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.
My 2006 Prius has the intermittent flicker/fade/failure problem with both headlamps as I have seen reported by other Prius owners. I had an auto repair shop replace the drivers' side headlamp in March, 2009, but it resumed the fade/fail pattern within a couple of months. Dealership wants over $500 to replace one unit, with no guarantee that this will cure the problem. It is hard to think the bulbs are the problem when they are at normal brightness most of the time.
Contrary to your investigation report, both hid headlamps failed simultaneously at interstate speed. Only light remaining were fog lamps. Head lamps reset after toggling switch. The problem has happened more than once. Please reconsider investigation or recall.
My 2006 Toyota Prius with hid headlights has had a problem since about 25,000 miles where the left headlight will periodically go out. I can get the light to come back on by turning the lights off and they come back on. Last week I was driving on a dark country road with my bright headlights on and they both went out. It was completely dark and I applied the brakes while trying to hold the car straight so I did not strike a tree or pole at the side of the road. I fumbled with the switch and was able to turn the lights on by turning the switch completely off and then back on. I had to turn the lights off and back on every couple minutes to keep them working. It was very dangerous and frightening. I understand that your investigation into other complaints ended without a recall because both lights did not go out with some of those surveyed. I will tell you that both of my lights went out completely with no forewarning.
After several attempts to have Toyota cover the cost of replacing hid lamps in my 2006 Toyota Prius they finally did so at no charge for parts but charged $100 labor stating that I could get that refunded by Toyota provided a recall on the lamps was issued. The problem is that the lamps go out intermittently while driving. When or if the driver detects that one lamp goes out then by turning the switch on and off quickly the lamps always restart but again they will go out again maybe in 15 minutes or maybe never. As a driver you may not notice it until they both go out. I had been driving my car fro over a year before the dealer finally admitted that they were aware of the problem. Replacing the lamps fixed the problem immediately. The incident date below is the repair date.
While under warranty, less than 30K miles, left headlight of 2006 Toyota Prius failed while driving. Then a month or so later the right headlight failed. Then both. When lights were turned off and then turned back on, they usually illuminated again at least for a short time and then failed again without warning or pattern while driving. Dealer replaced both headlights at 30K. At 45K, pattern began exactly the same. At 50K service, dealership was made aware of problem, did nothing because they said they could not reproduce the problem in shop. At 55K, dealer was again made aware of problem, was able to reproduce it in one headlight and offered to sell the one new headlight for $400 plus labor. This is a serious safety issue. Even if the headlight is replaced at great expense, pattern will begin again. Toyota knows about the problem. The dealerships know about the problem. They are not fixing it because it is expensive for them and it makes sense for them to profit by selling expensive hid headlights, which they do not cover under extended warranty. If there has not been already, there is going to be an accident and a lawsuit about this problem. Last night after dusk I realized my lights were out only when an oncoming car swerved to avoid me.
Headlight bulbs turn off intermittently, usually the passenger side. When light switch is turned off then back on the light will work. At least one time both lights went off at night leaving no visibility for several seconds while I turned off then on the switch. This was very hazardous at 55 mph. It appears there is a wide spread problem with these lamps and should be recalled by Toyota. Dealer replacement of the two bulbs will run more than $400.
Headlight failure on late 2000 model year Toyota Prius. Hid headlights are repeatedly failing, usually both at once causing the driver to find him/herself in total darkness. Second set of replacement headlights in 18 months, costing $1,000 per set to replace.
Passenger side hid headlight goes off after a few minutes of driving. Can turn off and back on and they will stay on for a few minutes. Numerous other complaints on the internet of the same issue.
2006 Toyota Prius headlights go out. First my right headlight would go off while driving. At times it worked. One night I was driving home on a very dark street and my headlights were so dim I could hardly see. I then turned on my brights and the lights went out completely. I have checked my lights while car was parked and the same problems occurred, including the bright lights going out.
2006 Toyota Prius hid failure for unknown reasons. Headlights work intermittently. Deal says to just replace bulb that is not correcting the problem. Works one minute then out the next.
I own a 2006 Toyota Prius. The headlights go out intermittently. First the drivers side next the passenger side. If I turn off the lights they will come back on. Sometimes I can't tell if a headlight is out until I pull up to a window or behind another auto. Last night both headlights went out. I turned off the lights and they came back dim. Thank god I have fog lights as it was late and needed to get home asap. I don't know when my lights will work and when they wont. Toyota dealership says they are aware of this problem and I need the bulbs replaced (cost of $300) and from my internet research I have found this to be a common (scary) problem. Most people replace the bulbs only to have the problem persist (leading to other expensive repairs) and not feeling confident and safe in their auto. Again, the lights just go off suddenly which is a huge safety issue.
2006 Toyota pruis headlight failure. On going problem with one of the head lights spontaneously turning off. Taken to dealer and they said it was a bulb issue. Bulb replaced for approx $200 but it did not resolve the issue. When one of the bulbs does burn out there is a real probability that there will be no headlights. This is not right and needs to be addressed and corrected by Toyota.
Intermittent front headlight loss on my 2006 Toyota Prius. Loss occurs soon after drive begins. Headlight can often be regained by tuning lights off then back on.
My 2006 Toyota Prius experiences problems with its drivers-side hid headlight. It is very expensive to replace this ($299 at the Toyota dealer). Investigating this on the internet turned up hundreds of posts about the same exact issue, often on the 2006 model year Toyota Prius. The light randomly turns on and off - which is a major safety issue, not to mention the expense of getting it replaced. We were not even aware of the problem until we were stopped by the police and given a warning to get the headlight replaced. With so many other owners of the Toyota Prius having the exact same issue, I wonder why Toyota is not issuing a recall. To add insult to injury, the dealer was not even sure if the problem was with the headlight or with the "computer" that controlled it. I was told today that they would first replace the headlight (for $299) and if that did not resolve the problem, they would have to replace the computer for an as-yet undisclosed cost. Please investigate this and urge Toyota to recall the headlights and/or the "computers". thanks mohan
I own a 2006 Toyota Prius with hid headlights. Over the last month, or so, the driver's side light goes out while I'm driving. The only fix I've found is to turn the lights off, then on again. The lights will then remain on for approx. 10-20 minutes, at which time the same light goes out again. The problem seems to be happening more often as time passes and the time the problem repeats itself is getting shorter. I tried to have the dealer look at it, under warranty, but was told that they would charge me a $100 "inspection fee." Since then, I've heard of many other Prius owners that experience the same problem. I believe this is a safety recall issue that needs to be addressed by Toyota and/or NHTSA.
2006 Toyota Prius headlight began intermittently failing 3 days after my 36-mo. Warranty ended. Rate of failure steadily increasing. Car had under 28K miles at time of first failure. Online research shows me that this is a widespread safety and design problem that Toyota generally ignores and expects the consumer to pay outrageous sums to repair. I am about to report my problem to Toyota, but wanted first to add my voice to the hundreds of others complaining to the NHTSA., in the hope that Toyota will be forced to do a recall to fix this dangerous safety problem in its cars.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Carrboro, NC, USA