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.
Right headlight flickers out about 2-3 minutes after turning it on. By turning the switch off and on, the light comes back on. But if fails again in a few minutes. This happens while driving, but also happens sitting in the driveway with the engine off.
Left headlight started sporadically flickering in April 2014, then right headlight started flickering and going out in August 2014. Bought replacement bulbs, which worked for 3 months, now both headlights will intermittently go out while driving. Very dangerous to drive at night as they just suddenly go out with no notice. Have discussed with mechanic who informed me that it is a "ballast" problem with the 2009 Prius and a class action law suit existed, but since my car was outside of the 5 years 50K miles coverage the cost to repair would be somewhere around $1200 per light. Toyota needs to fix this problem as a defect!!!
Headlights go off without warning, sometimes left, sometimes right, sometimes both. Inconsistent and notice only at night. Can't fix and can't find solution. Headlights don't need to be replaced - there is something wrong with car wiring or other. I've had this car since 2009 and only had problem last six months or so - probably starting 1/2016. Car has approx. 65K miles on it. Very unsafe - especially at night in city when I can't follow another car and I can't tell if my headlights are on or not!
Sometimes one headlight turns off. When I turn the headlights on and off, the headlight comes back on. This has happened on the freeway. It does not happen every day.
I became aware the past few months that my right hid headlight was going off and on when I was driving. I was first alerted to it by other cars flashing me. Then time would go by and it seemed to work. Yet, the problem returned. One time the left light went out as well, and I was without either light. But generally it is just the right light. If I turn the light switch off and on, then both lights work, again usually until I get home, I am aware that these expensive bulbs (more than $600 for both) are the common solution, but I know someone who had the replacement bulbs go out, as well, after a few months. So it must be the circuit. I will try to limit my driving to day time, and to be diligent to remember to be on the lookout for sudden light failure and switch, the lights on and off. My memory isn't as sharp as it once was, being an elderly retired person. This makes me quite nervous especially on icy roads in an area that darkens early. Suggested repairs are currently above my means. Thank you for hearing this.
- Missoula, MT, USA
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The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. While driving at night, the low beam headlights dim intermittently. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the headlight assembly was damaged and needed replacement. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact also stated that the failure occurred daily. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
One of my two hid headlights goes out while driving. I can turn light off and they may or may not come back on. Sometimes light flickers and does not achieve full brightness. Can be dangerous at night. Both bulbs were replaced in June of 2013, passenger side in April of 2014 and now the drivers side needs replacement.
Within the last few weeks, the headlights randomly turn off. Sometimes the driver's side, sometimes the passenger side...sometimes both at the same time. Tonight, I had both headlights and dash lights shut off while driving home down a dark, wet, very curvy, leaf covered road. Quickly turning the lights on and off briefly solved the problem. This should never happen and poses a tremendous threat of bodily harm not only to the drivers/passengers in the Prius, but to other travelers as well. I am extremely disappointed in Toyota for refusing to be accountable and accept responsibility for the safety of the many consumers who have experienced this problem.
Right headlight does not stay on. Had the filament changed 2-3 times and still burns out. This is not safe. Cannot get a good answer as to why this keeps happening!!!
The ballasts for the hid lights in the 2009 Prius are famously unreliable. Mine demonstrated this last evening in a very unnerving way. The headlamps would simply turn off without warning, sometimes one, and many times, both, leaving me to the mercy of street lights! this is incredibly dangerous. I checked on it and found that this happens to hundreds of Prius drivers. Isn't Toyota concerned that its $1,200 charge for fixing its own defective equipment (for the ballasts are known for this) will lead to death of poor persons who cannot afford the fix" shouldn't there be a general recall for such a consumer-safety issue" (sure, cycling the lights turns them back on, but when you are driving in the dark, it isn't easy to think well.)
The passenger side head light works intermittently. When illuminated a faint flicker can be seen. Don't know what precisely causes it to come back on but it does. Changing the head lamp did not resolve the problem. This seems to be a recurring problem with the Prius.
Driving at night, the drivers side hid would flicker and then shut off completely. Last night for the first time while driving a dark road, both hid shut off leaving me in total darkness.
This has been a recurring problem. The headlights will turn off without any warning. They turn back on if I flip the switch off and then back on again. The fact that the lights are on every time I leave the house (I can see their reflection against the garage wall) means they are not burnt out, but the fact that I have almost been hit multiple times by people who then honk and flash their brights to tell me my headlights are off means that they are turning off on their own. Through internet searches and chat forums, I have learned that I am not alone in this dangerous issue with my 2009 Toyota Prius.
My 2009 Prius right headlight goes out periodically and without warning. If I turn the headlights off & on again, it works again, but only for a period of time.
The hid lights have become intermittent. First the left one would randomly go off and then later come back on, on more than one occasion. More recently the right one is showing the same behavior.
About two years ago one or another of my headlights would go off intermittently. When I turned the switch off and back on, they'd both be on. This was irritating but it was random and sporadic enough that I didn't take it in for service until both lights started going off in recent weeks. I then discovered on the internet the history and extent of this problem. The service people at the dealership only indicated that this problem had occurred with the 2005-2009 Prius but weren't forthcoming with other background information. $500 later I have new lights. My plan is to have "problems" with them every 11 months as long as I own the car, if they don't go off on their own, so that I can get the problem fixed under the dealer's 12 month warranty. Fortunately, most of my driving is downtown in a large city where other lighting is available. I did think whenever I was on the freeway at night I'd better have the lights checked. Although there apparently isn't a body count with this problem, or is there?, it certainly would have been helpful to have received some written information from Toyota or NHTSA that this problem is pervasive and could be very dangerous.
Toyota Prius 2009 headlights were on and off finally the left side went off totally. The seal outside the headlight didn't prevent of water came into the system and damaged it. Also while driving the car accelerated and decelerated by itself. And while stopping the car jump.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bolingbrook, IL, USA