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.
The right headlight was intermittently going out. Also, occasionally, both lights would go out. If I turned the light switch off and back on, the light(s) would come back on. I took the car to the dealer and they indicated that I needed new bulbs ($250 per bulb and $200 to change the bulbs). I had 49,000 miles on a car I purchased new in Aug 2007. Since the car is out of warranty (3yrs/36K miles), the dealer would not cover it. The dealer did "comp" one of the bulbs so it ended up costing me $400. Subsequently, I accessed the internet and found out that this is happening to a large number of Prius'. these are the hid bulbs. I am working with the Toyota customer relations on this issue.
There were no particular events leading up to the intermittent failure of my drivers-side hid headlight. It is constantly turning off while driving (even at night) and will only turn on again if I turn off both headlights, and turn them back on. I am constantly required to do this while driving at night, and it is a severe safety risk.
Headlights on 2007 Prius failed intermittently. They will work when the vehicle is first turned on but will sometimes turn off. I brought it in within 30,000 miles and had the entire headlight assembly replaced by the dealer and it seemed to resolve the issue for a while. However it is happening again to the other side at 42000 miles, these are hid headlights and have approximately 1000-1500 hours of use to them.
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. While driving at an unknown speed, the headlights failed. The dealer stated that they would not repair the vehicle under warranty, which would cost several hundred dollars to repair. The dealer banged on the headlights and they illuminated again. The contact was advised that if she banged on the headlights, they would function correctly. The failure was not due to the electrical system. In addition, the two brake lights also failed. She continued to drive the vehicle because the failure did not recur for some time. In November of 2008, while driving and entering the highway, the passenger side headlight dimmed again. Almost immediately, the contact was pulled over by the police and given a warning about the headlights. The dealer stated that they would inspect the failure and, if the banging worked, this would remedy the issue unless the contact chose to repair the issue at her own expense. She scheduled an appointment with the dealer, but had to cancel. In December of 2008, while driving with one headlight, the other headlight failed. As a result, neither headlights were illuminated. While reading other complaints on the issue, the contact noticed that one consumer stated that when the headlight switch was turned off and then on again, they worked properly. This remedy was successful in alleviating the contact's failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The current mileage was approximately 53,000 and failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Headlights turn off randomly. Sometimes left, sometimes right, sometimes both. After reading online chat forums, many other people are having this same issue, spanning multiple years of the Prius. The dealer worked on my car yesterday and 'fixed it' but last night the problem came back.. it seems the dealer doesn't want to replace the $1,100 part that causes this issue, the hid circuit board. I have had this problem for about 3 months now, and since this is a safety issue, Toyota should be forced to recall these defective components. When you turn the lights off and then back on, the light will function again for a short period of time, and then go off again. The dealer suggested hitting the headlight, (not easy to do when you are on the highway) I am afraid to drive my car at night, with the potential to get pulled over by police, or have an accident due to lack of headlights.
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
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My headlights go off intermittently. When I turn the lights off and on again, the problem goes away. (until the next time.) the dealer says I need to replace the hid headlamps at a cost of over $400. My extended warranty (from Toyota) will not cover this defect.
2007 Toyota Prius headlamps go out intermittently. This is an ongoing problem. It occurs once every five or ten minutes. Turning the headlamps off and then on again resolves the issue for the next few minutes.
I own a 2007 Toyota Prius with 52000 miles. I have been experiencing issues with intermittent headlights on both sides simply turning off while driving. They are re-set by turning off the lights and then turning them back on. This is a very serious safety issue that apparently numerous Prius owners are experiencing. Toyota does not have an answer except paying $1100 for new bulbs that should last much longer. As I am becoming more educated about this issue, I have seen that many other people have this same issue with about the same response from Toyota. This issue needs to be addressed as a serious public safety issue and a serious manufacture defect. Can you please help us with this issue?
