Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS
POL-11-0103/04/201110038968Ready06/29/2011
POL-11-0103/04/201110038968Toyota: 2006-2009 prius. warranty information for headlights. *rm06/29/2011
TC-09-01812/16/200910032448Toyota: hid headlight customer support program. unlike halogen light bulbs which simply stop working at the end of their useful life, as the hid bulb nears the end of life it may exhibit a condition where the bulb may flicker or intermitt03/26/2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS - HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
T-SB-0030-0805/12/200810024891Hid headlight system - diagnostic tips. *nj updated 6/17/08. *nj06/05/2008

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
03/13/201396615
 When i started the car, the lights on the dash didn't come on so i could see how fast i was going or how much gas i had. i called the dealership and they said it's due to cold weather. after 15 minutes, the dash lights came on. toyota suggested i could get the issue fixed for $1500 but it wouldn't be easy to get the part. could take 30 days or more and may not 100% solve the issue.
03/09/2013782171
 The headlights have intermittent operation. function does not seem to be based on time, weather, or speed. it poses a safety threat when driving on the highway at night. the bulbs have been repetitively changed but the problem persists. *tr
03/13/201396615
 When i started the car, the lights on the dash didn't come on so i could see how fast i was going or how much gas i had. i called the dealership and they said it's due to cold weather. after 15 minutes, the dash lights came on. toyota suggested i could get the issue fixed for $1500 but it wouldn't be easy to get the part. could take 30 days or more and may not 100% solve the issue.
03/09/201378217
 The headlights have intermittent operation. function does not seem to be based on time, weather, or speed. it poses a safety threat when driving on the highway at night. the bulbs have been repetitively changed but the problem persists.
03/13/201396615
 When i started the car, the lights on the dash didn't come on so i could see how fast i was going or how much gas i had. i called the dealership and they said it's due to cold weather. after 15 minutes, the dash lights came on. toyota suggested i could get the issue fixed for $1500 but it wouldn't be easy to get the part. could take 30 days or more and may not 100% solve the issue.
03/09/201378217
 The headlights have intermittent operation. function does not seem to be based on time, weather, or speed. it poses a safety threat when driving on the highway at night. the bulbs have been repetitively changed but the problem persists.
02/01/201260000
 Approximately february of 2012 my headlights began to randomly turn off. if i turned the headlights off, and then on again, they would turn back on. however, since this first occurance, both headlights would turn off. one will no longer turn back on. i have replaced the bulb ($300) and this did not fix the problem. i was told from the toyota dealership that the headlight computer would need to be replaced ($1800). to date, i have been pulled over approximately 5 times for driving without headlights. this is a huge safety issue. i am terrified that the safety of my two boys, along with myself is at stake. please investigate this. this is not o.k.
06/20/201285000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the headlights failed. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the light bulbs needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 85,000. the vin was unavailable.
02/01/201260000
 Approximately february of 2012 my headlights began to randomly turn off. if i turned the headlights off, and then on again, they would turn back on. however, since this first occurance, both headlights would turn off. one will no longer turn back on. i have replaced the bulb ($300) and this did not fix the problem. i was told from the toyota dealership that the headlight computer would need to be replaced ($1800). to date, i have been pulled over approximately 5 times for driving without headlights. this is a huge safety issue. i am terrified that the safety of my two boys, along with myself is at stake. please investigate this. this is not o.k.
06/20/201285000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the headlights failed. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the light bulbs needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 85,000. the vin was unavailable.
06/20/201285000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the headlights failed. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the light bulbs needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 85,000. the vin was unavailable. mah
06/20/201285000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the head lights failed. the contact stated that he took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the light bulbs needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 85,000. the vin was unavailable. ap
06/01/201245000
 As i was driving, one of my headlights went out. i bought a replacement bulb, but the next time i turned my car on, the bulb was no longer out. after the first incident, i noticed the lights went out more and more frequently. many times, both lights went out simultaneously. if i turn the light switch off then back on again, both light work. however, it is temporary and after about three minutes, one or both of the lights go out again. it is creating hazardous driving conditions because it is unpredictable.
02/17/20121001001
 Both headlights go out without warning, i can turn the headlights back on by turning switch off and then back on. in doing research i have found this is a common defect with the toyota prius years 2006-2009. why isn't this a recall? when getting an estimate to fix is up to a $1,000. i feel like toyota needs to step up before someone is hurt or dead from an accident pertaining to this issue.
06/01/201245000
 As i was driving, one of my headlights went out. i bought a replacement bulb, but the next time i turned my car on, the bulb was no longer out. after the first incident, i noticed the lights went out more and more frequently. many times, both lights went out simultaneously. if i turn the light switch off then back on again, both light work. however, it is temporary and after about three minutes, one or both of the lights go out again. it is creating hazardous driving conditions because it is unpredictable.
02/17/20121001001
 Both headlights go out without warning, i can turn the headlights back on by turning switch off and then back on. in doing research i have found this is a common defect with the toyota prius years 2006-2009. why isn't this a recall? when getting an estimate to fix is up to a $1,000. i feel like toyota needs to step up before someone is hurt or dead from an accident pertaining to this issue.
06/01/201245000
 As i was driving, one of my headlights went out. i bought a replacement bulb, but the next time i turned my car on, the bulb was no longer out. after the first incident, i noticed the lights went out more and more frequently. many times, both lights went out simultaneously. if i turn the light switch off then back on again, both light work. however, it is temporary and after about three minutes, one or both of the lights go out again. it is creating hazardous driving conditions because it is unpredictable.
02/17/20121001001
 Both headlights go out without warning, i can turn the headlights back on by turning switch off and then back on. in doing research i have found this is a common defect with the toyota prius years 2006-2009. why isn't this a recall? when getting an estimate to fix is up to a $1,000. i feel like toyota needs to step up before someone is hurt or dead from an accident pertaining to this issue.
06/01/201245000
 As i was driving, one of my headlights went out. i bought a replacement bulb, but the next time i turned my car on, the bulb was no longer out. after the first incident, i noticed the lights went out more and more frequently. many times, both lights went out simultaneously. if i turn the light switch off then back on again, both light work. however, it is temporary and after about three minutes, one or both of the lights go out again. it is creating hazardous driving conditions because it is unpredictable.
02/17/20121001001
 Both headlights go out without warning, i can turn the headlights back on by turning switch off and then back on. in doing research i have found this is a common defect with the toyota prius years 2006-2009. why isn't this a recall? when getting an estimate to fix is up to a $1,000. i feel like toyota needs to step up before someone is hurt or dead from an accident pertaining to this issue.
09/01/201290000
 One headlight went out. was able to get it back on by turning both headlights off and then back on. since the first time i have had either the right or left headlight just randomly go out and have to turn off my headlights while driving and back on to reset it. on numerous occasions(maybe about 5 or 6) i have had both headlights go out at the same time and been in complete darkness. just last week it happened to my 16 year old daughter who was driving, on the freeway, and was very scary. about a month ago, i had my lights on during a dark overcast day for safety and a deputy pulled me over because one of the headlights had temporarily turned off. told the officer that this is a common defect with prius(and reported by many) and that toyota has failed to respond. he shook his head and said he'll remember that when pulling over other prius.
01/24/2013140121
 This morning when i started my car the dash panel lights would not come on.i drove seven miles to top off the gas(i could not tell how much i had because of the dash being off.)i then could not shut the car off.i drove for about a half hour and my dash lights just came on.when i got to my destination i was able to shut the car off and the dash lights are fine now.this happened once before about six months ago.i see on line that several people have had this same problem.
10/13/2010410001
 High density headlight on passenger side burned out quickly, after only 2+ years of driving. dealer garage replaced at no cost - since it was still under the full extended warranty. high density headlight on driver side went out while driving. it went back on later that day, and has been intermittent since, but mostly not working. just started researching replacement bulb prices when i found out how many people have been having this same issue. passenger side tail light went out. wiggling the bulb, socket and wiring got the light working again. *tr
01/24/2013140121
 This morning when i started my car the dash panel lights would not come on.i drove seven miles to top off the gas(i could not tell how much i had because of the dash being off.)i then could not shut the car off.i drove for about a half hour and my dash lights just came on.when i got to my destination i was able to shut the car off and the dash lights are fine now.this happened once before about six months ago.i see on line that several people have had this same problem.
10/13/2010410001
 High density headlight on passenger side burned out quickly, after only 2+ years of driving. dealer garage replaced at no cost - since it was still under the full extended warranty. high density headlight on driver side went out while driving. it went back on later that day, and has been intermittent since, but mostly not working. just started researching replacement bulb prices when i found out how many people have been having this same issue. passenger side tail light went out. wiggling the bulb, socket and wiring got the light working again. *tr
01/17/2013680003
 Recently purchased used 2008 prius. when driving at night i noticed that the headlights shut off intermittently. they go back on by turning lights off and on. this happened three times when driving for 10 minutes on a dark road. very dangerous! *tr
10/13/201041000
 High density headlight on passenger side burned out quickly, after only 2+ years of driving. dealer garage replaced at no cost - since it was still under the full extended warranty. high density headlight on driver side went out while driving. it went back on later that day, and has been intermittent since, but mostly not working. just started researching replacement bulb prices when i found out how many people have been having this same issue. passenger side tail light went out. wiggling the bulb, socket and wiring got the light working again.
01/17/2013680003
 Recently purchased used 2008 prius. when driving at night i noticed that the headlights shut off intermittently. they go back on by turning lights off and on. this happened three times when driving for 10 minutes on a dark road. very dangerous! *tr
10/13/201041000
 High density headlight on passenger side burned out quickly, after only 2+ years of driving. dealer garage replaced at no cost - since it was still under the full extended warranty. high density headlight on driver side went out while driving. it went back on later that day, and has been intermittent since, but mostly not working. just started researching replacement bulb prices when i found out how many people have been having this same issue. passenger side tail light went out. wiggling the bulb, socket and wiring got the light working again.
01/17/201368000
 Recently purchased used 2008 prius. when driving at night i noticed that the headlights shut off intermittently. they go back on by turning lights off and on. this happened three times when driving for 10 minutes on a dark road. very dangerous!
01/15/2013659291
 Headlights will go off spontaneously either separately or together. sometimes will come back on by toggling the light switch. can be either headlight when fails singly. problem is variable but can happen when parked or while driving. most recent episode both lights failed at 50 mph then after toggling the switch came back on. *tr
01/15/201365929
 Headlights will go off spontaneously either separately or together. sometimes will come back on by toggling the light switch. can be either headlight when fails singly. problem is variable but can happen when parked or while driving. most recent episode both lights failed at 50 mph then after toggling the switch came back on.
01/11/20134500010
 Right hand headlight started turning off intermittently when starting the car or driving at no particular speed. today the left hand light start remained off when starting the car. it turned on once i cycled the light switch. while driving in the dark experienced both lights intermittently turning off individually and simultaneously about ten times. after cycling the switch the lights would come back on. *tr
01/15/201365929
 Headlights will go off spontaneously either separately or together. sometimes will come back on by toggling the light switch. can be either headlight when fails singly. problem is variable but can happen when parked or while driving. most recent episode both lights failed at 50 mph then after toggling the switch came back on.
01/11/20134500010
 Right hand headlight started turning off intermittently when starting the car or driving at no particular speed. today the left hand light start remained off when starting the car. it turned on once i cycled the light switch. while driving in the dark experienced both lights intermittently turning off individually and simultaneously about ten times. after cycling the switch the lights would come back on. *tr
01/11/201345000
 Right hand headlight started turning off intermittently when starting the car or driving at no particular speed. today the left hand light start remained off when starting the car. it turned on once i cycled the light switch. while driving in the dark experienced both lights intermittently turning off individually and simultaneously about ten times. after cycling the switch the lights would come back on.
10/26/2012780001
 On several occasions, i have been driving at night and noticed that both of my headlights have gone out. after flicking the on/off switch, the lights came back. i took the car in for new bulbs, believing this to be the cause. the mechanic replaced the hid bulb on the passenger side and when we turned on the lights, the passenger side failed within a few seconds. we tried turning the lights on and off several times and eventually, both lights stayed on. we put the old bulb back in and it worked again, although it failed again quickly and had to be turned back on by flicking the lights several times. my mechanic told me this indicates a problem with the headlight module(s). the previous owner of the car had the entire headlight system replaced within the first year or two of ownership because toyota of downtown oakland offered to do it free of charge because, as they told her, all of the headlight components were about to be recalled. this is a major safety issue, and i have several prius owner friends who are experiencing the same problem with their 2nd generation priuses. i have not heard of any other car that needs new headlight modules regularly and believe this to be a factory defect. *tr
09/12/2012212341
 I was driving to work on highway 327 north of highway us 20 and traveling along at 45 mph and all of a sudden both headlights went out. it was dark. i slowed down immediately and turn the headlights off and on again and they came on. i have noticed that at times one headlight turns off or the other. people have told me that i have headlight out and i might get a ticket, but when i check them and one is out i just simply turn the switch off and on again and they usually come on. i thought about changing the headlights but saw a video online that says that is not the problem and there should be a recall. so please check into this before someone is killed. *tr
10/26/201278000
 On several occasions, i have been driving at night and noticed that both of my headlights have gone out. after flicking the on/off switch, the lights came back. i took the car in for new bulbs, believing this to be the cause. the mechanic replaced the hid bulb on the passenger side and when we turned on the lights, the passenger side failed within a few seconds. we tried turning the lights on and off several times and eventually, both lights stayed on. we put the old bulb back in and it worked again, although it failed again quickly and had to be turned back on by flicking the lights several times. my mechanic told me this indicates a problem with the headlight module(s). the previous owner of the car had the entire headlight system replaced within the first year or two of ownership because toyota of downtown oakland offered to do it free of charge because, as they told her, all of the headlight components were about to be recalled. this is a major safety issue, and i have several prius owner friends who are experiencing the same problem with their 2nd generation priuses. i have not heard of any other car that needs new headlight modules regularly and believe this to be a factory defect.
09/12/201221234
 I was driving to work on highway 327 north of highway us 20 and traveling along at 45 mph and all of a sudden both headlights went out. it was dark. i slowed down immediately and turn the headlights off and on again and they came on. i have noticed that at times one headlight turns off or the other. people have told me that i have headlight out and i might get a ticket, but when i check them and one is out i just simply turn the switch off and on again and they usually come on. i thought about changing the headlights but saw a video online that says that is not the problem and there should be a recall. so please check into this before someone is killed.
11/05/2012780001
 Intermittenly either headlamp may go out. turning off and on the headlamps turns the dead lamp back on. *tr
09/03/2012230001
 One evening in early september i was driving on a surface street when my passenger headlight went out. i turned off my lights and turned them back on and the passenger headlight came back on. a few days later i was driving on the highway when both ( driver and passenger) headlights went out without warning. i was able to pull over to the side of road; almost causing an accident.i verified the lights were in the on position. i turned the lights off and immediately back on and both headlights turned on. both headlights have gone out without warning with the most recent occurring this evening on a busy not well lit highway. i have replaced the passenger light bulb with no resolution therefore i have not replaced the driverside light at least every couple days one of the headlights ( passenger and/or driver side light) turns off which require me to turn the lights off and back on to bring both headlights to operational status. definite safety concern. *tr
12/11/20121401001
 I've got a package 6 2008 prius. the passenger side headlight keeps going out. i can't really tell when or how it goes out since i can't see it. i'll notice it when i see the reflection in the back of another car or is someone tells me. if i turn the bright lights on and off it has no effect, but when i turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. sometimes on long trips it will stay on the whole time, sometimes it won't. sometimes on short trips it will go out, sometimes it won't. it is not an event i can make happen. i've taken it to the dealer and they can't make it happen. dealer replaced both bulbs and it still happening. *tr
09/03/201223000
 One evening in early september i was driving on a surface street when my passenger headlight went out. i turned off my lights and turned them back on and the passenger headlight came back on. a few days later i was driving on the highway when both ( driver and passenger) headlights went out without warning. i was able to pull over to the side of road; almost causing an accident.i verified the lights were in the on position. i turned the lights off and immediately back on and both headlights turned on. both headlights have gone out without warning witht the most recent occuring this evening on a busy not well lit highway. i have replaced the passenger light bulb with no resolution therefore i have not replaced the driverside light at least every couple days one of the headlights ( passenger and/or driver side light) turns off which require me to turn the lights off and back on to bring both headlights to operational status. definite safety concern
12/11/20121401001
 I've got a package 6 2008 prius. the passenger side headlight keeps going out. i can't really tell when or how it goes out since i can't see it. i'll notice it when i see the reflection in the back of another car or is someone tells me. if i turn the bright lights on and off it has no effect, but when i turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. sometimes on long trips it will stay on the whole time, sometimes it won't. sometimes on short trips it will go out, sometimes it won't. it is not an event i can make happen. i've taken it to the dealer and they can't make it happen. dealer replaced both bulbs and it still happening. *tr
09/03/201223000
 One evening in early september i was driving on a surface street when my passenger headlight went out. i turned off my lights and turned them back on and the passenger headlight came back on. a few days later i was driving on the highway when both ( driver and passenger) headlights went out without warning. i was able to pull over to the side of road; almost causing an accident.i verified the lights were in the on position. i turned the lights off and immediately back on and both headlights turned on. both headlights have gone out without warning witht the most recent occuring this evening on a busy not well lit highway. i have replaced the passenger light bulb with no resolution therefore i have not replaced the driverside light at least every couple days one of the headlights ( passenger and/or driver side light) turns off which require me to turn the lights off and back on to bring both headlights to operational status. definite safety concern
12/11/2012140100
 I've got a package 6 2008 prius. the passenger side headlight keeps going out. i can't really tell when or how it goes out since i can't see it. i'll notice it when i see the reflection in the back of another car or is someone tells me. if i turn the bright lights on and off it has no effect, but when i turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. sometimes on long trips it will stay on the whole time, sometimes it won't. sometimes on short trips it will go out, sometimes it won't. it is not an event i can make happen. i've taken it to the dealer and they can't make it happen. dealer replaced both bulbs and it still happening.
03/31/2012585001
 Someone pointed out that my right front headlight was out. however, when i got home and checked it, the headlight was on. it has continued to go off and on intermittently since then and is getting worse. i've learned from other websites that several owners of prius models from 2006 to 2009 have had the same problem. *tr
08/01/2012800001
 The right headlight on my 2008 prius went out while driving. i noticed the next morning that it was back on. i figured out that if i turn the light off then on again, it will come back on, for a while. i eventually had it replaced, to the tune of $120 parts and $40 labor. but after a couple of weeks it's doing it again. not only that, but now the left headlight is doing the same thing. i'm very concerned about driving at night because changing the bulbs doesn't fix the problem, so it seems like it's only a matter of time before they both go out at the same time! *tr
03/31/2012585001
 Someone pointed out that my right front headlight was out. however, when i got home and checked it, the headlight was on. it has continued to go off and on intermittently since then and is getting worse. i've learned from other websites that several owners of prius models from 2006 to 2009 have had the same problem. *tr
08/01/2012800001
 The right headlight on my 2008 prius went out while driving. i noticed the next morning that it was back on. i figured out that if i turn the light off then on again, it will come back on, for a while. i eventually had it replaced, to the tune of $120 parts and $40 labor. but after a couple of weeks it's doing it again. not only that, but now the left headlight is doing the same thing. i'm very concerned about driving at night because changing the bulbs doesn't fix the problem, so it seems like it's only a matter of time before they both go out at the same time! *tr
03/31/201258500
 Someone pointed out that my right front headlight was out. however, when i got home and checked it, the headlight was on. it has continued to go off and on intermittently since then and is getting worse. i've learned from other websites that several owners of prius models from 2006 to 2009 have had the same problem.
08/01/2012800001
 The right headlight on my 2008 prius went out while driving. i noticed the next morning that it was back on. i figured out that if i turn the light off then on again, it will come back on, for a while. i eventually had it replaced, to the tune of $120 parts and $40 labor. but after a couple of weeks it's doing it again. not only that, but now the left headlight is doing the same thing. i'm very concerned about driving at night because changing the bulbs doesn't fix the problem, so it seems like it's only a matter of time before they both go out at the same time! *tr
12/01/2009100001
 Since new this car has had headlight problems. toyota replaced 1 headlight bulb that actually did not come on at the dealership .you never know when a light will go out , or which one. they always come back on if you turn the switch of and on. the car has been to 3 dealerships , the lights have always came on for the techs. i filed a complaint with the company , then researched the problem. i found over 2000 similar complaints. apparently this agency decided that your headlights going out is not a safety issue. when they went out on a foggy mountain road 11-27-12 everyone around us thought differently. my 65 year old wife was driving and was crying before we got off of the mountain. the prius has been a great car. toyota has not been honest or responsible. we are trying to get the car fixed so someone else does not get our problem. either way this car is gone. *tr
08/01/201280000
 The right headlight on my 2008 prius went out while driving. i noticed the next morning that it was back on. i figured out that if i turn the light off then on again, it will come back on, for a while. i eventually had it replaced, to the tune of $120 parts and $40 labor. but after a couple of weeks it's doing it again. not only that, but now the left headlight is doing the same thing. i'm very concerned about driving at night because changing the bulbs doesn't fix the problem, so it seems like it's only a matter of time before they both go out at the same time!
