NHTSA Complaint #11045144 — 2012 DODGE DART

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE 3 MAJOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS STYLE OF HEADLIGHT. 1) THE PERFORMANCE IS SUBSTANDARD WHEN USED IN HIGH-BEAM MODE. THE WIDTH OF LIGHT BEAM IS TOO NARROW, I.E. TOO MUCH LIGHT IS FOCUSED STRAIGHT AHEAD AND NOT ENOUGH IS PROJECTED ON SHOULDERS & AREA ADJACENT TO ROADWAY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE ON CURVED ROADS. THIS IS DUE TO A DESIGN COMPROMISE RESULTING FROM USING THE SAME FOCUSING LENS ON LOW-BEAM OPERATION. 2)LIGHTING IS REDUCED WHEN USED IN LOW-BEAM MODE. THE SHUTTER THAT BLOCKS UPPER PORTION OF THE BEAM REDUCES THE QUANTITY OF LIGHT CAST ON ROADWAY. 3) SAFETY HAZARD IS CREATED FOR OTHER VEHICLES WHEN PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS APPROACH OR FOLLOW ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE INTENSITY OF THE LIGHT BEAM IS VERY HIGH CAUSING OTHER MOTORISTS TO BE BLINDED WHEN A PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHT SHINES DIRECTLY INTO THE EYES OF ANOTHER MOTORIST. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN DRIVING ON HILLS, AROUND CURVES, AND WHEN BEING APPROACHED OR FOLLOWING A VEHICLE OF A DIFFERENT HEIGHT. (SEDANS BEING LOWER THAN SUVS OR LIGHT TRUCKS) MY COMPLAINTS ARE NOT LIMITED TO MY VEHICLE ALONE, BUT ARE DIRECTED TO ALL VEHICLES USING PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS. WHILE PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS HAVE GOOD VERTICAL CUT-OFF, THE ADVANTAGE IS LOST BY THE OTHER DEFICIENCIES. PLUS, LOOKING DIRECTLY AT A REFLECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME BLINDING EFFECT EXPERIENCED BY LOOKING AT PROJECTOR-STYLE LIGHTS. THE RESULT IS NO REAL ADVANTAGE IS OBTAINED IN THIS AREA. IN MY OPINION, THE OLDER, REFLECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE IN ILLUMINATING THE ROADWAY, AND DO NOT HAVE THE BLINDING GLARE OF PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS UNDERGO REDESIGN TO ELIMINATE THE GLARE PROBLEMS AND IMPROVE ROADWAY ILLUMINATION. IF THAT IS NOT TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE, THEN THEY SHOULD BE ELIMINATED.