LED headights? (Page 3/6)
da.slyboy FEB 16, 01:22 AM

quote
Originally posted by tnkgnr:

I would imagine just one person getting pulled over and given a citation that these were not approved would have the whole thing shut down immediately unless Amazon wanted to become legally liable for every set sold from that point on.



That very well could be the case.......that is if I ever heard or seen a person actually get a citation on DOT approval of a headlight (unless they were just crazy like a full red or something). Do people actually get citations for this? Perhaps. Is it such a small number that most of these companies that produce headlights and such never have an issue? Probably so.

I just don't see why DOT legality ever has to come into these headlight questions. People ask about style, reliability, fit, blindness, beam, etc). I don't seem ever read a title of "DOT approved LED Headlights" More than half of this post contains this replies of an answer that the OP wasn't looking for.
theogre FEB 16, 01:28 AM

quote
Originally posted by Spadesluck:

Get them, don't get them...it's your vehicle. I have the aforementioned "unliked" LED's. Mine work just fine after a few years of use. No I did not check the DOT markings before purchasing them.

This is what I have: LED

Is same one, just "silver" version.
dremu FEB 16, 10:46 AM

quote
Originally posted by da.slyboy:
More than half of this post contains this replies of an answer that the OP wasn't looking for.



This is an Internet forum, wherein you find The Absolute Truth as given by people who are experts in a wide variety of fields, often in cryptic, incoherent and wildly mis-spelled diatribes. What else would you expect?

-- A
Wichita FEB 16, 12:07 PM
Is it the consumer's responsibility to determine if a product, such as LED headlights, are either counterfeit or legit DOT markings?

Is the consumer liable because they couldn't determine if it is legit or not and they just purchase the item from a reputable retailer, such as Amazon?
skywurz FEB 16, 12:35 PM

quote
Originally posted by Wichita:

Is it the consumer's responsibility to determine if a product, such as LED headlights, are either counterfeit or legit DOT markings?

Is the consumer liable because they couldn't determine if it is legit or not and they just purchase the item from a reputable retailer, such as Amazon?



welll....... Amazon is not super reputable. Known yes reputable no... also who is to say you bought it directly from amazon and not one of the millions of sellers on amazon?
theogre FEB 16, 01:09 PM

quote
Originally posted by da.slyboy:
That very well could be the case.......that is if I ever heard or seen a person actually get a citation on DOT approval of a headlight (unless they were just crazy like a full red or something). Do people actually get citations for this? Perhaps. Is it such a small number that most of these companies that produce headlights and such never have an issue? Probably so.

I just don't see why DOT legality ever has to come into these headlight questions. People ask about style, reliability, fit, blindness, beam, etc). I don't seem ever read a title of "DOT approved LED Headlights" More than half of this post contains this replies of an answer that the OP wasn't looking for.

Sadly Not Likely. Amzn and other Web and Local store have all kind or crap and illegal products including car lights. When NHTSA ordered Recall for crap "Altezza" knock offs (Highlights, https://fmvss108.tripod.com/ ), the Stores selling them Did Not get penalties for selling. Stores got their money and laugh at buyers of crap and markers have to eat the Recall Costs.

Right Now, Go to AZ and other car parts stores alone and you find LED "bulbs" next to and replace 2057 etc w/ notice somewhere "Off Road Use Only" and knowing sold by Markers and Stores for people to install in street cars often right there in stores packing lot. No LED replacement "bulb" meets FMVSS 108 rules because of cave LED poisoning and more problems.

"Dot Legal" in US, "ECE legal" in UK EU and similar country X legal cuts out Complete Junk that Does Blind other drives and preforms badly otherwise.
In US and Canada that means the HL "bulbs" have Passed FMVSS and/or CMVSS section 108 to Preform Right and shells and lenses will last for several years w/o scratching, warping, etc.
Counterfeits and other Complete Crap mostly made in China right now is a Huge Problem in a lot of countries... US, CA, UK, all EU member, Japan, and more. Again, these HL "bulbs" are part of recent Rule Changes for MOT Certs. MOT Certs are equiv US State Inspection but way more strict like HL have to pass Output Pattern on an "Aiming Machine" that uses Optical Aiming like most Car Marker do.

That skipping PA and other State laws are based on or copies of FMVSS w/ some minor changes so FMVSS might ref to X section of Rules while PA have same but in Y section of Law.

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 02-16-2021).]

theogre FEB 16, 01:19 PM

quote
Originally posted by dremu:
This is an Internet forum, wherein you find The Absolute Truth as given by people who are experts in a wide variety of fields, often in cryptic, incoherent and wildly mis-spelled diatribes. What else would you expect?