12/01/2009100001
 Since new this car has had headlight problems. toyota replaced 1 headlight bulb that actually did not come on at the dealership .you never know when a light will go out , or which one. they always come back on if you turn the switch of and on. the car has been to 3 dealerships , the lights have always came on for the techs. i filed a complaint with the company , then researched the problem. i found over 2000 similar complaints. apparently this agency decided that your headlights going out is not a safety issue. when they went out on a foggy mountain road 11-27-12 everyone around us thought differently. my 65 year old wife was driving and was crying before we got off of the mountain. the prius has been a great car. toyota has not been honest or responsible. we are trying to get the car fixed so someone else does not get our problem. either way this car is gone. *tr
12/01/200910000
 Since new this car has had headlight problems. toyota replaced 1 headlight bulb that actually did not come on at the dealership .you never know when a light will go out , or which one. they always come back on if you turn the switch of and on. the car has been to 3 dealerships , the lights have always came on for the techs. i filed a complaint with the company , then researched the problem. i found over 2000 similar complaints. apparently this agency decided that your headlights going out is not a safety issue. when they went out on a foggy mountain road 11-27-12 everyone around us thought differently. my 65 year old wife was driving and was crying before we got off of the mountain. the prius has been a great car. toyota has not been honest or responsible. we are trying to get the car fixed so someone else does not get our problem. either way this car is gone.
10/01/2012470002
 The non hid headlights on my car intermittently turn off. i've had both headlights go out twice while i was driving after dark - i have no idea how many times it might happen during the day. i've had at one headlight go out as well once, perhaps twice. i've switched the lights off and then back on again and that fixes the problem...until it happens again. i'm very hesitant now to drive this car after dark for fear that something will happen again. *tr
11/01/2010200001
 Vehicle headlights dim as well as interior, nearly causing a critical accident as driver 's vision , headlights were not providing adequate lighting to make turn at night. this problem continues to-date and am afraid that if toyota is not held accountable for their defective product or a recall is not conducted we are driving in an unsafe vehicle. please advise as we cannot afford to buy new or different car.( or a repair of 1700$ this is a safety hazard to us and others please do something to protect the public and us.my understanding is that you are responsible for vehicle, passer safety and there fore our safety is in your hands i acn be reached at[xxx] additional information or assistance please keep us and others safe. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
06/01/20126000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that when driving at night hours the headlights would go out intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. the technician stated that the bulbs and the light fixture needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired for the bulbs and one side for the light fixture. after having the repairs the bulbs failed approximately 3 months later. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 6,000 and the current mileage was approximately 132,000. the vin was unavailable.
10/01/201247000
 The non hid headlights on my car intermittently turn off. i've had both headlights go out twice while i was driving after dark - i have no idea how many times it might happen during the day. i've had at one headlight go out as well once, perhaps twice. i've switched the lights off and then back on again and that fixes the problem...until it happens again. i'm very hesitant now to drive this car after dark for fear that something will happen again.
11/01/2010200001
 Vehicle headlights dim as well as interior, nearly causing a critical accident as driver 's vision , headlights were not providing adequate lighting to make turn at night. this problem continues to-date and am afraid that if toyota is not held accountable for their defective product or a recall is not conducted we are driving in an unsafe vehicle. please advise as we cannot afford to buy new or different car.( or a repair of 1700$ this is a safety hazard to us and others please do something to protect the public and us.my understanding is that you are responsible for vehicle, passer safety and there fore our safety is in your hands i acn be reached at[xxx] additional information or assistance please keep us and others safe. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
06/01/20126000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that when driving at night hours the headlights would go out intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. the technician stated that the bulbs and the light fixture needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired for the bulbs and one side for the light fixture. after having the repairs the bulbs failed approximately 3 months later. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 6,000 and the current mileage was approximately 132,000. the vin was unavailable. pmb
10/01/201247000
 The non hid headlights on my car intermittently turn off. i've had both headlights go out twice while i was driving after dark - i have no idea how many times it might happen during the day. i've had at one headlight go out as well once, perhaps twice. i've switched the lights off and then back on again and that fixes the problem...until it happens again. i'm very hesitant now to drive this car after dark for fear that something will happen again.
11/01/201020000
 Vehicle headlights dim as well as interior, nearly causing a critical accident as driver 's vision , headlights were not providing adequate lighting to make turn at night. this problem continues to-date and am afraid that if toyota is not held accountable for their defective product or a recall is not conducted we are driving in an unsafe vehicle. please advise as we cannot afford to buy new or different car.( or a repair of 1700$ this is a safety hazard to us and others please do something to protect the public and us.my understanding is that you are responsible for vehicle, passer safety and there fore our safety is in your hands i acn be reached at jciufo1@gmail.com or 631-974-0777 for additional information or assistance please keep us and others safe
06/01/20126000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that when driving at night hours the headlights would go out intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. the technician stated that the bulbs and the light fixture needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired for the bulbs and one side for the light fixture. after having the repairs the bulbs failed approximately 3 months later. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 6,000 and the current mileage was approximately 132,000. the vin was unavailable. pmb
11/01/201020000
 Vehicle headlights dim as well as interior, nearly causing a critical accident as driver 's vision , headlights were not providing adequate lighting to make turn at night. this problem continues to-date and am afraid that if toyota is not held accountable for their defective product or a recall is not conducted we are driving in an unsafe vehicle. please advise as we cannot afford to buy new or different car.( or a repair of 1700$ this is a safety hazard to us and others please do something to protect the public and us.my understanding is that you are responsible for vehicle, passer safety and there fore our safety is in your hands i acn be reached at jciufo1@gmail.com or 631-974-0777 for additional information or assistance please keep us and others safe
06/01/20126000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that when driving at night hours the headlights would go out intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. after diagnosis they advised her that the bulbs and the light fixture needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired for the bulbs and one side for the light fixture. after having the repairs the bulbs failed approximately 3 months later. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 6,000. the current mileage was approximately 132,000. the vin was unavailable. tb
05/01/201070000
 Multiple occurances over the past 3 years of headlights (one or at times both) going out unexpectedly without warning. you go into partial lighting or total darkness. after a few minutes you can turn the headlights back on and they may stay lit for few minutes or several hours. i have had dealerships look at the car and say that it is just the bulbs failing (bulbs that are suppose to last 10 times longer than conventional bulbs). the car is now 4 years old and i have had to replace the bulbs yearly. dealership costs that was originally $350 plus installation per bulb. toyota has now dropped their price to $150 per bulb. aftermarket bulbs now available but you still only get a life of 7 months to a year per bulb lots of talk from dealers but no solution. i went to after market bulbs thinking that the problem was toyota bulbs. the same problem occures. the problem is not the bulbs, the problem is in the vehicle wiring. this is a severe problem that must be looked into in that it putting a lot of prius owners along with others on the highway at risk.
10/17/2012124157
 When the headlights are first turned on, both work. in a few minutes the driver's side hid light dims and then goes out. this happens repeatedly. if i turn the lights off and then turn them on again, the same thing happens, both are lit, the driver's side dims and then goes out again in a few minutes.
05/01/201070000
 Multiple occurances over the past 3 years of headlights (one or at times both) going out unexpectedly without warning. you go into partial lighting or total darkness. after a few minutes you can turn the headlights back on and they may stay lit for few minutes or several hours. i have had dealerships look at the car and say that it is just the bulbs failing (bulbs that are suppose to last 10 times longer than conventional bulbs). the car is now 4 years old and i have had to replace the bulbs yearly. dealership costs that was originally $350 plus installation per bulb. toyota has now dropped their price to $150 per bulb. aftermarket bulbs now available but you still only get a life of 7 months to a year per bulb lots of talk from dealers but no solution. i went to after market bulbs thinking that the problem was toyota bulbs. the same problem occures. the problem is not the bulbs, the problem is in the vehicle wiring. this is a severe problem that must be looked into in that it putting a lot of prius owners along with others on the highway at risk.
10/17/2012124157
 When the headlights are first turned on, both work. in a few minutes the driver's side hid light dims and then goes out. this happens repeatedly. if i turn the lights off and then turn them on again, the same thing happens, both are lit, the driver's side dims and then goes out again in a few minutes.
09/11/2012980001
 2008 toyota prius. the right hid headlight turns off intermittently without warning. when i turn off the lights and turn them back on, the headlight lights up again but sometimes turns off a few minutes later. i paid over $500 to replace both lights, but the problem is still occurring. i contacted the dealer and they said they can't help me, other than to replace the entire headlight system, presumably at a cost of a few thousand dollars. i notified the manufacturer and they told me to contact a local dealer. i believe this to be a manufacturer defect that should be recalled and corrected by the manufacturer. this is a serious problem that can cause injury to me and others on the road. *tr
09/11/201298000
 2008 toyota prius. the right hid headlight turns off intermittently without warning. when i turn off the lights and turn them back on, the headlight lights up again but sometimes turns off a few minutes later. i paid over $500 to replace both lights, but the problem is still occurring. i contacted the dealer and they said they can't help me, other than to replace the entire headlight system, presumably at a cost of a few thousand dollars. i notified the manufacturer and they told me to contact a local dealer. i believe this to be a manufacturer defect that should be recalled and corrected by the manufacturer. this is a serious problem that can cause injury to me and others on the road.
11/02/2011950001
 I have had a recurring problem with the hid headlamps on my 08 prius. i have replaced one ecm module in the light do to moisture from an improperly sealed headlamp unit. since that time the same headlamp has begun to flicker on and off, working about 90% of the time in the beginning and now only working about 10% of the time. i thought that it might be related to the ecm that was replaced but just the other day the other headlamp began to flicker on and off as well. there are an abundance of prius owners who are blogging and commenting on forums about having the same problem. one website prompts users to report this incident to your site so that this safety problem will be resolved. *tr
10/27/2012720001
 The front headlights intermittently shut off. sometimes it's the left and or right headlight separately and sometimes they shut off together. if i toggle the lights on and off, they may or may not turn back on. it was very dangerous driving at night on the highway. *tr
11/02/2011950001
 I have had a recurring problem with the hid headlamps on my 08 prius. i have replaced one ecm module in the light do to moisture from an improperly sealed headlamp unit. since that time the same headlamp has begun to flicker on and off, working about 90% of the time in the beginning and now only working about 10% of the time. i thought that it might be related to the ecm that was replaced but just the other day the other headlamp began to flicker on and off as well. there are an abundance of prius owners who are blogging and commenting on forums about having the same problem. one website prompts users to report this incident to your site so that this safety problem will be resolved. *tr
10/27/2012720001
 The front headlights intermittently shut off. sometimes it's the left and or right headlight separately and sometimes they shut off together. if i toggle the lights on and off, they may or may not turn back on. it was very dangerous driving at night on the highway. *tr
11/02/201195000
 I have had a reoccuring problem with the hid headlamps on my 08 prius. i have replaced one ecm module in the light do to moisture from an improperly sealed headlamp unit. since that time the same headlamp has begun to flicker on and off, working about 90% of the time in the beginning and now only working about 10% of the time. i thought that it might be related to the ecm that was replaced but just the other day the other headlamp began to flicker on and off as well. there are an abundance of prius owners who are blogging and commenting on forums about having the same problem. one website prompts users to report this incident to your site so that this safety problem will be resolved.
10/27/2012720001
 The front headlights intermittently shut off. sometimes it's the left and or right headlight separately and sometimes they shut off together. if i toggle the lights on and off, they may or may not turn back on. it was very dangerous driving at night on the highway. *tr
10/04/2011
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights malfunctioned. the contact mentioned that the lights would flicker and if she would turn them off completely, they would resume normal function. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the headlights needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 75,000. kmj
10/15/2010550001
 In september, 2010, i purchased a 2008 prius from power toyota of tempe, arizona. when i made the purchase, the car had just over 55,000 miles on it. shortly afterward, i noticed that the passenger side headlight would periodically go out, and i would have to turn the lights off and on again in order to have it come back on. a month or so into my ownership, i received a notice from toyota, concerning a recall that perfectly described the problem i was having. i called power toyota, gave them my information, and advised i wanted to bring my car in for the recall work. they made the appointment. when i brought the car in, i was told i was ineligible for the work, because my car had more than 55k miles on it, and all they would be doing was changing the bulb. they wanted to charge me over 300 dollars for recall work, because they were too cheap or lazy to fix what was a known issue before selling me the car. i am writing to find out what recourse i have. i understand that time has passed, but i am still experiencing the same issue. if it were as simple as the bulb, it certainly would have burned out by now. i reuse to pay hundreds of dollars for something that was supposed to either be fixed before i bought the car, or once the i received the recall notice. the 55,000 mile requirement seems like an unfairly arbitrary limit, and i disagree with it. please advise how i can get the original recall honored. *tr
10/04/2011
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights malfunctioned. the contact mentioned that the lights would flicker and if she would turn them off completely it would resumed normal function. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the headlights needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was unknown and the failure mileage was 75,000. pm
10/15/2010550001
 In september, 2010, i purchased a 2008 prius from power toyota of tempe, arizona. when i made the purchase, the car had just over 55,000 miles on it. shortly afterward, i noticed that the passenger side headlight would periodically go out, and i would have to turn the lights off and on again in order to have it come back on. a month or so into my ownership, i received a notice from toyota, concerning a recall that perfectly described the problem i was having. i called power toyota, gave them my information, and advised i wanted to bring my car in for the recall work. they made the appointment. when i brought the car in, i was told i was ineligible for the work, because my car had more than 55k miles on it, and all they would be doing was changing the bulb. they wanted to charge me over 300 dollars for recall work, because they were too cheap or lazy to fix what was a known issue before selling me the car. i am writing to find out what recourse i have. i understand that time has passed, but i am still experiencing the same issue. if it were as simple as the bulb, it certainly would have burned out by now. i reuse to pay hundreds of dollars for something that was supposed to either be fixed before i bought the car, or once the i received the recall notice. the 55,000 mile requirement seems like an unfairly arbitrary limit, and i disagree with it. please advise how i can get the original recall honored. *tr
10/25/2012567001
 While driving at any speed, the hid headlights intermittently cut off. this usually happens one at a time, and mostly on the passengers side. i am unable to tell when they go off until either i get pulled over and warned which has happened once already or i pull up and see reflection off back of another car. the lights will work for short periods then off again then on again. this appears to be a known issue with this make/model and the manufacturer (toyota) is not taking responsibility and charging upwards of $600 for repair. in my opinion this is a big safety issue which i believe toyota should take responsibility for an obvious defect. i have also read this has occurred to many owners of this vehicle. after a further lengthy research my understanding is there is actually a class action lawsuit for this, of which i would rather see the nhtsa take action and have toyota make good on these defects, and recall to resolve this problem. thank you *tr
06/01/2010400001
 Our prius headlights go out intermittently. usually one at a time, but several times they have both gone out at the same time almost causing a crash. i took it to the toyota dealer it was purchased from while still under warranty, they claimed it was a light bulb going out, that was 3 years ago and the bulb still isn't out. *tr
10/25/201256700
 While driving at any speed, the hid headlights intermittently cut off. this usually happens one at a time, and mostly on the passengers side. i am unable to tell when they go off until either i get pulled over and warned which has happened once already or i pull up and see reflection off back of another car. the lights will work for short periods then off again then on again. this appears to be a known issue with this make/model and the manufacturer (toyota) is not taking responsibility and charging upwards of $600 for repair. in my opinion this is a big safety issue which i believe toyota should take responsibility for an obvious defect. i have also read this has occurred to many owners of this vehicle. after a further lengthy research my understanding is there is actually a class action lawsuit for this, of which i would rather see the nhtsa take action and have toyota make good on these defects, and recall to resolve this problem. thank you
06/01/2010400001
 Our prius headlights go out intermittently. usually one at a time, but several times they have both gone out at the same time almost causing a crash. i took it to the toyota dealer it was purchased from while still under warranty, they claimed it was a light bulb going out, that was 3 years ago and the bulb still isn't out. *tr
06/01/201040000
 Our prius headlights go out intermittently. usually one at a time, but several times they have both gone out at the same time almost causing a crash. i took it to the toyota dealer it was purchased from while still under warranty, they claimed it was a light bulb going out, that was 3 years ago and the bulb still isn't out.
10/01/2009200001
 The driver side hid headlight intermittently would turn off. once i discover my headlight is off, i can turn off my headlights completely and turn them back on immediately and have both headlights working again. initially i called the dealership and brought the car in but we were not able to reproduce the issue. as time goes by, the intermittent issue is becoming more often. the dealership has recommended that i have both headlights replaced when i called initially but i understand hid headlights should last longer than 1 year of usage. i have been driving with these issues for 3 years and the headlights still work as long as i monitor them consistently while i drive. *tr
10/01/200920000
 The driver side hid headlight intermittently would turn off. once i discover my headlight is off, i can turn off my headlights completely and turn them back on immediately and have both headlights working again. initially i called the dealership and brought the car in but we were not able to reproduce the issue. as time goes by, the intermittent issue is becoming more often. the dealership has recommended that i have both headlights replaced when i called initially but i understand hid headlights should last longer than 1 year of usage. i have been driving with these issues for 3 years and the headlights still work as long as i monitor them consistently while i drive.
06/08/20121580001
 While negotiating a curves, both high intensity headlights went out, leaving us in complete darkness. we couldn't tell if we needed to keep turning or straighten out. finally figured out you can reset by turning them off & then back on. this has happened 3 times since. additionally, the right headlight will flicker and/or go off. have been stopped by numerous people, including the police. dealership work/charges haven't resolved this. i know you've received many complaints from prius owners, and that there is a class-action. time for your to reopen the investigation!! *tr
06/08/2012158000
 While negotiating a curves, both high intensity headlights went out, leaving us in complete darkness. we couldn't tell if we needed to keep turning or straighten out. finally figured out you can reset by turning them off & then back on. this has happened 3 times since. additionally, the right headlight will flicker and/or go off. have been stopped by numerous people, including the police. dealership work/charges haven't resolved this. i know you've received many complaints from prius owners, and that there is a class-action. time for your to reopen the investigation!!
09/01/2010400001
 Driver's side headlight goes on/off intermittently. every time i take it in to get looked at or replaced, it works. will go out after driving a few miles, but will turn back on when i turn off/on headlights. then it will dim and go out again after a few miles. i never got a recall notice in the mail from toyota for this, but when i took my car to the dealer to get the accelerator recall fixed, they told me that toyota would cover if i had less than 50,000 miles. i have been dealing with this off and on issue for a long time because the light works part of the time and i only know that it is out when someone tells me they saw me in town with a headlight out. toyota quoted me $150 for the bulb and additional $105 for labor to install because i am over the 50,000 miles. this should be a warranty covered by toyota as it is a known problem with these cars. toyota should have notified owners of this potential problem. *tr
09/01/201040000
 Driver's side headlight goes on/off intermittenly. every time i take it in to get looked at or replaced, it works. will go out after driving a few miles, but will turn back on when i turn off/on headlights. then it will dim and go out again after a few miles. i never got a recall notice in the mail from toyota for this, but when i took my car to the dealer to get the accelerator recall fixed, they told me that toyota would cover if i had less than 50,000 miles. i have been dealing with this off and on issue for a long time because the light works part of the time and i only know that it is out when someone tells me they saw me in town with a headlight out. toyota quoted me $150 for the bulb and and additional $105 for labor to install because i am over the 50,000 miles. this should be a warranty covered by toyota as it is a known problem with these cars. toyota should have notified owners of this potential problem.
09/25/201238800
 Headlights go off. sometimes just one, other times both.
09/01/201040000
 Driver's side headlight goes on/off intermittenly. every time i take it in to get looked at or replaced, it works. will go out after driving a few miles, but will turn back on when i turn off/on headlights. then it will dim and go out again after a few miles. i never got a recall notice in the mail from toyota for this, but when i took my car to the dealer to get the accelerator recall fixed, they told me that toyota would cover if i had less than 50,000 miles. i have been dealing with this off and on issue for a long time because the light works part of the time and i only know that it is out when someone tells me they saw me in town with a headlight out. toyota quoted me $150 for the bulb and and additional $105 for labor to install because i am over the 50,000 miles. this should be a warranty covered by toyota as it is a known problem with these cars. toyota should have notified owners of this potential problem.
