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2016+ LED Headlights Question

Oldbay

By Oldbay
in Troubleshooting & Recalls

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Oldbay Enthusiast

Oldbay

Posted
Posted

Hey Folks,

 

Sorry if this is a repeat of a combination of other threads. I know that I asked similar questions in another thread. My apologies in advance.

 

I understand that the 2014-2015 headlamps gave some owners issues due to the poor output. On the flip-side I've been reading threads about the 2016 models with the LED headlamps annoying oncoming traffic. Poor GM can't win! I know:-)

 

So, is the LED output really super bright in relation to other vehicles on the road or is it more just a reaction to how dim they were pre-2016? When you are driving on back roads at night to elevation changes make oncoming drivers think that you are hitting your high beams? Do these lights adjust with elevation changes in the road or are they fixed? Is it just a simple matter of dialing the lights downward, or is the output much brighter than what other motorists expect? Just trying to figure out if this is a matter of how the headlamps come from the factory aimed or if it is an issue with the design.

 

I'll most directly point folks to owners of 2014+ Jeep Grand Cherokee Summits and SRTs. The headlamps in those were crazy bright and lots of owners (including me) had issues with them. On any given night 3 out of 5 oncoming vehicles would be flashing their high beams and getting ticked off. It became annoying after a while and after four (4) trips to the Jeep dealership they kept claiming it was normal and that "people weren't used to lights this bright." Even a police officer pulled me over one night and told me that the lights were illegal. Yeah, I know what you are going to say. I told him they were factory OEM, but he said he could still issue a ticket for the brightness. He said it looked like I was driving around with my high-beams on. Bottom line...I don't want another rinse and repeat of headlamp battles.

 

Regards,

John

 

DAY11 Enthusiast

DAY11

Posted
Posted

Mine are bright but with a cut off that is sharp and appears low enough to not bother other drivers...for the most part. On a hilly road for example the cutoff may be projected higher as I crest a hill and then the other driver will think I am running highs. This is unavoidable.

The do not self level etc so the cutoff rises and falls as you run over changing terrain.

 

You are not going to be dealing with a ton of issues with them. They mimic a nice factory HID setup

HoosierZ Enthusiast

HoosierZ

Posted
Posted

Mine were adjusted too high from the factory. I had several people flash their brights at me the night I brought it home from the dealer. They were aimed so high that there was almost no difference between the low and high beams. I adjusted them down that night and again when I leveled the truck. I've only been flashed a couple times since.

BigBadSierra Senior Enthusiast

BigBadSierra

Posted
Posted

If they are flashing you they see you. I haven't been flashed in two years with the 2014.... It's nice to have headlights that work again. All though the 2014's with the update were okay except when it was storming or raining. Snow at night was bad too.

  • 2 weeks later...
NomadicCPO Enthusiast

NomadicCPO

Posted
Posted

I have not been flashed yet, but I will say this: it is annoying being in front of a '16 at night. My wife wanted to try out my truck, so after dinner one night I took her car and she took my truck. It blinded me the entire drive home, even with dimming mirrors. Called her to verify she didn't have the high beams on...she responded by flashing them at me.

Sir Dan Enthusiast

Sir Dan

Posted
Posted

They are very bright and I have been flashed a few times on dip beam but better this way than too dim. My 08 was terrible.

Oldbay Enthusiast

Oldbay

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Does dialing them downward make any difference?

 

It didn't seem to make ay difference in my Jeep Grand Cherokee. I think the issue was that the auto-leveling feature would only work a small fraction of the time. So, any elevation change gave oncoming traffic the impression that I was flashing my high beams at them.

 

The HIDs in my JGC were crazy bright. I think that Chrysler got quite a few complaints over the design.

 

Anyway thanks guys...I now see the light:-)

NomadicCPO Enthusiast

NomadicCPO

Posted
Posted

I have not been flashed yet, but I will say this: it is annoying being in front of a '16 at night. My wife wanted to try out my truck, so after dinner one night I took her car and she took my truck. It blinded me the entire drive home, even with dimming mirrors. Called her to verify she didn't have the high beams on...she responded by flashing them at me.

 

Well, I guess someone agreed with my assessment that they lights on the '16 are awfully bright when driving in front of it. Last night, they caused a road rage incident! On the highway, I came up on a Civic and after passing, they pulled behind me and blasted me with their high beams. Not being the type to turn a blind eye to rude road manners, I slowed down, allowed them to pull ahead, then demonstrated the difference between my high and low beams in their rearview mirror at close range. Guess they got the point....they declined to pull over to discuss it further.

Dnt Senior Enthusiast

Dnt

Posted
Posted

Not sure exactly what type of headlights they are but these 2016 GMC Denali headlights are friggin awesome especially when compared to my weak eyed 14 sierra that I just traded in. I have had a couple of people flash me but a return flash lets them know that they are on dim already. Oh and NomadicCPO I think I saw an APB out on for a dangerous ISIS group cell reported to be driving around in a Honda Civic..... be careful out there man one thing that has not so far been an option on these trucks is bullet proof glass.

redwngr Senior Enthusiast

redwngr

Posted
Posted

If you are getting frequently flashed, it's cause they can't see.

 

I've decided that it's better if traffic coming the other can see, and not wander into my lane cuz they can't.

NomadicCPO Enthusiast

NomadicCPO

Posted
Posted

I almost feel bad about it. I do a 200 mile drive every Sunday night and in addition to last week's incident, I must have been flashed 5 times last night. The lights appear to be level...just bright as hell.

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