Headlights dim or go out at random. Can turn switch off and back on and lights come back on. This happened first time about a year ago - had it repaired (under warranty), but now is happening again. I have an appointment to repair again. This is a real safety concern - I do a lot of night driving and headlights are not an option - they are a necessity.
While driving, one of the exterior high intensity headlamps would fail with no indication (no yellow bulb failure indicator) of failure. Turning off the light switch and turning it back on would relight the headlight. This would happen with either the left or the right headlight but not both. The old bulbs were replaced under warranty and the problem has not yet recurred.
I've got a Toyota Prius 2007 with hid headlights. Left headlight keeps going out. I can't really tell when or how it goes out since I can't see it. I'll notice it when I see the reflection in the back of another car. If I turn the bright lights on and off it has no effect, but when I turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. Sometimes on long trips it will stay on the whole time, sometimes it won't. sometimes on short trips it will go out, sometimes it won't. it is not an event I can make happen.
I have a 07 Toyota Prius drivers side hid headlamp flickers on and off. Recently went out completely. Now the passenger side lamp is going on/off. I recently read online that Prius customers of 2005- 2009 vehicles have the same problems. I commute 137 miles round trip everyday. There needs to be a recall before some one is injured.
Started noticing my passenger side head light going out sporadically. Just as the others, by turning them off, then on, the lights come back on. Was actually stopped by a va state trooper, who advised his father-in-law had the same problem & that this was a manufacturer error. So, I took this issue to my dealer due to having an extended warranty. They called my warranty company before starting work to fix this $500 issue (which, all they did was replace the bulb). It then started occurring on my driver side. When I took it in to have this fixed / looked at, was advised the warranty company had denied the charge with the dealer & the dealer had comp'd the charge as a courtesy. Based on these reports, I just called the dealer to advise them of these issues & am hoping for a resolution to this issue.
Driver's side headlamp started going off sporadically on 2007 Prius. Turning off the lights and turning them back on fixed the problem, but they would periodically flicker and change brightness. Car was under warranty and I took it to the dealer. Dealer replaced the hid computer 2 times before the problem seemed to be fixed. Now I am past my warranty, and now both headlights go out while driving. I leave my fog lights on so that I am not suddenly in the dark. If I turn off my headlights and turn them back on, they come back on. It is very dangerous, and I have tried to have this fixed two times. It doesn't happen every time I drive the car, but it seems to happen more often than not.
The headlights on the 2007 Prius turn off by them self. If you turn them off and back on they will be back on and turn off again, this is how I know it is not a lose wire. I worked with a fleet of Prius and Lexus hybrid cars. The Prius has had this issue since 2006. Multiple cars wit the same symptoms. The Toyota dealership charges you up to $ 1,700 + to fix this issue. There are forums all over the net discussing this issue and many concern drivers on the road that do not know how to utilize the power of the internet. This is no longer a money issue, it has become a safety issue now. Police have ticketed me over 5 times and I have gone to Toyota and they charge me thousands. Last week I almost ran over a little girl on a bike at dusk...when I stopped and asked if she was ok she replied " I didn't see your lights sir, I am sorry".
Intermittent headlight on 2007 Toyota Prius, 46,000 miles, light shuts off at anytime, will go back on when you turn headlights on/off quickly, light shuts off again...
Passenger side head light will intermittently go out. The only way to turn it back on is to turn off the head lights by the headlight switch and turn back on. I first noticed this about 5 weeks ago. Nothing has been done to correct the problem. I spoke with Toyota Corp. And they stated that headlights are not a warranty item. Cost to repair is approx. $500. Hid headlight. Very labor intensive to install because part of front bumper has to be removed to get to the back of the headlight assembly. Car is a 2007 Prius.
Headlights are intermittent, dealer says it may be the bulbs $322 and not in stock or the ballast $400 or both and can be both sides. The online forums are full of people with same problem and unreal repair bill quotes on 2006 up Toyota Prius.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Oceanside, CA, USA