09/25/201238800
 Headlights go off. sometimes just one, other times both.
07/01/2011750001
 My headlights turned them self off on any given time either one on a time or both at the same time same thing happens if the highbeams are on day or night to correct this problem temporarily you have to turn the lights on and off quickly and you have no guarantee how long it will stay on i spoke to the toyota corporation and they will not help because my car has 90,000 miles my car is 2008 to fix this problem the dealership is charging $1200 i have extended warranty on the car but electrical is not covered. *tr
07/01/201175000
 My headlights turned them self off on any given time either one on a time or both at the same time same thing happens if the highbeams are on day or night to correct this problem temporarily you have to turn the lights on and off quickly and you have no guarantee how long it will stay on i spoke to the toyota corporation and they will not help because my car has 90,000 miles my car is 2008 to fix this problem the dealership is charging $1200 i have extended warranty on the car but electrical is not covered
07/09/20121723611
 On 09jul2012 4:00 p.m while driving my prius 2008 hybrid, heading home on i15n, the electric power on the vehicle shutdown without any previous warning, or alert. i immediately maneuvered the vehicle to the right shoulder of the highway. immediately called aaa for a towing into toyota of escondido, located on 231 lincoln parkway, escondido, ca 92026 ph# (760) 746-0674. today 09/01/2012 - currently experiencing problems with intermittent hid headlight operation: i've got a package 6 2006 prius. one of the headlights keeps going out. i can't really tell when or how it goes out since i can't see it. i'll notice it when i see the reflection in the back of another car. if i turn the bright lights on and off it has no effect, but when i turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. request a safety recall for toyota to take care of the electrical corrective actions. *tr
07/09/2012172361
 On 09jul2012 4:00 p.m while driving my prius 2008 hybrid, heading home on i15n, the electric power on the vehicle shutdown without any previous warning, or alert. i immediately maneuvered the vehicle to the right shoulder of the hghwy. immediately called aaa for a towing into toyota of escondido, located on 231 lincoln parkway, escondido, ca 92026 ph# (760) 746-0674. today 09/01/2012 - currently experiencing problems with intermittent hid headlight operation: i've got a package 6 2006 prius. one of the headlights keeps going out. i can't really tell when or how it goes out since i can't see it. i'll notice it when i see the reflection in the back of another car. if i turn the bright lights on and off it has no effect, but when i turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. request a safety recall for toyota to take care of the electrical corrective actions.
05/25/2010400001
 The headlights and rear lights on my 2008 toyota prius intermittently go out. several times i've brought the car to the local toyota dealership to have them repaired only hear there is nothing wrong or get a bill for replacing the lights or various associated parts. on at least six occasions i've been stopped at night by people at traffic lights telling me my lights are out. my husband was stopped and cited by a police officer for both headlights being out. at the time my husband was traveling for business and had to stop and spend the night at a hotel because he couldn't safely continue driving. the last time i brought the car in for this issue the previous night the light had been out but it was working when i got to the dealership. the serviceman said he would look at the issue but if the lights weren't acting up then there was nothing he could do. while i was waiting i googled problems with prius headlights and found the issue was common, and in fact, had caused a class action lawsuit. when i brought the attention to the serviceman he said, that's why i said i'd heard about the issue but toyota isn't taking monetary responsibility for this issue. essentially, i repeatedly engage is the same routine of going to the dealership, paying for something that doesn't work, then having my lights malfunction at night when i need them. *tr
06/27/2012860001
 I have a 2008 prius. i was driving in the evening on the freeway and noticed the reflection of my headlights in the bumper of the car ahead of me. my right headlight seemed to be off. i turned my lights off and on again quickly and they both went on again. this has happened repeatedly over the past two months. sometimes they both stay on. sometimes the right one fades. my spouse noticed that both lights were alternately flickering as i drove behind him one night. *tr
08/25/2012650001
 Both headlights abruptly turned off while traveling home at nights going approx. 50 mph. turned lights off and then back on and both headlights came back on. this is the third time this has happened. each time it's both the headlights. *tr
05/25/2010400001
 The headlights and rear lights on my 2008 toyota prius intermittently go out. several times i've brought the car to the local toyota dealership to have them repaired only hear there is nothing wrong or get a bill for replacing the lights or various associated parts. on at least six occasions i've been stopped at night by people at traffic lights telling me my lights are out. my husband was stopped and cited by a police officer for both headlights being out. at the time my husband was traveling for business and had to stop and spend the night at a hotel because he couldn't safely continue driving. the last time i brought the car in for this issue the previous night the light had been out but it was working when i got to the dealership. the serviceman said he would look at the issue but if the lights weren't acting up then there was nothing he could do. while i was waiting i googled problems with prius headlights and found the issue was common, and in fact, had caused a class action lawsuit. when i brought the attention to the serviceman he said, that's why i said i'd heard about the issue but toyota isn't taking monetary responsibility for this issue. essentially, i repeatedly engage is the same routine of going to the dealership, paying for something that doesn't work, then having my lights malfunction at night when i need them. *tr
06/27/2012860001
 I have a 2008 prius. i was driving in the evening on the freeway and noticed the reflection of my headlights in the bumper of the car ahead of me. my right headlight seemed to be off. i turned my lights off and on again quickly and they both went on again. this has happened repeatedly over the past two months. sometimes they both stay on. sometimes the right one fades. my spouse noticed that both lights were alternately flickering as i drove behind him one night. *tr
08/25/2012650001
 Both headlights abruptly turned off while traveling home at nights going approx. 50 mph. turned lights off and then back on and both headlights came back on. this is the third time this has happened. each time it's both the headlights. *tr
05/25/2010400001
 The headlights and rear lights on my 2008 toyota prius intermittently go out. several times i've brought the car to the local toyota dealership to have them repaired only hear there is nothing wrong or get a bill for replacing the lights or various associated parts. on at least six occasions i've been stopped at night by people at traffic lights telling me my lights are out. my husband was stopped and cited by a police officer for both headlights being out. at the time my husband was traveling for business and had to stop and spend the night at a hotel because he couldn't safely continue driving. the last time i brought the car in for this issue the previous night the light had been out but it was working when i got to the dealership. the serviceman said he would look at the issue but if the lights weren't acting up then there was nothing he could do. while i was waiting i googled problems with prius headlights and found the issue was common, and in fact, had caused a class action lawsuit. when i brought the attention to the serviceman he said, that's why i said i'd heard about the issue but toyota isn't taking monetary responsibility for this issue. essentially, i repeatedly engage is the same routine of going to the dealership, paying for something that doesn't work, then having my lights malfunction at night when i need them. *tr
06/27/2012860001
 I have a 2008 prius. i was driving in the evening on the freeway and noticed the reflection of my headlights in the bumper of the car ahead of me. my right headlight seemed to be off. i turned my lights off and on again quickly and they both went on again. this has happened repeatedly over the past two months. sometimes they both stay on. sometimes the right one fades. my spouse noticed that both lights were alternately flickering as i drove behind him one night. *tr
08/25/2012650001
 Both headlights abruptly turned off while traveling home at nights going approx. 50 mph. turned lights off and then back on and both headlights came back on. this is the third time this has happened. each time it's both the headlights. *tr
05/25/201040000
 The headlights and rear lights on my 2008 toyota prius intermittently go out. several times i've brought the car to the local toyota dealership to have them repaired only hear there is nothing wrong or get a bill for replacing the lights or various associated parts. on at least six occasions i've been stopped at night by people at traffic lights telling me my lights are out. my husband was stopped and cited by a police officer for both headlights being out. at the time my husband was traveling for business and had to stop and spend the night at a hotel because he couldn't safely continue driving. the last time i brought the car in for this issue the previous night the light had been out but it was working when i got to the dealership. the serviceman said he would look at the issue but if the lights weren't acting up then there was nothing he could do. while i was waiting i googled problems with prius headlights and found the issue was common, and in fact, had caused a class action lawsuit. when i brought the attention to the serviceman he said, that's why i said i'd heard about the issue but toyota isn't taking monetary responsibility for this issue. essentially, i repeatedly engage is the same routine of going to the dealership, paying for something that doesn't work, then having my lights malfunction at night when i need them.
06/27/2012860001
 I have a 2008 prius. i was driving in the evening on the freeway and noticed the reflection of my headlights in the bumper of the car ahead of me. my right headlight seemed to be off. i turned my lights off and on again quickly and they both went on again. this has happened repeatedly over the past two months. sometimes they both stay on. sometimes the right one fades. my spouse noticed that both lights were alternately flickering as i drove behind him one night. *tr
08/25/2012650001
 Both headlights abruptly turned off while traveling home at nights going approx. 50 mph. turned lights off and then back on and both headlights came back on. this is the third time this has happened. each time it's both the headlights. *tr
06/27/201286000
 I have a 2008 prius. i was driving in the evening on the freeway and noticed the reflection of my headlights in the bumper of the car ahead of me. my right headlight seemed to be off. i turned my lights off and on again quickly and they both went on again. this has happened repeatedly over the past two months. sometimes they both stay on. sometimes the right one fades. my spouse noticed that both lights were alternately flickering as i drove behine him one night.
08/25/201265000
 Both headlights abrubtly turned off while travelling home at nights going approx. 50 mph. turned lights off and then back on and both headlights came back on. this is the third time this has happened. each time it's both the headlights.
11/01/2011600001
 Passenger side head light went out in november, 2011, tried to replace bulb myself, took to dealer who replaced it free, under warranty! now driver-side head light went out, called dealer, told no longer covered under warranty and referred to lawsuit which had toyota not taking blame or doing a recall but extended warranty to 5 years, 50,000 miles. but my car was at 60,000 miles in november. called dealer again and told that they did it as a courtesy. huh? why? if they told me it wasn't covered but they were doing it as a courtesy, i would still be singing their praises. but instead, i feel i was lied to. so i took it to another dealer, repair cost $211. for about 5 minutes of work. from the lawsuit, i read that this can happen over and over again. my bf says that sometimes when i'm following him in my car, my light would randomly go out! definitely an expensive & dangerous problem w/ these great cars!! *tr
07/30/201291000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the headlights failed and reilluminated independently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the headlights needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired however, the failure continued. the manufacturer was contacted and provided no assistance. the failure mileage was 91,000 and the current mileage was 92,000. the vin was not available. kmj
11/01/201160000
 Passenger side head light went out in november, 2011, tried to replace bulb myself, took to dealer who replaced it free, under warranty! now driver-side head light went out, called dealer, told no longer covered under warranty and referred to lawsuit which had toyota not taking blame or doing a recall but extended warranty to 5 years, 50,000 miles. but my car was at 60,000 miles in november. called dealer again and told that they did it as a courtesy. huh? why? if they told me it wasn't covered but they were doing it as a courtesy, i would still be singing their praises. but instead, i feel i was lied to. so i took it to another dealer, repair cost $211. for about 5 minutes of work. from the lawsuit, i read that this can happen over and over again. my bf says that sometimes when i'm following him in my car, my light would randomly go out! definately an expensive & dangerous problem w/ these great cars!!
07/30/201291000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the headlights failed and reilluminated independently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the headlights needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired however, the failure continued. the manufacturer was contacted and provided no assistance. the failure mileage was 91,000 and the current mileage was 92,000. the vin was not available. kmj
06/05/201265200
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact started that the headlights failed to operate upon engaging. the contact mentioned that the failure occurred intermittently while driving. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced both head lamps. the failure recurred the same day the repair was performed. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the headlight and socket needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. the approximate failure mileage was 65,200. pmb
06/05/201265200
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact started the ignition and the headlights failed to operate upon engaging. the intermittent failure also occurred when driving. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced both head lamps. the failure recurred the same day the repair was performed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated the headlight and socket needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the defect and stated the extended service warranty expired. the approximate failure mileage was 65,200. rvk
06/05/201265200
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact started the ignition and the headlights failed to operate upon engaging. the intermittent failure also occurred when driving. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced both head lamps. the failure recurred the same day the repair was performed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who informed the headlight and socket would need to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the defect and they stated the extended service warranty expired. the approximate failure mileage was 65,200. js
05/15/201262000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the headlights stopped illuminating. the contact mentioned that he was able to turn them back on by engaging the switch several times. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 62,000 and the current mileage was 65,000. kmj
05/15/201262000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at various speed the headlights would go off. the contact mentioned that he was able to turn them back on by engaging the switch several times. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 62,000 and the current mileage was 65,000. pm
04/27/2012680001
 The front headlights unexpectedly turn off. sometimes one at a time, sometimes both. always reset by turning lights off and then back on. *tr
03/01/201225000
 My prius headlights are very erratic and unsafe. while driving, one or the other and sometimes both go off. no bumps or other incidents have occurred. they just go off. by turning the lights off and then back on, they always correct themselves, until the next occurrence, which may be in minutes, or days. this condition is entirely intolerable and is not due to loose connections or bad bulbs or any other cause. it obviously is a defective firmware or hardware sensor problem. it is very unsafe, as it has happened to me at night while traveling through an intersection. i have looked at reviews on the internet and it appears that many prius owners are experiencing the exact same problem. thanks and i hope enough complaints come your way to cause a corrective action of some sort!
03/24/2012
 We were pulled over by a policeman and was notified that our passenger side head light was out. we shut the lights off and then turned them back on , they stay on for a few seconds or minutes and then they turn off. we understand that is a real problem with the pruis. we have had 3 priuses and this is the first time we had a problem. if you have to have a dealer put in your light it can be $300.00 to $500.00 . ( for changing a light bulb that is not even funny)
03/11/201280000
 Passenger side headlight went out while driving on a rural 2 lane road - approximate speed of 65 mph. flicking the light switch off and back on turned the light back on, but it continued to turn off every couple of minutes. i find this situation very dangerous, especially in my rural location where there are no other lights along the road and wildlife abounds. given the expense of going to a dealer to change out a light bulb (estimated cost of $300-500) and that my vehicle is no longer covered under warranty, i will change out the bulb myself. i find the cost of these hid bulbs outrageous and the circumstances of the light bulb dying very dangerous. what happens if both of my lights decide to turn off while driving? what do i tell the officer when i eventually get pulled for having a headlight that intermittently turns on and off before i can get this replaced? what do i do about the lack of availability of this type bulb in my location of residence and the extreme cost to replace these dangerous lights? these bulbs should not be allowed in vehicles until they can figure out a better way to warn the driver that the headlight needs to be replaced, and also reduce the cost of the bulb so that the driver can afford to replace the bulb.
01/29/201025000
 Just like many other prius seen on road, my prius got the headlight problem,it was starting two years before, sometimes its right headlight on would be suddenly off, if i turned it off and put it back on again and the right headlight would be coming back again. unfortunately, starting from last week, when i turned on the headlights, the right one just on for around 10 seconds, it would be automatically off but now the right light didn't come back again. i believe it is not only my car problem. i have seen many prius car on theroad having this problem too. it may be caused the manufacturer defect.
03/11/201280000
 Passenger side headlight went out while driving on a rural 2 lane road - approximate speed of 65 mph. flicking the light switch off and back on turned the light back on, but it continued to turn off every couple of minutes. i find this situation very dangerous, especially in my rural location where there are no other lights along the road and wildlife abounds. given the expense of going to a dealer to change out a light bulb (estimated cost of $300-500) and that my vehicle is no longer covered under warranty, i will change out the bulb myself. i find the cost of these hid bulbs outrageous and the circumstances of the light bulb dying very dangerous. what happens if both of my lights decide to turn off while driving? what do i tell the officer when i eventually get pulled for having a headlight that intermittently turns on and off before i can get this replaced? what do i do about the lack of availability of this type bulb in my location of residence and the extreme cost to replace these dangerous lights? these bulbs should not be allowed in vehicles until they can figure out a better way to warn the driver that the headlight needs to be replaced, and also reduce the cost of the bulb so that the driver can afford to replace the bulb.
01/29/201025000
 Just like many other prius seen on road, my prius got the headlight problem,it was starting two years before, sometimes its right headlight on would be suddenly off, if i turned it off and put it back on again and the right headlight would be coming back again. unfortunately, starting from last week, when i turned on the headlights, the right one just on for around 10 seconds, it would be automatically off but now the right light didn't come back again. i believe it is not only my car problem. i have seen many prius car on theroad having this problem too. it may be caused the manufacturer defect.
03/11/201280000
 Passenger side headlight went out while driving on a rural 2 lane road - approximate speed of 65 mph. flicking the light switch off and back on turned the light back on, but it continued to turn off every couple of minutes. i find this situation very dangerous, especially in my rural location where there are no other lights along the road and wildlife abounds. given the expense of going to a dealer to change out a light bulb (estimated cost of $300-500) and that my vehicle is no longer covered under warranty, i will change out the bulb myself. i find the cost of these hid bulbs outrageous and the circumstances of the light bulb dying very dangerous. what happens if both of my lights decide to turn off while driving? what do i tell the officer when i eventually get pulled for having a headlight that intermittently turns on and off before i can get this replaced? what do i do about the lack of availability of this type bulb in my location of residence and the extreme cost to replace these dangerous lights? these bulbs should not be allowed in vehicles until they can figure out a better way to warn the driver that the headlight needs to be replaced, and also reduce the cost of the bulb so that the driver can afford to replace the bulb.
01/29/201025000
 Just like many other prius seen on road, my prius got the headlight problem,it was starting two years before, sometimes its right headlight on would be suddenly off, if i turned it off and put it back on again and the right headlight would be coming back again. unfortunately, starting from last week, when i turned on the headlights, the right one just on for around 10 seconds, it would be automatically off but now the right light didn't come back again. i believe it is not only my car problem. i have seen many prius car on theroad having this problem too. it may be caused the manufacturer defect.
03/11/201280000
 Passenger side headlight went out while driving on a rural 2 lane road - approximate speed of 65 mph. flicking the light switch off and back on turned the light back on, but it continued to turn off every couple of minutes. i find this situation very dangerous, especially in my rural location where there are no other lights along the road and wildlife abounds. given the expense of going to a dealer to change out a light bulb (estimated cost of $300-500) and that my vehicle is no longer covered under warranty, i will change out the bulb myself. i find the cost of these hid bulbs outrageous and the circumstances of the light bulb dying very dangerous. what happens if both of my lights decide to turn off while driving? what do i tell the officer when i eventually get pulled for having a headlight that intermittently turns on and off before i can get this replaced? what do i do about the lack of availability of this type bulb in my location of residence and the extreme cost to replace these dangerous lights? these bulbs should not be allowed in vehicles until they can figure out a better way to warn the driver that the headlight needs to be replaced, and also reduce the cost of the bulb so that the driver can afford to replace the bulb.
01/29/201025000
 Just like many other prius seen on road, my prius got the headlight problem,it was starting two years before, sometimes its right headlight on would be suddenly off, if i turned it off and put it back on again and the right headlight would be coming back again. unfortunately, starting from last week, when i turned on the headlights, the right one just on for around 10 seconds, it would be automatically off but now the right light didn't come back again. i believe it is not only my car problem. i have seen many prius car on theroad having this problem too. it may be caused the manufacturer defect.
01/09/2012
 Similar to other complaints regarding the headlight bulb on the toyota prius (http://www.hybridcars.com/forums/replacing-headlight-bulb-t910.html) when i turn them on to drive at night, after a couple of minutes the driver, passenger, or both headlights will go off (as if the bulbs have burned out) but if i turn off my lights and turn them back on, both lights will come back on and will eventually turn off again. in most cases when the headlights randomly turn off, both lights turn off when driving at night and i have to quickly turn off the lights and turn them back on so that i have temporary visibility with the headlights until they go off again. for example, my commute from work to home is roughly 45 minutes and every 5 - 7 minutes the lights will go off and i have to turn them off and then back on to regain visibility at night. for example on the forum, the following toyota prius owners had similar problems with their vehicle. 1) rw 2) tom mac mullin 3) bob tandorelli 4) kent warner 5) mike horan 6) mike m 7) susan debacker list goes on and these complaints have been going on for at least 3 yrs.
09/01/201180000
 Intermittent headlamp failure.
