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.
My passenger headlight will turn off while I am driving. Now both headlights will turn off at once. Usually one will come back on. This is very dangerous! this began in January 2013.
2/14/2015 as I was checking my vehicle I saw a lot of condensation in the drivers side hid headlight assembly. After researching I saw this is a common problem with subsequent problems of headlights going on and off with no warning. The headlight seal problem is a common issue and there was a class action lawsuit. Unfortunately it ended 2011 and I didn't know at that time I would experience the issue at a later date. There should be a recall for this $400 plus repair. The part alone is $375.
I purchased this 2009 Prius from my elderly parents who didn't drive at night so the hid issue was not discovered until after warranty. My wife and I were driving at night in Jan. 2012 and both headlights went out. I called Toyota (limbaugh and hoover) in birmingham, al. About the safety issue and they said they weren't aware of any issues and Toyota had no recall. At this point, I'm out approximately $400 and my time and the issue keeps coming back. Can you please help? thank you.
Driver's side headlight will go out without warning. Later the light will go out again. The headlight has been replaced as well as the amplifier. The new light bulb was left on for 3 hours while car was parked but then when it was driven, the light went out again.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at 70 mph, the headlights failed without warning. The contact deactivated and activated the headlight switch and the headlights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 114,000.
- Lakeville, MN, USA
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My 2009 Prius has headlights that intermittently flicker or extinguish at random times. Sometimes the right headlight will extinguish, sometimes it's the left headlight, and sometimes both extinguish at the same time. Some times the light(s) come back on without any action, and sometimes it is necessary to turn the headlight switch off and right back on. To date, the lights have resumed normal operation when they are turned on and off, at least so far it has worked every time. This can be extremely dangerous and frightening especially on the freeway or a mountain road. This phenomenon seems to be increasing in its frequency of occurrence. Why hasn't Toyota been forced to recall the Prius for this life threatening safety issue? I was told by the Toyota dealer that it's a bad filament in the headlight, I've never seen a filament behave that way.
Passenger head light started flickering on and off, I pulled over turned car off then back on, head light came on but was dim. I don't do much night driving and this was very concerning. I still have this issue, and have now found on line that this should be a safety recall. Up to $400 to fix, just for a head light. You got to be kidding. As soon as the other head light starts acting up as well I won't be able to drive at night. I don't have $800-$1000 to replace head light. This is a real safety issue. There needs to be a recall.
Driving on a dark road I went from high beams to low and the entire lighting system went out. I was quick so cycled the headlight switch, everything came back on but the passenger headlight. Tried replacing the light bulb, it still wont work. I paid extra for these H I D headlights. Now I'm told 1000 dollars to fix them.
I had just purchased my 2009 Toyota Prius the evening of Friday December 28th 2012 and had only driven that weekend. Then on the 31st I noticed when I was pulling into a gas station I had only one headlight working... didn't think to much about it. Then when I was leaving noticed that both lights were on working. A few hours later I noticed a flicker like a light was going out. Noticed again passenger headlight was going out.. I had the car back at the shop over a battery issue on January 2nd as my battery had suddenly died. When I took it up to Toyota I mentioned the headlight was told oh nothing they can see. Then months later it continued. Then again every now and then.. I would flip the lights on and off and sometimes it wouldn't do it again for months... then in Sept 2013 it started to do it on both sides. Again contacted Toyota nothing. Then my teenager daughter had the car and called me hysterical saying no headlights were on. She had just gotten her license days prior. Her first outing without me. Then again battery issue went back to Toyota was told not a clue. Now reading the info I've come across with 2001-2009 Prius headlight issues I'm pissed that Toyota is aware of this and lied and said theyhad not heard of such a thing. Now October 2014 I am no longer able to drive the car in the rain or at night. As I now have no headlights. I find this a major safety issue and considering how many people have stated this and the fact someone can be killed or injured seriously as one overlooks I think is a major serious issue and concern. I am not paying to have headlights replaced or electrical issues as this is something that needs to be recalled and fixed by Toyota.
The hid headlights started to flicker and went off. Repeatedly happened. First the passenger side then the driver side. I had the hid headlights replaced two days ago. The passenger headlight was still dimmed, the driver's side seemed fine. Today, the driver's side went off again and won't turn back on. The passenger side is still working, but dimmed.
There has been no injuries or vehicle damage. I left off total repair cost because the repair shop has not finished solving the problem. In 2013 I started have having headlight problems and have it about three months since. I have replaced the headlight bulbs several times on both sides. One time the headlights would operate opposite( one side would be high beam only and the other would be low beam only and when switching the switch inside to high beam the headlights would switch as to what they did only. On wed 8/20/14 the low beam quit working. I earlier purchased a new plug and 2 new bulbs in case I had a problem. I took the car to an independent repair shop( my only Toyota dealer in my town can not be trusted) where I live. He installed the new plug and we tried each of the two new bulbs and they exhibited the same problem - the low beam was just a spec of light; not enough for the low beam. He tested the voltage in the ground side of the plug and the fuse position in the fuse assembly and it lit up his voltage tester with a spec of light. He had no idea what system sent the voltage to the low beam side for the passenger side headlight. I am taking the car back on wed 8/27/14 to finish the job.
Left front headlight began to flicker, then failed completely on highway while driving at night. Taken in for repair on 8/2/14. Was told that entire hid assembly unit and computer sub-assy had to be replace.
While driving at night, both headlights, without warning went out. Immediately, I pulled to the side of the road and turned the headlight switch to off. Then, paused a moment before relighting them, unfortunately relighting them normally failed. So again, I worked with the switch, only to discover that these would relight if and on if I held the lights on using the 'dimmer mode' to bright the road. Unfortunately, mine like others, is unpredictable at best - so reproducing this incident 'on demand' is difficult at best. In reading other consumer complaints, this seems to be an ongoing and costly problem. After further review, I have discovered that this headlight challenge has been part of a class action lawsuit. Shame on Toyota for not issuing a recall on this matter - Prius owners, as well as fellow drivers whom we share the road with are at high risk.
Headlight on right side (passenger) fades out randomly - getting worse over past 6 months. Now both lights go out. Turning off/on *usually* fixes, but doesn't last.
Headlights either passenger or driver side will go out for no reason. Turning the lights off and on will relight both headlamps, but only for a short period of time.
Headlights at first seemed to only flicker then I had a headlight go out then I noticed that I could flip the lights on and off get it to come on. Now its to the point we can not use this car at night. Its become a safety hazard and I do T think its something I should pay to repair and think Toyota is stupid for not recalling.
I had just bought my car on February 19, 2014 and noticed a headlight out on the way home. I called the dealership and they said they would replace it. I took it in on February 26, 2014 but they didn't have a replacement bulb. They were going to call me when it came in. The driver's side headlight would randomly shut off. On March 10, 2014 on the way home just after dusk the car in front of me slammed on their brakes to avoid a deer. I slammed on my brakes to avoid hitting them and my lights just went off. I could not tell how close I was to the car in front of me and had no clue if all my lights were off and whether the car following me could see me. I was scared. I mean I was really scared. I turned the lights off and back on and they worked. The dealership changed the driver's side headlight on March 13, 2014 and told me that a short in it had caused the headlights to shut off. I am scared to drive at night. On May 14, 2014 the passenger side headlight shut off for the first time since the incident. I am afraid a short in it will shut off both lights so I only drive at night when I absolutely can't keep from it. This car is going to get me killed if I drive at night.
On multiple occasions prior to the most recent incident date listed, the previously mentioned 2009 Toyota Prius has had intermittent complete or partial headlight failure. On multiple occasions that seem to be random in nature either the drivers side or passenger side headlight will fail individual while the counterpart (opposite headlight) will continue to operate. Also, as random as one individual headlight failing both headlights have gone out or failed simultaneously. The operator has been able to rectify the immediate hazard by simply turning the main activation switch for the headlight from "on" to "off" and then to "on" again. This procedure will, on most occasions temporarily rectify the immediate hazard but the intermittent failure has and will continue. Operator conducted research on the issue and discovered this is a common problem the 2005-2009 Toyota Prius is displaying. Toyota corporate was contacted by the operator and stated that a customer care initiative was directed to all Toyota service departments to reduce the cost of replacement bulbs. However, what is unique about this situation is a headlamp hid bulb on the drivers side was replaced approximately one year ago and is the more frequent headlamp failure occurring. This seems to invalidate the remedy that Toyota corporate has devised which is to replace the bulbs.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Austin, TX, USA