Intermittent headlight failure on my 2004 Toyota Prius, with just over 70,000 miles. This is truly dangerous--someone is going to get killed because of this. The problem seems to be widespread--why has there not been a recall" does someone have to get killed first"

- Clifton, VA, USA

Headlights turn off spontaneously, must be restarted by turning switch on and off.

- Chesapeake Beach, MD, USA

I have a 2004 Toyota Prius, and my left headlight has turned pink. It is now continuously pink. I was told by my dealership that it would cost $400 to replace the headlamp because it is a xenon headlight. My understanding is that xenon headlights should last longer than mine did.

- Bartlett, IL, USA

Hid lights fail in my 2004 Prius and have for several years now - intermittently with no warning. At times, both lights fail at the same time, leaving me on a dark road unexpectedly. I have one replaced at the dealer, only to have it fail again. This is clearly a safety issue. Hundreds of these have been reported.

- Mechanicsville, VA, USA

After several years of use, the headlights, most often the right, but sometimes also the left, spontaneously turn off. This happens about every 15 minutes while driving at night. We have to turn off the lights and turn them back on to get them to light again. This sometimes does not work, and we are stuck for a some time on the freeway without headlights. People on forums say it will likely cost $1000 - $1800 to repair, which we cannot afford.

- San Mateo, CA, USA

2004 Toyota Prius. Both hid headlights will occasionally turn off like the bulb burns out, but if you turn off the headlights and turn them back on it turns on again. Mostly right headlight, but occassionally the left will do this. Not a loose connection. Acts like a relay is tripping on overtemperature or overcurrent and resetting itself after the headlights are turned off. This has been occurring in my car since I purchased it in March 2007. Took it to repairman, but it was going to cost over $2000 to replace a circuit board and headlight assembly. I don't have that money and from what I've read on Prius owners websites this is a common issue.

- Tracy, CA, USA

Driver side headlight goes out intermittently. Sometimes turning the car off and back on solves it. Now, the passenger side headlight is out. Last night, the passenger side was out, so I switched to high beams. That turned off both headlights! I was on a long, dark winding road, under trees, so had no ambient light. The headlight connection has been fixed twice by the dealer.

- Poulsbo, WA, USA

Passenger side headlight flickers very dimly. I just noticed it today, on my mother's Prius. Did some research, and was amazed at the cost to have the dealer fix this. If it was just the cost of the bulb itself, I could swallow the rather large $130 price (at kragen) and do it myself, but the notes here, and on many other sites indicate that bulb replace sometimes fixes the problem (for a short period of time), and at other times, it does nothing. I would hate to throw $130 down the toilet. The primary issue though, is that the headlight goes dim/out intermittently, without warning or pattern, and there is no way to reliably get it re-lit. I don't feel save asking my 69 year old mother to turn the headlights on and off if it's dark out side (and if it's not dark, how would you know it was working or not). I agree, it does sound like a defect as many many people are having the issue, but more importantly, a serious safety issue. How long must we want before some action is taken by the NHTSA?

- San Francisco, CA, USA

Left headlight of my Toyota Prius 2004 will turn off with no apparent cause, you can turn off the lights and immediately turn on and it will come back on again, this action is dangerous specially driving at night since you"ll have to briefly drive without the lights on. This issue has a non-harmonic frequency but it just keeps repeating, sometimes on a trip for 10 miles it can go off up to 5 times and some other times on the same trip it will not go off. By now the failure hasn't"T been corrected since dealer will charge over $1500 to fix it, which I don't agree to pay since this is their failure.

- Fremont, CA, USA

Left headlight will turn off with no apparent cause. You can turn off the lights and immediately turn on and it will come back on again. There doesn't appear to be anything that triggers. Dangerous when driving at night since you have to briefly drive without the lights on.. to turn off and back on again. When spoke to dealer about replacing was quoted $600... "because we have to remove the front bumper to get to the headlight" (Toyota design flaw?) but the bulb itself costs $400!! this first started occurring in January 2008 and we "lived with it" for a year before spending the $558.15 that it cost to replace the one bulb in February 2009. We were prompted to do so especially since our daughter was learning to drive and we could not allow her to have to deal with this safety issue. The light is working properly now, but I am not convinced that it won't happen again...if the bulb was the problem you wouldn't think turning it off and then immediately back on would fix it temporarily. When I spoke to Toyota to complain about the cost and apparent defect they gave me no indication that this was a reported problem. She made it seem like I was the only case.. deceitful I think. After searching online I discovered on my own that this was a known problem that many others had.

- Bowie, MD, USA

The headlights on my 2004 Prius keep going on and off. Toyota will not cover these under warranty and change $875 to replace 1 bulb.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

Right front headlamp operating intermittently. Dealer repair quote was over $500. Online advice suggested that Toyota should/would repair at no cost. Initially dealer service manager wanted owner to pay labor, over $300, and dealer would supply part. Owner stated that since this was a safety and defect matter, Toyota should pay full cost. After 24 hours, dealer agreed to replace headlamp at no cost. Both headlamps were replaced at no cost to owner. Owner is 30 year customer of this dealership. Service manager stated that Toyota will probably post a recall notice on this matter.

- Placerville, CA, USA

2004 Toyota Prius has had headlight replacements five (5) times on the passenger side and now has the same problem on the driver side. 2006 Toyota Prius has had both sides replaced. Both cars suffer from intermittent operation which can be temporarily recovered by turning the headlight switch off then back on. All Toyota wants to do is replace bulbs when the bulb obviously is not the problem. I am sure they are being disingenuous with customers in an attempt to postpone the inevitable. It is way past time for a recall - please!

- Irvine, KY, USA

I was appalled to find that it cost over $500 to replace the passenger side headlight and was told to expect that the driver's side light would likely need to be replace in the near future.

- Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

Either of the headlights will randomly turn off while driving. When I quickly turn off the headlights and turn them back on, they work again for a while. The problem seems random and intermittent. It happens to both the driver's side and the passenger's side headlight.

- Austin, TX, USA

Head lights on a 2004 Prius going out and being able to turn the lights back on by just turning the system off and then turn it back on again. Just like a computer, if something is wrong, shut down and start over. This happens almost every time I drive the car now, the consequences are not being able to see at night and during the day safety is diminished without the headlights. The headlamps were replaced but did not repair the problem. The old parts are not available.

- Poolesville, MD, USA

On my 2004 Toyota Prius, the lights go out randomly. Of course, at night. I took it to two Toyota dealerships, and the first couldn't replicate the problem. The second dealership said the fix for one light would be an astonishing $850 because it's a defective electronic controller. Since my lights worked intermittently or after being turned on and off...and after searching the internet and discovering this defect is common. I'm thinking lights cutting out while driving, is quite dangerous, and it's a potential hazard for both drivers and pedestrians. Many Prius owners believe this is a product defect in need of a recall from Toyota before someone gets hurt.

- Springfield, MA, USA

Hid right headlight goes out randomly. If I turn headlights off and on again, it relights, but then goes out again between 15 minutes and 3 hours. Has been happening for over a year on my 2004 Toyota Prius.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

2004 Toyota pruis hid headlight intermittently goes out while driving. Turning lights off and then back on brings the light back on for a while. There have been three instances during the past 3 months where both headlights have gone out, resulting in total loss of light during the night. Exceedingly dangerous! this has been an ongoing problem for the past 6 months but I only recently found out about being able to report it to this site.

- Trout Run, PA, USA

Both head lamps go for no apparent reason. By turning off lights and relighting they come back on, but then after a short period of time they go out again. The bulbs are not burned out the hid electrical system is defective.

- Kansas City, MO, USA