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.
I own a 2006 Toyota Prius. I am experiencing failure of the headlamps for the second time in 15 months. Last year when the headlights would go out while driving, turning off the headlights and then turn them back on the lights would have the light working again for a short time. I had the lights replace last summer and they then worked. Now the issue is starting again. I have own many different cars and have never had to replace headlights multiple times in 15 months.
After owning my used 2006 Toyota Prius for a week, I had my 1st incident: I was driving down the road at night, and right headlight went out, while left headlight remained on. Turned the headlight switch to 'off' position, and then to 'on' position. The headlight came back on for about 5 minutes, and then went off again. About 2 weeks later, I started having the same issue with both headlights. I used the same method as above in order to get the headlights to come back on. It does not seem to matter whether or not I have just started the car, or whether it has been running for a while... the bulbs go out when the car is 'cold' and when it has been running for a while. I took the car to my regular mechanic to see if it was the bulb, etc. ( as electrical problems will not be covered under my used car warranty ). I almost wrecked the car going around a dark curve in the road the other day, when both headlights went out. I have also been pulled over twice for improper equipment... but fortunately, I was not fined. I expect that I will eventually get a fine if this problem doesn't get fixed... or worse... I could have a wreck and be killed... as most of the driving I do is at night, and often... I drive on country roads that have no street lights... not to mention... deer running out in the road.
2006 Toyota Prius. My headlights failed on mountain road without any warning. I was doing about 50mph and swerved into the shoulder to avoid going off cliff. This vehicle is a death trap after dark and somebody is going to lose their life because Toyota doesn't seem to take this seriously. I called their consumer hotline an was told I would have to foot the bill of nearly $900. I was then told by Toyota to have the car repaired and they would reimburse me. I found a Toyota dealer to do repair for $502 and now Toyota tells me this was not a participating dealer even though it was an authorized factory Toyota dealer. It truly seems like Toyota is trying to avoid this problem. I now want to sell this car asap but am concerned for the safety of the person who will ultimately buy it from me. I'm wondering if I could face a lawsuit for knowingly selling a car with this serious safety defect ? please help us !!!
1. headlight or headlights turn off unexpectedly 2. occurs regularly on my car. Other owners report this problem and say it is a $1000 repair that doesn't always work. Because the headlights dim, or shutoff on their own. I will often be driving with one headlight or no headlights and not be aware of it. Because they were working when I drove off. Due to the dimming feature, I cannot easily tell if they are off or dimmed until someone tells me. Then I turn off and on my headlights and it works for a while. 3. I am told it is a $1000 Toyota repair, that is not a permanent fix. I think it occurred under warranty, but I was not aware of what I was experiencing until after warranty expired.
The left and right headlights sometimes go out independently of one another. Other times they both go out. Of course, this is not good while driving in darkness. Flipping headlight switch to off and back on fixes the problem, but sometimes it's only a temporary fix and I have to do it again a few minutes later, and other times both lights remain on. For unexplained reasons, the problem is occurring more frequently now. It seems that this is not uncommon in the Prius and I, myself, have seen other cars with a headlight out here in the burlington, vt area. In fact, a co-worker took his into the shop and they said it was a bad bulb. What I'm reading is that it's not the bulbs.
- Richmond, VT, USA
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Malfunction in hid headlights for Toyota Prius is chronic - always flashing off and on - mostly off. They were replaced once in 2007 for free while under warranty. This has been occurring constantly for the past 6 months and although I have a 5Y/100,000 mile warranty, the dealership said this was only covered under the 3 yr/30,000 mile warranty and wants to charge me to fix this issue that is chronic with the Prius.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Prius. The contact stated one headlight failed intermittently. On some occasions, the headlights remain illuminated and clearly indicate that the bulb has not burned out. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and they replaced the headlight assembly, which corrected the failure for two years. Currently, the issue has recurred. The failure mileage was 10,000 and current mileage was 61,000. Updated 5/7/09 the consumer stated whenever the headlight fails, it can be restored by turning the headlights off and then on again. Updated 05/12/09.
Driver's-side headlight suddenly turns off while driving, usually within 5-15 minutes of driving. This occurs during both city and highway driving. Since approximately May 2008, friends and family driving in front of me during group trips would periodically mention that one of my headlights was off. I would later check the headlights and find both operational. Eventually, I started to notice, through looking at the reflection in other cars, that my driver's side headlight would indeed be off. Turning the lights off very quickly and turning them back on again would usually solve the problem. However, as time went on, the occurrence became more and more frequent. Now, my driver's side headlight turns off suddenly, every time I drive, within 15 minutes of turning on. Flicking the lights off and on does turn both lights back on, but the problem returns again within 5-15 minutes. I am very concerned about this problem becoming progressively worse, and I have read many accounts online of both headlights eventually failing, which is especially worrisome. Updated 04/16/09.