01/09/2012
 Similar to other complaints regarding the headlight bulb on the toyota prius (http://www.hybridcars.com/forums/replacing-headlight-bulb-t910.html) when i turn them on to drive at night, after a couple of minutes the driver, passenger, or both headlights will go off (as if the bulbs have burned out) but if i turn off my lights and turn them back on, both lights will come back on and will eventually turn off again. in most cases when the headlights randomly turn off, both lights turn off when driving at night and i have to quickly turn off the lights and turn them back on so that i have temporary visibility with the headlights until they go off again. for example, my commute from work to home is roughly 45 minutes and every 5 - 7 minutes the lights will go off and i have to turn them off and then back on to regain visibility at night. for example on the forum, the following toyota prius owners had similar problems with their vehicle. 1) rw 2) tom mac mullin 3) bob tandorelli 4) kent warner 5) mike horan 6) mike m 7) susan debacker list goes on and these complaints have been going on for at least 3 yrs.
09/01/201180000
 Intermittent headlamp failure.
01/09/2012
 Similar to other complaints regarding the headlight bulb on the toyota prius (http://www.hybridcars.com/forums/replacing-headlight-bulb-t910.html) when i turn them on to drive at night, after a couple of minutes the driver, passenger, or both headlights will go off (as if the bulbs have burned out) but if i turn off my lights and turn them back on, both lights will come back on and will eventually turn off again. in most cases when the headlights randomly turn off, both lights turn off when driving at night and i have to quickly turn off the lights and turn them back on so that i have temporary visibility with the headlights until they go off again. for example, my commute from work to home is roughly 45 minutes and every 5 - 7 minutes the lights will go off and i have to turn them off and then back on to regain visibility at night. for example on the forum, the following toyota prius owners had similar problems with their vehicle. 1) rw 2) tom mac mullin 3) bob tandorelli 4) kent warner 5) mike horan 6) mike m 7) susan debacker list goes on and these complaints have been going on for at least 3 yrs.
09/01/201180000
 Intermittent headlamp failure.
02/02/200920000
 Hid headlights turn off intermittently. problem first occurred in early 2009 and a toyota dealer replaced both headlights (one had stopped working and dealer stated the other had issues). problem reoccurred late 2011, with either light sometimes not working, but then re-lighting by itself. usually, turning the headlights off and back on manually will resolve the issue for a time. also, both of the tail lights will sometimes stop working. usually, if i take the cover off from the inside and turn the light socket (where it snaps into the plastic molding) the light will turn back on. unfortunately, i can't tell how often i am driving with one or both tail lights not functioning, as i don't look at the back of the car often. i have found them non-functioning 3 times in the last 3 months, and each time the bulb was fine and began working when i turned the socket back and forth.
12/02/200930150
 My hid headlights started to fail at 30k. the dealer replaced the left one. a few months later the right side failed. since then i have experience the one or the other headight going out and when i shut the car off and restart it may or may not come back on. the latest event was 30 dec 2011. i was at the dealer trying to price a bulb and verified the light was not working. when i left the dealer the bulb started working again. i saw the lawsuit was settled but my car was out of warranty. i feel this is a safety issue toyota should recall and resolve before someone gets killed on a dark winding road.
02/02/200920000
 Hid headlights turn off intermittently. problem first occurred in early 2009 and a toyota dealer replaced both headlights (one had stopped working and dealer stated the other had issues). problem reoccurred late 2011, with either light sometimes not working, but then re-lighting by itself. usually, turning the headlights off and back on manually will resolve the issue for a time. also, both of the tail lights will sometimes stop working. usually, if i take the cover off from the inside and turn the light socket (where it snaps into the plastic molding) the light will turn back on. unfortunately, i can't tell how often i am driving with one or both tail lights not functioning, as i don't look at the back of the car often. i have found them non-functioning 3 times in the last 3 months, and each time the bulb was fine and began working when i turned the socket back and forth.
12/02/200930150
 My hid headlights started to fail at 30k. the dealer replaced the left one. a few months later the right side failed. since then i have experience the one or the other headight going out and when i shut the car off and restart it may or may not come back on. the latest event was 30 dec 2011. i was at the dealer trying to price a bulb and verified the light was not working. when i left the dealer the bulb started working again. i saw the lawsuit was settled but my car was out of warranty. i feel this is a safety issue toyota should recall and resolve before someone gets killed on a dark winding road.
10/03/201161000
 Hid bulbs turn off randomly while driving. the cost was over $700 to replace.
12/02/200930150
 My hid headlights started to fail at 30k. the dealer replaced the left one. a few months later the right side failed. since then i have experience the one or the other headight going out and when i shut the car off and restart it may or may not come back on. the latest event was 30 dec 2011. i was at the dealer trying to price a bulb and verified the light was not working. when i left the dealer the bulb started working again. i saw the lawsuit was settled but my car was out of warranty. i feel this is a safety issue toyota should recall and resolve before someone gets killed on a dark winding road.
10/03/201161000
 Hid bulbs turn off randomly while driving. the cost was over $700 to replace.
12/10/201169000
 My passenger headlight will sporatically go out. shutting off and turning back on works, but the light dims and then goes off completely. i don't know how long it's been this way, but it is a recent occurance. it happens whether the car is parked or in motion- no certain speed causes it to happen.
08/30/2011
 In august 2011, a princeton, nj, police office stopped me to report that my right headlight was not working. on september 1, 2011, i paid lawrence toyota $281.84 to replace the right side headlight. later that month, when i drove home, i noticed that the right light was not shinging against the garage door. when i got out of the car, i saw the headlight was not working. early in october, the front end of the car was damaged by another vehicle, including both headlights. the body shop replaced the headlights. shortly after i took the car home, i notice both the left and right headlights failed randomly. while driving, i notice the light would not be uniform along the pavement. when traffic was stopped at a light, one one ligth would reflect from the car in front of me. when i took the car back to the body shop, they confirmed that the lights would go on and off spontaneously. they replaced both lights and the modulator that governs the headlights. the problem persisted. they took the car to freehold toyota who adjusted the lights and modulator. when i drove the car away from the body shop, i light was higher than expected; reflecting off tree branches well above the car. a few days later, i drove the car to a store and noticed the right light was not shining against the wall of the building. a person the the car that pulled in before me commented that the left leadlight was aimed so high that it blinded him, making his rearview mirror unusable.
10/30/2011250001
 Prius 2008 headlights turns off intermittently. one can never be sure when or how if fails. at times it works fine then it does not. *tr
10/30/201125000
 Prius 2008 headlights turns off intermittently. one can never be sure when or how if fails. at times it works fine then it does not.
10/15/200810000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact was driving 30 mph when the drivers side headlights failed to illuminate. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed the bulb needed to be replaced. the failure occurred on three previous occasions. the manufacturer was not notified, but the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 10,000 and the current mileage was 100,000. rvk
10/15/200810000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact was driving 30pmh when the driver side head lights failed to illuminate. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and they confirmed the bulb needed to be replaced. the failure occurred on three previous occasions. the manufacturer was not contacted, but the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 10,000 and the current mileage was 100,000 .rds
05/18/201149000
 Headlamp went off and on while driving. driver's side headlamp was replaced and now the passenger's side is doing the same thing only a couple months later.
09/28/201156451
 I have had intermittent trouble with headlights on either side of the car going out spontaniously while driving. i have been able to correct it by turning the switch off and then back on again and they come back on. i have now had an instant where both headlights went out at the same time. this is quite scary when you are traveling at 65 miles an hour with limited street lights.
05/18/201149000
 Headlamp went off and on while driving. driver's side headlamp was replaced and now the passenger's side is doing the same thing only a couple months later.
09/28/201156451
 I have had intermittent trouble with headlights on either side of the car going out spontaniously while driving. i have been able to correct it by turning the switch off and then back on again and they come back on. i have now had an instant where both headlights went out at the same time. this is quite scary when you are traveling at 65 miles an hour with limited street lights.
05/18/201149000
 Headlamp went off and on while driving. driver's side headlamp was replaced and now the passenger's side is doing the same thing only a couple months later.
09/28/201156451
 I have had intermittent trouble with headlights on either side of the car going out spontaniously while driving. i have been able to correct it by turning the switch off and then back on again and they come back on. i have now had an instant where both headlights went out at the same time. this is quite scary when you are traveling at 65 miles an hour with limited street lights.
06/23/201132000
 My 2008 toyota prius headlights work intermitently. sometimes one side goes out, flickers or both go out. this occurred while driving at night on the freeway several times. i turned the light switch off and back on and the lights work again. it is extremely dangerous. i have contacted toyota and they say there is nothing they can do but replace the bulbs at a big cost. i looked on a blog and many are experiencing the same problem. this is a safety hazard. what can i do?
09/28/201156451
 I have had intermittent trouble with headlights on either side of the car going out spontaniously while driving. i have been able to correct it by turning the switch off and then back on again and they come back on. i have now had an instant where both headlights went out at the same time. this is quite scary when you are traveling at 65 miles an hour with limited street lights.
06/23/201132000
 My 2008 toyota prius headlights work intermitently. sometimes one side goes out, flickers or both go out. this occurred while driving at night on the freeway several times. i turned the light switch off and back on and the lights work again. it is extremely dangerous. i have contacted toyota and they say there is nothing they can do but replace the bulbs at a big cost. i looked on a blog and many are experiencing the same problem. this is a safety hazard. what can i do?
09/02/201141000
 Around or just after 40,000 miles the right headlight on my 2008 toyota prius started turning off while driving. turning the lights off then on corrects the problem -- but this is annoying and dangerous when driving at night.
06/23/201132000
 My 2008 toyota prius headlights work intermitently. sometimes one side goes out, flickers or both go out. this occurred while driving at night on the freeway several times. i turned the light switch off and back on and the lights work again. it is extremely dangerous. i have contacted toyota and they say there is nothing they can do but replace the bulbs at a big cost. i looked on a blog and many are experiencing the same problem. this is a safety hazard. what can i do?
09/02/201141000
 Around or just after 40,000 miles the right headlight on my 2008 toyota prius started turning off while driving. turning the lights off then on corrects the problem -- but this is annoying and dangerous when driving at night.
06/23/201132000
 My 2008 toyota prius headlights work intermitently. sometimes one side goes out, flickers or both go out. this occurred while driving at night on the freeway several times. i turned the light switch off and back on and the lights work again. it is extremely dangerous. i have contacted toyota and they say there is nothing they can do but replace the bulbs at a big cost. i looked on a blog and many are experiencing the same problem. this is a safety hazard. what can i do?
09/02/201141000
 Around or just after 40,000 miles the right headlight on my 2008 toyota prius started turning off while driving. turning the lights off then on corrects the problem -- but this is annoying and dangerous when driving at night.
06/23/201132000
 My 2008 toyota prius headlights work intermitently. sometimes one side goes out, flickers or both go out. this occurred while driving at night on the freeway several times. i turned the light switch off and back on and the lights work again. it is extremely dangerous. i have contacted toyota and they say there is nothing they can do but replace the bulbs at a big cost. i looked on a blog and many are experiencing the same problem. this is a safety hazard. what can i do?
09/02/201141000
 Around or just after 40,000 miles the right headlight on my 2008 toyota prius started turning off while driving. turning the lights off then on corrects the problem -- but this is annoying and dangerous when driving at night.
07/23/201139000
 Tl - the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the vehicle headlights were malfunctioning. he mentioned that both of the headlights when out without any warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who did not provided an specific diagnosis but decided to replaced both the headlights. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offered any assistance. the vehicle was repaired. the failure and current mileage was 39,000. pm
02/01/201128000
 Hid headlights flickering on and off - 2008 prius w only 28,000 miles.
11/14/201061000
 2008 toyota prius, vin jtdkb20u683298159, both driver side and passenger side headlight go on and off while in the on position. started nov. 2010 with both headlights going out on a trip out of town. then for about 5 months no problems. now since april 2011 the drives side headlight occassionally goes off, but the passenger side constantly goes off. i will turn on my light to drive at nigh and the passenger light will be on at first then wihin a few minutes it will go out. i can get it to come back on if i switch the headlight switch off and back on, this turns off all the lights momentarily and then it will come on again for a few more minutes, then have to constantly repeat the process over and over. i have gone online and found forums where there are hundreds if not thousands of the same complaints and toyota has done nothing to remedy the problem all but to charge outrageous prices to temporarliy fix the problem that will just start all over. i have gone to our local dealer who gave us a quote and said it was a problem that they were not aware of. come on, they are sweeping it under the rug and ripping off pruis owners. i certainly hope it doesn't take someone dying to get toyota or someone to realize what a major problem there is and that it needs to be addressed immediately. i do not feet this is an issue with the bulb itself, as the bulb works, it has to be something wrong with the electrical, as many others have replaced the bulbs to only have the same problem return in a short period of time. your help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
02/10/201159000
 Headlights on my 2008 toyota prius intermittently go out. the left side or the right side or both headlights at the same time. a very very hazardous condition at night! i checked the toyota site, but no sign of a recall going on. i can't understand why a recall hasn't already been issued, as i understand they are aware of the problem.
04/04/201160000
 One headlight on my toyota prius keeps going out. 3 new lamps in just 6 months. it is only on the passenger side.
02/10/201159000
 Headlights on my 2008 toyota prius intermittently go out. the left side or the right side or both headlights at the same time. a very very hazardous condition at night! i checked the toyota site, but no sign of a recall going on. i can't understand why a recall hasn't already been issued, as i understand they are aware of the problem.
04/04/201160000
 One headlight on my toyota prius keeps going out. 3 new lamps in just 6 months. it is only on the passenger side.
10/15/200830000
 My 2008 toyota prius headlights keep going out, the bulbs are fine, but i have to turn off and turn on the light many time on highway to make them stay on. that is not safety way ever. if i forgot to turn it off and on again, i can cause an accident or police officer will give pull me over.
04/04/201160000
 One headlight on my toyota prius keeps going out. 3 new lamps in just 6 months. it is only on the passenger side.
10/15/200830000
 My 2008 toyota prius headlights keep going out, the bulbs are fine, but i have to turn off and turn on the light many time on highway to make them stay on. that is not safety way ever. if i forgot to turn it off and on again, i can cause an accident or police officer will give pull me over.
04/04/201160000
 One headlight on my toyota prius keeps going out. 3 new lamps in just 6 months. it is only on the passenger side.
10/15/200830000
 My 2008 toyota prius headlights keep going out, the bulbs are fine, but i have to turn off and turn on the light many time on highway to make them stay on. that is not safety way ever. if i forgot to turn it off and on again, i can cause an accident or police officer will give pull me over.
10/01/201050000
 We have a 2008 toyota prius purchased in october 2007 and have had intermitent problems with the headlights going off during operation. we have had this problem for the past 6 months. when contacting toyota they have not helped at all saying that they extended the warrentee to 50,000 miles for this and we are over that milage mile stone which is very conveniant for toyota. the cost to put in two new headlights is over $600 which i cant afford. with all the complaints i'm reading about its amazing that a recall is not in affect or that the department of transpertation isn't ordering a recall.
10/15/200830000
 My 2008 toyota prius headlights keep going out, the bulbs are fine, but i have to turn off and turn on the light many time on highway to make them stay on. that is not safety way ever. if i forgot to turn it off and on again, i can cause an accident or police officer will give pull me over.
10/01/201050000
 We have a 2008 toyota prius purchased in october 2007 and have had intermitent problems with the headlights going off during operation. we have had this problem for the past 6 months. when contacting toyota they have not helped at all saying that they extended the warrentee to 50,000 miles for this and we are over that milage mile stone which is very conveniant for toyota. the cost to put in two new headlights is over $600 which i cant afford. with all the complaints i'm reading about its amazing that a recall is not in affect or that the department of transpertation isn't ordering a recall.
04/10/201152000
 Both headlights and inside lights failed, suddenly and without warning, while traveling on a dark stretch of interstate highway at night. for the past two months, the right headlight failed suddenly on occasion, but it could be turned back on my switching off the headlights and then turning them back on. this is the first time all lights failed, and it almost caused a crash.
03/16/2011
 I will start the car and both headlights are on then one or the other will just turn off, luckly both have not turned off at the same time. sometimes they can be on for a long time and sometimes a short time, there is no ryme or reason for it. it happens all the time, enough that i was stopped by the police for having a headlight out.
03/01/200926000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights would illuminate intermittently without warning. the failure began two years ago. at 26,000 while the vehicle was under warranty the dealer repaired the headlights; however, the failure continues to occur and the vehicle was no longer under warranty. both the dealer and manufacturer advised the contact that the headlight failure was due to production and that they were able to repair it at her expense. the vehicle had not been repaired due to cost. the current mileages were 55,000 and the failure mileages were 30,000. bw
03/16/2011
 I will start the car and both headlights are on then one or the other will just turn off, luckly both have not turned off at the same time. sometimes they can be on for a long time and sometimes a short time, there is no ryme or reason for it. it happens all the time, enough that i was stopped by the police for having a headlight out.
03/01/200926000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights would illuminate intermittently without warning. the failure began two years ago. at 26,000 while the vehicle was under warranty the dealer repaired the headlights; however, the failure continues to occur and the vehicle was no longer under warranty. both the dealer and manufacturer advised the contact that the headlight failure was due to production and that they were able to repair it at her expense. the vehicle had not been repaired due to cost. the current mileages were 55,000 and the failure mileages were 30,000. bw
03/16/2011
 I will start the car and both headlights are on then one or the other will just turn off, luckly both have not turned off at the same time. sometimes they can be on for a long time and sometimes a short time, there is no ryme or reason for it. it happens all the time, enough that i was stopped by the police for having a headlight out.
03/01/200926000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights would illuminate intermittently without warning. the failure began two years ago. at 26,000 while the vehicle was under warranty the dealer repaired the headlights; however, the failure continues to occur and the vehicle was no longer under warranty. both the dealer and manufacturer advised the contact that the headlight failure was due to production and that they were able to repair it at her expense. the vehicle had not been repaired due to cost. the current mileages were 55,000 and the failure mileages were 30,000. bw
06/04/201049000
 Headlight passerager side going while driving coming back on do not know when both will go out. cost to replace one headlight $150 for bulb $95 to replace. have heard other owners having same problems and more then one time. have heard of overheating problem causing early outage of bulbs over and over. also problem with computer causing these problems. problem show up for first time i believe in 2010. it is getting worst and i'm no longer driving.
09/10/201045000
 I have a 2008 prius and have had to replace both the left and right hid lamps. approximate cost is $150 per replacement. i feel that the hid failure is a hazard, both of the hid lights came on and went out periodically over time before eventually failing, finally. the hids should last longer than 2 years and intermittnent outages should not be a part of a critical nightitme operating system.
02/25/201135457
 Condensation builds up inside the hid headlights during humid days, after rain, and after carwash. inside of headlight is streaked with water stains.
01/15/201144000
 Purchased new 2008 prius august 13, 2008. has hid headlights. present mileage 45000. around january 15, 2011, first noticed headlights appeared to not be on in early evening. check switch, turned it off-on, headlights came on. 2nd time, 2 days later, lights again seemed to not be one, checked switch, which was on. turned switch off then on, lights came on. subsequent times, problem with driver side headlight intermittently turning off. sometimes turns on without doing anything, other times must turn switch off, then on. no noticed problem with passenger side headlight. dangerous when headlight switches off at night. noticed on websites that others experiencing same problem. contacted dealer from whom purchased vehicle. told that since car out of warranty, would have to pay for any diagnostic and repair costs (estimated $300-$500 cost). indicated problem is most likely bulb going bad, but couldn't guarantee repair work would fix problem. asked dealer why hid bulb goes bad after only 30 months of operation (have original headlights in 2004 chevy cavalier and 1976 gmc pickup). was told that should only expect 24 months of life with hid bulbs which contradicts what was told by dealer when car purchased that bulbs should last lifetime of car. toyota implies that issue is my problem to solve.
02/25/201135457
 Condensation builds up inside the hid headlights during humid days, after rain, and after carwash. inside of headlight is streaked with water stains.
01/15/201144000
 Purchased new 2008 prius august 13, 2008. has hid headlights. present mileage 45000. around january 15, 2011, first noticed headlights appeared to not be on in early evening. check switch, turned it off-on, headlights came on. 2nd time, 2 days later, lights again seemed to not be one, checked switch, which was on. turned switch off then on, lights came on. subsequent times, problem with driver side headlight intermittently turning off. sometimes turns on without doing anything, other times must turn switch off, then on. no noticed problem with passenger side headlight. dangerous when headlight switches off at night. noticed on websites that others experiencing same problem. contacted dealer from whom purchased vehicle. told that since car out of warranty, would have to pay for any diagnostic and repair costs (estimated $300-$500 cost). indicated problem is most likely bulb going bad, but couldn't guarantee repair work would fix problem. asked dealer why hid bulb goes bad after only 30 months of operation (have original headlights in 2004 chevy cavalier and 1976 gmc pickup). was told that should only expect 24 months of life with hid bulbs which contradicts what was told by dealer when car purchased that bulbs should last lifetime of car. toyota implies that issue is my problem to solve.
