6.7

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
126,150 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
2004 Toyota Prius lights problems

lights problem

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2004 Toyota Prius Owner Comments

problem #6

Jun 112012

Prius

  • Automatic transmission
  • 175,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The left headlight has ALWAYS caused me so much problems. I have changed that bulb more than I have changed the right headlight. I recently have been more annoyed of the headlight because now it turns off every 5 minutes while driving and it is very dangerous. I just emailed my complaint to Toyota but I do not feel that they will look into it because I have stop brought my car to the dealership many of times and they insist that it is a light bulb problem. I am going to speak to them tomorrow one more time before I turn to another mechanic that is someone I know to look into the details. If anyone was able to get this resolved PLEASE let me know. I am clueless when it comes to cars but I know this does not seem right and it does not take a experienced mechanic to know that.

- tjyang22, Harrisburg, PA, US

problem #5

Jun 022013

Prius

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

A couple years ago, when my car was around 100,000 miles I noticed the headlights working intermittently. The problem has persisted, despite many attempts to correct the situation. Sometimes it was the passenger side that would flicker and go out, sometimes the driver's side...but never both until about 2 months ago when I was driving down a winding country road at NIGHT when they both shut off at the same time. Talk about scary! In the past, any time I noticed one of the lights wasn't working, I could turn my headlights off and immediately back on again and they would both work. The same was true when they decided to shut off at the same time, but that didn't make it any less scary. Before that incident, I had had both headlight bulbs replaced (since that was the only suggestion the dealership could come up with). After reading through multiple forums online, it appears to be a common occurrence with HID bulbs. If anybody has found a fix for the issue that isn't going to cost thousands of dollars - please let me know! I don't mind investing in my car, but at this point I'd be better off investing in a new car if the fix for this is going to be in the $2-5K range.

- Nicole M., Summerville, SC, US

problem #4

Nov 252013

Prius

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,900 miles

Passanger side headlamp goes out within five minutes of lights coming on when car is started. Drove to dealer. Dealer saw light was out. Dealer stated that same problem was recently seen on Lexus. Dealer was not sure if fix was ballast or HID bulb replacement, wiring harness replacement, computer replacement, or replacement of entire headlamp assembly.

Dealer mentioned two hours to replace bulb because fender had to be disassembled to gain access bulb. Dealer stated that this should not have happened. Quoted me $225 to repair, taxes, parts and labor included. Dealer said no bulb was in stock but he could order bulb with next day delivery. I ask about financial assistance from Toyota. Dealer said he did not think any assistance from Toyota would be forthcoming, but said he would ask. I have not had repairs made yet because the failed light illuminates when the light switch is turned off and back on. Research suggest other lighting system problems surface after replacing one or both HID bulbs.

I agree Toyota needs to engineer a fix for this defect and pay for repairs under a recall. Eight to ten families have purchased a Prius after my telling them how efficient, safe and reliable our Prius experience has been. This lingering and unresolved headlight problem has created in me serious doubts about the integrity of Toyota's customer service and has tarnished my personal experience with Toyota.

- garydnc, Wilkesboro, NC, US

problem #3

Jan 172014

Prius 1.5L 4-cyl Dohc

  • CVT transmission
  • 77,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The first time I noticed the problem was about 3 months ago (Oct 2013). The right headlight would turn off unexpectedly. I would have to turn the headlight switch on and off to get them working. I reported the problem to the local Toyota dealership and had it checked out. They reported finding nothing because they could not reproduce the problem. All of a sudden last week ( 1/6/2014 - 1/17/2014) the left headlight started doing the same thing. This really creates some hazardous driving conditions especially in the long Alaskan winters of darkness and snow/ice.

- rdauenhauerak, Anchorage, AK, US

problem #2

Dec 012012

Prius Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,800 miles

My 2004 Prius headlight goes off soon after I start the car but when I turn them off and on again they will briefly come back on. I have a friend who has had this problem with his 2004 Prius twice. I hear there was a class action suit settled for the 2006 - 2009 with this same problem. Why were not the 05 and 06 included as they have the same defect?

- Alisa B., Fillmore, CA, US

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problem #1

Mar 012013

Prius CVT-E Hybird

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

Toyota knows of the problem, but their Customer Service Rep won't even acknowledge it to me. Says instead that he has "researched" the issue and can find no problem. I offered to send him copies of thousands of posts about this problem as well as newspaper stories, but he demured. Dealership wants $800 just to "analyze" the problem, then says it will add on the cost to fix it, which could be several hundred more. A rip off all around.

- William S., Signal Mountain, TN, US

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