8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$260
Average Mileage:
96,000 miles
Total Complaints:
31 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (23 reports)
  2. replace faulty system (8 reports)
2009 Toyota Prius lights problems

lights problem

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2009 Toyota Prius Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #11

Sep 102013

Prius Touring hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,000 miles

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

HID headlights fail to turn on. Only one at a time, never both. Overtime, the Toyota dealer claims it was the bulb. But it happens randomly, even after the bulb was just replaced. It is very frustrating. Toyota declines any responsibility. This is just not right. It is a safety issue and there should be a recall.

PS: My daughter has a 2007 Prius with the same issue.

- Heinz I., Colleyville, TX, US

problem #10

May 152015

Prius

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles

HID lights are intermittent. First the left one would go off, and then come back on. More recently the right one is doing the same thing.

- Christopher H., Schenectady, NY, US

problem #9

Jan 012013

Prius

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

My passenger headlight would first go out when driving. Now they both will go out at the same time. Turning off the headlights and then back on will usually fix this. I am afraid to drive when it is dark, but I must to go to work. I am afraid one of these days they won't come back on and I will be in an accident. My house is located where there are a lot of wildlife and the streets are very dark. The first time that both headlights turned off while I was driving I was bringing my dog home around 11 pm and I nearly had a heart attack! I had just gotten off a really high flyover and if I had still been on the flyover I could have lost control of the car. This is a very serious matter and Toyota should fix it. Does someone have to die before they take action?

- fionasvintage, Austin, TX, US

problem #8

Jun 102014

Prius LX Hybid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 122,052 miles

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

2009 Prius...We live on a very steep windy road in the Reno, NV hills.... Headlights go out about 15 times going up or down the grade... must drive with one hand on the headlight switch...Sometimes both headlights go out, but usually the drivers side.... If this isn't a death waiting to happen then ToyotA deserves giant lawsuit... A recall is a must.... If we die on Geiger Grade highway 341 in Nevada.. be for warned Toyota.... My attorneys are aware of the problem...... Fix the Damn thing Toyota.

- papagren, Virginia City, NV, US

problem #7

Sep 102014

Prius Touring 3 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 104,000 miles

Headlight will go out periodically; comes back on when lights are turned off and on, problem still exists. I saw the Toyota class action lawsuit but I bought the car after the settlement and the mileage was higher than normal. It sucks.

- Ronald C., Mount Vernon, IA, US

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problem #6

Jul 122014

Prius

  • Automatic transmission
  • 134,000 miles

While driving at night, BOTH headlights, without warning went out. Immediately, I pulled to the side of the road and turned the headlight switch to OFF. Then, paused a moment before relighting them, unfortunately relighting them normally failed. So again, I worked with the switch, only to discover that these would relight IF and on IF I held the lights on using the 'dimmer mode' to BRIGHT the road. Unfortunately, mine like others, is unpredictable at best - so reproducing this incident 'on demand' is difficult at best. In reading other consumer complaints, this seems to be an ongoing and costly problem. After further review, I have discovered that this headlight challenge has been part of a Class Action Lawsuit. Shame on Toyota for not issuing a RECALL on this matter - Prius Owners, as well as fellow drivers whom we share the road with are at high risk.

- Heidi S., Travelers Rest, SC, US

problem #5

Jan 142014

Prius

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

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

For no reason, the headlights go out while driving. When you manually turn the control off, and back on, the lights do come back on. They do this randomly, for over the past 9 months. It used to just affect the driver's side headlight, but now affects both headlights. I had this checked by two mechanics. There is no wiring problem that they can find, and no apparent problem with the bulbs.

This is a dangerous situation, and Toyota has had many complaints about this. They need to fix this at no charge to the consumer.

- Peggy B., Shoshone, ID, US

problem #4

Nov 262013

Prius

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,000 miles

My right front headlight randomly turns off. If I switch the lights off/on it will turn back on and later go off again.

- C B., Yuma, AZ, US

problem #3

Nov 072013

Prius 4S Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

For the last few months noticing HID lamps going off alternately. No warning lights to indicate failure. Lights just turn off randomly. Turning the light switch off and back on re-lights both lamps temporarily. There is no flickering or discoloration of the lights to indicate bulb failure. Have read that Toyota has agreed to refund cost of light and ECU replacements on 2006-2009 Prius' as a settlement in a class action lawsuit. NHTSA has not forced a recall because of Toyota's agreement to the lawsuit settlement.

I will be visiting my local Toyota service center to see what luck I have getting them to replace the bulbs and ECU at no expense to me.

- William S., Baltimore, MD, US

problem #2

Jan 302013

Prius

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

The headlights have been going out randomly for the last few months but only one at a time. This evening while driving home from a late meeting, both headlights went out while driving at 55mph. I pulled off the highway and tried turning the car off and on again. Headlights went on when I turned the car back on, so I resumed driving only to have the lights go out again! This time I flicked on the high beams and the lights came on. I stopped to grab a bite to eat figuring I could do the high beam trick again. When I started the car, the lights when on and high beams turned on when I engaged the lever. WHILE driving home, less than 2 miles from where I started the car, headlights went out and the high beams did not work either when I attempted to turn them on. I pulled over to turn the car off and on again BUT with no luck this time. Very slowly drove the last mile home on the less traveled road with my flashers on...THIS SITUATION IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.

- Kimberly B., Rehoboth Beach, DE, US

problem #1

Dec 232012

Prius 1.5L 4 cyl Dohc

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,980 miles

After several days of sporatic HID light failure, HID lamp finally went out and will not come on. Replaced bulb but that did not solve problem.

- Florentino & Kelly M., McAllen, TX, US

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