If you think this is bad... Go Read FMVSS 571.108 and try to Find all SAE docs that reference there. SAE has a huge Pay Wall and cost a lot to get all needed. Only sometimes to get lucky and find Lawyer or School that posted copies of some SAE docs.

Is Why Way Too Many people think DOT is enough on HL because have No Clue nearly all marks even for old Sealed Beams are there because DOT/NHTSA require them. So China many crap HL started to only DOT SAE and even ECE's (Ex) NHTSS makes that easier because even when people want good HL only hard to Read FMVSS to "find" answers. IIHS, CPSC, Consumer Reports and others Doesn't Help w/ this issue or makes worse problems.
theogre FEB 16, 01:59 PM

quote
Originally posted by Wichita:
Is it the consumer's responsibility to determine if a product, such as LED headlights, are either counterfeit or legit DOT markings?

Is the consumer liable because they couldn't determine if it is legit or not and they just purchase the item from a reputable retailer, such as Amazon?

Read last 2 post... in short...
1. Stores make a lot of money selling crap and don't care when Recalled.
2. Pubic has no clue and Gov doesn't help much or at all. Even if people want to know, is often hidden in "books" from Govrmnt written mainly for the Manufacturers like FMVSS. I even have trouble reading FMVSS and SAE doc even after reading Tech docs most of my life.
3. Some stores and some Manufacturers simply slap "Off Road" warning somewhere on the "box." Many of these warning are hard to find. Pilot LED available at many stores has such but small and on back that few will see. Sylvania has it on front and more can see but few know or cares what that means.


quote
Originally posted by skywurz:
welll....... Amazon is not super reputable. Known yes reputable no... also who is to say you bought it directly from amazon and not one of the millions of sellers on amazon?

Isn't just 3rd parties, Amzn itself carries "knock offs" etc. too.

AZ and others carries crap too like "Altezza" taillight now ~ 20 years past.
Many local stores still carries HID and LED illegally to upgrade "aero" HL in current cars w/ or w/o "Off Road Use Only" label.

That just "the tip of the Iceberg." Everything Recalled by CPSC has been sold by Local Stores and only last 20 years online.
Most to All stores don't have to pay out after a product is recalled or "cancel" by Gov or makers.
Just read how many Kids are hurt or killed then whatever is Recalled... Most Stores Don't pay anything.
Walmart and others got sued for selling Blitz Gas "cans" might payed some but go and look at stores w/ plastic gas "cans" just made by another co. as Blitz went Bankrupt.
Dennis LaGrua FEB 16, 02:00 PM
I have direct fit Truck-Lite 27009 Halogen Headlights on my Fiero. I didn't install LED headlights because the quality and performance of those units is all over the place. Direct replacement Halogen headlights made by Truck-lite no longer seem to be available in the 5 x 7 size but they still show it here Truck-Lite 27009. Reliable company, plenty brilliant and D.O.T. legal a stated on their web page.
Expanding on what theocre has said, if you install non-DOT approved lights, get into a front end accident and make a claim, your insurance company will deny coverage for illegal equipment.

[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 02-16-2021).]

theogre FEB 16, 02:45 PM

quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:
I didn't install LED headlights because the quality and performance of those units is all over the place. I installed a set of Halogen headlights made by Truck-lites but they no longer seem to offer the 5 x 7 size. Reliable company, plenty brilliant and D.O.T. legal. Expanding on what theocre has said, if you install non-DOT approved lights, get into a front end accident and make a claim, your insurance company will deny coverage for illegal equipment.

Should be 27009... https://www.truck-lite.com/27009-3.html

Site says still made/available but many stores may not carry them because "everyone" wants cheap LEDs.
Likely many won't stock Truck-lite and other legal LED for same reason.

Believe Hella and others have HB2 kits (US Equiv to H4) that are "DOT Legal" too but may also be hard to find for same reason.

Is not just "you making a claim" but people making a claim to/ageist your policy or sue you because you blind others etc causing a crash.

Many have "LED" taillight "upgrade" can have same results when blind people behind you or too dim and crash. Yes, Most places will Automatically write a Ticket that "rear end" you but they can still sue in Civil Courts in many places. In many court cases you will "be deposed" even before you see a judge and when you say use LED "upgrades" better be ready to lose and pay big time. Even in Insurance doesn't Void a policy, Most have "State Minimum" and capped very low and you're "on the hook" paying the rest. Many places have "No Fault" laws but may not apply when you have illegal parts on a car.

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 02-16-2021).]