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.
2008 Toyota Prius, VIN [xxx], both driver side and passenger side headlight go on and off while in the on position. Started Nov. 2010 with both headlights going out on a trip out of town. Then for about 5 months no problems. Now since April 2011 the drives side headlight occasionally goes off, but the passenger side constantly goes off. I will turn on my light to drive at nigh and the passenger light will be on at first then within a few minutes it will go out. I can get it to come back on if I switch the headlight switch off and back on, this turns off all the lights momentarily and then it will come on again for a few more minutes, then have to constantly repeat the process over and over. I have gone online and found forums where there are hundreds if not thousands of the same complaints and Toyota has done nothing to remedy the problem all but to charge outrageous prices to temporarily fix the problem that will just start all over. I have gone to our local dealer who gave us a quote and said it was a problem that they were not aware of. Come on, they are sweeping it under the rug and ripping off pruis owners. I certainly hope it doesn't take someone dying to get Toyota or someone to realize what a major problem there is and that it needs to be addressed immediately. I do not feet this is an issue with the bulb itself, as the bulb works, it has to be something wrong with the electrical, as many others have replaced the bulbs to only have the same problem return in a short period of time. Your help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Headlights on my 2008 Toyota Prius intermittently go out. The left side or the right side or both headlights at the same time. A very very hazardous condition at night! I checked the Toyota site, but no sign of a recall going on. I can't understand why a recall hasn't already been issued, as I understand they are aware of the problem.
My 2008 Toyota Prius headlights keep going out, the bulbs are fine, but I have to turn off and turn on the light many time on highway to make them stay on. That is not safety way ever. If I forgot to turn it off and on again, I can cause an accident or police officer will give pull me over.
We have a 2008 Toyota Prius purchased in October 2007 and have had intermittent problems with the headlights going off during operation. We have had this problem for the past 6 months. When contacting Toyota they have not helped at all saying that they extended the warranty to 50,000 miles for this and we are over that mileage mile stone which is very convenient for Toyota. The cost to put in two new headlights is over $600 which I cant afford. With all the complaints I'm reading about its amazing that a recall is not in affect or that the department of transportation isn't ordering a recall.
- San Diego, CA, USA
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Both headlights and inside lights failed, suddenly and without warning, while traveling on a dark stretch of interstate highway at night. For the past two months, the right headlight failed suddenly on occasion, but it could be turned back on my switching off the headlights and then turning them back on. This is the first time all lights failed, and it almost caused a crash.
I will start the car and both headlights are on then one or the other will just turn off, luckily both have not turned off at the same time. Sometimes they can be on for a long time and sometimes a short time, there is no rhyme or reason for it. It happens all the time, enough that I was stopped by the police for having a headlight out.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that two years ago, the headlights began illuminating intermittently. The headlights were replaced by an authorized dealer yet the failure continuously recurred. Both the dealer and manufacturer advised the contact that the headlight failure was due to production and that they were able to repair the failure, but at her expense. The vehicle was not further repaired. The current mileage was 55,000 and the failure mileage was 26,000.
Headlight passenger side going while driving coming back on do not know when both will go out. Cost to replace one headlight $150 for bulb $95 to replace. Have heard other owners having same problems and more then one time. Have heard of overheating problem causing early outage of bulbs over and over. Also problem with computer causing these problems. Problem show up for first time I believe in 2010. It is getting worst and I'm no longer driving.
I have a 2008 Prius and have had to replace both the left and right hid lamps. Approximate cost is $150 per replacement. I feel that the hid failure is a hazard, both of the hid lights came on and went out periodically over time before eventually failing, finally. The hids should last longer than 2 years and intermittent outages should not be a part of a critical night time operating system.
Purchased new 2008 Prius August 13, 2008. Has hid headlights. Present mileage 45000. Around January 15, 2011, first noticed headlights appeared to not be on in early evening. Check switch, turned it off-on, headlights came on. 2nd time, 2 days later, lights again seemed to not be one, checked switch, which was on. Turned switch off then on, lights came on. Subsequent times, problem with driver side headlight intermittently turning off. Sometimes turns on without doing anything, other times must turn switch off, then on. No noticed problem with passenger side headlight. Dangerous when headlight switches off at night. Noticed on websites that others experiencing same problem. Contacted dealer from whom purchased vehicle. Told that since car out of warranty, would have to pay for any diagnostic and repair costs (estimated $300-$500 cost). Indicated problem is most likely bulb going bad, but couldn't guarantee repair work would fix problem. Asked dealer why hid bulb goes bad after only 30 months of operation (have original headlights in 2004 Chevy cavalier and 1976 GMC pickup). Was told that should only expect 24 months of life with hid bulbs which contradicts what was told by dealer when car purchased that bulbs should last lifetime of car. Toyota implies that issue is my problem to solve.
While driving at night I noticed the left headlight was out. When pulling into garage I turned lights off and back on and the left headlight had came back on. With knowing this I have noticed this repeating over and over again. If I turn the lights off and on again the headlight will come on again. It has also occurred that both headlights have gone out at the sametime. We were pulled over by the police for the headlight being out. So we turned the lights off and on again and the headlight came back on. This seems to be a on going problem with the hid headlights of the Prius. This is a very dangerous situation!
2008 Prius; headlights go off randomly, and can be turned back on by recycling the off-on switch. This is very dangerous, as it has happened with my 15 year old son driving and he panicked when the lights went out. Was told by dealer the would need to replace the bulbs (even though they still work) for $560, and that may not solve the problem. Next step is to replace the computer which controls the lights for $1200. So, possibly $1,760 for headlights! this is a crime, and I feel like Toyota and their dealer have raped me. I am totally disgusted.
Headlights for 2008 Prius keep burning out, Toyota dealership replaced the bottom pair of lights last year and passenger side lights keep going off certain days. Toyota is refusing to fix it, they want me to pay large amount of sum for new lights.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that whenever he would drive 35 mph or above, both headlights would intermittently fluctuate on and off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed her that the failure was common for her year, make and model therefore, the dealer was willing to take the liability for fifty percent of the repair cost. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 76,000. Updated 03/03/11 upated 1/4/11
2008 Toyota Prius passenger side hid xenon headlamp going on an off randomly. Went to Toyota dealer they said it was the bulb and when replacing the bulb the mechanic found out the headlamp connector was corroded. I paid for a new bulb and connector. My problem is how a vehicle with only 40,000 miles could have corroded wire connectors already. The bill was $353.
Right headlight goes out and you have to turn light switch off and back on for it to come back on. The time range on the light going off varies from time to time. It can happen as fast as every 2-3 minutes. The ballast and bulb has been replaced and this did not correct the problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Las Vegas, NV, USA