NHTSA Complaint #10457435 — 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA

ON 5/2/12 ONE OF THE RIGHT TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING. WHILE INSPECTING THE LIGHTS TO DETERMINE WHICH BULB TO REPLACE, I NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC LENS IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF THE TURN SIGNAL BULBS ON BOTH SIDES IN THE FRONT IS BLACKENED AND MELTING FROM THE HEAT OF THE BULB. ADDITIONALLY, THE LENS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT IS CRACKED ON THE INSIDE WHERE THE BULB HAS OVERHEATED THE LENS. FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE LAMP SOCKET SHOWS HEAT FATIGUE AND DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IT APPEARS AS IF THE LIGHT BULB IS TOO CLOSE THE LENS AND THERE IS INADEQUATE VENTILATION FOR THE HEAT. I AM CONCERNED THAT CONTINUAL HEATING OF THE LENS AND THE SOCKET MAY LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THAT COMPONENT, CAUSING A FIRE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS TRUCK MODEL'S RUNNING LIGHTS (WHICH ARE ALSO THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS) ARE ALWAYS ON WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS ARE OFF, THERE IS NO WAY OF SHUTTING THESE LIGHTS OFF. FYI: INTERNET SEARCHES HAVE TURNED UP NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. MANY CONCERNED CUSTOMERS HAVE REPORTED THE ISSUE TO TOYOTA (MYSELF INCLUDED), HOWEVER, TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF LOOKING AT THE TURN SIGNAL LENSES OF PARKED TACOMA TRUCKS JUST TO SEE IF THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE. AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE TRUCKS SHOW THE SAME TYPE OF DEFECT. *TR