High Beams not working properly

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

R

Redux

Joined
Jan 9, 2026
Threads
1
Messages
7
Location
New Jersey
My recently acquired 2016 LC200 is wonderful except for the headlights. According to Toyota service department they are sealed unit LED projector lenses. The high beams are no brighter than the regular light, meaning that there is no extra illumination (visibility) with the high beams switched on. The bulbs illuminate when activated but they are not bright. Terrible visibility therefore at night on country roads. Toyota says the electrical is all fine and that whatever the problem is, it is within the sealed units and there is no fix other than replacing the units at over $4,000 a piece! One thought I have is that perhaps there is a problem generated by the auto high beam option (which I never use).

Thoughts, ideas, on replacing or fixing these lights, etc?? This particular Toyota dealership naturally sees very few of these vehicles.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
It’s not really possible for both high beam headlights to fail at the same time. If there is an illumination issue, it’s almost certainly in the electrical system. Have you done your own testing by pulling up to a wall and looking at the light pattern when you switch from low to high beam headlights? The cutoff on low beam is very sharp and that should be less sharp on high beam. Did the dealer check aiming? Has the vehicle had any front end collision damage? Does the auto high beam function work?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Sandroad said:
It’s not really possible for both high beam headlights to fail at the same time. If there is an illumination issue, it’s almost certainly in the electrical system. Have you done your own testing by pulling up to a wall and looking at the light pattern when you switch from low to high beam headlights? The cutoff on low beam is very sharp and that should be less sharp on high beam. Did the dealer check aiming? Has the vehicle had any front end collision damage? Does the auto high beam function work?
Click to expand...
Like I said Toyota claims the electrical is all fine. I will test the auto high this evening once it gets dark. No collisions. It's not an aiming issue.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
There was a recent thread on this. Basically, 16+ LED low beams are so good, many people don’t notice the apparently sub-par high beams doing anything, even though they technically are working.

Consensus seemed to be to get a good auxiliary light setup and wire it up to activate with the high beams when needed.

I have a 2013 with frankly awesome high beams, but am very happy with the 30” rigid combo light bar I sunk into the grille for exceptional visibility when called for.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Here is the thread @bloc mentioned. Looks like it’s the usual one person’s bright sun is another person’s dim bulb. Maybe @Redux lights are working as designed. I should mention too there are well documented differences in night vision capability between people.

B

Thread '2018 LC200 High Beam Q'

I have a 2018 LC200 and have noticed that the high beams don't really seem to add much illumination. In other words, when I am driving down a dark road at night and manually turn on the high beams, there is practically no visible difference. I have verified that the high beam LEDs are turning on, they just don't seem to help with additional visibility. Have other folks with the LED headlights noticed anything similar?
  • Like
 
Upvote -1 Downvote
bloc said:
There was a recent thread on this. Basically, 16+ LED low beams are so good, many people don’t notice the apparently sub-par high beams doing anything, even though they technically are working.

Consensus seemed to be to get a good auxiliary light setup and wire it up to activate with the high beams when needed.

I have a 2013 with frankly awesome high beams, but am very happy with the 30” rigid combo light bar I sunk into the grille for exceptional visibility when called for.
Click to expand...
Thanks everyone. Toyota agrees the high beams are not throwing the light they should (worse than both my 20+ year old BMW 540it and my puddle jumper 15+ year Honda FIT). Despite the logic that since both lights are affected it must be an upstream electrical issue, they're sticking with their stance that the problem is within the sealed units somehow. At this point in life I'm going to punt and buy new OEM warrantied lights (secondary market) and Toyota will install. That should cover me coast to coast warranty wise for a while and also tell the tale. Adding an axillary system at some point is not out of the question once I establish the true baseline.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
If you want to sell your old ones with faulty high beams, let me know. I wouldn't pay full boat but it'll get some money back in your pocket. PM me if you want to chat more.

I always want more sets to build.

20250725_101935.webp
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
UT08LX570 said:
If you want to sell your old ones with faulty high beams, let me know. I wouldn't pay full boat but it'll get some money back in your pocket. PM me if you want to chat more.

I always want more sets to build.

