2006 Toyota Prius with the hid headlights. The headlights randomly turn off. At first I thought I was seeing other things, like neighboring cars switching in and out of lanes, causing the amount of light to diminish. So far, it is either one or the other headlight, not both simultaneously. Through the random process, which would be initiated each time the lights are turned on, it is only a matter of "time" before both lights extinguish at the wrong time, at highway speeds.

- Seven Hills, OH, USA

2006 Toyota Prius - my hid headlights have been randomly, unpredictably flickered on and off, sometimes the left, sometimes the right and sometimes both completely unexpectedly. The light switch must be flicked on and off multiple times to bring them back. Within minutes - or even seconds - they may fail again repeatedly. I do not drive at night very often but others who do are at great risk. Can you imagine the reaction of the cars in front of me while I a flicking my headlights at them repeatedly! potentially volatile. The repair is replacement of hid lights at almost $600 and is not covered by their warranty, which is wrong! this has been going on for a couple years and mechanics have not been able to trace issue other than faulty headlights or faulty computer controls. There are tens of thousands of Prius owners affected. Check the online blogs like priuschat and you will see. This is a significant safety issue which while I have had not accidents I have had numerous incidents of concern and need for quick sudden evasive action when the lights would fail unexpectedly. We who have been forced to spend hundreds for repair should be reimbursed and a full scale recall must be instigated for the safety of Prius drivers and our companions in other vehicles on the road.

- Wailuku, HI, USA

2006 Prius. Within first 18 months of owning the car (I am original owner - took possession of car in March of 2006) experienced headlights going off by themselves. Took the car in for service thinking headlight needed replacement. Was told by service rep (at greentree Toyota in danbury, ct) that it was not the headlight but a problem with connection that Toyota recognized but was not sure how they would address. I waited for solution. As time goes on, more frequent incidence of headlight spontaneously turning off. I received a notice from Toyota company approx. 4 months ago stating the problem was a defect/connection problem. My Toyota dealership/service dept. Told me it was not and refused to fix the connection problem. Both headlights will go out at exactly the same time, leaving me in complete darkness. If I quickly switch the headlights off then back on again they will illuminate. The headlights going off at the same time happens at least once every 20 minutes.

- Bethel, CT, USA

We own a 2006 Toyota Prius. The right (passenger side) front headlight works intermittently. It will turn off without warning. If you turn the lights off and then on again, it comes back on as if nothing is wrong. It will then blink out again at a later time without warning. This is a dangerous product defect. It is impossible to tell if the light is on or off unless someone tells you. We have been stopped by the police for this problem, but not ticketed yet because we can make the light come back on by turning the lights off and then on again. Toyota refuses to recall or fix the problem. Instead, they charge$500 to replace the lights, without addressing the mechanical defect. Many many other Prius owners/drivers have voiced the same complaint.

- Sherman Oaks, CA, USA

Defective headlights.

- Lexington, SC, USA

Headlight (driver's side only) sometimes turns off while driving. If I turn the lights switch off and back on, the light will turn on and work properly for a while.

- Acampo, CA, USA

Headlights intermittently go off when placed in the on position. Sometimes one, sometimes both. Does not matter if it is low or hi beam. This problem is ongoing since incident date. Toyota sent letter describing how hid bulbs reach the end of their life by intermittently going out and states that you should minimize turning them on and off which can't be prevented if they go out while you're driving. I don't accept this to be fact, I think it's an electrical problem.

- Milford, VA, USA

Prius hid bulb failed before its estimated lifetime. These bulbs are very expensive (us$ 300.00) plus labor (us$ 200.00) and they failing over and over again. This item should have been recalled by Toyota and replaced for free, since customers paid premium price up front for security benefits of the accessory in question.

- Coral Gables, FM, USA

Intermittent failure of hid headlamps on 2006 Toyota Prius.