I have 2006 Prius. The passenger side headlight is intermittent. I have noticed this for about 2 months now. It has 35,000 miles. Have been reading this is quite common in 2006 Prius yet Toyota has not offered recall. Obviously driving with a headlight out is not only a safety issue but a legal issue as well.
Toyota is familiar with the hid lights on their Toyota Prius' and even issued a tsb (T-sb-0030-08) and is still requiring the end user to pay upwards to $800 for the repair. Within the last few weeks, I am having to turn my headlights on and off in the day or during the night so that I can have both lights on. It's an intermittent issue and many other owners are complaining about the same issue. It is a tremendous safety issue especially when driving at night. For the 2010 model Prius, Toyota has even taken out the hid lights. What is really going on here. I am not a happy consumer.
I have a 2006 Toyota Prius. With hid headlights. The headlights goes out about 2-3 times a day. When I notice it out, I have to turn the lights off and back on. This usually last a few more hours. This repair is very costly and not covered by the dealer. But, headlights are safety items and should be covered.
I have a Toyota Prius 2006. Its headlight bulbs are not working. Lights go on and off. Sometimes we don't even know if they are off and other drivers blink us on the road to warn. Toyota dealership is telling us that we need new headlight bulbs. I have extended warranty through Toyota. Toyota denied coverage from my bulb replacement. This problem has been reported by many Prius owners. Toyota needs to recall the defective bulbs and take responsibility for this defective part. This is a dangerous neglect by Toyota and can result in serious injuries and damages to its customers.
I've got a package 6 2006 Prius with multi-reflector halogan auto-off headlamps. The hid lamps on this model Prius are notorious for failing within three years. See priuschat.com/forums/care-maintenance-troubleshooting/34584-headlight-problem.html. the passenger side headlights keeps going out. I can't really tell when or how it goes out since I can't see it. I'll notice it when I see the reflection in the back of another car. When I turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. Sometimes on long trips it will stay on the whole time, sometimes it won't. sometimes on short trips it will go out, sometimes it won't. it is not an event I can make happen. Very similar to other posted descriptions.
On my 2006 Toyota Prius, one headlight intermittently goes out, but cycling the power switch will make it come back on. It seems to occur more after the car and headlights have been used, turned off for a short while, and then used again. Sometimes the light will go out five times in one minute, at other times it will stay on for hours with no problem. Other owners have had both lights go out randomly and sometimes both at once, which seems like a huge safety issue. I have not done any repair to date, as Toyota so far has no definitive solution to the problem and dealers have had people paying $800 to $1500 to replace a variety of parts, and with some owners reporting that the problem has occurred again later after a repair.
Headlights go off at random times mostly the right (passenger) side but it has happened on the driver side also. When this happens I have discovered that they come back on if I turn off the lights and then back on. After driving for a short time they start going off again or sometimes it will stay on until I don't need them. The next time I use the headlights they work fine for a few minutes and then it starts all over again. Of course it's night when the headlights are used and with one of the other of the lights out this causes a visibility problem and can't see the road clearly. I have received a warning/equipment repair order from my local police and the dealer can't find a problem. The dealer has checked them a couple of times and can not find any problem.
Prius 2006 with headlamp problems that appears to be electrical and not just the bulbs. One headlight will go out then if I switch off the lights both will come on. It is not always the same light that goes out. When I turn on my lights it draws on the brightness of the dash lights and they dim. I will be driving with lights on and all the lights will go off until I switch the lights on once again. The dealer has informed me this is the led headlights which are 400 ea. And $90. Installation. This is outrageous and I know it is not just the lamps therefore they will then proceed to charge me for what ever else they think it might be such as the computer system. This should be under warranty. I paid the extra money for an extended warranty and they tell me this is not covered. I have been driving with this problem as I can not afford to fix the problem and do not trust the dealer to continue to charge me for this issue. After reading the chat rooms with other individuals with similar problems, this is a defect and needs to be recalled. They have been reporting this problem since 2004 or 2005. Why has this not been addressed.
Hid bulb intermittently shuts off in my 2006 Toyota Prius. Toyota wants to replace bulb ($162.50 each). However, according to the blogs, this is a recurring problem with Prius's and may be a "controller" problem, not a bulb issue.
High intensity headlight problem on 2006 Prius. Light goes off intermittently. Sometimes will come back on after flicking on and off a few times. Sometimes will not come on at all. Replaced passenger side at around 26,000 miles and driver's side a few months later. Covered by warranty those times. Now at 53,000 passenger side is out and dealer is charging $300 to replace headlight. Dealer stated that they have had many other customers with same problem. As of today there is no recall.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Escondido, CA, USA