2025 OEM Projector Headlight dark spots

[Spaced25]

Anyone with a 24+ with OEM projector headlights notice dark spots in the middle of the beam? I know the driver side should drop a bit for oncoming traffic but that’s not what I’m referring to. The top of the beam is bright with a crisp line, then there’s a dark spot, then it’s bright again. I have a 25 lariat 501a with the dynamic bending projectors.

The spot is kind of right where you would expect it to be saturated with light. Depending on if there’s a hill or not and where the top of the beam is, it makes for some poor performance. Pretty sure my reflector LEDs on my 19 were more consistent. Yet another thing I liked better on my 19?.(B&O, ambient lighting, less floaty, keypad).

In the pic below you can see what I’m talking about. I’m wondering if lowering the headlights and raising the fog lights would help. Fog
lights are on in pic.

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[Paul Neubauer]

My '21 had both the headlights replaced and now I have this horrible dark spot that didn't exist with the original units.

 

[Spaced25]

am I really the only one with the 24+ lights that has an issue with this? Drove at night for the 4th time and it’s actually hard to see. I think it’s a result of the upper and lower bulb design. Not sure if the 21-23s also have this.

Here’s a shot of the lights close up on the garage door. You can see the gap in light between the upper and lower bulbs. The dynamic bending is cool but wtf, in front of the truck there’s a break in the lights.

 

[SquigglyBrace]

Yeah, I have this issue with my 24. I kind of assumed it was normal but now not so sure.

 

[Paul Neubauer]

am I really the only one with the 24+ lights that has an issue with this? Drove at night for the 4th time and it’s actually hard to see. I think it’s a result of the upper and lower bulb design. Not sure if the 21-23s also have this.

Here’s a shot of the lights close up on the garage door. You can see the gap in light between the upper and lower bulbs. The dynamic bending is cool but wtf, in front of the truck there’s a break in the lights.

Just got my truck back last week and I absolutely hate the headlights on it after they were replaced compared to every service loaner I have driven. The dark spot on the road in the most important spot is dangerous!!

 

[Spaced25]

With it being darker earlier now, and some time having passed for more 25s to be on the road, I’m curious to know if anyone else is noticing this.

it’s incredibly distracting going up or down hills when the road a 1/2 car length in front of the truck isn’t well lit.

Really trying to figure out if this is a defect in my truck or just a bad design. Interested to see pics of other 24s or 25.

This is a good example of the issue. You can see the trees down the road and the mailbox (on left if you zoom in) are well lit, but the road itself near the mailbox is not. The road directly in front of the truck is also well lit. The gravel road is all the same color and you can see in the pic how it’s darker near the mailbox compared to directly in front of the truck.

 

[SilverPigeon]

It looks like an aiming issue to me; have you checked alignment using the aiming grid in the manual? Here is an example of the aiming grid for the '21-'23, I don't know if it's the same for '25:

 

[Spaced25]

It looks like an aiming issue to me; have you checked alignment using the aiming grid in the manual? Here is an example of the aiming grid for the '21-'23, I don't know if it's the same for '25:

I haven’t tried this exact process because my driveway is not flat. However, I lowered them by turning the adjustment screw one full turn. That resulted in them being too low and the solid light at the end of the beam wasn’t projecting far enough so I reverted the adjustment by a half turn. So they’re adjusted to be lower than factory already.

I’m at a loss on this one and surprised no one else is noticing.

Heres another example that shows there is an area with no light in the center of the beam. Which I don’t see how adjusting would resolve. Again if anyone else could post similar pics from a 24 or 25, I’d appreciate it.

 

[Paul Neubauer]

It looks like an aiming issue to me; have you checked alignment using the aiming grid in the manual? Here is an example of the aiming grid for the '21-'23, I don't know if it's the same for '25:

Ford did something to the new headlights. Mine are horrible also.

 

[Spaced25]

Ford did something to the new headlights. Mine are horrible also.

Your 21 lights were replaced with 24-25?

 

[Spaced25]

Snow highlights the issue.

The beam pattern when close to a wall seems kinda odd.

 

[Paul Neubauer]

Your 21 lights were replaced with 24-25?

I don’t know what revision they are but the new headlights put in my truck are awful compared to the original ones. It was 2024 when they were replaced.

 

[Xman]

Space, I think you need to raise your low beams up a bit more. I have a 2024 Lariat and mine do not have this pronounced dip in them.

I have a 2023 Telluride with LED headlights. They have a well-defined widow's peak in them on low-beam which is much smaller than what you showed. I have noticed that the widow's peak aligns with the oncoming driver's location on a straight road. I have come to the conclusion this was an intended safety design to reduce headlight glare for oncoming drivers.

Since your dark spot is much larger and lower than on my Telluride, I would try raising your low-beams slightly and seeing if anyone is flashing you that your lights are too bright.

 

[Xman]

Snow highlights the issue.

Spaced, this picture clearly shows the point I was trying to make. Note that the dark dip is to the left of your truck's centerline, e.g. in the oncoming lane. I'm in the Wyoming Rockies this week driving on snow in the dark of night. As you pointed out, the snow highlights this "feature". My "dip" does look similar to yours. I've had the truck for a year, guess I have gotten used to it.

 

[Spaced25]

Spaced, this picture clearly shows the point I was trying to make. Note that the dark dip is to the left of your truck's centerline, e.g. in the oncoming lane. I'm in the Wyoming Rockies this week driving on snow in the dark of night. As you pointed out, the snow highlights this "feature". My "dip" does look similar to yours. I've had the truck for a year, guess I have gotten used to it.

The dip isn’t the issue. That is expected for the exact reason you’ve mentioned. It’s the lack of light saturation in the middle of the light on the road, circled in red. Does your truck have this?

This is what I find distracting as when going up or down hills it can result in barely any light on the road a 1/2 car length in front of the truck…where you kind of need and expect it. The issue is made worse by the turning of the lights with the steering wheel. When turning left, there’s barely any light on the road in front of the passenger side.

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