Peeling head lamp?

Question here are some pics of the top of the lens and it looks like it is peeling.
Anyone seen this before?
Will it get worse and need replacements?

Not really an issue for me, but it's my honey's 4Rnr and anytime I do any work on it she's my QC inspector...lol.....anyways will stop by later see what you folks come up with.

Thanks....

 

Im having the exact same issue. I was gong to ask the dealer if that should be happening so soon.

 

Is that peeling on the inside of the light?

 

mine is happening on the outside. BTW, I'm in the Texas extreme heat- wonder if that's got something to do with it.

 

Peeling from the outside for sure, can feel it when running a fingernail over it.
I see, others with similar issues.
Let us know what dealer tells you.
Mine is out of warranty for sure, at this point not ready to decide which direction to go.

Thanks for chiming in everyone. maybe a root cause and solution can come forth.

 

Curious are you running Stock/OEM bulbs for headlights? … I own a 2016 and mine is not doing it yet.

 

All OEM but for tires, floor mats, vent visors.
It's hers so, it's a I like this way don't touch but take care of it....lol.....

So yeah no additional heat from after market lamps. Good question indeed.

 

I always keep the plastic lenses waxed helps keep them nicer longer and down the road it'll delay the inevitable hazing. Usually just hit them with Griots Garage spray wax now and then.

 

Yup normally apply a polish to all plastic components as well.
The lens have no hazing at all in this case. Just a bad case of sunburn? peeling or shedding of top layer of its skin.

 

looks like someone sprayed a lamp lens coating on it.
since it looks bad wet sand it with 600 then 1000 then 1500 .. then use meg plastex lens polish with a foam pad

 

Hmm interesting. Did not know a dealer would apply such product, since it was never mentioned. But will look at where to get the product you suggested. Looks like a easy project in the shop when it cools down to 90....lol......

 

I see and understand; well that rules out possibly over heated lights … next question, has the vehicle ever been in a wreck that where the front and/or hood had to be repainted because it looks like over spray from a clear coat …

 

Nope no wreck just lots of those love bugs melted into the clear coat.

 

Hmmm, I can’t think of anything else but that freakin bites to know what’s going to happen after 5 yrs of ownership … guess I would try “J Cat’s” recommendation … good luck

 

Yeah I hear yah...do appreciate all the input though. Plus interesting to see others have this issue as well.
Soon as it drops down to a balmy 80 degrees or will get the wet sand paper and give it a go.
Thanks everyone.

 

Have the same issue on my 2014 ... no hazing and doesn’t effects the lights in one bit - just looks kind of crappy. I may try sanding and polishing per the earlier recommendation.

 

Well this is interesting lol....looks like a few others as well have noticed this.
Next time I'm in town will dive to the dealer and ask the SM what's up. Thanks for the info.

 

New here. Just noticed the same problem on mine. It started to peel, looked like dead skin after a sunburn. Any word to what this is? My guess it's from the lamp manufacturer coating peeling off. Any ways to fix it?

Mine is a used 2015 and since I bought it beginning of this year, it's been parked outside in the South Bay weather in SoCal, so not as hot as Texas, but been under the sun day in and day out.

Thanks for any updates.

 

That would have been covered under the new car 3yr/36 month warranty. I installed some protective film on my headlights to prevent fading and rock pits.

 

Toyota is pretty notorious for this. The pre facelift 5th gens even had a TSB to replace the headlight housing if it had this problem with new ones that were constructed different. Those new one still do it but it at a much slower rate. Known issue for a long time they just don’t seem to keen on actually fixing it. There are a bunch of different headlight restoration kits you could try before spending the money for replacements.

 

Now that ceramic coatings are all the rage, maybe McKee37 has a product to coat the lamp housing and slow it down a bit.
Our house should be ready to move in by Oct., mid-Nov.
First ever a garage!!! yeah.....
Will be adding rockwool to the walls, so looking forward to comfortable garage.
The a full detail on the 4Rnr...yeah.....
I'm easily entertained...lol....

 

this summer I did the polish on my 2016 4 runner head lamp driver side. had a slight stain on it ..used the meggers plastex head lamp polish did not use sanding .. stain was removed..

on my 2000 GM truck I did the head lamps with the sand paper process then the polish.. head lamps look very good bright clear light output .. l

 

I just noticed my passenger headlight peeling away at the top. The driver side headlight is fine. I suspect when I had my 4Runner repaired from a minor fender bender, the shop did not use Toyota parts.
Thanks for posting. I will try sanding and waxing first. If it doesn’t work I can always use it as an excuse to upgrade the headlights

 

well some spray on a clear coat for the headlights.. I looked it up because of my 20 yr old GM truck.. 3M has a kit with a coating on the plastic lens .. it has a pad to put on the coating on the lens ..
advance auto had that kit but I looked it up on you tube video on how it worked . I did not use it .. but I just did the sanding and plastex polish and the lens looks clear much brighter...

peeling of your head lamp probably might work with the 3M lens kit ..

 

Same thing with my 2019 4R TRD OR PREM. I bought it used and yes it had been in an accident. I had washed it several times and it wasn’t like that; until one day while drying it it showed up. I live in Colorado and yes it gets very hot here, but only for a few weeks in the summer. I’m gonna try the sanding and polish to see how it comes out.

Thanks for all the info!!

 

That's good 'ol fashion clear coat and/or plastic material failure due primarily to UV exposure (sun), elements (scratching), and time.

If you do follow the advice of some of the folks above who recommended wet-sanding/polishing, ensure you follow up with something that will help prevent further UV damage. You can research "polishing headlights" for more tips as it's basically the same thing.

Wax can help, but doesn't last long. Ceramic coating will last much longer, but again not forever. A UV blocking clear coat (spray paint) will be the best option and one I've done in the past.

Regular application of something like Meguiars Headlight Protectant or something will help.

Good luck!

 

Thanks!!

 

if the OEM head lamp was replaced with aftermarket head lamp with the accident then it could be a cheapo plastic ..not UV !
my 2016 runner is always outside and has no peeling .. I had a couple of times polishing the lens had very slight haze in small areas...looks like new...OEM factory lens ..

 

Varying levels of UV exposure due to area I'm sure along with other environmental factors. It should be known though that UV coating is typically just that, a coating, so any sort of polishing is recommended as a last resort as you'll be removing that coating and it will need some sort of additional protection added afterwards. Otherwise it'll occur again and possibly quicker!

 

Off topic but if anybody needs some new Oem headlights because theirs are peeling. I got a pair of mint Oem headlights and fogs off of a 2018 4 runner with only 10k miles... Pm me.