02/25/201135457
 Condensation builds up inside the hid headlights during humid days, after rain, and after carwash. inside of headlight is streaked with water stains.
01/15/201144000
 Purchased new 2008 prius august 13, 2008. has hid headlights. present mileage 45000. around january 15, 2011, first noticed headlights appeared to not be on in early evening. check switch, turned it off-on, headlights came on. 2nd time, 2 days later, lights again seemed to not be one, checked switch, which was on. turned switch off then on, lights came on. subsequent times, problem with driver side headlight intermittently turning off. sometimes turns on without doing anything, other times must turn switch off, then on. no noticed problem with passenger side headlight. dangerous when headlight switches off at night. noticed on websites that others experiencing same problem. contacted dealer from whom purchased vehicle. told that since car out of warranty, would have to pay for any diagnostic and repair costs (estimated $300-$500 cost). indicated problem is most likely bulb going bad, but couldn't guarantee repair work would fix problem. asked dealer why hid bulb goes bad after only 30 months of operation (have original headlights in 2004 chevy cavalier and 1976 gmc pickup). was told that should only expect 24 months of life with hid bulbs which contradicts what was told by dealer when car purchased that bulbs should last lifetime of car. toyota implies that issue is my problem to solve.
02/22/201137000
 Passenger side headlamp goes out and come back on intermittling-had to hold headlight switch manually to have headlight stay on.
02/25/201135457
 Condensation builds up inside the hid headlights during humid days, after rain, and after carwash. inside of headlight is streaked with water stains.
01/15/201144000
 Purchased new 2008 prius august 13, 2008. has hid headlights. present mileage 45000. around january 15, 2011, first noticed headlights appeared to not be on in early evening. check switch, turned it off-on, headlights came on. 2nd time, 2 days later, lights again seemed to not be one, checked switch, which was on. turned switch off then on, lights came on. subsequent times, problem with driver side headlight intermittently turning off. sometimes turns on without doing anything, other times must turn switch off, then on. no noticed problem with passenger side headlight. dangerous when headlight switches off at night. noticed on websites that others experiencing same problem. contacted dealer from whom purchased vehicle. told that since car out of warranty, would have to pay for any diagnostic and repair costs (estimated $300-$500 cost). indicated problem is most likely bulb going bad, but couldn't guarantee repair work would fix problem. asked dealer why hid bulb goes bad after only 30 months of operation (have original headlights in 2004 chevy cavalier and 1976 gmc pickup). was told that should only expect 24 months of life with hid bulbs which contradicts what was told by dealer when car purchased that bulbs should last lifetime of car. toyota implies that issue is my problem to solve.
02/22/201137000
 Passenger side headlamp goes out and come back on intermittling-had to hold headlight switch manually to have headlight stay on.
02/18/201158000
 While driving at night i noticed the left headlight was out. when pulling into garage i turned lights off and back on and the left headlight had came back on. with knowing this i have noticed this repeating over and over again. if i turn the lights off and on again the headlight will come on again. it has also accured that both headlights have gone out at the sametime. we were pulled over by the police for the headlight being out. so we turned the lights off and on again and the headlight came back on. this seems to be a on going problem with the hid headlights of the prius. this is a very dangerous situation!
02/22/201137000
 Passenger side headlamp goes out and come back on intermittling-had to hold headlight switch manually to have headlight stay on.
02/18/201158000
 While driving at night i noticed the left headlight was out. when pulling into garage i turned lights off and back on and the left headlight had came back on. with knowing this i have noticed this repeating over and over again. if i turn the lights off and on again the headlight will come on again. it has also accured that both headlights have gone out at the sametime. we were pulled over by the police for the headlight being out. so we turned the lights off and on again and the headlight came back on. this seems to be a on going problem with the hid headlights of the prius. this is a very dangerous situation!
02/17/201145000
 2008 prius; headlights go off randomly, and can be turned back on by recycling the off-on switch. this is very dangerous, as it has happened with my 15 year old son driving and he panicked when the lights went out. was told by dealer the would need to replace the bulbs (even though they still work) for $560, and that may not solve the problem. next step is to replace the computer which controls the lights for $1200. so, possibly $1,760 for headlights! this is a crime, and i feel like toyota and their dealer have raped me. i am totally disgusted.
02/22/201137000
 Passenger side headlamp goes out and come back on intermittling-had to hold headlight switch manually to have headlight stay on.
02/18/201158000
 While driving at night i noticed the left headlight was out. when pulling into garage i turned lights off and back on and the left headlight had came back on. with knowing this i have noticed this repeating over and over again. if i turn the lights off and on again the headlight will come on again. it has also accured that both headlights have gone out at the sametime. we were pulled over by the police for the headlight being out. so we turned the lights off and on again and the headlight came back on. this seems to be a on going problem with the hid headlights of the prius. this is a very dangerous situation!
02/17/201145000
 2008 prius; headlights go off randomly, and can be turned back on by recycling the off-on switch. this is very dangerous, as it has happened with my 15 year old son driving and he panicked when the lights went out. was told by dealer the would need to replace the bulbs (even though they still work) for $560, and that may not solve the problem. next step is to replace the computer which controls the lights for $1200. so, possibly $1,760 for headlights! this is a crime, and i feel like toyota and their dealer have raped me. i am totally disgusted.
02/18/201158000
 While driving at night i noticed the left headlight was out. when pulling into garage i turned lights off and back on and the left headlight had came back on. with knowing this i have noticed this repeating over and over again. if i turn the lights off and on again the headlight will come on again. it has also accured that both headlights have gone out at the sametime. we were pulled over by the police for the headlight being out. so we turned the lights off and on again and the headlight came back on. this seems to be a on going problem with the hid headlights of the prius. this is a very dangerous situation!
02/17/201145000
 2008 prius; headlights go off randomly, and can be turned back on by recycling the off-on switch. this is very dangerous, as it has happened with my 15 year old son driving and he panicked when the lights went out. was told by dealer the would need to replace the bulbs (even though they still work) for $560, and that may not solve the problem. next step is to replace the computer which controls the lights for $1200. so, possibly $1,760 for headlights! this is a crime, and i feel like toyota and their dealer have raped me. i am totally disgusted.
02/15/201129000
 Headlights for 2008 prius keep burning out, toyota dealership replaced the bottom pair of lights last year and passenger side lights keep going off certain days. toyota is refusing to fix it, they want me to pay large amount of sum for new lights.
04/08/201076000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated whenever driving 35 mph or more both headlights goes on and off intermittently costing her over $300 for repairs. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed her this was a common problem for the vehicle and toyota was aware of the problem. the dealer paid half of the cost on the repairs when the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 76,000...mw
01/06/201041173
 2008 toyota prius passenger side hid xenon headlamp going on an off randomly. went to toyota dealer they said it was the bulb and when replacing the bulb the mechanic found out the headlamp connector was corroded. i paid for a new bulb and connector. my problem is how a vehicle with only 40,000 miles could have corroded wire connectors already. the bill was $353.
01/03/201070000
 Right headlight goes out and you have to turn light switch off and back on for it to come back on. the time range on the light going off varies from time to time. it can happen as fast as every 2-3 minutes. the ballast and bulb has been replaced and this did not correct the problem.
01/06/201041173
 2008 toyota prius passenger side hid xenon headlamp going on an off randomly. went to toyota dealer they said it was the bulb and when replacing the bulb the mechanic found out the headlamp connector was corroded. i paid for a new bulb and connector. my problem is how a vehicle with only 40,000 miles could have corroded wire connectors already. the bill was $353.
01/03/201070000
 Right headlight goes out and you have to turn light switch off and back on for it to come back on. the time range on the light going off varies from time to time. it can happen as fast as every 2-3 minutes. the ballast and bulb has been replaced and this did not correct the problem.
01/06/201041173
 2008 toyota prius passenger side hid xenon headlamp going on an off randomly. went to toyota dealer they said it was the bulb and when replacing the bulb the mechanic found out the headlamp connector was corroded. i paid for a new bulb and connector. my problem is how a vehicle with only 40,000 miles could have corroded wire connectors already. the bill was $353.
01/03/201070000
 Right headlight goes out and you have to turn light switch off and back on for it to come back on. the time range on the light going off varies from time to time. it can happen as fast as every 2-3 minutes. the ballast and bulb has been replaced and this did not correct the problem.
01/12/201154475
 2008 toyota prius driver side hid headlight went out prematurely
12/24/201057820
 There were no distinguishing events that led up to the total failure of my 2008 toyota prius driver side headlight and door lock assembly (front). they both no longer worked within a 1 day period and required replacement. noticing 2 or more other vehicles of the same make and model there for light replacement caused me to inquire what caused their light malfunctions. in the matter of minutes of my calling in, roughly an hour into the dealerships opening, i was told the lights were available, by the time arrived, within 5 minutes, enough autos had arrived also with the hid headlamps out that the dealerships entire stock of lights had been used up, and required my having to return after another shipment of lights were received, as well. i did not request the old part.
04/09/201080000
 Hid headlights on 2008 prius failing without a known fix from toyota. each bulb costs over $150.00
09/15/201042000
 The hid headlights on my 2008 prius have begun to fail. either one may not turn on, or they may turn off individually by themselves.
01/12/201154475
 2008 toyota prius driver side hid headlight went out prematurely
12/24/201057820
 There were no distinguishing events that led up to the total failure of my 2008 toyota prius driver side headlight and door lock assembly (front). they both no longer worked within a 1 day period and required replacement. noticing 2 or more other vehicles of the same make and model there for light replacement caused me to inquire what caused their light malfunctions. in the matter of minutes of my calling in, roughly an hour into the dealerships opening, i was told the lights were available, by the time arrived, within 5 minutes, enough autos had arrived also with the hid headlamps out that the dealerships entire stock of lights had been used up, and required my having to return after another shipment of lights were received, as well. i did not request the old part.
04/09/201080000
 Hid headlights on 2008 prius failing without a known fix from toyota. each bulb costs over $150.00
09/15/201042000
 The hid headlights on my 2008 prius have begun to fail. either one may not turn on, or they may turn off individually by themselves.
12/24/201057820
 There were no distinguishing events that led up to the total failure of my 2008 toyota prius driver side headlight and door lock assembly (front). they both no longer worked within a 1 day period and required replacement. noticing 2 or more other vehicles of the same make and model there for light replacement caused me to inquire what caused their light malfunctions. in the matter of minutes of my calling in, roughly an hour into the dealerships opening, i was told the lights were available, by the time arrived, within 5 minutes, enough autos had arrived also with the hid headlamps out that the dealerships entire stock of lights had been used up, and required my having to return after another shipment of lights were received, as well. i did not request the old part.
04/09/201080000
 Hid headlights on 2008 prius failing without a known fix from toyota. each bulb costs over $150.00
09/15/201042000
 The hid headlights on my 2008 prius have begun to fail. either one may not turn on, or they may turn off individually by themselves.
01/07/201162571
 The passenger side hid headlight went out suddenly, flickered back, and then went out permanently.
12/24/201057820
 There were no distinguishing events that led up to the total failure of my 2008 toyota prius driver side headlight and door lock assembly (front). they both no longer worked within a 1 day period and required replacement. noticing 2 or more other vehicles of the same make and model there for light replacement caused me to inquire what caused their light malfunctions. in the matter of minutes of my calling in, roughly an hour into the dealerships opening, i was told the lights were available, by the time arrived, within 5 minutes, enough autos had arrived also with the hid headlamps out that the dealerships entire stock of lights had been used up, and required my having to return after another shipment of lights were received, as well. i did not request the old part.
04/09/201080000
 Hid headlights on 2008 prius failing without a known fix from toyota. each bulb costs over $150.00
09/15/201042000
 The hid headlights on my 2008 prius have begun to fail. either one may not turn on, or they may turn off individually by themselves.
01/07/201162571
 The passenger side hid headlight went out suddenly, flickered back, and then went out permanently.
01/03/201188000
 The complaint is for the hid headlight system on a 2008 toyota prius. the driver's side headlight initially failed randomly and eventaully failed completely. the problem would occur randomly while driving where the headlight would fail. the only way the light would turn back on would be to cycle the power to the headlights. more recently, this problem is now occuring with the passenger side headlight. the car now has 88k miles and continues to be a problem. to correct the failure, i brought the car in to a toyota dealer for repair. i was told that the driver's side headlight bulb was bad. i have not addressed the passenger side headlight at this time.
12/24/201057820
 There were no distinguishing events that led up to the total failure of my 2008 toyota prius driver side headlight and door lock assembly (front). they both no longer worked within a 1 day period and required replacement. noticing 2 or more other vehicles of the same make and model there for light replacement caused me to inquire what caused their light malfunctions. in the matter of minutes of my calling in, roughly an hour into the dealerships opening, i was told the lights were available, by the time arrived, within 5 minutes, enough autos had arrived also with the hid headlamps out that the dealerships entire stock of lights had been used up, and required my having to return after another shipment of lights were received, as well. i did not request the old part.
04/09/201080000
 Hid headlights on 2008 prius failing without a known fix from toyota. each bulb costs over $150.00
09/15/201042000
 The hid headlights on my 2008 prius have begun to fail. either one may not turn on, or they may turn off individually by themselves.
01/07/201162571
 The passenger side hid headlight went out suddenly, flickered back, and then went out permanently.
01/03/201188000
 The complaint is for the hid headlight system on a 2008 toyota prius. the driver's side headlight initially failed randomly and eventaully failed completely. the problem would occur randomly while driving where the headlight would fail. the only way the light would turn back on would be to cycle the power to the headlights. more recently, this problem is now occuring with the passenger side headlight. the car now has 88k miles and continues to be a problem. to correct the failure, i brought the car in to a toyota dealer for repair. i was told that the driver's side headlight bulb was bad. i have not addressed the passenger side headlight at this time.
01/07/201162571
 The passenger side hid headlight went out suddenly, flickered back, and then went out permanently.
01/03/201188000
 The complaint is for the hid headlight system on a 2008 toyota prius. the driver's side headlight initially failed randomly and eventaully failed completely. the problem would occur randomly while driving where the headlight would fail. the only way the light would turn back on would be to cycle the power to the headlights. more recently, this problem is now occuring with the passenger side headlight. the car now has 88k miles and continues to be a problem. to correct the failure, i brought the car in to a toyota dealer for repair. i was told that the driver's side headlight bulb was bad. i have not addressed the passenger side headlight at this time.
10/01/200930000
 Both front headlights go out without warning. the high beams work but one or both of the regular hit lights go out intermittantly. the issue has been happening sine approx. 30,000 miles (the car is currently at 61000 miles)
01/03/201188000
 The complaint is for the hid headlight system on a 2008 toyota prius. the driver's side headlight initially failed randomly and eventaully failed completely. the problem would occur randomly while driving where the headlight would fail. the only way the light would turn back on would be to cycle the power to the headlights. more recently, this problem is now occuring with the passenger side headlight. the car now has 88k miles and continues to be a problem. to correct the failure, i brought the car in to a toyota dealer for repair. i was told that the driver's side headlight bulb was bad. i have not addressed the passenger side headlight at this time.
10/01/200930000
 Both front headlights go out without warning. the high beams work but one or both of the regular hit lights go out intermittantly. the issue has been happening sine approx. 30,000 miles (the car is currently at 61000 miles)
12/25/201030000
 Toyota prius 2008 touring model with hid headlights. currently have about 80,000 miles on car issue started after around 30,000 miles. the drivers side head light sparaticly shuts off. i am able to turn lights off then back on and it will work again however this happens in a 30 min dirve as offten as about 15 times and seems to get more frequent the longer the drive. i ride with myself my husband and 3 kids and do not feel safe driving at night in my car. i do not feel this is the light itself becuase i am able to turn them off and back on again. if it was the light it would not turn back on.
01/14/201030000
 2008 toyota prius with approx. 60,000 miles on it. right (passenger) hid headlamp turns off intermittently while driving. replacing with a new bulb does not solve the issue and toyota will not look at the car even though i have a record of this issue happening before the warranty was up. now the driver's side hid headlamp is turning on and off as well. this is extremely dangerous to drive at night or even during the day while it is raining, etc... was driving home in the rain last night and both headlamps turned off. extremely unsafe and irresponsible for toyota to not take any responsibility.
10/01/200934000
 Hid headlamps began to randomly turn off on their own at around 34k miles. driver's side or passenger side; one or the other. paid for and replaced both hid lamps, but not controller computer. at 42k miles, problem returns. one time while driving at night, both headlights blinked off without warning. turning headlight controls off, then on again resolves the problem until problem recurs. lights may stay on for duration of trip, or turn off again after just a few minutes.
12/02/201027554
 I was driving to work in the dark. as i was turning left onto the fry. ramp my lights went out! i couldnt turn around so i tried to guess where i was by the taillights on the fry. then they came back on. this continued , on-off for ten miles. toyota said they would fix it that day. chg. $556.59. car has 27,554 miles
01/14/201030000
 2008 toyota prius with approx. 60,000 miles on it. right (passenger) hid headlamp turns off intermittently while driving. replacing with a new bulb does not solve the issue and toyota will not look at the car even though i have a record of this issue happening before the warranty was up. now the driver's side hid headlamp is turning on and off as well. this is extremely dangerous to drive at night or even during the day while it is raining, etc... was driving home in the rain last night and both headlamps turned off. extremely unsafe and irresponsible for toyota to not take any responsibility.
10/01/200934000
 Hid headlamps began to randomly turn off on their own at around 34k miles. driver's side or passenger side; one or the other. paid for and replaced both hid lamps, but not controller computer. at 42k miles, problem returns. one time while driving at night, both headlights blinked off without warning. turning headlight controls off, then on again resolves the problem until problem recurs. lights may stay on for duration of trip, or turn off again after just a few minutes.
12/02/201027554
 I was driving to work in the dark. as i was turning left onto the fry. ramp my lights went out! i couldnt turn around so i tried to guess where i was by the taillights on the fry. then they came back on. this continued , on-off for ten miles. toyota said they would fix it that day. chg. $556.59. car has 27,554 miles
12/02/201043000
 Front right hid headlight went out. comes on intermittently. cannot operate vehicle safely at night. known defect by manufacturer on 2004-2008 prius.
01/14/201030000
 2008 toyota prius with approx. 60,000 miles on it. right (passenger) hid headlamp turns off intermittently while driving. replacing with a new bulb does not solve the issue and toyota will not look at the car even though i have a record of this issue happening before the warranty was up. now the driver's side hid headlamp is turning on and off as well. this is extremely dangerous to drive at night or even during the day while it is raining, etc... was driving home in the rain last night and both headlamps turned off. extremely unsafe and irresponsible for toyota to not take any responsibility.
10/01/200934000
 Hid headlamps began to randomly turn off on their own at around 34k miles. driver's side or passenger side; one or the other. paid for and replaced both hid lamps, but not controller computer. at 42k miles, problem returns. one time while driving at night, both headlights blinked off without warning. turning headlight controls off, then on again resolves the problem until problem recurs. lights may stay on for duration of trip, or turn off again after just a few minutes.
12/02/201027554
 I was driving to work in the dark. as i was turning left onto the fry. ramp my lights went out! i couldnt turn around so i tried to guess where i was by the taillights on the fry. then they came back on. this continued , on-off for ten miles. toyota said they would fix it that day. chg. $556.59. car has 27,554 miles
12/02/201043000
 Front right hid headlight went out. comes on intermittently. cannot operate vehicle safely at night. known defect by manufacturer on 2004-2008 prius.
11/24/201090000
 Left front hid headlamp flickered and then went out. i turned the headlights off and then on quickly, restoring the headlight. it repeated itself repeatedly for several weeks until i was able to get the headlight replaced at the outrageous cost of $469.80. that price included replacing both headlights, as i did not want to take the chance of having the other one fail in the same manner. it is clear from research i have done, that toyota is gouging the public on the replacement of these headlights and also refuses to acknowledge that they have put a defective product on the road. this is clearly a safety recall item.
12/02/201043000
 Front right hid headlight went out. comes on intermittently. cannot operate vehicle safely at night. known defect by manufacturer on 2004-2008 prius.
11/24/201090000
 Left front hid headlamp flickered and then went out. i turned the headlights off and then on quickly, restoring the headlight. it repeated itself repeatedly for several weeks until i was able to get the headlight replaced at the outrageous cost of $469.80. that price included replacing both headlights, as i did not want to take the chance of having the other one fail in the same manner. it is clear from research i have done, that toyota is gouging the public on the replacement of these headlights and also refuses to acknowledge that they have put a defective product on the road. this is clearly a safety recall item.
