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 2004 Toyota Prius's hid lights are going off intermittently and coming back on when I turned them off and back on again. The driver's side is going off again and will come back on again when I turn it off and then back on. Also, my headlight leveling system warning light is coming on. When I drive on the highway light goes off, I feel very unsafe. I have to turn them off and back on in seconds to avoid a possible accident. Dealer can't find the issue. They recommend to change the bulbs but it doesn't solve problem.
Headlights (hid) intermittently go out regardless of speed or road conditions. Turning the light switch they come on again and it randomly occurs making driving dangerous. I have replaced the headlights yet the incident recurs randomly making it necessary to turn the lights completely out then on again.
Both headlamps go off and on sporadically, as follows: Approximately thirty (30) days after buying this used car, the left hid headlamp appeared burnt out. Both left and right headlamps were replaced on or about January 8, 2013, as recommended for this type of light. On installation, either light would flash on but then go out again, but turning the headlamp switch off then on agan seemed to rectify the problem. Both headlamps then remained on for approximately two weeks, at which point the left headlamp was sporadically out for approximately two weeks, when it would go on only if the headlamp switch were turned off them back on again. Both headlamps then worked for approximately six weeks, at which point the left headlamp went out for approximately four weeks, but then came on after approximately one month when the police found the right light to be out. They said it needed to be fixed; that it is a safety hazard, at which I explained the history of Toyota Prius headlamp issues and that I would pursue an appropriate remedy for this manufacturing defect. The right headlamp remains out to this date, but did come on for approximately one week in the interim. Turning the headlamp switch off then on again has not helped since the day of installation.
Recently, vehicle has started intermittent outages of hid headlamps. Usually on the driver side, but sometimes on the passenger side. Apparently this is the result of a computer called the hid ballast or something. Toyota is quoting outrageous sums to fix the problem. This vehicle should be recalled and the problem fixed for free.
A couple of month ago, I thought I noticed that the front drivers side hid headlight was off when the passenger side was on. I was driving in my other car while a family member was driving the Prius. When I looked at the Prius a short time later, both light where on. Over the past couple of months I have noticed that the driver side headlight has been intermittently off when it should be one. Cycling the lights off then on appears to turn both headlamps on for some period of time. There is no indication in the car when the failure occurs, and I am concerned that this creates an unsafe situation while driving at night. While trying to determine if this is a known problem, I came across owner chat groups where others where complaining about the same problem. I also read that there might be an NHTSA investigation into similar complaints. I would like to know if an investigation has happened and if so, what was the outcome?
- Paradise Valley, AZ, USA
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Both headlights would cycle on and off. Turning the headlights off and on with the switch would make them both come on. Unpredictable how long before each headlight would turn off, but they are not in sync turning off and on.
Both headlights suddenly went dark. My wife and I are about 95% sure the entire dash went dark as well. We stopped and toggled the headlight switch, and everything came back on. The dealership recommended replacing the "high intensity discharge" headlights, but they do not know why the dash would have gone dark.
Consistently a single headlight on my 2004 Toyota Prius would flicker and go out. "it may go off again, in another five or 10 minutes, but I could get them to work again by turning them off and turning on again.
My passenger side hid headlight goes out a few minutes after turning on. When turned off and on again comes back on only to go out a few minutes later.
Hid headlights turning off repeatedly, will go out randomly having nothing to do with movement, on time, the light will come back on if switch is turned off then on again but lights are unreliable. Condition is obviously dangerous during night, fog or poor road conditions. Random turning off has kept re-occurring until present time, where light will persist on for only a few minutes at a time. Toyota dealer wants 1,000 or more to repair, while light bulb only costs less than 50 dollars on amazon, stating the defect may have to do with a fuse and or ballast.
While driving my 2004 Toyota Prius home at night on a dark, winding road, both headlights suddenly went out!!!! there was no light! pitch black! crazy! I couldn't believe that my lights were out. My brights were not working either. I didn't know what happened to the car! I thought I was going to wreck/crash. I was about 18 miles from home. As I drove, I turned on my dome lights so the oncoming traffic could see me. After turning the car lights on and off, they came back on, but what a nightmare!!!!! I found out that other Toyota Prius owners had the same problem with there cars. Toyota needs to fix this problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Toyota needs to recall and replace these faulty headlights!
2004 Toyota Prius with hid headlights is used as a taxi cab. On September 25th, 2012 the drivers side headlight would begin to flicker and turn off after around five minutes of operation. The hid bulb replacement did not resolve the matter. Headlights must be turned off and then on again in order to resume their operation.
The headlights go out randomly while driving at night. You have to turn them off and then turn them back on for them to work and they only last a minute after that. Huge safety issue!!
Random failure of lights, began with driver?S side and continues to occur randomly with greater frequency. Passenger side also turns off randomly, though with less frequency. Many occasions, I have had both lights turn off while driving.
Both headlights go out without warning frequently now. The immediate remedy seems to be to turn switch off and on again to restore them. This has recently become a regular problem as I drive at night. Thankfully the 'fog lamps' are functional and now I am sure to have them switched on in addition to regular headlights so that I am still visible to other drivers.
Left and right headlights failed in November and December of 2009. Headlights were replaced. Left headlight has failed in 2011. I drive 10,000 per year. I do not do much driving with my headlights on.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- North Arlington, NJ, USA