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 headlight went off while I was driving. I found out that headlights can only be changed by the dealership. The earliest appointment to change a lightbulb is the following Wednesday (more then a week later), and the estimated cost for the change is over $500. This causes incredible hardship - this is something the buyer should have been told of before buying the vehicle.
Today (and many other days) one or both of my headlights and/or taillights have extinguished completely on their own while operating the vehicle at low and high speeds. This is especially frightening when both headlights extinguish where we live (out in the country where streetlights do not exist). On several other occasions, I have been pulled over on the way to work by various law enforcement organizations (local police, sheriff, highway patrol) due to my headlights and/or taillights being out. Turning them off and then on, or tapping the taillight with my hand (obviously impossible to accomplish while driving) solves the problem for a few minutes at a time. Every day, at least 5 of my coworkers inform me that I have a headlight and/or taillight bulb which needs replacing. I drive this car as a commuter to work and to drive my children. It concerns me greatly that Toyota ignores this problem!
Headlights sometimes go out or fail to stay lite---turning them off and back on seems to correct issue for my 2007 Prius, so far. There is a service notice issued but we need a required recall to make dealers correct issue for free.
While driving at night, both headlights simultaneously turned off, without warning. Some panic, but, turned light switch off/on (pure luck on my part) and lights again came on -- probably within 10 seconds of having an accident or going off the road. No emergency pull-off lane, or area was available.
The bulbs turn off intermittently for no reason. I already replaced the bulbs but the problem did not go away. This is very unsafe. I made my research and there are many complaints of this kind of problem with the 2007 Prius. Toyota should recall and fix this problem. This is very unsafe.
- Haymarket, VA, USA
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We own a Toyota Prius and have had the dealer replace the headlight 4 times. The first time we simply got in the vehicle and when we turned it on we realized it was not working. After we had it fixed about 2 months later we got pulled over and given a warning to get it fixed. We did so again and again with no solution. Since our last time the dealership has advised us to go to the Toyota dealership but there telling us that is simply a bad headlight and it will cost about 200 to fix it. I showed them where in 8 months it was changed 3 times and they simply said it must be human error because everything else looks fine.
Since 2008, the headlamps on my car have been going in and out. The dealership replaced one of the lights in 2008, but it has continued to be a problem. Sometimes one light goes out, while other times they both go out and it can be quite dangerous. They will usually come back on when turned on and off, but it's still dangerous, particularly on the interstate traveling 70mph at night if both lights flicker off. A quote of approximately $500 was given to repair the vehicle at the dealership. Toyota hasn't been very forthcoming with support, knowing that there are multiple reported issues with the hid light and it's the most common complaint on websites regarding this make, model and year.
Right headlight flickers and goes out, leaving only left headlight on. Turning headlights off and on causes both headlights to work again. Problem repeats randomly in about 10 minutes. I also noted that once both headlights went off.
Both headlights suddenly went out while driving on an unlit mountain highway. Happened again the next night while driving on another highway. Turning the light switch off and on again brought the headlights back on. Previously, driver's side headlight would suddenly go out intermittently. This was the first time both headlamps went dim at the same time. Very scaring and dangerous situation as there was no visibility as soon as the lights went out.
Hid headlight will go out while driving and this has happened 4 times with the most recent 2 days ago. All of the times this has happened, the bulb and computer are replaced at a cost of $700+. very expensive on going problem.
My lheadlights flicker, and go out all the time...I have 2 teen daughters that are of driving age and they cannot drive at night due to the lighting issue...I have been on the freeway going upwards of 75 mile per hour on highway and both headlights have went completely out...I assumed Toyota was a good brand it is soo dangerous to drive my car at night!!
Almost every time I use the headlights, one or both will extinguish at some point. If I turn them off and back on, they will come back on as if nothing had happened. The occurrence is random, but happens most of the time I use them. Sometimes I can see when one goes out, but frequently, I don't know until I either get on a very dark road or am stopped behind another vehicle and see the reflection in their car. I think this is dangerous on at least two levels - they will go out when I really need them or oncoming traffic won't see me properly.
In the beginning we would be driving down the road the left headlight would go out then the right side starting going out. If we turned them off and right back on the would come on and sometimes stay on and sometimes not. Then occasionally the Y will both go out at the same time leaving totally in the dark. We replaced the bulbs and that helped for a while but they started again. I then replaced the ballasts. That did no good. This is not only annoying but a big safety hazard.
The right headlight goes out intermittently. You then have to switch the light switch off and then on again and it comes back on. A particular problem because our left light went out and then we had to depend on the right headlight only until the left one could be fixed. We had no headlights several times during this time. The right headlight just goes off whenever and you have to click it back on. Very scary and dangerous at night. I've talked to dozens of other Prius owners and they have had the same problem. It seems to be a manufacturing defect and should be recalled for the fix.
Headlight randomly goes out. If lights are turned off then on, it comes back on. Light goes out approximately every 5-10 minutes while driving. I've read other reports on this issue and believe Toyota needs to develop a fix for this problem.
While driving vehicle at night, noticed that passenger side head lamp turned off. Vehicle was stopped on the curb and tried to turn the headlight switch on off again, but could not turn on one head light. I was afraid to drive the vehicle with one lamp, since local township police can give me a violation ticket. The high beam works but not the low beam. Toyota needs to fix this issue via product recall.
Left headlight comes on for a few minutes then goes to. I have replaced the bulb and ballast and light still not functioning properly. I bought extended warranty with car but w/ 100 dollar deductible but they say headlight isn't covered.[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Headlamps will go out while driving. They will work and then suddenly they are off. You can usually turn the lights off and back on and they will work again. Has done this over the time we have owned the car.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Huntingdon, PA, USA