- Wylie, TX, USA

Headlights failed on my 2006 Toyota Prius. One about 36,000 miles, second one about 37,000. It cost over $500 to replace them. Now one of the new ones has failed again. I wrote Toyota for help and they had an extended warranty salesperson call me saying "you need to protect yourself against what may happen in the future." I asked if headlights were covered and he said yes, but that I needed to wait 30 days after buying the policy. Wrote Toyota again saying that was unacceptable. No response. I know many other Prius owners have had this problem. Since my light has gone out right away I'm wondering if it is an electrical or computer problem with the car.

- Sun Lakes, AZ, USA

Intermittent failure of hid headlight in my 2006 Toyota Prius.

- Plantation, FL, USA

Intermittent and frequent failure of hid headlights in 2006 Toyota Prius. One light or the other and sometimes both will go out. Turning the light switch from on to off and back on will relight the bulb but at lower brightness. Frequently must do this several times as the bulb may stay on for a few minutes to 1/2 hour. Toyota refuses to acknowledge design / faulty components in hid control / power module.

- Downers Grove, IL, USA

There is a class action suit against Toyota due to intermittent headlight failure. Please check this link to see if a recall should be imposed. Thanks www.lemonlawclaims.com/toyota_prius_headlight_failure.htm.

- Kill Devil Hills, NC, USA

Intermittent failure of lights. Car had 20,000 miles on it when headlight starting failing intermittently. After about another year the other side started failing intermittently. I and others on yahoo Prius group have the same problem with the headlight going off intermittently. Could cause an accident, as at times they both go off. After turning them off and then back on they burn but you never know if one or both will go off. Toyota knows there is a problem with the headlights on the second generation Prius but has made no attempt to recall or repair the problem. We are all left on our own to solve the problem.

- Littleton, NC, USA

Headlights turn of intermittently on both my daughters 2006 & 2007 Toyota Prius. Mostly the right one sometimes both. If you turn the headlights off then back on the headlights come back on for a while then you have to do the same thing again. Also I notice many other priuses that have the same problem. Please look into this problem. Thank you.

- Glendale, CA, USA

2006 Prius. 62K miles. One headlight started going out intermittently about 3 weeks ago (Jan.2010) now a minute or so after the first one goes out the second one goes too leaving me in total darkness. The fix is to turn the switch on and off. A bulletin I received last year says you can kill the hid by turning off and on while still hot. This the only way to keep the lights going! I got a ticket last week for a light out and of course I made it come back on for the officer but he wasn't impressed. Now I have to get it fixed and I have read all the blogs and clearly replacing the bulb is not way to correct this.

- Chazy, NY, USA

I have a 2006 Prius with hid headlights. A little over a year ago I noticed that one or sometimes both headlights would go out intermittently. We live on a street without streetlamps and I had some scary moments several times when both lights went out. When I told my dealer about it, they said they could do nothing as the lights were working when they examined them. Finally, I got a letter from Toyota (attached), which said they would lower the replacement price of the headlights (but not warning of the problems I had been having). I had my dealer repair the lights at a cost of $559.25. The dealer told me that if I complained to Toyota, they would reimburse me. A case manager at Toyota said they would pay for the parts (about $300). I have now read of hundreds of other people with my model car who have had identical problems. I feel that Toyota should issue a recall for a dangerous problem like this, or at least notify the dealers so when owners complain of the problem it is repaired under warranty.

- Santa Monica, CA, USA

2006 Toyota Prius - hid headlamps go out at random intervals and come back on when turned off and then back on. Thousands of reports on www.mycarstats.com. unsafe at night, especially in rural areas where deer roam the highways. My passenger side headlamp was replaced for free by Toyota rep and dealer after showing them the mycarstats.com complaint reports. Toyota also reduced price of hid lamps by one-half in a letter received about three months ago. Many have had to pay $400 to $1200 for repair and replacements. Prius front bumper has to be removed to replace headlamp.

- Centreville, MD, USA

2006 Toyota Prius with hid headlights fail intermittently.

- Carmichael, CA, USA

My 2006 Toyota Prius loses braking when trying to brake on uneven surfaces. The dash will light up the icon which displays uneven ground and when I apply brakes there is a momentarily lapse when the brake pedal does not respond. Also my left headlight and left taillight go on and off periodically.

- Newhall, CA, USA