PROBLEM COMES DURING RAIN OR FOG BECAUSE ONE CAN NOT USE HIGH BEAMS BECAUSE OF THE REFLECTION SO IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT DURING THESE CONDITIONS. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF MY REPAIR REQUESTS AND ACCIDENT REPORT FROM DEER STRIKE IF NEEDED. *TR

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE NEW HEADLIGHT DESIGN ON THE 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER CAUSES THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS TO APPEAR AS IF THERE IS A VISOR ON THE LIGHTS. WHEN TRAVELING ON LEVEL ROADS OR GOING UP HILL THE HEADLIGHTS BEAM THROW DISTANCE IS EFFICIENT WITH THE VISOR EFFECT. HOWEVER, WHEN GOING DOWN HILL AFTER CRESTING A KNOLL, THE VISOR EFFECT DIMINISHES THE THROW DISTANCE OF THE HEADLIGHT BY AN ESTIMATED 50%. THIS LIGHT THROW REDUCTION TOOK ME BY SURPRISE AND CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HIT A DEER THIS EVENING ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF OWNERSHIP. TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAKE A CHANGE TO GET RID OF THE VISOR EFFECT. REQUEST NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS NEW DESIGN BEFORE NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS OCCUR. I AM CONTACTING TOYOTA TOMORROW TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.