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.
Right headlight intermittent failure. The headlight goes out intermittently without warning. Comes back on again (for awhile) when lights are switched on and off. Based on internet research, I think this is a common manufacture defect affecting safety.
At 42,000 miles, my 2006 Prius headlights will switch off while driving. The driverside hid headlight will turn off between 1:30 - 3:00 minutes of driving. The issue can be corrected by switching the lights off and turning them on again; however, the headlight will turn off again after a few minutes. At one point, the driverside headlight went out and then a few seconds later the passenger headlight went out meaning I had no running headlights on the interstate at night. Turning off and turning on the headlights corrected the issue - only to have it happen again. The headlights will turn off at any speed - 10-75 mph. The driverside headlight was replaced by the dealership as part of my used car purchase. This defect was found 4 days after purchase; the car is going back to the dealership for hopeful repair.
Problem with headlights in a 2006 Prius - first the diver side headlight when out intermittently and after that was replaced the passenger side headlight now goes out intermittently.
I own a 2006 Toyota Prius and the hid headlight defect failure happened to us during night time driving almost causing a severe accident. This is a hazard and there are many complaints regarding this. Some one will die if this is not recalled and corrected. These headlights are advertised to have twice the lifetime of a regular headlight and go out randomly. It is very scary and is a danger to anyone driving these cars. We had the headlights replaced on 11/4/09 for a total cost of $590.32.
Hid headlights fail without warning. Both my headlights failed before 36,000 miles. They were replaced within warranty, and now at 70,000 miles they are failing again. They work fine when they are first started, but can "turn off" at any time without warning.
- Mcconnellsburg, PA, USA
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Intermittent failure of right headlamp on 2006 Toyota Prius. Headlamp goes out and various times and various driving conditions. Turning off headlamps and back on resets the headlamp. The headlamp will again go out and have to be reset.
2006 Toyota Prius. Beginning at approximately 45,000 miles right front hid headlight would go out without notice. By turning off the headlights and turning back on, it the headlight would relight. Started intermittently, then constantly until replacement 11/3/09 ($200). One week later, the left front headlight began doing the same thing. I drive on dark, rural roads with deer and other wildlife. This defect is extremely dangerous. Have read news reports about hundreds of complaints about this problem.
I have a 2006 Toyota Prius with package #8 which includes high intensity discharge (hid) headlamps. The passenger side front headlamp keeps going out. I have taken it to the Toyota dealer twice before and the tech was not able to duplicate the problem. I took photos of when the light is out as proof. I took it in again today and the tech tells me that the bulb needs to be replaced and its going to cost $500 for one lightbulb + install labor!!! I bought the platinum extended warranty which doesn't expire until Feb 2012 or 100K miles. Of course, the warranty does not cover the electrical/light issue. The light sometimes works. There is no rhyme or reason why it does some of the time and not others. This appears to be a defect which Toyota should do something about. It's a major safety issue. I am fearful of driving at night because it is unsafe and I can't rely on the light to work. I took it to another Toyota dealer this afternoon and that tech says I need to replace the hid computer for ~ $1,000. Are you kidding me??
Headlamps flicker intermittently until one or the other remains off. This happens every time I drive my vehicle with the lights on. 11/6/2009 I was pulled over by local leo and provided a formal warning to have the issue resolved. If I turn the headlamps off and back on, both lights stay on -- for a while. Dealer says this is a known issue with 2006 Prius but will not repair because I'm ~2 months out of warranty.
I have 2006 Toyota Prius. I bought the car new. When it was about 2 years old, one taillight went out. When you tapped on the light, it would come back on. When it came back on it stayed on until I was traveling to Chicago at night and I noticed that people were passing me and pointing to the back of my car. I pulled off the next exit, and both of my taillights were out. My son replaced both of them when I got to Chicago and they have not gone out to date. Then, when the car was about 3 years old, someone told me that I had a headlight out. I replaced the headlight. Three months later. I got in my car one evening in town and did not notice (because the street lights were bright) that I had no headlights. I have since found out that this is a problem with many Prius and avalon models. This is a serious safety hazard. I am thankful that I was not 2 hours out of Chicago at night this time!
