NHTSA Recall - Hikari aftermarket LED excessive brightness

[The_Ryan]

https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=21E002000

January 12, 2021 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21E002000
Headlight Bulbs may be too Bright/FMVSS 108
Excessive glare or brightness to oncoming drivers can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA Campaign Number: 21E002000
Manufacturer Ningbo shuwu Import & Export Co.,ltd
Components EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Potential Number of Units Affected 99,950
Summary
Ningbo shuwu Import & Export Co.,ltd (Ningbo) is recalling certain aftermarket Hikari headlight bulbs, LED-V39-R3 and RS-R models (in configurations H1, H4, H7, H11, H13, 9004, 9005, 9006, 9007, 9012) sold through Amazon.com. These bulbs may create excessive glare or brightness for oncoming traffic. As such, these bulbs fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy
Ningbo will notify distributors, and owners, and will replace the bulb with halogen bulbs, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ningbo customer service at 1-812-250-8051 or by recall@hikari-led.net.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
1 Affected Product
Equipment
BRAND PART NO. PRODUCTION DATES HIKARI TECHNOLOGYLED HEADLIGHT BULB
2 Associated Documents

• Recall AcknowledgementRCAK-21E002-8028.pdf 244.841KB
• Noncompliance Notice 573 ReportRCLRPT-21E002-5893.PDF 214.285KB

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Definitely something to consider before buying ANY generic LED bulbs from Amazon. Those companies typically do NOT do proper engineering and are often copycats of quality brands.

Even if buying a quality brand LED, I’d buy direct as opposed to on Amazon. I have a feeling that a lot of counterfeits are sold there.

 

[LilPartyBox]

lmfao do they really expect me to give up my LED high beams for a set of halogens? I only use them to flash people anyway but i gotta say, I always thought they were insanely bright!

Ur right about the counterfeit risk on Amazon. I shelfed a set of Audew LEDs when one of the bulbs started going out randomly just 2 weeks into owning them. I bit the bullet and bought a SV.4 set from a dedicated LED headlight vendor. Pricey but they have a bright crisp beam and haven't missed a beat.

 

[Ford ST]

We all know LED bulbs are not exactly approved and legal.

If you install any type of brighter bulb you should adjust your headlights accordingly if necessary.



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[The_Ryan]

lmfao do they really expect me to give up my LED high beams for a set of halogens? I only use them to flash people anyway but i gotta say, I always thought they were insanely bright!

Ur right about the counterfeit risk on Amazon. I shelfed a set of Audew LEDs when one of the bulbs started going out randomly just 2 weeks into owning them. I bit the bullet and bought a SV.4 set from a dedicated LED headlight vendor. Pricey but they have a bright crisp beam and haven't missed a beat.

We all know LED bulbs are not exactly approved and legal.

If you install any type of brighter bulb you should adjust your headlights accordingly if necessary.



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This is specific to the Hikari brand LEDs. I'd assume this is issued because the glare & brightness were still dangerous even after adjustment.

 

[TyphoonFiST]

lmfao do they really expect me to give up my LED high beams for a set of halogens? I only use them to flash people anyway but i gotta say, I always thought they were insanely bright!

Ur right about the counterfeit risk on Amazon. I shelfed a set of Audew LEDs when one of the bulbs started going out randomly just 2 weeks into owning them. I bit the bullet and bought a SV.4 set from a dedicated LED headlight vendor. Pricey but they have a bright crisp beam and haven't missed a beat.

Just like they expect all of us to get Vaccinated against Covid19! Better hand over those bulbs or they will hunt you down ....Fine you with possible imprisonment! Hahaha They are idiots.....Typical Govt. Overreach!

Never been flashed by anyone while I ran these bulbs also!

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[The_Ryan]

Just like they expect all of us to get Vaccinated against Covid19! Better hand over those bulbs or they will hunt you down ....Fine you with possible imprisonment! Hahaha They are idiots.....Typical Govt. Overreach!

Never been flashed by anyone while I ran these bulbs also!

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, if I didn’t restrain myself, my eyes would have rolled themselves right out of their sockets.

 

[XR650R]

, if I didn’t restrain myself, my eyes would have rolled themselves right out of their sockets.

There are people who still seriously believe this shit. Biden and Hillary are sitting somewhere right now, sacrificing babies to Satan and drinking their blood...
https://www.justsecurity.org/72339/qanon-is-a-nazi-cult-rebranded/

 

[Ford ST]

Please don't ruin this site with politics.

@D1JL This is going to go downhill fast just shut it down.


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[LilPartyBox]

lol How did this get political? Headlights people. Headlights! I guess some people will use any excuse whatsoever to wave a flag and scream "don't read on me" lmao. It's just headlight bulbs and they are absolutely right! Like i said, i have them in my high beams and they are obnoxiously bright. I would not run them in my low beam. Nor would i politicize a simple discussion about bulbs. WTF. Shut'r down!

 

[The_Ryan]

lol How did this get political? Headlights people. Headlights! I guess some people will use any excuse whatsoever to wave a flag and scream "don't read on me" lmao. It's just headlight bulbs and they are absolutely right! Like i said, i have them in my high beams and they are obnoxiously bright. I would not run them in my low beam. Nor would i politicize a simple discussion about bulbs. WTF. Shut'r down!

While I agree with you, but I'd rather not even entertain it as politics. Because it's not. It's just stupidity.

To be honest, I don't quite understand this recall. It technically should not exist since LEDs in reflectors are not legal for headlight use, only for fog lights. I think if the gov't really wants to eliminate the problem of road glare they should release design guidelines/regulations rather than outright making it illegal.

 

[XanRules]

I told you about aftermarket LEDs in halogen housings! I told you, dog!

 

[scooter123]

To be honest, I don't quite understand this recall. It technically should not exist since LEDs in reflectors are not legal for headlight use, only for fog lights. I think if the gov't really wants to eliminate the problem of road glare they should release design guidelines/regulations rather than outright making it illegal.

They are recalling the lights BECAUSE THEY VIOLATE THE REGULATIONS ! ! ! There is an entire Library of regulations governing the standards to which moving vehicles are supposed to adhere to. What shocks me is that NHTSA is actually enforcing one of these regulations. Those lazy sacks usually don't do a thing unless the death toll is numbering in the 100's.

BTW, when I started driving all we had for our cars was Tungsten lights. Halogens didn't arrive until I was approaching 30. You know what, we managed to get by just fine with those dim old bulbs. So, keep in mind the other drivers around you. If you get flashed even once it's telling you that your lights are too damned bright and you need to change them out.

 

[Ford ST]

Actually it probably means your headlights are not adjusted properly.

Changing headlight bulbs is slowly becoming a thing of the past. I now have two vehicles in my family that have factory LEDs they are wonderful.

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[The_Ryan]

You know what, we managed to get by just fine with those dim old bulbs.

This might be survivorship bias.