This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
While driving at 6:35 pm in paso robles on hwy 46 both headlights went dark. I rotated the light switch several times, then both headlights lit. Within 5 minutes, it happened again. 2 minutes later, it happened again. Thereafter it happened about every 2 minutes until we got to the hospital emergency room to which I was taking my wife. She died there about 10pm of a heart attack. At about 2 a.M. on my return home with my daughter, the same thing happened within 5 minutes. When it happened next in about 2 minutes, I flipped the light switch and one headlight lit. Despite flipping the switch several times, only one light (the left one) lit. Have not used the car at night since then.
I believe there is a serious and undisclosed flaw in the Toyota Prius hid headlamp system. I have noticed the headlamps will extinguish individually and unexpected in an intermittent manner, causing a significant safety hazard to driver as well as other vehicles. I have contacted Toyota about this, and although they have extended the warranty with this obviously flawed design, they refuse to take responsibility for the design and repair the systems. I have owned several other vehicles with hid headlamps, never have they become intermittent, which is indicative of a design flaw or a serious materials problem with the igniter system for the hid headlamps. I believe that Toyota should be held responsible and recall the hid headlamp systems and take the necessary corrective action.
Left side headlight quits working then you have to turn off headlights and turn back on then it comes back on. After a while it goes out again then same procedure has to be repeated again. I believe this is a safety issue and needs to be recalled. What if the light on the right side decides to go out especially in the dark where there is no street lights? I ask you nicely please recall the car and fix the issue what may be causing it.
- Akron, PA, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the headlights failed without warning. The contact had to play around with the headlight switch in order for the lights to illuminate. The failure had occurred previously but was only exhibited on one side of the headlights at a time. The recent failure was exhibited on both headlights. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where he was advised that the control could possible be the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 160,000.
My husband was driving our recently purchased Prius and was pulled over by a police officer. One of his headlights was not working. Following that event, the other light has gone out as well. Both headlights go on off when in use. This is disturbing to us because it's a safety issue when driving at night. After doing research, we discovered that this can be an issue in 05-08 Toyota Prius.
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the headlights failed and would not illuminate. The contact became aware of the headlight failure when she was pulled over by a police officer. The headlight switch had to be moved to on and off position several times for the headlights to illuminate. One headlight was replaced, however the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 103,754.
We have repeatedly had our headlights go out. We have been replacing bulbs thinking it was the problem. We found if we shut off the car and started again or turn on/off the lights, the headlamp would work again. It has happened to both headlights but not at the same time. We've been told by Toyota that the lights need replacing but there is no way these lights need to be replaced that often. It has happened sporadically throughout the last six years. I was pulled over by the police two nights ago for having a headlamp out. The next time I started the car it worked perfectly.
The left headlight went out and the operator turned the lightswitch off then back on and the left headlight restarted. This happened intermittently at no particular time interval up until September 29, 2012 when both headlights began to go out and the operator now has safety concerns.
First my left headlight went out. Within a minute my right headlight went out as well. I turned the light switch off, then on again, and they both re-lit. This happened four times in the course of 20 miles. The is a regular occurrence now.
Since June.. I have had one or both headlights go off. I have to flick them on and off to get them to go back on. I have run off the road. I have been pulled over by police only to then find my headlight was on. Sometimes when they both go off it will takes many on off of the switch to get them to finally go back on, and I usually have to make my way of the road. This is a terribly dangerous situation. I have had many vehicles and not ever seen anything like this!! I truly believe there needs to be a recall. I looked on line and now know it is not just me, but many Prius are having the very same issue. There is a guy I saw interviewed that said he does not believe that they both go off simultaneously. I can assure you that they do, and it happens quite frequently. I have become very scared to drive at night. I do not do it unless I just have to..
While driving a canyon road at night, vehicle headlights suddenly went off. Near collision occurred when another car turning in front of affected vehicle because it was not visible in the dark. Later discovered turning the headlights off and then on again caused the headlamps to relight. Since then, one or both head lamps intermittently and suddenly turn off. Reset relights. On June 22, 2012, vehicle was taken to northridge Toyota for repair. Northridge Toyota charged over $500 to replace headlamps. Some time after repair, the issue returned with same symptoms.
The right headlight goes out a minutes after driving the car. Both headlights come on initially, but after driving down the road for a few minutes, the right headlight stops working. This seems to be a problem with the hid module malfunctioning.
I was driving in interstate I-270 in commerce city co. When suddenly the headlights went out and would not come back on until I was completely stopped, so I turn them off then on and they come back on, ?? it has kept on happening ever since, they are the hid's and it is my understanding am not the only one having this problem.
Headlamps stay on for 5 minutes then one goes out completely and the other goes dim. Can't see unless I turn them off and then back on again... then I get some light for another 5 minutes. I replaced the lamps which were very expensive, however, the lamps are not the problem.
The hid headlights fail and turn-off without warning. This leads to dangerous driving conditions especially at night. This is related to a hid headlight leveling sensor failure. Toyota reports this issue in their "technical service bulletin" number EL004-06, dated 28th April 2006. Toyota recognizes the problem in the oem part and is providing replacement only on failed parts under 36months, 36,000 miles warranty. However, my vehicle experienced this "safety issue" past the warranty period and hence is not replaced by Toyota. Nevertheless, Toyota has generated a customer program to replace this defective module in 2006-2009 models even if not under the warranty. My 2005 model experiences the exact same problem but Toyota will not cover this safety issue. Furthermore, the 2006-2009 models are covered under the "class action lawsuit" for the exact same problem as my 2005; however my 2005 model is not covered. Please do the needful to include 2005 model Prius (with hid headlights) in the safety issues addressed in 2006-2009 models. Thank you.
In 2009 was the first time the warning light was displayed regarding the headlight leveler sensor. Contacted Toyota and because it was out of warranty, they would not repair unless we paid in full for repairs. Advised the sensor alone was approx. $400, plus whatever labor is involved. Have lived with the intermittent warning light coming on and going off ever since. In December of 2011, began having problems with the passanger side headlight going off for no reason. Replaced the bulb and it still goes off intermittently while driving. If the headlamp switch is turned off and back on from inside the car, the headlight comes back on. I see that there was a recall for similar issues recently; however, it only covered Toyota Prius vehicles year 2006 and newer. I've gone on several Prius chat sites, and apparently other 2005 Prius owners have the same issues. I would like to know why other year Prius were not included in the recent recall.
Both headlights intermittently go off, they lit for a minute and then go off. I have been reading in forums this is a common problems Toyota Prius owners experience. They should make a recall, sometimes when I go to work at night I am out of lights and this is extremely dangerous since I use express ways a lot.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Herndon, VA, USA