How long do the LED headlights last? I might need replacements

[memo90061]

I feel like I've been having bad luck with my 2023 Acura Integra lately.

Around October, the amplifier stopped working and I was at 53k miles, so I was out of the warranty. I did buy extended warranty, but they told me it didn't cover electrical components. Acura was charging me $1,400, but supposedly they asked Honda for "Help" and they were able to drop it to $900.

Now in February 2026, the LED headlights are very dim. The auto headlights keeps choosing the high beams because of how dim they are. Is it normal for the LED headlights to be dimming already? I'm scared of how much I'll have to pay. I bought the car new and I've had it for 3 years already.

Sponsored

 

[ashmostro]

LED headlights should last the life of the car. This is not normal. Get a second opinion from a better mechanic.

 

[memo90061]

It seems like it's working now... I don't know what happened!

 

[ashmostro]

Get your electrical system checked out. Not something you want failing on you late at night far from home.

 

[bisquick]

The auto headlights keeps choosing the high beams because of how dim they are.

That is not how the automatic high beams feature works; it does not measure the light output of your headlights.

The sensor on the windshield measures ambient light, traffic and your vehicle speed. If the threshold of all 3 parameters are met then it switches on the high beams.

I agree that this sounds like a wiring issue. Check that your battery terminals are tight and if the issue returns then take it to another dealer/mechanic. There may be a parasitic drain somewhere in the circuit which is limiting the output of your headlights.

 

[SilverRocket]

It sounds like a battery thing.

Unless you drive on bumpy roads and jostled the bad wiring, if the issue "corrected itself" i would be inclined to say you had a drained battery, you drove the car a bit more, recharged the battery and now they are bright again.

As others have said, keep on monitoring it and if it happens again, get a simple multimeter and measure the voltage on the battery when the car is off.

 

[ashmostro]

Yeah, battery terminals are a wise first check. If all is tight and not corroded, get the vehicle electrical tested for parasitic drains like was stated above, and I would also have the wiring for the headlights themselves checked out.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

Yeah I skipped the acura extended warranty because it covered almost nothing and their exclusion clauses gave them a way out of almost everything.

I agree with others here.

Personally, I'd go the route of:
Battery check
Alternator check
Corrosion search around battery and grounding terminals
Pull the bumper and corrosion search around the headlights


Typically there are several voltage regulators in path, one in each headlight, and then at least one further upstream. If both headlights dimmed, your source is further upstream. Hearing you've already had a separate electrical failure, I would bet something closer to the battery or alternator is the issue. Voltage regulator at the alternator is a likely culprit, but so is a failing battery.

Sponsored