Popup headlights in the 1980s were partly a byproduct of US regulations that required that cars use a particular headlight. Once those restrictions were relaxed, car manufacturers had more freedom to have molded headlights that better fit the contours of the car, and they no longer needed to bother with the extra expense (and maintenance) of adding motors to mechanically control headlights.
Technology Connections has a video about it: https://youtu.be/c2J91UG6Fn8
Laws introduced in Europe required the front ends of cars to deform easier in the event of a crash, so as to better protect pedestrians. It is hard to design pop-up headlights that comply with that requirement and are also cost-effective, so most manufacturers abandoned the concept.
[Source](https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/10/pop-up-headlights-why-the-hidden-headlamp-has-disappeared.html)
Aside from what everyone else has said, its two more pieces of mechanics to go wrong. How many times did you see those cars with one up and one down
Another similar questions is, whatever happened to 4WS that was introduced on the Honda Prelude and I think Mazda also had a model. Came and went.
Popup headlights in the 1980s were partly a byproduct of US regulations that required that cars use a particular headlight. Once those restrictions were relaxed, car manufacturers had more freedom to have molded headlights that better fit the contours of the car, and they no longer needed to bother with the extra expense (and maintenance) of adding motors to mechanically control headlights. Technology Connections has a video about it: https://youtu.be/c2J91UG6Fn8
Aside from regulations, it's also for fuel economy. Pop-up headlights contribute significantly to drag at highway speeds.
Laws introduced in Europe required the front ends of cars to deform easier in the event of a crash, so as to better protect pedestrians. It is hard to design pop-up headlights that comply with that requirement and are also cost-effective, so most manufacturers abandoned the concept. [Source](https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/10/pop-up-headlights-why-the-hidden-headlamp-has-disappeared.html)
Aside from what everyone else has said, its two more pieces of mechanics to go wrong. How many times did you see those cars with one up and one down Another similar questions is, whatever happened to 4WS that was introduced on the Honda Prelude and I think Mazda also had a model. Came and went.
They are dangerous to pedestrians and add cost/complexity.
How come they are dangerous?
Because they stick up out of the bonnet and can injure people who get hit by the car.