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.
I have a 2006 Prius with the hid headlights and want to confirm that both bulbs have failed. The dealer agreed to replace them under warranty even though I have 47000 miles on the vehicle. I did complain about this a year ago and the dealer did nothing at that time. This problem is compounded by just today receiving a notice from Toyota about an hid headlight support program that lowers the price of the bulbs to $150 per bulb. This is still outrageous.
The factory installed hid headlights periodically turn off. The first incident occurred two years ago, and I thought I had imagined it. I noticed dim lights and corrected the problem by quickly switching to bright lights. I was later told one head light was out while driving, but when I checked by exiting the vehicle both lights were on. The problem was very intermittent for two years primarily because I rarely drive at night. The problem is much more frequent now occurring multiple times per trip. I discovered that I can temporarily resolve the problem by cycling the head light switch ? not a safe tactic. An internet search today revealed this to be a common problem. Surprisingly, we have not received a notice from Toyota. This is clearly a dangerous factory defect. If Toyota will not issue a recall, please demand that they at least acknowledge the problem and issue a notice listing the parts needed to correct the problem. Please take immediate action before the problem causes serious accidents.
Every two years, the headlights of my 2006 Toyota Prius begin to fail and start to turn off, unexpectedly, while I'm driving. Several times, I've driven long distances at night, completely unaware of the fact that they had shut off, and later they appear to be working fine. At 20,000 miles, I had both lights replaced by the dealership. Less than two years later, the driver's side headlight stared to fail again. The dealership paid for the light, but charged me $120 for the labor. Seven months later, the passenger side light began to fail. Again, the dealership paid for the bulb but charged me for the labor. After the third repair, I called the Toyota experience center. They said that their new customer support program would not cover reimbursing me for the labor. I'm concerned that now in addition to the risk, time and expense I've already incurred, that I will have to add "preventative headlight replacement" to my list of required maintenance of my vehicle, and it will cost me another $600 every 2 years to drive my vehicle safely at night. Because the way the hid light fail does not give the driver any warning or notification. The lights both illuminate at start up, and only fail while you're driving. I appreciate Toyota paying for some parts of the repairs, but I think they are failing to fully address this very dangerous situation, and have saddled their customers with an unreasonable expense. When you can replace a headlight by yourself every five years for a couple bucks, it's reasonable. When it costs $300 per headlight every two years, that's not reasonable. I filed a previous complaint after the 2nd time the lights failed in May 2009. This is the third incident with this car, and the 2nd time I'm filing a complaint here.
Driver's side hid headlight occasionally goes out while driving. This started a month or two ago but I'm reporting yesterday's incident because I have just found out via internet forums that a significant number of other 2006 Prius owners are also experiencing this problem. Turning headlights off then on again fixes the problem. No problem so far with passenger side lamp which has obviously been used with the same frequency and duration. This has not caused an accident yet, but if this were to happen with both headlights it would be very dangerous.
- Acworth, GA, USA
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2006 Toyota Prius hid head lights turn off on their own while driving at night. Light bulb defect is intermittent. When brought to repair facility, both bulbs working fine.
The right front hid headlamp of my 2006 Toyota Prius keeps cutting out and then comes back on when I turn the lights off. I have replaced both bulbs, but the same thing has happened. The problem started in 2008, stopped after I changed the bulbs and started again not even a year later.
After about 40,000 miles, the driver's side headlight in my 2006 Toyota Prius started blinking off (I.e., it would turn off, but then if I switched the lights on and off, it would be on again).
2006 Toyota Prius. The drivers side head light unexpectedly shutting off. It started in June of 2009. Just got Toyota to fix it at there cost. They replaced the bulb and said that (should) fix the problem.
Passenger side head light goes out randomly. When the lights are turned off and then back on it will work for "some" period of time, could be seconds or days. Car has been taken to the dealership multiple times for diagnostics and alleged repairs yet the problem continues. Dealer has replaced bulbs & replaced some module within the circuitry. Continues to fail.
