NHTSA ID Number: 11045144

Incident Date: 2017-11-10

Manufacturer's Name: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)

Vehicle/Equipment Make: DODGE

Vehicle/Equipment Model: DART

Model Year: 2012
9999 If Unknown Or N/A

Vehicle Identification Number: 1C3CDFAA2DD

Vehicle Mileage At Failure: 50

Vehicle Speed: 50

Number Of Occurrences:

Was Vehicle Towed: No

Consumer Location: LEES SUMMIT, MO

Summary of Complaint

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE 3 MAJOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS STYLE OF HEADLIGHT. 1) THE PERFORMANCE IS SUBSTANDARD WHEN USED IN HIGH-BEAM MODE. THE WIDTH OF LIGHT BEAM IS TOO NARROW, I.E. TOO MUCH LIGHT IS FOCUSED STRAIGHT AHEAD AND NOT ENOUGH IS PROJECTED ON SHOULDERS & AREA ADJACENT TO ROADWAY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE ON CURVED ROADS. THIS IS DUE TO A DESIGN COMPROMISE RESULTING FROM USING THE SAME FOCUSING LENS ON LOW-BEAM OPERATION. 2)LIGHTING IS REDUCED WHEN USED IN LOW-BEAM MODE. THE SHUTTER THAT BLOCKS UPPER PORTION OF THE BEAM REDUCES THE QUANTITY OF LIGHT CAST ON ROADWAY. 3) SAFETY HAZARD IS CREATED FOR OTHER VEHICLES WHEN PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS APPROACH OR FOLLOW ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE INTENSITY OF THE LIGHT BEAM IS VERY HIGH CAUSING OTHER MOTORISTS TO BE BLINDED WHEN A PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHT SHINES DIRECTLY INTO THE EYES OF ANOTHER MOTORIST. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN DRIVING ON HILLS, AROUND CURVES, AND WHEN BEING APPROACHED OR FOLLOWING A VEHICLE OF A DIFFERENT HEIGHT. (SEDANS BEING LOWER THAN SUVS OR LIGHT TRUCKS) MY COMPLAINTS ARE NOT LIMITED TO MY VEHICLE ALONE, BUT ARE DIRECTED TO ALL VEHICLES USING PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS. WHILE PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS HAVE GOOD VERTICAL CUT-OFF, THE ADVANTAGE IS LOST BY THE OTHER DEFICIENCIES. PLUS, LOOKING DIRECTLY AT A REFLECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME BLINDING EFFECT EXPERIENCED BY LOOKING AT PROJECTOR-STYLE LIGHTS. THE RESULT IS NO REAL ADVANTAGE IS OBTAINED IN THIS AREA. IN MY OPINION, THE OLDER, REFLECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE IN ILLUMINATING THE ROADWAY, AND DO NOT HAVE THE BLINDING GLARE OF PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PROJECTOR-STYLE HEADLIGHTS UNDERGO REDESIGN TO ELIMINATE THE GLARE PROBLEMS AND IMPROVE ROADWAY ILLUMINATION. IF THAT IS NOT TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE, THEN THEY SHOULD BE ELIMINATED.

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Complaint 11045144 Documents

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CRASH: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH

FIRE: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FIRE

INJURIES: 0
NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED

DEATHS: 0
NUMBER OF FATALITIES

Was Medical Attention Required: No

Was Incident Reported To Police: No

Date Of Incident: 2017-11-10
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Date Added To File: 2017-11-10
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Date Complaint Received By NHTSA: 2017-11-10
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Date Purchased:
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Was Original Owner: No

Product Type: Vehicle

V = Vehicle
T = Tires
E = Equipment
C = Child Restraint

Specific Component's Description: EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Anti-Lock Brakes: No

Cruise Control: No

Number Of Cylinders:

Drive Train Type:
[AWD, 4WD, FWD, RWD]

Fuel System:

FI = Fuel Injection
TB = Turbo

Fuel Type:

BF = BiFuel
CN = CNG/LPG
DS = Diesel
GS = Gas
HR = Hybrid Electric

Vehicle Transmission Type [Auto, Man]:

(DOT) Department Of Transportation Tire Identifier:

Tire Size:

Location Of Tire:

FSW = Driver Side Front
DSR = Driver Side Rear
FTR = Passenger Side Front
PSR = Passenger Side Rear
SPR = Spare

Type Of Tire Failure:

BST = Blister
BLW = Blowout
TTL = Crack
OFR = Out Of Round
TSW = Puncture
TTR = Road Hazard
TSP = Tread Separation

Was Defective Tire Repaired:

Was Part Original Equipment:

Date Of Manufacture:
(YYYYMMDD)

Type Of Child Seat:

B = Booster
C = Convertible
I = Infant
IN = Integrated
TD = Toddler

Installation System:

A = Vehicle Safety Belt
B = Latch System

Dealer's Name:

Dealer's Telephone Number:

Dealer's City:

Dealer's State:

Dealer's Zipcode:

SOURCE OF COMPLAINT CODE:

CAG = Consumer Action Group
CON = Forwarded From A Congressional Office
DP = Defect Petition,result Of A Defect Petition
EVOQ = Hotline VOQ
EWR = EARLY WARNING REPORTING
INS = Insurance Company
IVOQ = NHTSA Web Site
LETR = Consumer Letter
MAVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP
MIVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP
MVOQ = Optical Marked VOQ
RC = Recall Complaint, Result Of A Recall Investigation
RP = Recall Petition, Result Of A Recall Petition
SVOQ = Portable Safety Complaint Form (PDF)
VOQ = NHTSA Vehicle Owners Questionnaire

Incident State Code:

Vehicle Operator's Name: