8.1
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $490
- Average Mileage:
- 92,200 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 79 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (55 reports)
- turn lights off/on (9 reports)
- replace bulbs and ecu (6 reports)
- replace both ecu units or main computer (4 reports)
- replace lights (4 reports)
- both headlights were reimbursed (1 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Toyota dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Since 2008 both headlights would randomly go out usually one at a time but sometimes both. By turning them off and back on would get them working again. The frequency kept increasing till 2013 when I called Toyota corp. # and told them the problem. They said to have the bulbs replaced at my own expense because I was out of warranty . 142000 miles. I called Toyota dealer to have this done and got a price of $550.00. Wow.
With a lot of research I purchased 2 headlights that were exactly the same on line for $90.00 and replaced them myself (not an easy task). At this point I'm not happy but can live with it.
Now for my real complaint!!! 2 weeks after the bulb replacement my lights are doing the same thing. Sometimes one then the other or the real excitement when both go same time. Turn them off and back on and they always come back on, maybe for a minute or two. Toyota assured me before I replaced them that that would solve the problem. Was at dealer yesterday and they had no input. To me it sure seems there is another problem other then the bulbs that Toyota will not admit.
- Thomas S., Youngsville, PA, US
I have to replace my head lights 3 times each year as they continually go out one at a time and Toyota refuses to help. TOYOTA told me it costs $300 to replace them, so I have figured out how to fix them on my own. I have been pulled over by LEO 3 times as my lights have gone off in the middle of a trip on the highway or on vacation when I have no tools to fix it. I have as spent $100's on replacing lights.
Toyota will do nothing to help and say they have never experienced this problem.
- Sheri K., Topeka, KS, US
The price quoted by Koons Toyota of Annapolis for the light is $150.00. Labor will be more. I have four other vehicles. The total price to replace ALL the headlamps in each vehicle is less than the cost of the bulb for the Prius.
With the light going on and off, How will I know if it's fixed? How will I know if the other headlight is working properly? Will I now have to check my headlights EVERY time I get in my Prius, especially at night or when it's raining?
I was EXTREMELY surprised to find out this is an ongoing problem, Toyota and the federal government are both aware and no one thinks that inoperative headlights are not a safety issue? I have not encountered some of the problems others have had, but I am extremely fearful now. If I do start to encounter problems in the future, I will visit Toyota dealerships and talk to every customer I see about the light problem with the Prius and maybe other Toyota vehicles. I wonder how many people will reconsider buying a Toyota if they knew about the headlamp problem?
- Wade W., Upper Marlboro, MD, US
I can no longer drive my Prius at night. Sometimes one headlight will go out, sometimes the other, sometimes both. The bulbs them selves are not bad. I have to turn the lights off then back on to reset them just about every 25 seconds. When I took it to the dealer they said "We can not re-create the problem". I left, in the rain and had to reset them 6 times before I was a mile down the road. Toyota knows about this problem, they need to fix this problem. Our extended family owns 4 Prius', we will never own another since Toyota is not standing up to fix this problem.
- clw1234, Middleburg, FL, US
I have tried to replace the passenger side headlight at a cost of $175. for the bulb, and another $100. for a ticket for the headlight going out again two weeks later. Explaining to the officer that it comes back on when I do this just doesn't work on a police officer, especially when they are the Military Police that pull you over.
- Jason B., Killeen, TX, US
complained to dealer at least 4 times but when at dealer problem did not happen was told too expensive to fix. Check on website last night and 220,000 cars may be affected, but now car way out of warrantee. Not sure if problem is bulbs or something else. Dealers seem to not know of the problem as toyota told them to say this and want 367 dollars a side. to replace HID bulb at 170 a piece on amazon for 44. dollars
- Arthur D., Santa Rosa, CA, US
Left headlamp sporadically went off. Our mechanic changed both bulbs on 12/13/12 then on 12/15/12 driving to work first one then both headlamps went out twice in 15 miles. Also sometimes when headlamp goes out, off/on resets, but have had one taillight or another go out too! Toyota dealer states problem is the HID bulb wanted to change for 400 bucks and says they only last a year. This is complete BS, had changed and only lasted a couple days!!!! My gut feeling is an electronics problem, but then what do I know.
- Michael R., Sebastopol, CA, US
Recently purchased this used car. At first the left headlight would go off for no apparent reason. When I switch the lights off and back on it works again. Recently it seems to happen more frequently and twice (in the last three days both headlights have turned off while driving (pretty scary on a dark road). When I turn the lights off and back on they work again.
- brian jameson, Capitola, CA, US
This is the 2nd. time this has happened with the same car - how can this keep happening without a recall?
- Elizabeth H., Peabody, MA, US
People ask me if we like our 2006 Prius. I say we love it. They ask if we have had any problems with the battery. I say no. They ask if we have had any problems with it. I say none EXCEPT:
1. It is not raccoon proof. It is so low to the ground, when I hit a raccoon on the highway it caused over $2000 + in damage. Even knocked the a/c unit off its mount on the frame under the hood.
2. MORE RELEVANT We have had a CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS going out from the beginning, one light after another left and right has gone out (usually off and on) from the first year we bought it. The right light has been going off again the last 8 months. We have not taken it in to get fixed again because it never gets fixed. Sometimes the light stays on while at the shop, giving them nothing to fix. Then when we take it home, it goes out again. But, we actually like our Dealers repair dept very much! They just don't get help from Toyota. They have tried everything from new sockets to many new bulbs. We have spent a lot with them on this issue, but I know they have also donated a lot of time and money too. They are ashamed to charge because they know it is a recurring problem. They just can't fix it.
- wsteve, Lancaster, MO, US
replaced bulbs; lights out of focus , taken in for focus and intermittent working, adjusted lights , cant see at all now, One is in tree tops, other on ground. spent about $700 and still cant see. afraid to let them work on the lights any more.
- Joseph H., Titusvillwe, FL, US
Problem initially happened under warranty Sept 2008 (bulbs and ecus replaced at 49,559 miles) Thought it was ridiculous what it takes to install a bulb.
Happened again in 2010, but decided to buy bulbs online (plasmagarage.com) and pay Maaco to install them.
Just happened again last week at 118,000 miles; luckily sun was just coming up.... Had to be late to work until i could get it in to dealer. Had to pay dealer $890 to replace both bulbs and one ecu...
Toyota needs to make this an official recall, or provide conversion kits to go to halogen bulbs that can be installed without taking body panels off.
I will look at Hyundai or Ford for my next car. The Koreans seem to take pride in their quality, and I am impressed with what Mullaly has done with Ford...
- Mike H., Fenton, MO, US
For the past year, I have had a problem with the right front headlight cutting off. When I turned the lights off and then on, the right front headlight would work, but then go off again not long after. Beginning 1/1/11, both lights go off. If I turn the lights off and on, they will come on again for maybe a minute, or so, before cutting off again. Very dangerous! I've read how thousands of Prius owners are having the same problem, and the bill to fix it can run up as high as $1,800.
- Yvonne S., Long Beach, CA, US
Had been having difficulty with L headlight turning off while driving. Bad connection of lamp? Would adjust lamp and headlight would be on the next time we drove. This night one headlight would turn off followed within a minute by the second headlight. Turning lights off and then back on turned them on for a few minutes and then the same thing would happen. When Toyota was asked about the problem we were told that we needed to replace the lights. Now that we know there is an investigation into this defect (with over 300 complaints) we will contact Toyota again.
- Debbie B., Mantua, NJ, US
Had been having difficulty with L headlight turning off while driving. Bad connection of lamp? Would adjust lamp and headlight would be on the next time we drove. This has been happening for the last month (maybe more just not noticed by driver).
Update from Aug 26, 2009: Just took car in to have headlights checked. Not only are both headlights needing to be replaced, both tail lights are burned out also. Wondering if my GPS going out (works again once reset) might be from the same problem? Car is to go back tomorrow for lights to be replaced.
- Debbie B., Mantua, NJ, US
Right headlight went out sporadically, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. Dealer replaced under warranty, but it is a $330 dollar bulb. Six months later, SAME THING, right headlight would work when I first turned light on, but then would go out. I asked dealer to check for a short circuit. They claimed that they did and it was a bad bulb. This time, no warranty so I had to pay $330 for the bulb and another $50 to install. Less than 2 weeks after that, now my LEFT bulb is doing the same thing. I am going to call Toyota and complain.
- Rita P., Canton, MI, US
Right headlight went out sporadically, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. Dealer replaced under warranty, but it is a $330 dollar bulb. Six months later, SAME THING, right headlight would work when I first turned light on, but then would go out. I asked dealer to check for a short circuit. They claimed that they did and it was a bad bulb. This time, no warranty so I had to pay $330 for the bulb and another $50 to install. Less than 2 weeks after that, now my LEFT bulb is doing the same thing. I am going to call Toyota and complain.
- Rita P., Canton, MI, US
Right headlight went out sporadically, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. Dealer replaced under warranty, but it is a $330 dollar bulb. Six months later, SAME THING, right headlight would work when I first turned light on, but then would go out. I asked dealer to check for a short circuit. They claimed that they did and it was a bad bulb. This time, no warranty so I had to pay $330 for the bulb and another $50 to install. Less than 2 weeks after that, now my LEFT bulb is doing the same thing. I am going to call Toyota and complain.
- Rita P., Canton, MI, US
TOOK CAR IN FOR 90K SERVICE. WAS TOLD HEADLIGHT (LEFT) WAS OUT. REPLACED. HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT LEFT HEADLIGHT OUT MANY, MANY TIMES. EACH TIME TURN LIGHTS ON-OFF.
- Hisato T., Anaheim, CA, US