Hid headlight failure on 2006 Toyota Prius. Purchased in June 2006 right headlight and control unit were replaced in June 2007 by Toyota under warranty. Right headlight and control unit failed in Dec. 2009. Now driving with right headlamp out. Hid headlamps are supposed to have twice the lifetime of normal headlamps. Headlamps should not cost $500 to replace. Toyota has an obvious design problem with their headlight system.
My 2006 Toyota Prius with high intensity lightbulbs has less than 40,000 miles on it. One bulb has already been replaced and now I am having intermittent failures on another bulb. I understand NHTSA has decided not to take any action under PE09019 but have to say I don't understand your stance on this. I can be cited by police for having defective safety equipment when a bulb is out, yet you felt this did not warrant action. This problem with Prius hid headlights seems to be limited only to that vehicle model it is obviously a defect in design and it is a safety issue. Ever meet a one-lighted car or truck on a very dark two lane highway? hope you will take action to force Toyota to do a recall and correct this very dangerous issue.
The headlights on my 2006 Prius will go off for no apparent reason. Most of the time this involves only one headlight, but I have had both go off. If I turn off the lights and turn them back on the lights come back on. I've read several complaints on the internet on this problem. Clearly a safety concern.
For a 2006 Prius. Twice this evening my headlights went out on their own. I was driving to a store about a mile and a half away, when a half mile from my house all lights, including headlights, went out. They did not come on until I manually turned them "off" and then on again. On the way home from the store, they went out again.
The headlights on my 2006 Prius goes off while driving. Sometimes one light goes off and the other stays on. Sometimes the intensity of the lights vary. To correct the problem I have to turn my lights on and off. Also my brake light will go on and off. I have been pulled over numerous times by the police because of this problem.
The headlight (on the passenger side) intermittently goes out. I can turn the lights off for a second and then back on and it comes back on. Sometimes it will stay on for hours, sometimes it will only stay on for minutes. I had the same problem previously with the same car and Toyota replaced the bulb, ballast and headlight assembly before it stopped having the issue. Now about 20 months have passed and I am seeing the same thing again.
I own a 2006 Toyota Prius and the drivers side headlight will go on and off without warning. I took it into the dealer and it cost over $500 to replace the headlight. This a clear safety issue. Headlights that go off without warning could lead to a very dangerous circumstance. Headlights are items like windshield wipers that need frequent replacement and should not cost $500.
About a year a go my passenger side headlight started turning on and off randomly on my 2006 Toyota Prius. I took my car to Toyota of berkeley I-80 junction service center to fix the problem. I was told that Toyota would be more than happy to do a full diagnostic on my car at the cost of $125 to see what the problem was but since my light was on at that time they did not think they could duplicate the problem. My passenger side headlight had been randomly turning off while I was driving and in order to get my light to turn back on I would have to stop my car, turn my lights off, then turn them back on, and occasionally this would correct the problem. Recently my headlight went out completely and I took my car to Toyota of dublin service center to have one of my headlights replaced. I was then shocked to learn that my car had hid lights that cost $400 per bulb plus labor to replace. My front bumper needed to be removed in order to get to the lights therefore it was not a simple job and would take a few hours to complete. Hearing this appalled me! when I purchased the car and the extended warranty I was never told anything about replacing the lights and how much it would cost. This is a ridiculous charge for lights that do not last three years. I believe that there is more wrong with this car than just a light that needed to be replaced. I feel that the faulty lights in the 2006 Toyota Prius are a safety hazard and need to be recalled. I am a single mother with two young children. I do not feel safe driving my car with my children, nor do I feel good about selling my car to an unknowing buyer, and I do not have the money to keep paying repair bills in the amount of $1000 or more to replace headlights! I am asking for an immediate recall of the 2006 Toyota Prius so this safety hazard can be corrected.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Owings Mills, MD, USA