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 head lights turn off, while driving, when turned off, and on again it comes back on. Toyota will not replace the lights because we are over 50000 miles. This is an ongoing problem with the Prius high intensity head lights, and the whole component should be replaced with a better version. They want to charge us 450 dollars for replacing the light bulb, which according to research will stop working again, after a period of time. Please have Toyota recall this light system and replace it with a better system. Its a great hazard when your lights go off while you are driving at night. Thank you for your consideration.
Driver side headlight will begin to flicker and then shut off completely. Turning the lights off and turning them back on relights the headlight only for it to happen another 10 to 15min later on average.
My headlight problem has gone on for as long as I have owned the car.I have asked the dealer to check the lights on numerous service calls and was always told they could not find a problem. The bulb was replaced at a cost of $300 but the problem persists. The right light goes out. It comes back on if I turn the switch on and off, however I do not always realize the light is out. I have been stopped numerous times and given work orders to get my light fixed. I am tired of this problem and I don't know how to fix it.
I was driving at night when my headlights went out. I tried the brights with no effect. I had to turn them off and turn them back on again. It has happened twice now.
The plastic weld process or other type of gluing process used to make the vehicles exterior front and rear turn signal, brake and back up light lense assemblies or housings fails. All four, two front and two rear, exterior combination light lense assemblies suffer this premature and serious failure. When these exterior lenses begin to fail they allow water intrusion from the exterior of the vehicle. This allows moisture to penetrate into areas of the lense assembly which support all of the light bulbs used to warn or signal other drivers or pedestrians. At a very minimum this problem results in premature bulb failure for all of the signaling systems specified above. Researching your site this problem has been reported to you many times and Toyota motor Corp. Is also aware of this problem. What you don't seem to be aware of is the most serious concern resulting from this problem; if the right (passenger side) rear lense suffers this problem and begins leaking, the water runs or drains directly into the interior 12vdc starter battery well. This battery well is as deep, or deeper than the factory installed 12vdc starter battery is tall and can result in water overtopping the battery. This causes shorting/grounding across the positive/negative 12vdc starter battery terminals. This prevents the operator from starting the vehicle and cuts off power to all 12vdc electrical systems including emergency flashers. It could easily result in serious damage to the 12vdc starter battery and many expensive 12vdc electronic components or systems. This problem is more serious in areas that receive high amounts of rainfall. I called a Toyota authorized dealership, lum's auto center, and reported my car wouldn't start. They suggested I bring it in. After 4 days they were unable to find the problem. No diagnostic codes were logged. This is a serious problem needing immediate attention!
- Astoria, OR, USA
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Since two years old the headlights have occasionally flickered, and the pass. Side has gone out. Turning them off momentarily and back on solved the problem. Lately it's gotten worse, and I finally had my mechanic replace the pass. Side bulb. The new bulb ($85) was worse and now I'm told the "ballast" needs replacement for hundreds of dollars. Of course the safety issue at night is primary, but Toyota was derelict in their duty not to advise customers of this highly unusual, potential cost when selling me the car. I've never paid more than $15 for a headlight and have always replaced them myself. Also, the owners manual suggests an easy replacement. My mechanic had to partially remove the headlight assembly. That was another misrepresentation.
I have been having problems for about a year now with my Prius 2007 when I apply the brakes. The car stutters when it changes from hybrid to gas. Serviced only by Toyota. When I brought the car in for a recall I asked them to fix the problem. They could not identify the problem and called in a specialist and subsequently was told that this is typical wear on a car this old (5 years, 59,000 miles). This was from a repair specialist sent from Toyota when the regular service department could not identify the problem. I drive on highway S everyday to work and home and I am a nervous wreck, worrying that the car will just come to a stop in the middle of traffic. Over the past 2 years when I go thru a car wash the front driver side headlight gets moisture inside. When I brought this to the attention of the service dept at Toyota I was told it would cost approximately $600 to replace the headlight. This was way before it had fallen out of warranty (36,000) but of course they did not tell me that it was covered, in fact they told me what it would cost to replace! now the bulb is also flickering on and off in this same headlight. Definitely a safety issue. Toyota quoted me $270 to change the light bulb. The reason I was given was that they have to take off the entire front bumper to change an $11 bulb at autozone. We were told that if my hand was small enough I could try to do it myself. I called Toyota corporate, and was told that Toyota was discounting the bulb, it normally should cost $420. They were aware of the problem and extended the warranty to 50,000 miles but did not issue a recall for this issue either. I only found out because the service department was dragging its feet in diagnosing the problem with the braking system so I called corporate and mentioned the moisture problem and that was how I found out that it was not only my car.
Passenger (right) headlight not working. It could be "turned on" by switching light switch off, then on. This has happened multiple times. Bright lights would not turn on, even with turning switch off, then on. Low beams did work and failed light on passenger side turned back on. Took car to dealership. Passenger bulb went out during inspection and high beams were both working. Both headlights replaced with a cost of $500! this is the second time the lights had to be replaced. The last time was in 2009.