2006 Toyota Prius - headlight (hid) failure. Started with left headlight (passenger side) at about 40,000 miles, then right headlight began to fail at about 45,000 miles. Headlights flick off while driving. One or both flick off at any time. Can turn back on by turning headlights completely off, then turning back on. But after a few minutes, decrease in intensity and flick off again. Toyota dealer has advised this is "normal", that the lights have a heat sensor and turn off when they overheat, and that I need to replace both headlight assemblies.
Our 2006 Toyota Prius (60,000 miles) has a defective front head light which flickers and goes out until I turn the light switch on and off, which then keeps it on for a short time. Repair cost has been estimated at $1000. I have been told that this is a common problem, but Toyota has not recalled their Prius yet. They do not warranty the replacement part. This can cause an extreme hazard to driving on un-lit roads. The bulb on the passenger side flickers and goes out within minutes or will stay on 15 minutes or so. As of this point I have been unable to afford the cost to replace bulb.
I own a 2006 Prius with hid headlamps. One of the lamps has been intermittent for over well over 2 years. I have been to the dealer and have not been able to recreate the problem. When I do find out that the light is not operating, I simply turn off the lights and turn them back on and the lamp works. Not sure for how long, because I cannot see whether or not the light is working until I am behind a car where I can see the reflection.
I have a 2006 Toyota Prius with only 39000 miles on it. The passenger side headlight keeps going out and I need to keep switching the headlights off and on to get it working. It's a hid headlight and they said it would cost me $375 to change the bulb. A bulb that expensive should last more that just 39,000 miles. It's dangerous.
Purchased a 2006 Toyota Prius in 2007 and I have had continuous problems with my headlights going out. I first noticed them going out intermittently. Took it to the local dealership. And because they had to isolate the problem, I had to leave my car with the dealership for about 2 days. Three headlights later, now needing a 4th. One and the cars warranty is up. The local dealership wants approx. $270 plus sales tax to replace it. I am concerned about my safety I am wondering if there is something that can be done about this problem. Since I purchased the car used I am wondering if the dealership new about this because one of there shop people had owned it previously. This car has been in the shop on 8/07-12/07- 3/09 and now at this date (11/02 I spoke with the dealer ship about this issue) and they never mentioned that this car has had problems in this area. They just wanted 270 plus tax to fix it. Please help!
I have a 2006 Toyota Prius with 61,000 miles on it. At about 48,000 miles, the front headlights started going out unexpectedly. At first, by turning the switch for the lights off and back on would fix the problem and the dark headlight would illuminate again. A few weeks ago, both headlights and the taillight all unexpectedly and suddenly went out while I was driving. The California highway patrol pulled me over on the freeway to find out why I was driving without any lights on. Now, the lights come on when I start driving and every time I drive the car at night, all of the lights (both headlights and both taillights) suddenly & unexpectedly go dark all at once. I was driving with my 10 year old niece in the car when this happened last week. This is an extremely dangerous defect. I have been reading that this is a known defect with Toyota Prius vehicles - I am amazed that the NHTSA has not required Toyota to recall the vehicles for this very dangerous safety defect. I have tried to take the vehicle to the Toyota dealer for repair, but they told me they didn't have a way to figure out what was wrong and they sent me away without any repairs. Today I called the Toyota national customer service number and they opened a case. I will be taking the vehicle to the dealer again today and insisting on repairs since it is completely unsafe to drive the vehicle.
2006 Toyota Prius hid headlight failure. Started with left headlight, 2 years ownership, 1st owner, new in March 2006. Left headlight flickered off, but turned back on when the lights were reset. Problem became worse over time and now both headlights constantly flicker out. Lights will come back on when turned off, then back on. Do not remain on for long. Taken to the Toyota dealership twice, dealer claims no inherent issue with the lights, not covered under my extended warranty, and will cost $850 to replace. (john elway's Toyota in Ontario, ca). Lights do not remain on and creates a hazard to driving. I have been pulled over by the California highway patrol for the burned out headlight(s).
Headlamps on 2006 Prius fail intermittently. Left lamp may fail; right lamp may fail; or both may fail simultaneously. Turning the lights off then back on fixes the problem for a period of time-- maybe minutes or hours. But the problem persists and presents a danger to both the driver and passengers but also other cars on the road. No accidents so far. Repair cost to be $1500.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Chula Vista, CA, USA