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 passenger headlight and taillight stopped working. We replaced the tail light bulb only for it to stop working two days later. We replaced the tail light bulb once a week for a month, and for now it continues to work. The headlight, however, continued not working for about two weeks, then began working again only for the driver side headlight to stop working. After turning the headlight switch off then back on both headlights began working. However, after 10 minutes both went out again. Ever since then, it is always a guess as to which headlight, if any, will work at dusk. Sometimes they will both work for about a week before quitting. I was given an ODI# of 10453541.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the high intensity discharge (hid) headlights would intermittently fail. The failure recurred for approximately one year. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where they advised the contact that the balances on the front headlights needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and the current mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.
Both headlights went out on narrow winding roads at night. Almost crashed into tree. I turned the switch back off and than on and lights came back on. Since than, the right headlamp goes on and off at night and sometimes both go out. The dealer says it will cost over $1000 to fix. I have read many complaints. Am I entitled to some kind of help" my wife will take the car on occasion and it has happened to her. Is there a recall? I don't think it is a light issue if they go back on what is being done about this"
- Newtown, CT, USA
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I was driving at night on a narrow country road, lined with trees, at 55 mph. Suddenly, both head lamps shut off. It is a miracle that I didn't wreck, I could not see a thing, and braked blindly. As I was coming to a stop I turned the light switch on and off and the lights came back on. Before I could get home, the lights went off 2 more times!
Intermittent headlight problem. I purchased the car with 111,500 miles on it, and almost immediately noticed that the passenger's side headlight is intermittent when viewing my reflection in the bumper of the car in front of me. Sometimes it runs fine for over an hour, other times it doesn't last 5 minutes. Turning the headlights off, and immediately back on relights the headlight. This is not only happening at night, but also during the day when they are used as daytime running lights. I made a video of it happening: tinyurl.com/intermittentpriushid I am not the only person having this problem with their Prius. Others have reported this problem with 25,000 to 40,000 miles. It is very hard to notice because the hid headlights are so bright it is hard to tell when one is not working, which actually means this problem may have existed on my Prius for a long time without the previous owner noticing. To illustrate my point, this priuschat thread has over 870 responses to date regarding this hid headlight problem: priuschat.com/forums/gen-II-Prius-care-maintenance-troubleshooting/34584-headlight-problem-17.html thus far I have not noticed this problem in my driver's side. This is a very real safety concern.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Prius. The contact was driving 35 mph when both headlights failed intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed that the ballast failed for the headlights. The manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 96,000.
The hid headlight leveling sensor part# 89408-47010 failed. Big red exclamation on the dash and car won't pass inspection. Toyota says it costs $600 to replace.
The driver's side headlight went out while driving at highway speed. Turning the lights off and then on restored the headlights. It happened a couple times in 2 hours of driving. At the end of the trip it was happening about every mile. I took the car to the Toyota dealership and they replaced the driver's side lamp. Last night 1/2 hour into a 2 hour night trip the headlights went out. It appeared that both lights went out this time. The lights went out every 30 seconds thereafter. Upon arriving at the destination, I left the car running and checked out the light situation. The driver's side headlight would go out and the passenger side appeared to dim. The running lights remained on. It appears that other Prius owners have experienced similar problems. It also seems that replacing the lamp is not the solution to the problem. It may be an electrical or computer problem. I shall take the car back to the dealership next week. This is a safety issue during night driving.
Hid headlights go off intermittently while driving. Headlights can be reset by turning headlight switch to off and back on again. A search of the NHTSA and other websites demonstrate that this same problem is widespread for several year models of Prius autos. The dealer estimates to replace the headlight bulbs is about $1000 per headlight, making this a serious problem because people will seek lower cost remedies which are not safe. Toyota thus far has not officially recognized or attempted to address this issue. Since a total loss of lighting can occur at anytime with serious consequences, a recall should be performed to correct this issue before fatalities occur.
The driver's side hid headlight, intermittently, unpredictably and inexplicably shuts off. It will occasionally return to service on its own, but usually requires a cycling of the light's power switch before full function is restored. After which, the length of time before the light shuts off again varies from a few seconds to not at all. After researching this issue, it seems to be a rather systemic problem with the 2004-2009 Prius. Obviously, the situation this condition creates is unsafe at best, can place me personally in an unexpected illegal position - and (should both lights go out together, as some have reported) could quite possibly be life threatening. For the safety of the driving public, I would strongly urge NHTSA to investigate this issue. Toyota must take responsibility for their design flaw, and engineer a resolution to this problem.
Front lights went dim. Able to turn back on with switch. Front lights continue to go out or get dim intermittently and I must turn switch on and off to get them back on. I have paid Toyota for several new bulbs and diagnostics with no fix.
The headlamps keep switching off intermittently on my 2004 Toyota Prius. This has been happening fairly regularly over the last year, but last night (8-2-2011) both headlamps failed at the same time when on a dark, windy road causing me to almost crash into a tree (I couldn't see anything without the lights). When I switch the headlamp control on and off, the headlamps come on again, so it is unlikely to be the bulbs. Sometimes only one lamp goes out, sometimes both; but they are failing very frequently and causing me a major safety concern. I have researched this issue online and there seem to be many consumers that have the same issue. Please help.
My 2004 Prius with 36,600 total miles has a failing right headlight. Toyota service in honolulu estimate cost of parts & labor totaling $500. To replace the failing headlight and $700 to replace both headlights, which Toyota recommends.
2004 Toyota Prius has 160,000 miles. The left headlight has been failing intermittently for about a week. Two nights ago, on a dark road, the entire set of front headlights, fog lamps, all suddenly went off. I am happy to say the hazards were functional, because no amount of turning the switch at the stalk would bring the lights back. I pulled car over and turned it off. I had driven approximately 50 miles with them on prior to the event. I let the vehicle rest with power off for approx 5 minutes and the lights were working normally, and continued without further problems for the last 25 miles of my drive home. There are a great many registered complaints about this particular issue. I feel it is indeed a safety issue and would appreciate some help in getting Toyota to take a look at the root of this problem. Please.
I have a 2004 Toyota Prius. Since 2004, my headlights have gone out 5 times. The right headlight has gone out 3 times and the left 2 times. The last time I replaced the right headlight, it did not last 12 months.
Headlights went out on my 2004 Toyota Prius while driving down I84 in New York. At night! flipped switches and turned on and off and they went back on. Had I been on a dark back road who knows what could have happened. Why!
Intermittent hid bulb goes out. There is no particular event that takes place when the lights stop working. When turned on they always come on and at some point they will sometimes stop working. When I see they have stopped I will turn the lights off and back on and they work and will usually stay working the rest of the trip, but not always. I have been looking online and this seems to be a common problem. I was just at my Toyota dealer and they said it is probably the bulb and then under his breath he unofficially said it is a crap shoot for solving the problem.
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- Belle Mead, NJ, USA