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
For several years now, the passenger side headlight has flicked off after anywhere from a few seconds of driving to several minutes. I just turn the lights on and off and they are on again. Have asked 3 mechanics about fixing it; all told me it would be really expensive to figure out what was wrong with it and I should wait until the bulb burns out. The bulb has not burned out, but the flickering is getting worse and now it is happening on the driver's side. If I report this as a complaint each time it happens, I will post a complaint daily. After reading what is on the web about this, I am going to take it to a Toyota dealer and ask if Toyota will pay for the repair before going to the expense of getting it fixed.
- Barbara J., Tempe, AZ, US
Here is the citation from a Philadelphia policeman. I was pulled over - yet again- for no headlights (both front headlights) even though the headlight indicator on the dashboard was on. I explained to the police that Prius had this problem and showed them that if I switched the lights off and then on the headlights would come on. They did not give me a ticket.
This problem happens very frequently and I have been avoiding driving at night for the last year. This impinges on my work at Haverford College because I cannot attend meetings, lectures, and other evening events.
- kwright@haverford., Philadelphia, PA, US
Headlamps still going off while driving down interstate at night. Gave up on Toyota doing the right thing and doing a recall (I guess they could care less about my families safety) so I chunked out a load of money for their horrible headlamps, hoping that would solve the problem and my family wouldn't get killed one night because the lights go off while passing speeding cars on the freeway.
- looney58999, Belcher, US
After replacing the headlamp bulbs, I hoped I had fixed the problem. But after a couple months the lights starting going off again while driving. I had a mechanic check for a short or loose connection. Everything checked out. He said these type of Prius bulbs are notorious for failures. I am really disappointed in Toyota, this was my first Toyota and I thought they were a dependable manufacturer, but I can't keep driving down the interstate at night with my grandchildren and my headlights going pitch black!!! When are they going to step up to the plate and accept responsibility?
- looney58999, Belcher, US
I have a 2006 Toyota Prius and I noticed several years ago that my headlights would randomly go out. When I went to have the problem fixed at the Toyota dealer I was told it would cost me $300 to fix per light. Since they were not always out, I decided not to have the lights changed. Now it has gotten to the point where my right headlight will not stay on for more that a few seconds. I want to have them fixed but I am not sure what to do.
- Frank S., Milwaukee, WI, US
My headlights go out constantly with no set pattern. One orbit headlights can go out at any moment, without warning. While a quick toggle of the headlight switch off and back on will typically turn the lights back on. This can be repeated up to twenty times on a 23 mile trip in Atlanta traffic. It is a significant safety issue, especially at night.This is an ongoing problem ever since I purchased the car used in 2012 with 20K miles. I've replaced the bulbs on two separate occasions per Toyota's recommendation with no resolution. I learned of a previous class action lawsuit that I was not able to participate in. Toyota refuses to acknowledge that is is a problem.
- jamrockga, Kennesaw, GA, US
Tried to install a new bulb but near impossible on right side
- Paul K., Cross Plains, WI, WI, US
One night I was driving home and an officer's lights went on pulling me over. He brought it to my attention that my drivers side lights were out...both high beam and low beam. The next day the lights worked for a little while and then the same thing occurred they went out. I have brought my car to our local mechanic 2X and found out that a replacement part would cost me $100. For a bulb! From all that I have read it appears likely that this will occur again. My mechanic said that the overall headlight does not appear to be made of quality. I am very disappointed in Toyota for not standing behind their products!
- Lisa-Anne L., Craftsbury Cm, US
This is just something that I have had to deal with, and after all this time, I'm getting tired of it. I was told that the original recall about the headlights was taken care of, but it never truly got better. I'm going to try and replace the bulbs and see if that works...maybe some regular bulbs instead of the HID just to see if that might be the issue. I don't know. I have gotten really good at turning off/on the lights when they go out. lol
- kilowhiskey, Redford, MI, US
I have had numerous people tell me I have a headlight out. When I look at it, they are not out. I went to an auto supply stor (Napa) where the clerk told me this was an issue with these cars and that it would not do any good to have the light changed, because when he tested it, it was fine. I later had the light replaced at the dealer. Now I am having the issue again. Looking online it appears this is a common problem that can be very costly with no real resolution.
- tcindy, Bothell, WA, US
Again I had to replace the right and left headlights on my 2006 Toyota Prius. Not happy with spending money every month now this problem. Toyota needs to do something.
- Latricia B., Stone Mountain, GA, US
The headlights both right and left work sometimes. They go out when my 17 year old daughter is driving, especially at night, which is not safe. I've changed the bulbs 3 times in 3 months. It's very expensive and I'm afraid something serious can happen if Toyota doesn't address and fix this issue.
- Latricia B., Stone Mountain, GA, US
This is the 3rd time since I bought this car in 2011 that I have been pulled over and given a citation by law enforcement because of these defective headlights. It's very expensive to have them replaced. I travel with my job, and two of the tickets were in areas that were 2 hours or more away from where I live. I had to take off of work to take proof of the headlight replacement to the courthouse to get the tickets taken care of. I am ready to buy a new car, and if it wasn't for this headlight issue, I would be looking to purchase another Prius. But it's something I am sick and tired of dealing with and worrying about.
- tamarams, Richland, MS, US
I took my car into the Toyota Dealership a couple of years ago to have the lights fixed and they supposedly fixed them. Now the lights are going out again while I'm driving. I've already received a warning from the state trooper next I'll end up with a ticket or worse, an accident.
- Jennifer S., Alexandria, VA, US
I noticed that the driver's side from light was out. I could "fix" the problem by turning the lights off and then on again. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to when it goes off, nor how long between times. We've been on road trips where we've done two and half hours and it's still on. Then again sometime while driving the 20 minutes to work I need to turn the light off/on a dozen or more times.
- Michael J., Minneapolis, MN, US
Affected both headlamps. Would go off - one at a time - and would come back when turned off/on. Both replaced.
- Dana J., La Grange Park, IL, US
Affected both headlamps. Would go off by themselves. Turning them off then on again made them light up again.
- Dana J., La Grange Park, IL, US
I got my 2006 Prius at the dealer. The car was under warranty. The problem with the head light started a few months after having the car. Right side head light would go off every so often, but after turning the car off and back on the light would come back up. The 12V battery had to be replaced last summer, and while there (at the dealer) getting taken care of, I mentioned the problem, but because it could not be replicated, nothing got done.
Got pulled over once by the police, but was not given a ticket because luckily, I was able to I turn the car off and back on and the light came on!
Now the car is out of warranty and the entire right side, both lights are off. Checked online and there are lawsuits and all kinds of complains about this issue. It is a know issue, that the dealership did not disclose to me at the time of the purchase of the car. And this issue has been know for years now! I got the car in 2014. The law suits and complaints date back to 2011!!
- liatris67, Phoenix, AZ, US
I was just driving along and the headlights just went out - had to drive in the dark. This must be fixed before someone gets hurt!
- Dennis W., Salem, VA, US
headlight on driverside intermitantly turns off while driving ,then you have to turn head lights off and on while driving head light may stay on for a minute or 15 minutes this ia a severe safety issue and needs to be fixed by toyota corperation ASAP
- milonis, Lebanon, TN, US