12/03/201039000
 At 39000 miles my 2008 toyota pruis headlights failed. just driving down the road at night and they just go out. after a few minutes they came back on enough to drive home. i took it to dealer the next day and they said the bulbs needed replaced for 400 dollars. i asked them why and they said was normal wear and tear. these lights were supposed to last much longer than normal lights but it doesnt seem that way. they never worked right as far as being able to see any distance at all and now all of a sudden they go out. makes one afraid to drive after dark not knowing now when this will happen again for another 400 dollars.
11/26/201040000
 Intermittent hid headlights on my 2008 prius. the headlights suddenly go off, then after turning them off and back on, they are good for a while once again. this is happening to both the left and right sides. i understand the bulbs are $150 each plus labor to replace. i only have 40,000 miles on my prius. this is extremely dangerous.
12/03/201039000
 At 39000 miles my 2008 toyota pruis headlights failed. just driving down the road at night and they just go out. after a few minutes they came back on enough to drive home. i took it to dealer the next day and they said the bulbs needed replaced for 400 dollars. i asked them why and they said was normal wear and tear. these lights were supposed to last much longer than normal lights but it doesnt seem that way. they never worked right as far as being able to see any distance at all and now all of a sudden they go out. makes one afraid to drive after dark not knowing now when this will happen again for another 400 dollars.
11/26/201040000
 Intermittent hid headlights on my 2008 prius. the headlights suddenly go off, then after turning them off and back on, they are good for a while once again. this is happening to both the left and right sides. i understand the bulbs are $150 each plus labor to replace. i only have 40,000 miles on my prius. this is extremely dangerous.
12/03/201039000
 At 39000 miles my 2008 toyota pruis headlights failed. just driving down the road at night and they just go out. after a few minutes they came back on enough to drive home. i took it to dealer the next day and they said the bulbs needed replaced for 400 dollars. i asked them why and they said was normal wear and tear. these lights were supposed to last much longer than normal lights but it doesnt seem that way. they never worked right as far as being able to see any distance at all and now all of a sudden they go out. makes one afraid to drive after dark not knowing now when this will happen again for another 400 dollars.
11/26/201040000
 Intermittent hid headlights on my 2008 prius. the headlights suddenly go off, then after turning them off and back on, they are good for a while once again. this is happening to both the left and right sides. i understand the bulbs are $150 each plus labor to replace. i only have 40,000 miles on my prius. this is extremely dangerous.
12/03/201039000
 At 39000 miles my 2008 toyota pruis headlights failed. just driving down the road at night and they just go out. after a few minutes they came back on enough to drive home. i took it to dealer the next day and they said the bulbs needed replaced for 400 dollars. i asked them why and they said was normal wear and tear. these lights were supposed to last much longer than normal lights but it doesnt seem that way. they never worked right as far as being able to see any distance at all and now all of a sudden they go out. makes one afraid to drive after dark not knowing now when this will happen again for another 400 dollars.
11/26/201040000
 Intermittent hid headlights on my 2008 prius. the headlights suddenly go off, then after turning them off and back on, they are good for a while once again. this is happening to both the left and right sides. i understand the bulbs are $150 each plus labor to replace. i only have 40,000 miles on my prius. this is extremely dangerous.
11/25/201051300
 Both head lights come on for a second or 2 then turn off. turning them on and off repeatedly sometimes they will stay on for up to 1 minute then turn off. toyota dealership that sold us car claims they never heard of this problem. reported problem 12/2/2010.
11/26/201040000
 Intermittent hid headlights on my 2008 prius. the headlights suddenly go off, then after turning them off and back on, they are good for a while once again. this is happening to both the left and right sides. i understand the bulbs are $150 each plus labor to replace. i only have 40,000 miles on my prius. this is extremely dangerous.
11/25/201051300
 Both head lights come on for a second or 2 then turn off. turning them on and off repeatedly sometimes they will stay on for up to 1 minute then turn off. toyota dealership that sold us car claims they never heard of this problem. reported problem 12/2/2010.
11/26/201040000
 Intermittent hid headlights on my 2008 prius. the headlights suddenly go off, then after turning them off and back on, they are good for a while once again. this is happening to both the left and right sides. i understand the bulbs are $150 each plus labor to replace. i only have 40,000 miles on my prius. this is extremely dangerous.
11/25/201051300
 Both head lights come on for a second or 2 then turn off. turning them on and off repeatedly sometimes they will stay on for up to 1 minute then turn off. toyota dealership that sold us car claims they never heard of this problem. reported problem 12/2/2010.
01/05/201037000
 At approximately 37,000 miles my drivers side headlight, which is an hid bulb, started to flicker and turn off. most the time it would happen within the first few minutes of starting the car. if the lights were turned off and back on it would work again. approximately 1,000 miles later i noticed a new symptom where both headlights would turn off simultaneously, this would happen rarely. i brought the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the issue was my bulbs(which when i was sold the vehicle was told would last 100k miles) and that i would need to replace them. i explained that if both bulbs are turning off at the same time how can it possibly be the bulbs especially if it has happened more than once. they insisted that it was the bulbs. i refused to replace them until further researching and since then ive found many similar cases. many owners have complained of very early bulb failure and issues with ballasts that require replacing. today i have 42k miles on the vehicle and at the drivers side bulb fails every time i drive the car, and both bulbs fail about once a week. for bulbs that are being described to last the life of the car, 40,000 miles seems rather short lived.
11/25/201051300
 Both head lights come on for a second or 2 then turn off. turning them on and off repeatedly sometimes they will stay on for up to 1 minute then turn off. toyota dealership that sold us car claims they never heard of this problem. reported problem 12/2/2010.
01/05/201037000
 At approximately 37,000 miles my drivers side headlight, which is an hid bulb, started to flicker and turn off. most the time it would happen within the first few minutes of starting the car. if the lights were turned off and back on it would work again. approximately 1,000 miles later i noticed a new symptom where both headlights would turn off simultaneously, this would happen rarely. i brought the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the issue was my bulbs(which when i was sold the vehicle was told would last 100k miles) and that i would need to replace them. i explained that if both bulbs are turning off at the same time how can it possibly be the bulbs especially if it has happened more than once. they insisted that it was the bulbs. i refused to replace them until further researching and since then ive found many similar cases. many owners have complained of very early bulb failure and issues with ballasts that require replacing. today i have 42k miles on the vehicle and at the drivers side bulb fails every time i drive the car, and both bulbs fail about once a week. for bulbs that are being described to last the life of the car, 40,000 miles seems rather short lived.
11/15/201043000
 Headlight goes on, then goes off. won't stay on. i was informed the other one could go out at any time, so i should replace both, at great expense. i was told by toyota that the hid headlights were covered under the regular warranty, but not the extended warranty. bulbs (especailly those costing $300) should not burn out or randomly flicker on a two year old vehicle. to prevent future/additional problems, i had to replace both headlights, including the one that was working. this is a definitlely safety issue...i check bulbs regularly, and all are working when i turn the car on. obviously, i can't check while i'm in motion - which is when they flash off - and was fortunate that both bulbs didn't burn out at the same time, which could have resulted in a crash, injury or accident (or worse) that i would have been liable for.
11/15/201068850
 Hid headlight system failure. driver side intermittent failure for about a week. on 11/15/2010 passenger side also failed at 7:15 pm leaving us with no operating headlights on a winding country road. had to return back to house with no headlights, luckilly only 5 minutes into our trip.
11/15/201043000
 Headlight goes on, then goes off. won't stay on. i was informed the other one could go out at any time, so i should replace both, at great expense. i was told by toyota that the hid headlights were covered under the regular warranty, but not the extended warranty. bulbs (especailly those costing $300) should not burn out or randomly flicker on a two year old vehicle. to prevent future/additional problems, i had to replace both headlights, including the one that was working. this is a definitlely safety issue...i check bulbs regularly, and all are working when i turn the car on. obviously, i can't check while i'm in motion - which is when they flash off - and was fortunate that both bulbs didn't burn out at the same time, which could have resulted in a crash, injury or accident (or worse) that i would have been liable for.
11/15/201068850
 Hid headlight system failure. driver side intermittent failure for about a week. on 11/15/2010 passenger side also failed at 7:15 pm leaving us with no operating headlights on a winding country road. had to return back to house with no headlights, luckilly only 5 minutes into our trip.
10/15/201033000
 2008 toyota prius with 33,000 miles experiences intermittent headlight failure. both left and right side headlights go out at random while driving in any conditions - hot or cold, wet or dry, etc. turning lights off then on sometimes resolves problem for a short period of time.
06/15/2010
 Toyota prius headlight defect. the light intermittently shut off. at times it would begin working by turning the lights off and on again, other times it would come on without doing anything and at times it wouldn't come back on at all.
11/15/201068850
 Hid headlight system failure. driver side intermittent failure for about a week. on 11/15/2010 passenger side also failed at 7:15 pm leaving us with no operating headlights on a winding country road. had to return back to house with no headlights, luckilly only 5 minutes into our trip.
10/15/201033000
 2008 toyota prius with 33,000 miles experiences intermittent headlight failure. both left and right side headlights go out at random while driving in any conditions - hot or cold, wet or dry, etc. turning lights off then on sometimes resolves problem for a short period of time.
06/15/2010
 Toyota prius headlight defect. the light intermittently shut off. at times it would begin working by turning the lights off and on again, other times it would come on without doing anything and at times it wouldn't come back on at all.
11/12/201062000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius . the contact stated that when starting the vehicle up the headlights had a malfunction. the dealer was contacted and they stated the repair will be $185.00 for the light bulb and that the vehicle has no warranty on it. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 62000.cv
11/15/201068850
 Hid headlight system failure. driver side intermittent failure for about a week. on 11/15/2010 passenger side also failed at 7:15 pm leaving us with no operating headlights on a winding country road. had to return back to house with no headlights, luckilly only 5 minutes into our trip.
10/15/201033000
 2008 toyota prius with 33,000 miles experiences intermittent headlight failure. both left and right side headlights go out at random while driving in any conditions - hot or cold, wet or dry, etc. turning lights off then on sometimes resolves problem for a short period of time.
06/15/2010
 Toyota prius headlight defect. the light intermittently shut off. at times it would begin working by turning the lights off and on again, other times it would come on without doing anything and at times it wouldn't come back on at all.
11/12/201062000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius . the contact stated that when starting the vehicle up the headlights had a malfunction. the dealer was contacted and they stated the repair will be $185.00 for the light bulb and that the vehicle has no warranty on it. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 62000.cv
11/15/201068850
 Hid headlight system failure. driver side intermittent failure for about a week. on 11/15/2010 passenger side also failed at 7:15 pm leaving us with no operating headlights on a winding country road. had to return back to house with no headlights, luckilly only 5 minutes into our trip.
10/15/201033000
 2008 toyota prius with 33,000 miles experiences intermittent headlight failure. both left and right side headlights go out at random while driving in any conditions - hot or cold, wet or dry, etc. turning lights off then on sometimes resolves problem for a short period of time.
06/15/2010
 Toyota prius headlight defect. the light intermittently shut off. at times it would begin working by turning the lights off and on again, other times it would come on without doing anything and at times it wouldn't come back on at all.
11/12/201062000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius . the contact stated that when starting the vehicle up the headlights had a malfunction. the dealer was contacted and they stated the repair will be $185.00 for the light bulb and that the vehicle has no warranty on it. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 62000.cv
11/01/2010
 Toyota prius headlight problem
10/15/201033000
 2008 toyota prius with 33,000 miles experiences intermittent headlight failure. both left and right side headlights go out at random while driving in any conditions - hot or cold, wet or dry, etc. turning lights off then on sometimes resolves problem for a short period of time.
06/15/2010
 Toyota prius headlight defect. the light intermittently shut off. at times it would begin working by turning the lights off and on again, other times it would come on without doing anything and at times it wouldn't come back on at all.
11/12/201062000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius . the contact stated that when starting the vehicle up the headlights had a malfunction. the dealer was contacted and they stated the repair will be $185.00 for the light bulb and that the vehicle has no warranty on it. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 62000.cv
11/01/2010
 Toyota prius headlight problem
10/26/201032001
 Toyota prius hid headlamp goes out after turning on and warming up. issue and concern is that the lamp appears functional at first and then goes out after some random period of time without any indication to the driver. seems to be a common issue with the prius hid lamps. fixed by replacing bulb.
10/01/201065000
 Right headlight on 2008 toyota prius go out and to get it back on, the lights must be turned off and then on. this may happen several times during a drive.
10/01/201068500
 At random times the hid headlights on my 08 toyota prius will turn off. it happens to both lights but it has never happened to both lights at the same time, which may have caused an accident. the headlights will turn back on if i turn the power switch off and then back on. i have read on the internet that this same problem is happening with alot of prius models.
10/21/201030104
 In january 2010 i began to suspect that the passenger-side high-intensity-discharge(hid) headlight of my 2008 toyota prius was not working properly. when driving at night, it seemed like my headlights were not evenly illuminating the road ahead of me. on several occasions i checked my headlights by turning on my vehicle and headlights, but saw both headlights illuminated properly. in early september 2010, i discovered the passengers-side headlight stopped illuminating approximately 5 minutes after turning on the headlights. as the weeks went on, the passenger-side headlight stopped illuminating more quickly. after i discovered the headlight malfunction, i did some online research and found hundreds of people experiencing the same thing. i learned nhtsa looked into the issue and decided not to issue a safety recall. as a result, i decided to wait until my 30,000 check-up to have the dealer look at my headlight. on oct 21, 2010 i was driving on interstate 238 at night in the pouring rain. i was traveling approximately 60 mph when both headlights simultaneously stopped illuminating. unable to see the road ahead of me due to the lack of headlights, i could not pull over. i slowed down to 50 mph, turned off the headlights then turned them back on. this caused both headlights to re-illuminate. the passenger side headlight stopped illuminating after about 60 seconds. it is a miracle i did not drive off the road and kill myself or someone else. my vehicle is still under warranty and toyota is replacing both headlights.
12/17/200943031
 On 12/03/09 we were ticketed for a left headlight out on our 2008 toyota prius. we didn't know it was out or going out. it looked on to us. two miles from home it looked as bright as ever. the next morning, as much as we tried, the garage could not find a bulb out, going out, weak, on or off, nothing was wrong! we had a funeral to go to and paid the fine. two weeks later, a letter was mailed from toyota listing issues regarding these hid lights stating that these suddenly go out, and on and off, among other things, near the end of their life. my car is a 2008. my husband and i cannot replace these expensive, exotic hid bulbs because access is in a very tight place and the bumper must be removed--seriously!!!! even if we could do it, these hid bulbs cannot be purchased in a normal automotive store. anyhow, again on 10/17/10 i was several hours out of town, driving home on the interstate, at night, on a weekend, and the other headlight went out!!! i could not put in a new bulb myself. i had no one to call with this exotic hid light and certainly no one that would take off a bumper on the interstate. sudden, complete light outage at night is a very serious safety issue. on top of this, hid headlamp problem, any light bulb needs to be relatively easy to replace. at $150. per bulb, very pricy light plus bumper removal labor expense at 1 hour ($288), the toyota dealership service clerk actually said you chose this option. help before someone gets killed on one of these dark roads (chances are this has occurred with no one alive to know this was the cause)!!!
10/01/201065000
 Right headlight on 2008 toyota prius go out and to get it back on, the lights must be turned off and then on. this may happen several times during a drive.
10/01/201068500
 At random times the hid headlights on my 08 toyota prius will turn off. it happens to both lights but it has never happened to both lights at the same time, which may have caused an accident. the headlights will turn back on if i turn the power switch off and then back on. i have read on the internet that this same problem is happening with alot of prius models.
10/21/201030104
 In january 2010 i began to suspect that the passenger-side high-intensity-discharge(hid) headlight of my 2008 toyota prius was not working properly. when driving at night, it seemed like my headlights were not evenly illuminating the road ahead of me. on several occasions i checked my headlights by turning on my vehicle and headlights, but saw both headlights illuminated properly. in early september 2010, i discovered the passengers-side headlight stopped illuminating approximately 5 minutes after turning on the headlights. as the weeks went on, the passenger-side headlight stopped illuminating more quickly. after i discovered the headlight malfunction, i did some online research and found hundreds of people experiencing the same thing. i learned nhtsa looked into the issue and decided not to issue a safety recall. as a result, i decided to wait until my 30,000 check-up to have the dealer look at my headlight. on oct 21, 2010 i was driving on interstate 238 at night in the pouring rain. i was traveling approximately 60 mph when both headlights simultaneously stopped illuminating. unable to see the road ahead of me due to the lack of headlights, i could not pull over. i slowed down to 50 mph, turned off the headlights then turned them back on. this caused both headlights to re-illuminate. the passenger side headlight stopped illuminating after about 60 seconds. it is a miracle i did not drive off the road and kill myself or someone else. my vehicle is still under warranty and toyota is replacing both headlights.
12/17/200943031
 On 12/03/09 we were ticketed for a left headlight out on our 2008 toyota prius. we didn't know it was out or going out. it looked on to us. two miles from home it looked as bright as ever. the next morning, as much as we tried, the garage could not find a bulb out, going out, weak, on or off, nothing was wrong! we had a funeral to go to and paid the fine. two weeks later, a letter was mailed from toyota listing issues regarding these hid lights stating that these suddenly go out, and on and off, among other things, near the end of their life. my car is a 2008. my husband and i cannot replace these expensive, exotic hid bulbs because access is in a very tight place and the bumper must be removed--seriously!!!! even if we could do it, these hid bulbs cannot be purchased in a normal automotive store. anyhow, again on 10/17/10 i was several hours out of town, driving home on the interstate, at night, on a weekend, and the other headlight went out!!! i could not put in a new bulb myself. i had no one to call with this exotic hid light and certainly no one that would take off a bumper on the interstate. sudden, complete light outage at night is a very serious safety issue. on top of this, hid headlamp problem, any light bulb needs to be relatively easy to replace. at $150. per bulb, very pricy light plus bumper removal labor expense at 1 hour ($288), the toyota dealership service clerk actually said you chose this option. help before someone gets killed on one of these dark roads (chances are this has occurred with no one alive to know this was the cause)!!!
10/01/201065000
 Right headlight on 2008 toyota prius go out and to get it back on, the lights must be turned off and then on. this may happen several times during a drive.
10/01/201068500
 At random times the hid headlights on my 08 toyota prius will turn off. it happens to both lights but it has never happened to both lights at the same time, which may have caused an accident. the headlights will turn back on if i turn the power switch off and then back on. i have read on the internet that this same problem is happening with alot of prius models.
10/21/201030104
 In january 2010 i began to suspect that the passenger-side high-intensity-discharge(hid) headlight of my 2008 toyota prius was not working properly. when driving at night, it seemed like my headlights were not evenly illuminating the road ahead of me. on several occasions i checked my headlights by turning on my vehicle and headlights, but saw both headlights illuminated properly. in early september 2010, i discovered the passengers-side headlight stopped illuminating approximately 5 minutes after turning on the headlights. as the weeks went on, the passenger-side headlight stopped illuminating more quickly. after i discovered the headlight malfunction, i did some online research and found hundreds of people experiencing the same thing. i learned nhtsa looked into the issue and decided not to issue a safety recall. as a result, i decided to wait until my 30,000 check-up to have the dealer look at my headlight. on oct 21, 2010 i was driving on interstate 238 at night in the pouring rain. i was traveling approximately 60 mph when both headlights simultaneously stopped illuminating. unable to see the road ahead of me due to the lack of headlights, i could not pull over. i slowed down to 50 mph, turned off the headlights then turned them back on. this caused both headlights to re-illuminate. the passenger side headlight stopped illuminating after about 60 seconds. it is a miracle i did not drive off the road and kill myself or someone else. my vehicle is still under warranty and toyota is replacing both headlights.
12/17/200943031
 On 12/03/09 we were ticketed for a left headlight out on our 2008 toyota prius. we didn't know it was out or going out. it looked on to us. two miles from home it looked as bright as ever. the next morning, as much as we tried, the garage could not find a bulb out, going out, weak, on or off, nothing was wrong! we had a funeral to go to and paid the fine. two weeks later, a letter was mailed from toyota listing issues regarding these hid lights stating that these suddenly go out, and on and off, among other things, near the end of their life. my car is a 2008. my husband and i cannot replace these expensive, exotic hid bulbs because access is in a very tight place and the bumper must be removed--seriously!!!! even if we could do it, these hid bulbs cannot be purchased in a normal automotive store. anyhow, again on 10/17/10 i was several hours out of town, driving home on the interstate, at night, on a weekend, and the other headlight went out!!! i could not put in a new bulb myself. i had no one to call with this exotic hid light and certainly no one that would take off a bumper on the interstate. sudden, complete light outage at night is a very serious safety issue. on top of this, hid headlamp problem, any light bulb needs to be relatively easy to replace. at $150. per bulb, very pricy light plus bumper removal labor expense at 1 hour ($288), the toyota dealership service clerk actually said you chose this option. help before someone gets killed on one of these dark roads (chances are this has occurred with no one alive to know this was the cause)!!!
