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.
Both headlights went out during night time driving. I immediately braked because I could not see anything in front of me. It is a very dangerous situation in that my 9year old and 12 year old panicked. When I switched the lights on and off they came back on. The incident re-occurred an additional 3 times on the way home. I contacted the manufacturer as well as the dealer. Both said they could not do anything about this type of failure since it is outside the warranty period. I could understand a lightbulb going out, but both going out at the same time is a horrific dangerous situation. I believe there is an inherent defect from the manufacturer.
Driving on I-405 when the left headlight began acting intermittently. Brought to the attention of the dealer when stopped by to inquire about the problem. Was told that the dealer was unaware what the problem could be and that their only suggestion was to replace the bulb, but that would cost $500 and would not guarantee fixing the problem. Brought car back to dealer several times during 2007 and over the following years to discuss this issue with the headlight... yielding the same results from the dealer. Many times during night driving the left headlight would go out. Finally, in March, 2013 both headlights went out while on I-405 at night. Happened twice during drive home with 3 small children in the car. Had hid bulbs replaced as considerable expense ($657.88) only to find out Toyota is completely aware of this problem from a class action lawsuit. I am shocked they put my family at risk by failing to notify us of this problem, even when proactively contacting the company with the exact same symptoms contained in the lawsuit.
While driving the passenger headlight goes out at unexpected times. Trying to activate the high headlights does not make the light come back on. The only way the light comes back on is by turning them off and on from the switch, and most of the time the light goes out again in a very short time.
Last September we noticed the driver side headlight was out. When we turned the car off and on, the lamp came back on. We took the car to the dealer who could not find anything wrong. We have seen a lot of similar complaints on the internet with no resolution. Others have spend big $$$ to fix, however after spending the money, the problem remained. Please advise.
- Coronado, CA, USA
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The headlight on the passenger side just turns off for no reason. I saw it off when stopped. It has done it several times after about a half hour of driving. It goes back on, but I keep the fog lights on just in case it happens in the dark. I think it could effect both head lights and cause a safety problem at night. I drive on unlit streets at night.
Headlights will randomly turn off and on. Sometimes the left headlight will go out, sometimes the right, and occasionally both lights will go out at the same time. The hid bulbs are not to blame. These bulbs, when they do go out, they burn out and never come back. This issue is a control problem/design flaw of the vehicle. If the NHTSA would look in its database it would see this is not an isolated incident. If you are waiting on a body count you will not have to wait long. My wife was driving on hwy 66 at 7:30 pm on March 4th when a loose cow entered the road, then the lights blinked out. A 2,000 lbs animal and a 2,600 lbs car do not interact well together. I suspect you will keep ignoring this and be a patsy for Toyota. I plan on filing a small claims against Toyota and, if I can find a lawyer who will take you on, sue the NHTSA for not doing their jobs.
Driver side headlight keeps shutting off. If I turn off lights and turn back on, it comes back on for a little while. Shuts off about 6 times in 25 miles.
The driver side headlight intermittently goes on and off without warning. This began over a year ago, but we cannot name the specific time. We initially thought it was just a light bulb, however, we learned that it can be reactivated by briefly turning the headlight switch off and on. This is a safety hazard if driving at night. It can happen several times during one trip or not at all. We have taken it to a few Toyota dealers and they have indicated that it could cost 400-800+ to repair the problem, which we believe to be excessive so for now we are tolerating the problem.
While driving, both headlights would go off. They would come back on when turning the light control off then back on. A few minutes later, they would go off again and to get them back on I had to switch off/ then back on. It did not seem to be dependent on fast I was driving or if a bump in the road caused the headlights to go off. We took car to dealer and was told everything checked out and both headlight bulbs needed to be replace @ $175 each for parts plus labor to drop font bumper so headlights could be installed. Total bill came to $485 to replace two headlights that worked intermittently.
The brake light went out on the driver side. Luckily I was pulled over by a police officer who was courteous to let me know the rear driver-side brake light was out. I believe this a hazard that Toyota has failed to correct because the led brake light bulbs are not repairable/replaceable, an since the led had failed and the driver-side taillight assembly is now useless and non-functional. I went to the Toyota dealer and they quoted my 800 dollars to replace the taillight including labor. I don't like how the led brake light is intended for over 100,000 hours of life but hadn't lasted more than four and a half years of use. And the worst part of the situation is that the led bulbs are not replaceable/repairable and thus a greater difficulty to repair and bring back to safe operating condition.
I was driving on this particular day and both headlights just shut off. I was driving on the highway going about 70 miles an hour. I slowed down as much as I could. Only one car was behind me and by chance he had seen my lights go off and started to flicker his lights as he passed me. Luckily their wasn't any cars on site because it was about 2 am in the morning and their wasn't any traffic. I was able to pull over under a highway street lamp on the shoulder. I turned off the light and back on repeatedly until about the 7th or 9th try they came back on. Since then I have intermittent light turning off on either headlight at random time. The dimming can go for weeks without shutting off and can also go on for a full week with the headlights daily. I know this is hazard because the time where both headlights went out it could have ended in a different way other then pulling over safely on the shoulder. Also the intermittent light turning off of the lights is also a hazard because it decreases visibility both for me to see the road and other drivers to see me.
Front right headlight is intermittently going out. I can get it to go back on if I turn switch off and back on but it may fail again within 10 or 80 minutes. Replaced bulb, but still have problem. Dealer said it was the bulb but replacing it has not fixed the issue.
Since about the fall of last year or so, we've been noticing that the headlights have been going off intermittently. The right went out and then came back on. Then another time the left went out and came back on. I've read about this occurring on many other Prius' and that there was a class action suit? anyway, I need to figure out how to get this fixed as it is a serious safety issue.
The headlamps repeatedly burn out, which repair people have said indicates an underlying electrical problem. I now have to replace one of the headlamps for the fourth time in just over a year.
My passengers side head light went out. It came back on when I turned the switch off and back on again. It has happened three more times since, two of which were this morning alone (12/28/2012).
I thought my headlights needed to be adjusted, so I took the car to have it done. The shop told me that the problem couldn't be fixed because it was the auto leveling sensor in the rear of the car. After a few more weeks of driving like that, a warning light came on the dash board and the display in the console. I ordered the part and had it replaced. It some what resolved the problem, but the lights still need adjusting. They are still not pointing high enough to light the road appropriately. The shop says that there is no way to adjust the lights further than what the sensor does.
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the headlights intermittently failed. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the failure could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Castleton, VA, USA