Headlights work intermittently and the passenger side taillight also goes out and comes back on intermittently. Car is not driven often at night and this has been going on for several years.
Headlights turn off while driving. I can turn off the headlight switch and turn it back on and the lights will work for a period of time and than the episode is repeated.
The following described incidents have taken place at least three times with no warning. Upon starting the vehicle there is no instrument panel display which is digital. The vehicle could still be driven. The vehicle's engine would not turn off without making numerous attempts.this has sometimes taken up to 10 min.. then for whatever reasons after several hours the mentioned malfunctions stop and everything works correctly.I am very concerned the dash display showing speed and other necessary information will malfunction while the vehicle is being driven.especially at night.being able to turn the vehicle off immediately is also important.this vehicle is regularly serviced by Toyota who have been unable to locate or correct the problem. I have researched this issue online and have found that there is a large number of Toyota Prius owners having the same type of safety issues with their vehicles. I have read but not confirmed that Toyota is aware of the mentioned problems with the Prius. There are some serious safety issues with this make and model of vehicle that need to be addressed as soon as possible. I hope NHTSA will be able to assist in this matter. Thank you.
I bought a certified Toyota Prius 2007 with around 51000 miles on it and the headlight kept going off, I could turn it back on but it would just shut off again in a few minutes. When I called the dealership I asked about a recall and they knew nothing so I took it to a different dealership and was told that I was a defect but not a recall and Toyota would pay for it up to 50000 miles which my car had already surpassed. To replace the bulb was over 300 dollars and having just bought a certified vehicle I shouldn't have to she'll out the kind of money, I still have not replaced the headlight but now it's completely out, and will need replaced before inspection. I believe Toyota should pay for a new bulb since they are well aware of the defect.
Hid headlights on 07 Prius stop working while car is operating. Now with 111,000 miles both lights are turning off randomly. Problem started when the car had 36,000 miles. Very concerning issue.
The headlights on my 2007 Prius goes out constantly especially at night time there which causes total darkness and blindness. When I flip the switch they will come back on for a while. I know you know about this problem. I feel you should make Toyota recall these cars. The dealer will charge $300 per headlight to replace the bulb but we know that is not the problem. They wouldn't come back on if it was the light.. please please do something!! its terrifying and very dangerous. The liability for you and Toyota will be great should fatalities occur. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Received another inspection ticket for no headlight. This happens on this car approximately every other month or so, where one headlight just stops working. This has happened at least 30 times since we bought this car new. Sometimes you can just go out and bang on the headlight area and it comes on, and sometimes it doesn't and you have to replace the bulb. Do you know how much it costs to replace a Prius headlight bulb? anywhere from $600 to $1000 at a dealer, according to internet sources. Luckily I can go to a parts place and pick one up for about $17 and do it myself, but this is getting ridiculous. This seems to be a problem with all Prius'.
Was driving approximately 10:30 at night on 01/14/12. Pulled up to a stop light, gentleman next to me informed me my headlights were off; however were turned on per inside panel. In previous reports, I had been told that one head light was off, never both. It appears that if a bump or dip in the road is hit the headlights go off/on. I commute 2 hours daily (mon-fri). There is a rural area that I drive with no street lights. No headlights would be very dangerous.
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the driver's side headlight failed. The contact activated then deactivated the headlight several times and it started to function properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and informed the contact that the bulb needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 46,000.
My right headlight intermittently started to flickered off. This issue has not gone away since it started. Had husband check to see if there was a loose connection. No loose connections. Went online to see if there were other Prius owners who had the same problem, and there are others with exactly the same issues! there seems to be no remedy for this problem except to turn the light onto the off position then turn them on again. They do go back on but can shut off or wink off at any time. This is a hazard for nighttime driving, and my concern is that my twin teenagers will be using the car at night for work, errands, etc.
I am having extreme problems with my 2007 Toyota Prius with xenon headlights system. They turn on an off randomly. Most of the time only one headlight is on but they come and go. Sometimes they go out altogether when I am driving at night which is extremely dangerous and scary when my toddler is in the car. I can turn the headlights off and back on and they will stay on for a while but inevitably go out again. I think this is a huge problem that Toyota should address as there has been no recall yet. I read multiple complaints on the internet of Prius owners with the same problem. I would not mind paying to replace the bulbs if they were burnt out but this is clearly an issue with the lighting system. Please help!
Right front headlight intermittently goes out, can turn lights off & then back on, and headlight comes back on. This particular light had same problem originally under warranty (approx 32000 miles) and was replaced at dealer, but has been going out again over the past year plus. Right now I am approaching 85000 miles. Based on my reading, this appears to be a manufacturers defect as it seems chronic and prevalent in the Prius.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Carlos, CA, USA