10/22/201047000
 One of our headlamps began to fail intermittently without any apparent cause. the failure occurred on a frequent basis (25-75% of the time) but could not be caused. the dealer recommended we replace both bulbs due to the expense of removing the bumper which is required. the dealer claimed that it is normal for this type of hid bulb to fail at this time in the life of the vehicle.
10/01/201068500
 At random times the hid headlights on my 08 toyota prius will turn off. it happens to both lights but it has never happened to both lights at the same time, which may have caused an accident. the headlights will turn back on if i turn the power switch off and then back on. i have read on the internet that this same problem is happening with alot of prius models.
10/21/201030104
 In january 2010 i began to suspect that the passenger-side high-intensity-discharge(hid) headlight of my 2008 toyota prius was not working properly. when driving at night, it seemed like my headlights were not evenly illuminating the road ahead of me. on several occasions i checked my headlights by turning on my vehicle and headlights, but saw both headlights illuminated properly. in early september 2010, i discovered the passengers-side headlight stopped illuminating approximately 5 minutes after turning on the headlights. as the weeks went on, the passenger-side headlight stopped illuminating more quickly. after i discovered the headlight malfunction, i did some online research and found hundreds of people experiencing the same thing. i learned nhtsa looked into the issue and decided not to issue a safety recall. as a result, i decided to wait until my 30,000 check-up to have the dealer look at my headlight. on oct 21, 2010 i was driving on interstate 238 at night in the pouring rain. i was traveling approximately 60 mph when both headlights simultaneously stopped illuminating. unable to see the road ahead of me due to the lack of headlights, i could not pull over. i slowed down to 50 mph, turned off the headlights then turned them back on. this caused both headlights to re-illuminate. the passenger side headlight stopped illuminating after about 60 seconds. it is a miracle i did not drive off the road and kill myself or someone else. my vehicle is still under warranty and toyota is replacing both headlights.
12/17/200943031
 On 12/03/09 we were ticketed for a left headlight out on our 2008 toyota prius. we didn't know it was out or going out. it looked on to us. two miles from home it looked as bright as ever. the next morning, as much as we tried, the garage could not find a bulb out, going out, weak, on or off, nothing was wrong! we had a funeral to go to and paid the fine. two weeks later, a letter was mailed from toyota listing issues regarding these hid lights stating that these suddenly go out, and on and off, among other things, near the end of their life. my car is a 2008. my husband and i cannot replace these expensive, exotic hid bulbs because access is in a very tight place and the bumper must be removed--seriously!!!! even if we could do it, these hid bulbs cannot be purchased in a normal automotive store. anyhow, again on 10/17/10 i was several hours out of town, driving home on the interstate, at night, on a weekend, and the other headlight went out!!! i could not put in a new bulb myself. i had no one to call with this exotic hid light and certainly no one that would take off a bumper on the interstate. sudden, complete light outage at night is a very serious safety issue. on top of this, hid headlamp problem, any light bulb needs to be relatively easy to replace. at $150. per bulb, very pricy light plus bumper removal labor expense at 1 hour ($288), the toyota dealership service clerk actually said you chose this option. help before someone gets killed on one of these dark roads (chances are this has occurred with no one alive to know this was the cause)!!!
10/22/201047000
 One of our headlamps began to fail intermittently without any apparent cause. the failure occurred on a frequent basis (25-75% of the time) but could not be caused. the dealer recommended we replace both bulbs due to the expense of removing the bumper which is required. the dealer claimed that it is normal for this type of hid bulb to fail at this time in the life of the vehicle.
10/15/201046000
 Both of the front headlights on our 2008 toyota prius went out ,simulatenously, while driving at night. although quite frightening, fortunately, the incident happened on a well lit street at a slow speed and we were able to reach our destination safely. if this had occurred on a curvy road, darker area, etc. the results may have been deadly. since both headlights went out, our assumption was that the issue was electrical or perhaps a blown fuse. we took the vehicle to a toyota dealership where we were told, without inspection, that this was a known problem and that the headlights were defective. furthermore, we were told that the problem is not covered under our extended warranty and we are expected to pay for the replacement bulbs, estimated at ~$500. it is extremely disappointing that toyota is aware of this issue, has not notificied its customers of the hazard, and has not recalled the part. at this point, we have no choice but to replace the bulbs immediately and at our expense, as we understand it is not safe to drive without headlights.
10/21/201030104
 In january 2010 i began to suspect that the passenger-side high-intensity-discharge(hid) headlight of my 2008 toyota prius was not working properly. when driving at night, it seemed like my headlights were not evenly illuminating the road ahead of me. on several occasions i checked my headlights by turning on my vehicle and headlights, but saw both headlights illuminated properly. in early september 2010, i discovered the passengers-side headlight stopped illuminating approximately 5 minutes after turning on the headlights. as the weeks went on, the passenger-side headlight stopped illuminating more quickly. after i discovered the headlight malfunction, i did some online research and found hundreds of people experiencing the same thing. i learned nhtsa looked into the issue and decided not to issue a safety recall. as a result, i decided to wait until my 30,000 check-up to have the dealer look at my headlight. on oct 21, 2010 i was driving on interstate 238 at night in the pouring rain. i was traveling approximately 60 mph when both headlights simultaneously stopped illuminating. unable to see the road ahead of me due to the lack of headlights, i could not pull over. i slowed down to 50 mph, turned off the headlights then turned them back on. this caused both headlights to re-illuminate. the passenger side headlight stopped illuminating after about 60 seconds. it is a miracle i did not drive off the road and kill myself or someone else. my vehicle is still under warranty and toyota is replacing both headlights.
12/17/200943031
 On 12/03/09 we were ticketed for a left headlight out on our 2008 toyota prius. we didn't know it was out or going out. it looked on to us. two miles from home it looked as bright as ever. the next morning, as much as we tried, the garage could not find a bulb out, going out, weak, on or off, nothing was wrong! we had a funeral to go to and paid the fine. two weeks later, a letter was mailed from toyota listing issues regarding these hid lights stating that these suddenly go out, and on and off, among other things, near the end of their life. my car is a 2008. my husband and i cannot replace these expensive, exotic hid bulbs because access is in a very tight place and the bumper must be removed--seriously!!!! even if we could do it, these hid bulbs cannot be purchased in a normal automotive store. anyhow, again on 10/17/10 i was several hours out of town, driving home on the interstate, at night, on a weekend, and the other headlight went out!!! i could not put in a new bulb myself. i had no one to call with this exotic hid light and certainly no one that would take off a bumper on the interstate. sudden, complete light outage at night is a very serious safety issue. on top of this, hid headlamp problem, any light bulb needs to be relatively easy to replace. at $150. per bulb, very pricy light plus bumper removal labor expense at 1 hour ($288), the toyota dealership service clerk actually said you chose this option. help before someone gets killed on one of these dark roads (chances are this has occurred with no one alive to know this was the cause)!!!
10/22/201047000
 One of our headlamps began to fail intermittently without any apparent cause. the failure occurred on a frequent basis (25-75% of the time) but could not be caused. the dealer recommended we replace both bulbs due to the expense of removing the bumper which is required. the dealer claimed that it is normal for this type of hid bulb to fail at this time in the life of the vehicle.
10/15/201046000
 Both of the front headlights on our 2008 toyota prius went out ,simulatenously, while driving at night. although quite frightening, fortunately, the incident happened on a well lit street at a slow speed and we were able to reach our destination safely. if this had occurred on a curvy road, darker area, etc. the results may have been deadly. since both headlights went out, our assumption was that the issue was electrical or perhaps a blown fuse. we took the vehicle to a toyota dealership where we were told, without inspection, that this was a known problem and that the headlights were defective. furthermore, we were told that the problem is not covered under our extended warranty and we are expected to pay for the replacement bulbs, estimated at ~$500. it is extremely disappointing that toyota is aware of this issue, has not notificied its customers of the hazard, and has not recalled the part. at this point, we have no choice but to replace the bulbs immediately and at our expense, as we understand it is not safe to drive without headlights.
06/15/2010
 2008 toyota prius hid lights go out at night. started to happen around 50k miles. i replaced the passenger side hid twice. the first time, it fixed the problem for several months. now, after about 10 minutes, it turns off. turning the lights off then on will bring the light back on, sometimes for minutes, often for seconds.
10/22/201047000
 One of our headlamps began to fail intermittently without any apparent cause. the failure occurred on a frequent basis (25-75% of the time) but could not be caused. the dealer recommended we replace both bulbs due to the expense of removing the bumper which is required. the dealer claimed that it is normal for this type of hid bulb to fail at this time in the life of the vehicle.
10/15/201046000
 Both of the front headlights on our 2008 toyota prius went out ,simulatenously, while driving at night. although quite frightening, fortunately, the incident happened on a well lit street at a slow speed and we were able to reach our destination safely. if this had occurred on a curvy road, darker area, etc. the results may have been deadly. since both headlights went out, our assumption was that the issue was electrical or perhaps a blown fuse. we took the vehicle to a toyota dealership where we were told, without inspection, that this was a known problem and that the headlights were defective. furthermore, we were told that the problem is not covered under our extended warranty and we are expected to pay for the replacement bulbs, estimated at ~$500. it is extremely disappointing that toyota is aware of this issue, has not notificied its customers of the hazard, and has not recalled the part. at this point, we have no choice but to replace the bulbs immediately and at our expense, as we understand it is not safe to drive without headlights.
06/15/2010
 2008 toyota prius hid lights go out at night. started to happen around 50k miles. i replaced the passenger side hid twice. the first time, it fixed the problem for several months. now, after about 10 minutes, it turns off. turning the lights off then on will bring the light back on, sometimes for minutes, often for seconds.
10/05/201038000
 Passenger side headlight is not working on our 2008 toyota prius. it takes the very expensive hid bulbs. i do not know how long the bulb has not been working as it works for a minute then goes out. the vehicle has 38000 miles on it. a dealership has recommended replacing both bulbs at the same time to save money.
10/14/201070200
 The driver side hid headlight on my 2008 prius began flickering at 70,000 miles. the ficker would begin after 15 min of driving and then headlight would go out. passenger side headlight was fine. i ordered a replacement bulb from internet because repair cost through dealer was over $200. i was driving home at night last thursday and suddenly both headlights went out. there was never any flicker with passenger side headlight. i was plunged into complete darkness driving 55 mph on a dark country road. it was scary. i have never had a car do this. dealer ship advises it will be nearly $500 to repair both headlights which i can not afford. i ordered another bulb through internet. i will not be able to drive my car at night until bulbs are replaced.
10/15/201046000
 Both of the front headlights on our 2008 toyota prius went out ,simulatenously, while driving at night. although quite frightening, fortunately, the incident happened on a well lit street at a slow speed and we were able to reach our destination safely. if this had occurred on a curvy road, darker area, etc. the results may have been deadly. since both headlights went out, our assumption was that the issue was electrical or perhaps a blown fuse. we took the vehicle to a toyota dealership where we were told, without inspection, that this was a known problem and that the headlights were defective. furthermore, we were told that the problem is not covered under our extended warranty and we are expected to pay for the replacement bulbs, estimated at ~$500. it is extremely disappointing that toyota is aware of this issue, has not notificied its customers of the hazard, and has not recalled the part. at this point, we have no choice but to replace the bulbs immediately and at our expense, as we understand it is not safe to drive without headlights.
06/15/2010
 2008 toyota prius hid lights go out at night. started to happen around 50k miles. i replaced the passenger side hid twice. the first time, it fixed the problem for several months. now, after about 10 minutes, it turns off. turning the lights off then on will bring the light back on, sometimes for minutes, often for seconds.
10/05/201038000
 Passenger side headlight is not working on our 2008 toyota prius. it takes the very expensive hid bulbs. i do not know how long the bulb has not been working as it works for a minute then goes out. the vehicle has 38000 miles on it. a dealership has recommended replacing both bulbs at the same time to save money.
10/14/201070200
 The driver side hid headlight on my 2008 prius began flickering at 70,000 miles. the ficker would begin after 15 min of driving and then headlight would go out. passenger side headlight was fine. i ordered a replacement bulb from internet because repair cost through dealer was over $200. i was driving home at night last thursday and suddenly both headlights went out. there was never any flicker with passenger side headlight. i was plunged into complete darkness driving 55 mph on a dark country road. it was scary. i have never had a car do this. dealer ship advises it will be nearly $500 to repair both headlights which i can not afford. i ordered another bulb through internet. i will not be able to drive my car at night until bulbs are replaced.
06/15/2010
 2008 toyota prius hid lights go out at night. started to happen around 50k miles. i replaced the passenger side hid twice. the first time, it fixed the problem for several months. now, after about 10 minutes, it turns off. turning the lights off then on will bring the light back on, sometimes for minutes, often for seconds.
10/05/201038000
 Passenger side headlight is not working on our 2008 toyota prius. it takes the very expensive hid bulbs. i do not know how long the bulb has not been working as it works for a minute then goes out. the vehicle has 38000 miles on it. a dealership has recommended replacing both bulbs at the same time to save money.
10/14/201070200
 The driver side hid headlight on my 2008 prius began flickering at 70,000 miles. the ficker would begin after 15 min of driving and then headlight would go out. passenger side headlight was fine. i ordered a replacement bulb from internet because repair cost through dealer was over $200. i was driving home at night last thursday and suddenly both headlights went out. there was never any flicker with passenger side headlight. i was plunged into complete darkness driving 55 mph on a dark country road. it was scary. i have never had a car do this. dealer ship advises it will be nearly $500 to repair both headlights which i can not afford. i ordered another bulb through internet. i will not be able to drive my car at night until bulbs are replaced.
10/05/201038000
 Passenger side headlight is not working on our 2008 toyota prius. it takes the very expensive hid bulbs. i do not know how long the bulb has not been working as it works for a minute then goes out. the vehicle has 38000 miles on it. a dealership has recommended replacing both bulbs at the same time to save money.
10/14/201070200
 The driver side hid headlight on my 2008 prius began flickering at 70,000 miles. the ficker would begin after 15 min of driving and then headlight would go out. passenger side headlight was fine. i ordered a replacement bulb from internet because repair cost through dealer was over $200. i was driving home at night last thursday and suddenly both headlights went out. there was never any flicker with passenger side headlight. i was plunged into complete darkness driving 55 mph on a dark country road. it was scary. i have never had a car do this. dealer ship advises it will be nearly $500 to repair both headlights which i can not afford. i ordered another bulb through internet. i will not be able to drive my car at night until bulbs are replaced.
08/15/201042000
 2008 toyota prius headlamp on the passenger side fails intermittedly while driving at night. sometimes turning the lights off and back on solves the problem although this is not good to do at night. this seems like a safety issue that toyota should have a recall on, but toyota does not. they recommend a $300 replacement of both bulbs. i am worried that if both bulbs fail there will be a wreck. it seems like there are many complaints about this problem online that toyota does not admit having a problem with.
09/06/201015000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving at 35mph and at night both exterior headlights flicker on and off. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated they cannot duplicate the failure after inspecting the headlights for about thirty minutes. the manufacturer was call stating if the dealer cannot duplicate the problem they cannot offer any other assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 15,000....mw
05/04/201035000
 My 2008 toyota prius had a problem around may 2009 with it's hid headlamp - the headlamp will turn off without warning while i am driving the car - toyota replaced the passenger side hid hadlamp. same problem i am experiencing with the driver side hid headlamp - light turns off while driving the prius.
04/11/200826000
 Toyota prius headlights flicker and go out intermittently every time the headlights are on since april of 2008 and when taken to the dealership for a repair, dealer informed me that there was nothing diagnostically wrong with my lights
09/06/201015000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving at 35mph and at night both exterior headlights flicker on and off. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated they cannot duplicate the failure after inspecting the headlights for about thirty minutes. the manufacturer was call stating if the dealer cannot duplicate the problem they cannot offer any other assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 15,000....mw
05/04/201035000
 My 2008 toyota prius had a problem around may 2009 with it's hid headlamp - the headlamp will turn off without warning while i am driving the car - toyota replaced the passenger side hid hadlamp. same problem i am experiencing with the driver side hid headlamp - light turns off while driving the prius.
04/11/200826000
 Toyota prius headlights flicker and go out intermittently every time the headlights are on since april of 2008 and when taken to the dealership for a repair, dealer informed me that there was nothing diagnostically wrong with my lights
09/06/201015000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving at 35mph and at night both exterior headlights flicker on and off. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated they cannot duplicate the failure after inspecting the headlights for about thirty minutes. the manufacturer was call stating if the dealer cannot duplicate the problem they cannot offer any other assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 15,000....mw
05/04/201035000
 My 2008 toyota prius had a problem around may 2009 with it's hid headlamp - the headlamp will turn off without warning while i am driving the car - toyota replaced the passenger side hid hadlamp. same problem i am experiencing with the driver side hid headlamp - light turns off while driving the prius.
04/11/200826000
 Toyota prius headlights flicker and go out intermittently every time the headlights are on since april of 2008 and when taken to the dealership for a repair, dealer informed me that there was nothing diagnostically wrong with my lights
05/04/201035000
 My 2008 toyota prius had a problem around may 2009 with it's hid headlamp - the headlamp will turn off without warning while i am driving the car - toyota replaced the passenger side hid hadlamp. same problem i am experiencing with the driver side hid headlamp - light turns off while driving the prius.
04/11/200826000
 Toyota prius headlights flicker and go out intermittently every time the headlights are on since april of 2008 and when taken to the dealership for a repair, dealer informed me that there was nothing diagnostically wrong with my lights
12/10/200940000
 Toyota prius headlights intermittently fail. when driving with the headlights on, one or both headlights will fail. upon turning the lights off and back on using the headlight switch on the turn signal handle, the light(s) will come back on. the issue began in late 2009 and has continued to occur about 50% of the time when the car is used at night. it is usually limited to one headlight or the other and failure of both lights at the same time has only been seen once. toyota customer support has stated to myself (and other owners) that the issue is premature failure of the hid (high-intensity discharge) headlights installed on 2006 - 2008 model priuses. they are aware of the issue and are offering discounted lights for only $150 each, with no discount offered for the labor-intensive process of replacing the lamps, which requires removal of the bumper. the vehicle is not compatible with any other type of bulb (such as the halogen bulbs that are standard on the newer prius models), so owners are forced to pay toyota an incredibly high fee (even after the discount) to get their cars safely back on the road. i have not had the issue resolved because of the high cost. this issue has been observed and documented by hundreds of owners on the priuschat.com forum and hundreds or thousands more on other websites. previous nhtsa investigation documented that this problem may have been present in as many as 100,000 vehicles. this is a safety issue that needs to be dealt with by the manufacturer. the issue is apparently resolved in 2009 and later models because the hid lamps were replaced with halogen, but the danger of headlight failure on earlier models will remain high until toyota makes the earlier models compatible with more reliable headlights. all of this assumes toyota is being forthright in their claim that the hid bulbs are the culprit. if there is a bigger issue, consumers should obviously be made aware of that, as well.
09/17/201043754
 I purchased a new 2008 toyota prius in feb. 2008. it has the xenon high-intensity discharge (hid) headlights. in oct. 2009, the drivers side headlight went out and i took it to my dealer who replaced the bulb and computer sub-assy all under warranty. dealer said good thing under warranty as bulb alone cost $300 (i was shocked). dealer said bulb should not have gone out that quick (i have never had a vehicle have a bulb go out that quick. my mom has a tahoe that is 10 yrs old, leaves lights on all the time when driving and has never had to replace the bulb). they replaced computer sub-assy as well to be safe. weekend of sept 17, 2010, passenger light started flickering and would be out sometimes and sometimes not. i took to dealer on 9/27/10 and had to have that bulb replaced. car was out of warranty by 7,000 miles so it cost me $216. thankfully the price of the bulbs had dropped from $300 to $150, though cost still ridiculous. dealer did not replace computer part this time as they did in oct. 2009. i got on web and noticed others have had this problem. headlight bulbs going out in such a short time. i called toyota, and of course was told nothing they could due since car out of warranty. said to hold onto paperwork in case there was a recall. decided to file complaint in hopes gov't will look into this issue that is a problem with a sizable number of prius owners.
