LED Brand Reliability Report

[5L1mm]

Have you used an LED to replace an incandescent bulb on your vehicle? Has that LED lasted longer than six months? What is the brand of the LED that you used?

it seems like there are no shortage of aftermarket LED bulbs on the Internet. But most of them are non-potted or non-IP rated. I’m interested to find some replacement LED bulbs that can last me longer than a year.
If you have such experience, I would love your input.

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[Mosey]

The only incandescent bulbs I have replaced on my XLT are the front blinker and front side markers, which are amber. I purchased these from Lasfit. They have worked well and I do not get hyperflash.

At the time of my purchase they also had red LEDs for the tail lamps but many people were returning them as they did hyperflash. Eventually the reds were withdrawn from sale while the ambers are still available. Same type of bulb, just different color. Perhaps since they are also used for brake lights that made a difference. Just guessing.

 

[DEEPDOWN]

Have you used an LED to replace an incandescent bulb on your vehicle? Has that LED lasted longer than six months? What is the brand of the LED that you used?

it seems like there are no shortage of aftermarket LED bulbs on the Internet. But most of them are non-potted or non-IP rated. I’m interested to find some replacement LED bulbs that can last me longer than a year.
If you have such experience, I would love your input.

I used Philips 194 Ultinon to replace license plate bulbs. Still working beautifully! Philips is a trusted brand.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

When I bought my PB three years ago I used Phillips 194WLED Ultinon's for the plate bulbs, SYLVANIA ZEVO 3157 Red for the brake lights, and AUXITO LED Turn Signal Bulb 3157's for the front turn LEDs. All are amazingly bright and are still working today with no issues. The only thing I had to do was clip the pair of tabs off the Zevos so they would fit in the bulb receptacles and disable hyperflash with Forsacan.

I used these off brand amber LEDs for the front side markers and the original pair have also lasted three years now as well.

 

[PowerBoostSoCal]

I sell lighting (among other things) and the one I won't touch is LED for vehicles. You need to insert a resister - it is not the same for every car/truck and I bet 90% get returned. If you buy one, you need to go with an automotive quality bulb with clear instructions on set up, etc. The auto branded bulbs like Eiko and Peak have true good quality product that does work - but you are going to pay $20 to $40 for them! When you see the guy in the mid-80's silverado with the fast binkers or the guy with the really old dodge pick up where his brake lights are basically stuck on BRAKE ... you know. LED bulbs without proper set up will work continuously due to parasitic voltage that lights them up at will, when an incandescent bulb will not show visible light - hence the need for a resister. The license plate bulbs may work when the lights are really off, but no one notices.

 

[Truckguy24]

I replaced LEDs on my 2004 many of which are still kicking many years later. I think a lot of them are pushing 15 years old now on the interior. Those were VLEDs which was a big deal back in the day.

In later years I have only used Philips brand LEDs on my 2004. Also used morimoto for the headlights. Good success there. My older Mustang I think I just use cheapies off Amazon for the interior dome lights.

My 2024 I am leaving the heck alone. The quality of most aftermarket is crap compared to OEM and have no desire to change that anymore. You're paying a lot of money for a lot of junk these days. Headlight assemblies, tail light assemblies and bulbs. Not impressed. The incandescent stuff doesn't really bother me anymore And I like that if one burns out, I can stop at any auto parts store and get the correct bulb.

It's not worth the hassle of having to replace a burnt out poopy quality LED bulb when you just replaced it lol.

 

[DEEPDOWN]

I replaced LEDs on my 2004 many of which are still kicking many years later. I think a lot of them are pushing 15 years old now on the interior. Those were VLEDs which was a big deal back in the day.

In later years I have only used Philips brand LEDs on my 2004. Also used morimoto for the headlights. Good success there. My older Mustang I think I just use cheapies off Amazon for the interior dome lights.

My 2024 I am leaving the heck alone. The quality of most aftermarket is crap compared to OEM and have no desire to change that anymore. You're paying a lot of money for a lot of junk these days. Headlight assemblies, tail light assemblies and bulbs. Not impressed. The incandescent stuff doesn't really bother me anymore And I like that if one burns out, I can stop at any auto parts store and get the correct bulb.

It's not worth the hassle of having to replace a burnt out poopy quality LED bulb when you just replaced it lol.

I don’t know about 2024 but my 2022 trauma and license plate bulbs that had previously been LED in the 2021 my, I didn’t like the incandescent as simply looked wrong, and I wasn’t prepared to put up with the yellowy look. The Philips 194 Ultinon have been rock solid. Of course Philips are an OEM supplier too.

 

[Truckguy24]

I don’t know about 2024 but my 2022 trauma and license plate bulbs that had previously been LED in the 2021 my, I didn’t like the incandescent as simply looked wrong, and I wasn’t prepared to put up with the yellowy look. The Philips 194 Ultinon have been rock solid. Of course Philips are an OEM supplier too.

Yeah the Phillips are probably just fine, like I said in my post, I have Phillips on my 2004. They just don't bother me on the 2024 though so it's not worth changing for me personally. But I totally understand. On my 2024 I've really separated my car guy habits and preferences and just focused on leave it alone and daily drive it haha.

 

[DEEPDOWN]

Yeah the Phillips are probably just fine, like I said in my post, I have Phillips on my 2004. They just don't bother me on the 2024 though so it's not worth changing for me personally. But I totally understand. On my 2024 I've really separated my car guy habits and preferences and just focused on leave it alone and daily drive it haha.

I get your point, but with EVERY other light being brilliant high Kelvin white the license bulbs looked plain wrong (LED were standard on 2021). For me, spending $16 on 2 Top shelf LEDs and in a location that was so easy to access, was an easy decision.

 

[Samson16]

So Halogen to Xenon HID smoother than LED for headlights? Or are you guys just talking turn/brake/marker etc?

 

[Davidwnuc]

I have Lasfit and Auxito bulbs from ebay that have lasted 3+ years with no issues.

 

[Davidwnuc]

So Halogen to Xenon HID smoother than LED for headlights? Or are you guys just talking turn/brake/marker etc?

Not in my case. I have Lasfit led headlight and fog light bulbs that have been great. Just make sure to adjust your headlights afterwards so you arent blinding others.
$30 for 2 bulbs…cant beat it.

 

[Eskram]

These particular Auxito lights sucked - https://www.f150gen14.com/2023/03/1...d-license-plate-light-rear-bumper-tag-lights/

But I do have Auxito LED 194s in the stock housing that are still going strong.

 

[5L1mm]

Thank you all so much for your feedback. I haven’t modified a vehicle since 2014 and I’m a bit out of the market, I don’t know much about much these days and it was a real pleasure having some input from those who are still in.

in my case, my 2021 has melting plastic in the cargo light reflector area. I put some LEDs in it from eBay… I learned my lesson.

 

[philmayfield]

I've been running led bulbs for front signals and rear signal / brakes (amber front and red rear) from Underground Lighting. Been in the truck about 16 months and working great - no complaints at all. I got them specifically to not have to deal with hyper flashing. Significantly brighter than the stock incandescent bulbs.

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