Head lamp intermittently goes out while driving ( hid type) excessive cost to repair, second time for problem.

- Tunkhannock, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel lights failed to remain illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times. The contact also stated that when the failure occurred it was impossible to shut the vehicle off without removing the negative battery terminal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

Head light get turned off while driving. Left side head light goes off more often than right side. Right side headlight goes off while driving too but not often like driver side. I replaced hid light bulb and computer controlled ballast. But the symptom is not changed. The worst case frequency off was every 5 minutes.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

My left front headlight intermittently turns off. They do eventually turn back on, but it seems incredibly dangerous to be relying on one light for that time. I've spoken with a few other owners who have had the same problem. I had to get it replaced for $200

- Portland, OR, USA

The right hid headlamp on our 2007 Toyota Prius has an intermittent fault. It goes out and then will come back on. The duration the hid light goes out varies, and it may work for several weeks before failing again. This problem has been occurring since we purchased the car new in 2007. Earlier, the dealership replaced the light bulb and power supply modules (under warranty). That seemed to have fixed the problem, but now it the problem is occurring again. We notice the problem while driving at night, I've been unable to identify a pattern that suggests it may be a loose connection (such as, occurring on rough or bumpy surfaces). So far the problem has only occurred in one hid headlamp and not both at the same time. Which has the potential to be a serious safety issue.

- Reinholds, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the headlights would fail to illuminate. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed but was not repaired and the details were unavailable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 71,000.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

One hid headlamp will occasionally turn itself off. Turning headlamp switch off for 3-5 minutes and then back on will correct the issue. As one could imagine, very problematic when driving on the freeway at night. Multiple bulb replacements (over $150 each) have had no effect. Dealer recommended full headlamp replacement is over $1000. Research found that many others have had a similar issue, and eventually trace the problem back to the ballast of the hid lamp, which is easily damaged by water from poor design (the ballast is weather-sealed against the engine compartment, but not against the headlamp itself; any water that makes its way into the lamp will run down and pool on the ballast electronics).

- Lansing, MI, USA

My headlight comes on but goes out intermitently. If I turn the light off and turn it back on it comes back on. I;ve read about other people having this issue and heard that replacing the expensive bulb sometimes doesn;T fix the problem and there is a class action suit on it.

- Nashville, TN, USA

While driving at night the headlamps will randomly and somewhat frequently just go out. If I turn the switch off and back on again they will come back on. This is very dangerous because it is not always obvious that they have gone out. I have read that many other people experience this problem and a recall should be issued.

- Montgomery Village, MD, USA

The headlights go at without warning. Sometimes one goes out sometimes both while we are driving. Bulb replacement does not fix the issues. This has continued to be a problem for years. Toyota service has not offered a fix that works! I have been driving on the highway or local roads when, all of a sudden, all the lighting goes dark. I have had success in relighting the headlights by turning off the headlights at the main switch and then turning them back on. Extremely dangerous. Breaks are also a menace: On wet roads it is especially noticeable when using the breaks. If you are breaking and a tire goes over a more slippery surface than the pavement, such as a manhole cover, the ABS system cuts breaking to all the wheels such that the car continues on as if the breaks are not being applied - the car effectively releases the breaks and you loose control of the car until its systems decide to return controls to the driver. This happens over and over and over. Try it on a road with a bit of loose gravel on it or the leftover coarse sand from winter road maintenance or going through a milde pothole where gravel has spilled onto the road....breaking in these conditions will consistently cause the car to diminish breaking power to such an extent that the car is no longer lowing down. We own 6 cars of varying makes and this is the only car that has this issue. The other side of this same issue is that if you are pulling out into traffic and a drive wheel hits a slightly slippery patch, the engine power is cut for so long and so severely that we are at risk of being hit. This happens every single time. Toyota service has not offered a fix. Though we have told them abou this issue repeatedly, they typically do not write it down and tell us it is normal. It is not normal or safe.

- Monsey, NY, USA

Lights intermittently fail while driving. Usually only one side but occasionally both at once. Very dangerous and scary. Toyota has told me they don't know what the problem is.

- Richmond, KY, USA

The driver side headlight keeps going off, when driving the car, even with a brand new bulb in. Also, one time, both headlights went out when I was sitting at a stop sign, and turned on the turn signal. Huge safety problem! the lights come on when turned on initially then go off as I am driving on any road.

- Northfield, OH, USA

When my vehicle has the headlights on while I am driving one or both will spontaneously go off. This occurs more when it is wet out, and seems to occur more when I hit a bump, but it will occur often with no antecedent. If I turn the headlight switch off and then on again the headlight (or headlights) will turn back on but then may go off randomly again later while driving. The bulbs are fine. I've read online and this seems to be a common problem for the 2006 and 2007 Prius. So common I doubt it is a random malfunction but a engineering/electrical design or equipment problem. Very dangerous when driving at night. Occurs almost every time I drive it.

- Santa Cruz, CA, USA

I started to notice the right hid headlight bulb spontaneously go out while driving and read somewhere that this might be a pre warning that the bulb was at the end of its life. I went ahead and replaced both bulbs (which are ridiculously expensive) with brand new ones, yet this did not fix the problem. At any given time, the right bulb decides to turn off and sometimes the left one for no apparent reason (not tied to hitting bumps). This is extremely dangerous to be driving at night when at any given time the bulbs could go out. I read somewhere that this isn't really deemed a safety issue because its usually just one bulb that goes out and that gives you enough time to get to a service station, but if thats the case, tell me how I can get pulled over by the police for having a bulb out and how they justify the dangers associated with it" according to trafficviolationslawfirms.com: "traffic laws in each state contain statutes regarding nighttime driving and the appropriate use of headlights. Driving with poor visibility due to conditions, such as poor or non-working headlights is a main cause of nighttime accidents. Aside from being a main cause of nighttime accidents, driving without headlights after dusk or before dawn, will result in a driving without lights ticket from law enforcement." What will it take for Toyota to issue a recall on a known and widespread issue? this reminds me of the movie "fight club": your driving 65 mph down a dark road and your headlights go out, a deer you cant see jumps out in front of the car, and you crash and burn with everyone trapped inside. Now, should Toyota initiate a recall" take the number of vehicles in the field, a, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. a times B times C equals X. if X is less than the cost of a recall, they don't do one.

- San Diego, CA, USA

Headlamps and tail lights subject to intermittent periods of failure to stay lit while driving. Not regular, nor consistent to one light and not the other. General unreliability of electrical road illumination system. Creates a high potential for dangerous accidents with oncoming vehicles failing to recognize my vehicle profile accurately when approaching on narrow roadways.

- Concord, CA, USA

I was driving after dark on the freeway. After 2 minutes the driver side headlight went out. I turned the lights off and back on. The driver side light went out again after another 2 - 3 minutes. This repeated for 3 more times. After the 5th time turning the lights off and back on, both headlights went out after about 3 minutes. This while moving at more than 60 mph on a dark freeway. I turned the lights off and back on again, and the precedure repeated from the beginning, I.e. left headlight went out 3 more times before I reached my destination. My Prius has hid lights and this appears to be a common problem as these ars get older. Does someone need to die first before the NHTSA gets Toyota to fix this problem?

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

The lights on this vehicle have been an issues since I bought it in 2012. The headlights randomly go off while driving, usually one at a time. They will come on again if you notice it and flick the switch. Replacing the bulbs has not solved the problem(had one replaced) now my daughter is driving the vehicle and she has been stopped a number of times with a headlight out. I will again replace the bulb, but this does not appear to be the underlying problem, which appears to be a manufacturers problem to me.

- Newfane, VT, USA

Headlamps go out suddenly and back on if switched turned off then on. Bulbs werereplaced as part of recall and it continues to happen. Over $500 quote to replace bulbs but no guarantee it doesn't continue to happen.

- Irvine, CA, USA

While returning home the lights (both) flickered and the left headlight went out. After a stop for groceries and preparing to leave both headlights were working. As we neared our home the left light went out again. Both situations happened around 8:00 and 8:30 pm. Since the first incident we have had the left, right and both lights fail on at least a dozen separate occasions. We have discovered this problem has affected hundreds of thousands of Prius'. Toyota is responsible for this known problem and must fix these failures.

- Chillicothe, OH, USA

Driving the car the headlights will just go out. 6 months ago it use to happen once or twice a week but is getting worse and now on August 16, 2015 9:30 pm, it happened 2 times in a 35 minute drive on the highway. Had this been on one of the windy back roads without streetlights it would have been a lot more dangerous. By searching the web we have figured out that we need to turn the lights off and back on to get them to come back on. It happens at 25 mph, 45 mph or 55 mph.

- Hillsboro, OR, USA