View attachment 4066311
Click to expand...
Interestingly, the Toyota dealer service manager just called me un-solicitated today to say that another 2016 LC200 (original owner) has come in the shop for service (not for headlights). On his own initiative he looked at that vehicle's lights and says that the lights are behaving the same as mine (no appreciable difference/improvement in light throw when high beams switched on). Meaning they are not great, and he doesn't want me to order new Toyota OEM lights if they are going to perform just the same. There are no service bulletins/recalls out from Toyota on this. Wow, now what? I've seen other posts on other threads where people LOVE their stock high beams on the 2016 LC200. How can there be such a discrepancy? Probably going to go with some after market supplement after some due review of a good reliable, non over the top set up. I drive x-country alot and live in a very rural area with lots of wildlife so I need a setup that works on the highways without being ridiculous for other drivers, but also gives the average joe a chance at seeing what needs to be seen!!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Redux said:
Interestingly, the Toyota dealer service manager just called me un-solicitated today to say that another 2016 LC200 (original owner) has come in the shop for service (not for headlights). On his own initiative he looked at that vehicle's lights and says that the lights are behaving the same as mine (no appreciable difference/improvement in light throw when high beams switched on). Meaning they are not great, and he doesn't want me to order new Toyota OEM lights if they are going to perform just the same. There are no service bulletins/recalls out from Toyota on this. Wow, now what? I've seen other posts on other threads where people LOVE their stock high beams on the 2016 LC200. How can there be such a discrepancy? Probably going to go with some after market supplement after some due review of a good reliable, non over the top set up. I drive x-country alot and live in a very rural area with lots of wildlife so I need a setup that works on the highways without being ridiculous for other drivers, but also gives the average joe a chance at seeing what needs to be seen!!
Click to expand...
I've had the same experience as you, and...well...not sure where you found a plethora of people that love their high beams. The majority of stuff I found was folks having the same gripes on the 16+
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You are absolutely right. There is not a "plethora" of people happy with their stock lights (high beams), but just a few positive comments if you comb the threads. I'm pretty much dead in the water for deciding what course to take. Doing nothing is not an option as here in the northeast countryside it is "forest dark" (borrowing the term Kurosawa used elsewhere in a subsidiary thread last month), beyond the limited throw of the high beams, , and there are plenty of critters still in the forest (thankfully) that none of us want to run in to.

I need a DOT legal solution though because I put in so many coast to coast miles, including Canada, and so blinding other drivers and getting tickets has little appeal either.

There are a bunch of us (who knew?) looking for a good roadworthy solution for this.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Then again there was this thread, which made me think there was something particularly wrong with my own lights...

E

Thread '2016+ LC LED headlight opinions'

When I saw the 2016 refresh I thought it had HID projectors, but then I read the product spec:
  • Projector-beam Light Emitting Diode (LED) low and high beam headlights with auto level control and auto on/off feature, headlight cleaners and integrated Land Cruiser logo

  • Integrated LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)

  • Integrated LED fog lights

  • LED accent lighting with on/off feature

  • LED stop lights and light tube taillights with vortex generators and integrated Land Cruiser logo

2016+ owners, how do you like your headlights? How are they compared to HID projectors...

:confused:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Redux said:
Then again there was this thread, which made me think there was something particularly wrong with my own lights...

E

Thread '2016+ LC LED headlight opinions'

When I saw the 2016 refresh I thought it had HID projectors, but then I read the product spec:
  • Projector-beam Light Emitting Diode (LED) low and high beam headlights with auto level control and auto on/off feature, headlight cleaners and integrated Land Cruiser logo

  • Integrated LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)

  • Integrated LED fog lights

  • LED accent lighting with on/off feature

  • LED stop lights and light tube taillights with vortex generators and integrated Land Cruiser logo

2016+ owners, how do you like your headlights? How are they compared to HID projectors...

:confused:
Click to expand...
E

Thread '2016+ LC LED headlight opinions'

When I saw the 2016 refresh I thought it had HID projectors, but then I read the product spec:
  • Projector-beam Light Emitting Diode (LED) low and high beam headlights with auto level control and auto on/off feature, headlight cleaners and integrated Land Cruiser logo

  • Integrated LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)

  • Integrated LED fog lights

  • LED accent lighting with on/off feature

  • LED stop lights and light tube taillights with vortex generators and integrated Land Cruiser logo

2016+ owners, how do you like your headlights? How are they compared to HID projectors...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom