8.3
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $370
- Average Mileage:
- 97,650 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 137 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (107 reports)
- replace bulbs (25 reports)
- replace ballast (3 reports)
- replace lighting control module (1 reports)
- replaced hid headlights. no outages since (1 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Toyota dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
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. THESE PROBLEMS ARE IN THE ELECTRICAL HARNESSING/BALLAST AND OR LIGHT SWITCH. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE LIGHTS REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN.
I AGREE WITH THIS SITES RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE YOUR CLAIMS TO THE NHTSA.
- samu, Dublin, OH, US
Super frustrating that it comes on and off. Clearly the bulb isn't burnt out if it comes back on. Super unsafe to know that I'm relying on one headlight that may have the same problem. I've been doing research, and it seems to be a common problem.
- rustad, Portland, OR, US
For a modern car as the Prius this is a shameful problem to have.
The first time I learned about the problem was when, to my surprise, was stopped by a Highway Patrol officer. I could not figure out why I was stopped. I got a warning ticket after the officer showed me the off headlight.
I never know when or why my left headlight goes off. But when I turn the light off and on again it works. So, instead of focusing on driving I have to keep turning my lights on and off every now and then.
If this is not a safety issue what what can it be?
- inasse, Columbia, MO, US
We were 150 miles away from home Saturday night and started the car to drive home and the headlights did not work. Found that turning the lights off and on made them work. I felt it was very dangerous as we had to drive in the country with no street lights and on the freeway. The first part of the trip was the worst as when they went out it was completely dark on the roadway. I would have my hand on the off and on control so when they went out completely, I could switch them off and on right away. On the freeway section my husband would tell me every few minutes if the lights were on or off (he could see by checking the lights shining on the white makings on the freeway.)
- Sarah K., Benicia, CA, US
This is the first car I've owned that was made so the owner had to take the front end apart to replace headlight bulbs. The car was not very old when the driver side headlight went out, the first time. Paid to have bulb replaced. It burned out again. Replaced it again. Over the last several months, this side would turn on, but then go out as I was driving. If I turned the lights off then back on, it came on but also seemed dimmer than the other side. I was told by a mechanic that the new bulbs in cars, can do this as they go bad, they don't go all the way off but go on and off for a while, before they completely die. So last week I had the mechanic put in a new bulb. The next day, I was sitting at a stop sign with my turn signals on and both headlights went completely out. I turned the lights off then turned them back on and they worked. This week I noticed the driver's side is up to its old tricks. Turns on, initially, then goes out as I am driving. This is dangerous, as obviously it is dark a lot more of my driving time than it used to be and we have deer running onto the roads here and need to be able to see them coming at us. It is maddening.
- debbiegl, Northfield, OH, US
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 that's 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 can't 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.
- rwills51, San Diego, CA, US
Continual intermittent failure of one or the other of the headlights while driving, also been told one of my taillights isn't lit. Been this way since I bought the car used from original owner who never mentioned it. Car was otherwise in immaculate shape with low miles. If Toyota has known for years about these problems, they should be made to fix them as a safety issue with the vehicles they are knowingly putting on the road!!
- fleisherjoel, Concord, CA, US
The headlights for this vehicle are very expensive, (well over $200 each). My daughter has been stopped at least 3 times by the police, and when she flicks the switch the lights go back on. This appears to be a manufacturers problem!
- Ron R., Newfane, VT, US
The headlights occasionally going off was quite annoying. Sometimes the right light went off, sometimes the left light went off, sometimes both.. It was an aesthetic problem and a real big safety problem for me and for those on the road who I don't see when the lights go off unexpectedly.
- Michael L., New York City, NY, US
I replaced both headlight bulbs less than 2 years ago. The right light is completely out now, and the left side goes off randomly. I don't drive during the night often so to have this light issue come up again less than two years is very annoying.
- Michael L., New York City, NY, US
HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES, HAVE TO TURN OFF & ON NUMEROUS TIMES. ASKED DEALERSHIP ABOUT PROBLEM & THEY WANT TO CHARGE $165.00 A PIECE + LABOR TO FIX
- Clarence S., Guntersville, AL, US
Same problem again. Toyota should be ashamed of the poor quality of this design and these parts.
- baker45, Seattle, WA, US
Not sure what the deal is with these head lights. They are expensive and do not last. I wish the car had regular headlights.
- baker45, Seattle, WA, US
I started having problems with my headlights when I bought my used Prius March 9, 2010. First it was just one headlight... I found that if I shut the lights off and back on the headlight would come back on. It would do it once in awhile... then it would switch from the left to the right headlight and started doing it more often...soon both lights would shut off while I was driving and it would occur several times a month. Lately, it has started shutting the lights (either or both) every couple minutes some times even every couple seconds... I hate driving at night... this has become a really bad problem. I just had a auto shop look at the car and they said they couldn't find anything wrong with the lights... I think Toyota should fix this issue at no cost to the customers no matter how old the car is...it is a safety issue!
- dawncoffinberry, Burien, WA, US
The lights shut off randomly, pretty significant problem
- Rebecca L., Atlanta, US
Date and mileage are approximate.
While driving at night my headlights went out completely (March 2014).
Since then, they continually go out randomly. Sometimes it will begin with one or the other going out and then both. At this point, I am able to turn them off and on again and they come back on for awhile.
I am quite concerned about this as sudden darkness while driving at night is a serious safety hazard.
I am also quite confused that there has not been a recall as this problem seems to be quite common. Does an accident and/or death need to happen before action is taken?
Current mileage 89265
- hodderj, California, MD, US
Really odd. First the left headlight would work for about 10 -15 minutes then went off. During this time, when I first tried the bright-lights they would all go off leaving me to drive in the dark. Later the left headlight would be off all the time. After that the right headlight stopped working. Now I have no headlights.
I looked up how to replace the bulbs and it requires the removal of trim around the front grill/radiator and the removal of the bumper. I'm estimating this will cost upwards of $200 - $300 just to replace the headlight bulbs! What was Toyota thinking when they designed this???
I'm thinking about replacing the headlights with LEDs 6000k using the "OPT7 80w H4 9003 LED Headlight Bulbs 6000K White Light HID Replacement" available on Amazon and eBay.
- dennisgalbrecht, Seguin, TX, US
Both lights went out during a trip to Texas over the July 4th holiday weekend and would not turn back on. No dealers open and limited tools on hand. Had to cut trip short and get extra hotel nights as we could no longer drive after dark.
- Jon D., Westfield, IN, US
While driving with the lights on, both lights, one at a time, will go off. Turning the light switch off and on turns the lights back on but soon after, one of the lights will go off again. This process continually needs to be done but at random times. Sometimes, both lights go off at the same time obviously making driving hazardous. I have replaced the bulbs but the problem has only gotten worse. Right now for safety reasons it's daytime drivable only.
- Earl C., Petersburg, MI, US
head lamp, (HID type) intermittently goes out while driving . 350.00 dollar to replace bulb, not sure if that will fix problem.
- Christopher R., Tunkhannock, PA, US