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.
Intermittent functioning headlights in my 2006 Toyota Prius. I already had my passenger side headlight replaced by Toyota dealer under a technical service bulletin. The same problem occurred with the drivers side headlight. When looked at by the dealer the first time (mileage at 39K) no issue was found. Headlight went off and on intermittently for several months after that. When looked at by the dealer the 2nd time they indicated the ECU and hid bulb needed replacing for about $650. Not covered by warranty due to my mileage being at 45K and the warranty ended at 36K. This is a very common and well known problem with the Prius's so I believe the repair should be covered by Toyota.
I have a 2006 Toyota Prius. About 3 months ago, I began to have an intermittent problem with the right headlamp. It will turn off while in use. The problem is solved by turning off and turning on the headlights. It only occurs after they are already in use. As I said, it is intermittent. It also occasionally flickers while in use. Toyota will only replace the entire headlamp, and charges around $500 per headlight to do it. The headlamps are hid, and from what I understand were supposed to last the life of the vehicle.
I have been experiencing a periodic failure of the high intensity discharge (hid) headlights on my 2006 Toyota Prius (package #6) with about 42,000 miles. The headlight that fails is usually the driver's side. I can get it to turn back on by turning off the lights and then turning them back on again. This happens occasionally, but seems to being happening more frequently over time. The dealer advises the repair is on the order of $500 and requires significant disassembly of the front of the car. I looked at a discussion forum for the car (priuschat.com/) which listed many similar experiences (some identical) for both the 2006 and 2007 models with hid headlights. The fact so many headlights fail the same way and at the same frequency indicates ac system problem. Toyota does not have a recall on this problem.
Like all the other notices from 2006 Toyota Prius owners, between 55,000 and 60,000 miles, the headlights of my 2006 Toyota Prius began an intermittent turn off while driving. The headlights came back on after turning the lights on and off quickly (a safety issue in itself!). started with the drive side light, then the passenger side began, which made me fearful of losing my headlights totally while driving. Was told that the "balast/computer" overheats & shuts down. Good solution to prevent a fire, I guess, but not good for driving safety. Replacement quote was $600 each -- dealer did give me a 15% discount, so ended up costing $510 each ($1,020 total!). called Toyota of America and they are investigating, but, based upon all of these complaints and my own experience, this is a real safety issue and needs to be corrected by Toyota. I love my Prius recommend it to everyone, but Toyota really needs to address this now.
Driver side headlight shuts off intermittently but stays off until the headlights are turned off and then back on. This is the second time this failure has occurred. The hid bulb was replaced about 6K miles ago. The vehicle now has 41000 miles on it. This is a safety issue which Toyota needs to address quickly.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Prius. While driving various speeds at night, the passenger side headlight failed. The contact must turn the light switch on and off for the headlight to illuminate again; however, it fails again without notice. He stated that the failure was intermittent and is in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer. The manufacturer will be notified. The failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 100,000.
Right headlight turns off intermittently. Turning the switch off and on with turn the headlight back on. After a short period of time it will shut off again.
Headlights fail intermittently - one or both headlights (hid type) will go out without warning. Turning the headlight switch off and then on will fix the problem for some amount of time before the problem recurs.
My 2006 Toyota Prius began experiencing sudden headlight failure after 20,000 miles. I would be driving at night and suddenly both headlights would go out, I would switch them off and on again, and they would come back on. Sometimes I would be driving on city streets, not aware that they had gone off, and other drivers would stop me and tell me that my headlights were off. I would check the switch, see that they were supposed to be on, toggle the switch and they would come on. I took the car to my local Toyota dealer where I have all my maintenance done. After investigating for a few days, they replaced both H.I.D. headlights and corrected the problem. Now, 20,000 miles later, I'm experiencing the same problem. My left headlight suddenly will go out and have to be turned off and then on again to light. This happens every few minutes, most alarmingly on crowded freeways at night. I took the car back to the dealer, and they replaced the left headlight. They didn't charge me for the light because of my previous experience, but I did have to pay the labor fees, since the car is no longer under warranty, but exhibiting the same problems that it did when it was. I'm very concerned that this is going to continue to be a dangerous and costly problem. I don't feel confident that my car is safe to drive at night, because unless you are looking for the problem, headlight failure is something that you might not realize has occurred until it's too late. Also, it doesn't seem reasonable that I'm supposed to replace a very expensive part every 20,000 miles or more to continue to operate my car safely.
Right side headlamp went out on my 2006 Toyota Prius prior to 36,000 mile warranty, headlight repaired under warranty. At or about 39,000 miles left headlight goes out intermittently, desert Toyota wants $399 to replace headlight. Did not complete repairs. Headlight consistently goes out every few minutes when on.
Was told by someone that one of my headlights was out. When I checked, it was fine. Took car to dealer and they said headlight was out and that it would be intermittent. Cost is $421 for a bulb!
When driving at night one, and many times both, headlights have gone out. If I turn them off and then back on they work again so it is not the bulb. This has happened on back rural roads where I live and on the freeway. It is very disturbing and dangerous to all of a sudden driving in the dark. It has happened at least once a week for the past 6 months.
Malfunction in hid headlights for Toyota Prius is chronic - always flashing off and on - mostly off. They were replaced once in 2007 for free while under warranty. This has been occurring constantly for the past 6 months and although I have a 5Y/100,000 mile warranty, the dealership said this was only covered under the 3 yr/30,000 mile warranty and wants to charge me to fix this issue that is chronic with the Prius.
Prius 2006 - hid headlights - they intermittently shut off. Always come on at startup, then will go off, usually in first 10 minutes of driving. Turning off switch then turning it back on will make the headlights come back on. Sometimes they stay on, other times they go off over and over every few minutes. This is an ongoing problem.
One or both lights go off spontaneously, when I shut the lights off and put the back on both lights work for a short period of time, whereas the problem recurs where either one or both lights will shut off again. It is a constant problem. The driver's side light seems to be affected more often. Obviously when driving at night it is dangerous and life threatening. The bulbs have been replaced.
Passenger side headlight(hid) started going off and would come back on after switch was switched off and back on. Failed at night when wife was driving but she couldn't tell it was out. I asked dealer about it and they just suggested that the bulb be replaced at 500 dollars per bulb. Should replace both bulbs at same time. Total 1000 dollars for headlight bulbs. I bought a bulb from dealer and replaced it myself. It works for now. But"??"
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Prius. The front driver side head lamp sporadically failed which reduced her visibility. As a consequence her risk for serious injury and a crash were increased. A technician stated that they were unable to diagnose or duplicate the failure. The contact is responsible for paying $1800 to replace the headlight. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 70,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Geneva, IL, USA