12/10/200940000
 Toyota prius headlights intermittently fail. when driving with the headlights on, one or both headlights will fail. upon turning the lights off and back on using the headlight switch on the turn signal handle, the light(s) will come back on. the issue began in late 2009 and has continued to occur about 50% of the time when the car is used at night. it is usually limited to one headlight or the other and failure of both lights at the same time has only been seen once. toyota customer support has stated to myself (and other owners) that the issue is premature failure of the hid (high-intensity discharge) headlights installed on 2006 - 2008 model priuses. they are aware of the issue and are offering discounted lights for only $150 each, with no discount offered for the labor-intensive process of replacing the lamps, which requires removal of the bumper. the vehicle is not compatible with any other type of bulb (such as the halogen bulbs that are standard on the newer prius models), so owners are forced to pay toyota an incredibly high fee (even after the discount) to get their cars safely back on the road. i have not had the issue resolved because of the high cost. this issue has been observed and documented by hundreds of owners on the priuschat.com forum and hundreds or thousands more on other websites. previous nhtsa investigation documented that this problem may have been present in as many as 100,000 vehicles. this is a safety issue that needs to be dealt with by the manufacturer. the issue is apparently resolved in 2009 and later models because the hid lamps were replaced with halogen, but the danger of headlight failure on earlier models will remain high until toyota makes the earlier models compatible with more reliable headlights. all of this assumes toyota is being forthright in their claim that the hid bulbs are the culprit. if there is a bigger issue, consumers should obviously be made aware of that, as well.
09/17/201043754
 I purchased a new 2008 toyota prius in feb. 2008. it has the xenon high-intensity discharge (hid) headlights. in oct. 2009, the drivers side headlight went out and i took it to my dealer who replaced the bulb and computer sub-assy all under warranty. dealer said good thing under warranty as bulb alone cost $300 (i was shocked). dealer said bulb should not have gone out that quick (i have never had a vehicle have a bulb go out that quick. my mom has a tahoe that is 10 yrs old, leaves lights on all the time when driving and has never had to replace the bulb). they replaced computer sub-assy as well to be safe. weekend of sept 17, 2010, passenger light started flickering and would be out sometimes and sometimes not. i took to dealer on 9/27/10 and had to have that bulb replaced. car was out of warranty by 7,000 miles so it cost me $216. thankfully the price of the bulbs had dropped from $300 to $150, though cost still ridiculous. dealer did not replace computer part this time as they did in oct. 2009. i got on web and noticed others have had this problem. headlight bulbs going out in such a short time. i called toyota, and of course was told nothing they could due since car out of warranty. said to hold onto paperwork in case there was a recall. decided to file complaint in hopes gov't will look into this issue that is a problem with a sizable number of prius owners.
09/25/2010
 2008 prius driver side headlight does not function properly. bulb has been replaced but the light still works only intermittently.
09/23/201055000
 During normal driving, driver's side (hid) headlight begin failing after a few minutes every time the lights were turned on. after a few days, both headlights began to fail after initially turning on. turning the lights off and back on returns them to operation, but after a few minutes they fail again.
12/10/200940000
 Toyota prius headlights intermittently fail. when driving with the headlights on, one or both headlights will fail. upon turning the lights off and back on using the headlight switch on the turn signal handle, the light(s) will come back on. the issue began in late 2009 and has continued to occur about 50% of the time when the car is used at night. it is usually limited to one headlight or the other and failure of both lights at the same time has only been seen once. toyota customer support has stated to myself (and other owners) that the issue is premature failure of the hid (high-intensity discharge) headlights installed on 2006 - 2008 model priuses. they are aware of the issue and are offering discounted lights for only $150 each, with no discount offered for the labor-intensive process of replacing the lamps, which requires removal of the bumper. the vehicle is not compatible with any other type of bulb (such as the halogen bulbs that are standard on the newer prius models), so owners are forced to pay toyota an incredibly high fee (even after the discount) to get their cars safely back on the road. i have not had the issue resolved because of the high cost. this issue has been observed and documented by hundreds of owners on the priuschat.com forum and hundreds or thousands more on other websites. previous nhtsa investigation documented that this problem may have been present in as many as 100,000 vehicles. this is a safety issue that needs to be dealt with by the manufacturer. the issue is apparently resolved in 2009 and later models because the hid lamps were replaced with halogen, but the danger of headlight failure on earlier models will remain high until toyota makes the earlier models compatible with more reliable headlights. all of this assumes toyota is being forthright in their claim that the hid bulbs are the culprit. if there is a bigger issue, consumers should obviously be made aware of that, as well.
09/17/201043754
 I purchased a new 2008 toyota prius in feb. 2008. it has the xenon high-intensity discharge (hid) headlights. in oct. 2009, the drivers side headlight went out and i took it to my dealer who replaced the bulb and computer sub-assy all under warranty. dealer said good thing under warranty as bulb alone cost $300 (i was shocked). dealer said bulb should not have gone out that quick (i have never had a vehicle have a bulb go out that quick. my mom has a tahoe that is 10 yrs old, leaves lights on all the time when driving and has never had to replace the bulb). they replaced computer sub-assy as well to be safe. weekend of sept 17, 2010, passenger light started flickering and would be out sometimes and sometimes not. i took to dealer on 9/27/10 and had to have that bulb replaced. car was out of warranty by 7,000 miles so it cost me $216. thankfully the price of the bulbs had dropped from $300 to $150, though cost still ridiculous. dealer did not replace computer part this time as they did in oct. 2009. i got on web and noticed others have had this problem. headlight bulbs going out in such a short time. i called toyota, and of course was told nothing they could due since car out of warranty. said to hold onto paperwork in case there was a recall. decided to file complaint in hopes gov't will look into this issue that is a problem with a sizable number of prius owners.
09/25/2010
 2008 prius driver side headlight does not function properly. bulb has been replaced but the light still works only intermittently.
09/23/201055000
 During normal driving, driver's side (hid) headlight begin failing after a few minutes every time the lights were turned on. after a few days, both headlights began to fail after initially turning on. turning the lights off and back on returns them to operation, but after a few minutes they fail again.
12/10/200940000
 Toyota prius headlights intermittently fail. when driving with the headlights on, one or both headlights will fail. upon turning the lights off and back on using the headlight switch on the turn signal handle, the light(s) will come back on. the issue began in late 2009 and has continued to occur about 50% of the time when the car is used at night. it is usually limited to one headlight or the other and failure of both lights at the same time has only been seen once. toyota customer support has stated to myself (and other owners) that the issue is premature failure of the hid (high-intensity discharge) headlights installed on 2006 - 2008 model priuses. they are aware of the issue and are offering discounted lights for only $150 each, with no discount offered for the labor-intensive process of replacing the lamps, which requires removal of the bumper. the vehicle is not compatible with any other type of bulb (such as the halogen bulbs that are standard on the newer prius models), so owners are forced to pay toyota an incredibly high fee (even after the discount) to get their cars safely back on the road. i have not had the issue resolved because of the high cost. this issue has been observed and documented by hundreds of owners on the priuschat.com forum and hundreds or thousands more on other websites. previous nhtsa investigation documented that this problem may have been present in as many as 100,000 vehicles. this is a safety issue that needs to be dealt with by the manufacturer. the issue is apparently resolved in 2009 and later models because the hid lamps were replaced with halogen, but the danger of headlight failure on earlier models will remain high until toyota makes the earlier models compatible with more reliable headlights. all of this assumes toyota is being forthright in their claim that the hid bulbs are the culprit. if there is a bigger issue, consumers should obviously be made aware of that, as well.
09/17/201043754
 I purchased a new 2008 toyota prius in feb. 2008. it has the xenon high-intensity discharge (hid) headlights. in oct. 2009, the drivers side headlight went out and i took it to my dealer who replaced the bulb and computer sub-assy all under warranty. dealer said good thing under warranty as bulb alone cost $300 (i was shocked). dealer said bulb should not have gone out that quick (i have never had a vehicle have a bulb go out that quick. my mom has a tahoe that is 10 yrs old, leaves lights on all the time when driving and has never had to replace the bulb). they replaced computer sub-assy as well to be safe. weekend of sept 17, 2010, passenger light started flickering and would be out sometimes and sometimes not. i took to dealer on 9/27/10 and had to have that bulb replaced. car was out of warranty by 7,000 miles so it cost me $216. thankfully the price of the bulbs had dropped from $300 to $150, though cost still ridiculous. dealer did not replace computer part this time as they did in oct. 2009. i got on web and noticed others have had this problem. headlight bulbs going out in such a short time. i called toyota, and of course was told nothing they could due since car out of warranty. said to hold onto paperwork in case there was a recall. decided to file complaint in hopes gov't will look into this issue that is a problem with a sizable number of prius owners.
09/25/2010
 2008 prius driver side headlight does not function properly. bulb has been replaced but the light still works only intermittently.
09/23/201055000
 During normal driving, driver's side (hid) headlight begin failing after a few minutes every time the lights were turned on. after a few days, both headlights began to fail after initially turning on. turning the lights off and back on returns them to operation, but after a few minutes they fail again.
09/25/2010
 2008 prius driver side headlight does not function properly. bulb has been replaced but the light still works only intermittently.
09/23/201055000
 During normal driving, driver's side (hid) headlight begin failing after a few minutes every time the lights were turned on. after a few days, both headlights began to fail after initially turning on. turning the lights off and back on returns them to operation, but after a few minutes they fail again.
09/25/2010
 2008 prius driver side headlight does not function properly. bulb has been replaced but the light still works only intermittently.
09/23/201055000
 During normal driving, driver's side (hid) headlight begin failing after a few minutes every time the lights were turned on. after a few days, both headlights began to fail after initially turning on. turning the lights off and back on returns them to operation, but after a few minutes they fail again.
09/06/201021500
 Hid headlamp replacement for the toyota prius. after 21,000 the left bulb started to flicker and then goes out. can be restarted by turning switch off and then on again. headlights go out with no notice. could be very dangerous driving at night on a dark road. dealer wants anywhere from $350 to $1000 to change the lamps. say the front bumper needs to be removed. owners manual has instructions but to me not totally accurate. following the instructions still does not fix the access problem. bulbs apparently are only available from the toyota dealer. price stats at $175. besides the price of the bulb and the unnecessary labor this is a very unsafe situation on the road should they go out all of a sudden.
09/04/201056700
 2008 prius passenger side headlight is intermittent and for no apparent reason goes off for extended periods and then comes back on. i have been stopped and warned by the police regarding this issue but when i try to check it out it seems to work fine. i have tapped the light and wiggled the wires but to no effect. the internet is full of similar complaints which need to be reviewed and resolved by the manufacturer.
09/04/201069000
 2008 toyota prius high intensity discharge (hid) light flickers and is on intermittently. you never know when it goes out. a call to the local toyota dealer indicates minimum of $500 to replace 2 headlight bulbs.
07/20/201047000
 The hid headlamps on the 2008 toyota prius keep turning off while i'm driving. sometimes the left one, sometimes the right one, and sometimes both. i have to turn the headlamp switch off and them back on again to get them the work. sometimes several times during a 15 min. trip. my car is only 2 years old with 47,000 miles. i have never had headlamp fail within 2 years. this is very dangerous. these lamps are suppose to last twice as long a regular bulbs and they appear to last half as long. they seem to be over-powered. got a letter from toyota that said they would do me a favor and reduce the cost of a new bulb from $300 to $150 (plus labor). the letter also said try not to use the headlamps. now that is the way to solve a problem. if the headlamps turn off when you use them, don't use them and they won't turn off! brilliant!!!???
09/04/201069000
 2008 toyota prius high intensity discharge (hid) light flickers and is on intermittently. you never know when it goes out. a call to the local toyota dealer indicates minimum of $500 to replace 2 headlight bulbs.
07/20/201047000
 The hid headlamps on the 2008 toyota prius keep turning off while i'm driving. sometimes the left one, sometimes the right one, and sometimes both. i have to turn the headlamp switch off and them back on again to get them the work. sometimes several times during a 15 min. trip. my car is only 2 years old with 47,000 miles. i have never had headlamp fail within 2 years. this is very dangerous. these lamps are suppose to last twice as long a regular bulbs and they appear to last half as long. they seem to be over-powered. got a letter from toyota that said they would do me a favor and reduce the cost of a new bulb from $300 to $150 (plus labor). the letter also said try not to use the headlamps. now that is the way to solve a problem. if the headlamps turn off when you use them, don't use them and they won't turn off! brilliant!!!???
07/01/200924700
 The headlights on my 2008 toyota prius go off intermittently and at random. it is a daily occurrence. sometimes it is the left sometimes the right. turning the headlights off and then back on will relight the headlamp that has stopped working. turning them off and then on while driving is not always easy to do and presents a safety problem since i am temporarily not visible to other drivers. on one occasion while making a left turn on an unlite street both headlamps went off and another vehicle almost hit me because i was not visible. i am not always aware that one of the headlights is out. i took the vehicle to the dealer and was told they did not see any problem with the headlights and i must have imagined it. so, i took video. now they say i need new bulbs at a cost of just under $400.00 each. i cannot afford it. this is a factory defect that i was never informed about proior to purchasing the vehicle brand new in september 2007. i have been taken advantage of. i would have never purchased the vehicle had i known or been informed of a problem. there are two additional undiagnosed problems. i am told that none will be coved by the dealership or the manufacturer. the cost of the replacement bulbs (which are also defective) will not be covered, regardless of how often i need to replace them.
09/04/201069000
 2008 toyota prius high intensity discharge (hid) light flickers and is on intermittently. you never know when it goes out. a call to the local toyota dealer indicates minimum of $500 to replace 2 headlight bulbs.
07/20/201047000
 The hid headlamps on the 2008 toyota prius keep turning off while i'm driving. sometimes the left one, sometimes the right one, and sometimes both. i have to turn the headlamp switch off and them back on again to get them the work. sometimes several times during a 15 min. trip. my car is only 2 years old with 47,000 miles. i have never had headlamp fail within 2 years. this is very dangerous. these lamps are suppose to last twice as long a regular bulbs and they appear to last half as long. they seem to be over-powered. got a letter from toyota that said they would do me a favor and reduce the cost of a new bulb from $300 to $150 (plus labor). the letter also said try not to use the headlamps. now that is the way to solve a problem. if the headlamps turn off when you use them, don't use them and they won't turn off! brilliant!!!???
07/01/200924700
 The headlights on my 2008 toyota prius go off intermittently and at random. it is a daily occurrence. sometimes it is the left sometimes the right. turning the headlights off and then back on will relight the headlamp that has stopped working. turning them off and then on while driving is not always easy to do and presents a safety problem since i am temporarily not visible to other drivers. on one occasion while making a left turn on an unlite street both headlamps went off and another vehicle almost hit me because i was not visible. i am not always aware that one of the headlights is out. i took the vehicle to the dealer and was told they did not see any problem with the headlights and i must have imagined it. so, i took video. now they say i need new bulbs at a cost of just under $400.00 each. i cannot afford it. this is a factory defect that i was never informed about proior to purchasing the vehicle brand new in september 2007. i have been taken advantage of. i would have never purchased the vehicle had i known or been informed of a problem. there are two additional undiagnosed problems. i am told that none will be coved by the dealership or the manufacturer. the cost of the replacement bulbs (which are also defective) will not be covered, regardless of how often i need to replace them.
09/04/201069000
 2008 toyota prius high intensity discharge (hid) light flickers and is on intermittently. you never know when it goes out. a call to the local toyota dealer indicates minimum of $500 to replace 2 headlight bulbs.
07/20/201047000
 The hid headlamps on the 2008 toyota prius keep turning off while i'm driving. sometimes the left one, sometimes the right one, and sometimes both. i have to turn the headlamp switch off and them back on again to get them the work. sometimes several times during a 15 min. trip. my car is only 2 years old with 47,000 miles. i have never had headlamp fail within 2 years. this is very dangerous. these lamps are suppose to last twice as long a regular bulbs and they appear to last half as long. they seem to be over-powered. got a letter from toyota that said they would do me a favor and reduce the cost of a new bulb from $300 to $150 (plus labor). the letter also said try not to use the headlamps. now that is the way to solve a problem. if the headlamps turn off when you use them, don't use them and they won't turn off! brilliant!!!???
07/01/200924700
 The headlights on my 2008 toyota prius go off intermittently and at random. it is a daily occurrence. sometimes it is the left sometimes the right. turning the headlights off and then back on will relight the headlamp that has stopped working. turning them off and then on while driving is not always easy to do and presents a safety problem since i am temporarily not visible to other drivers. on one occasion while making a left turn on an unlite street both headlamps went off and another vehicle almost hit me because i was not visible. i am not always aware that one of the headlights is out. i took the vehicle to the dealer and was told they did not see any problem with the headlights and i must have imagined it. so, i took video. now they say i need new bulbs at a cost of just under $400.00 each. i cannot afford it. this is a factory defect that i was never informed about proior to purchasing the vehicle brand new in september 2007. i have been taken advantage of. i would have never purchased the vehicle had i known or been informed of a problem. there are two additional undiagnosed problems. i am told that none will be coved by the dealership or the manufacturer. the cost of the replacement bulbs (which are also defective) will not be covered, regardless of how often i need to replace them.
07/20/201047000
 The hid headlamps on the 2008 toyota prius keep turning off while i'm driving. sometimes the left one, sometimes the right one, and sometimes both. i have to turn the headlamp switch off and them back on again to get them the work. sometimes several times during a 15 min. trip. my car is only 2 years old with 47,000 miles. i have never had headlamp fail within 2 years. this is very dangerous. these lamps are suppose to last twice as long a regular bulbs and they appear to last half as long. they seem to be over-powered. got a letter from toyota that said they would do me a favor and reduce the cost of a new bulb from $300 to $150 (plus labor). the letter also said try not to use the headlamps. now that is the way to solve a problem. if the headlamps turn off when you use them, don't use them and they won't turn off! brilliant!!!???
07/01/200924700
 The headlights on my 2008 toyota prius go off intermittently and at random. it is a daily occurrence. sometimes it is the left sometimes the right. turning the headlights off and then back on will relight the headlamp that has stopped working. turning them off and then on while driving is not always easy to do and presents a safety problem since i am temporarily not visible to other drivers. on one occasion while making a left turn on an unlite street both headlamps went off and another vehicle almost hit me because i was not visible. i am not always aware that one of the headlights is out. i took the vehicle to the dealer and was told they did not see any problem with the headlights and i must have imagined it. so, i took video. now they say i need new bulbs at a cost of just under $400.00 each. i cannot afford it. this is a factory defect that i was never informed about proior to purchasing the vehicle brand new in september 2007. i have been taken advantage of. i would have never purchased the vehicle had i known or been informed of a problem. there are two additional undiagnosed problems. i am told that none will be coved by the dealership or the manufacturer. the cost of the replacement bulbs (which are also defective) will not be covered, regardless of how often i need to replace them.
08/01/201046000
 I have just had my left front headlamp go out on my 2008 prius. there is 46,000 miles on my car and the cost of replacing one headlamp was $254 with labor charge through the dealership where i bought it. this is ludacris. i can replace a normal headlamp myself for about $15. according to jd power, the expected lifespan of an hid bulb is 3,000 hours (about 90,000 miles for the average driver.) i dont see how or why the bulb should cost so much to replace and why toyota does not cover the bulbs for longer. i purchased an extended warranty, only to find out that the extensions are not covered by toyota but by the individual dealership.
08/28/201037000
 2008 prius with hid headlights. driver side headlight goes out after 1-3 minutes. turning off headlight switch and turning back on restores headlight for another 1-3 minutes.
08/01/201057000
 The headlight or headlights go out intermittently on my 2008 toyota prius hybrid
08/28/201037000
 2008 prius with hid headlights. driver side headlight goes out after 1-3 minutes. turning off headlight switch and turning back on restores headlight for another 1-3 minutes.
08/01/201057000
 The headlight or headlights go out intermittently on my 2008 toyota prius hybrid
08/15/201036000
 This car is fairly new and has hid headlights. last week the right headlight went out. by turning the lights off and on, i was able to get it to come on. i took it to the dealer and they said they checked it out thoroughtly and could find no problem. yesterday, the right headlight was again out, and turning it off and on got it to light up, but dimmer than the left. i believe there is a safety defect in these hid headlights that toyota is not recognizing.
08/28/201037000
 2008 prius with hid headlights. driver side headlight goes out after 1-3 minutes. turning off headlight switch and turning back on restores headlight for another 1-3 minutes.
08/01/201057000
 The headlight or headlights go out intermittently on my 2008 toyota prius hybrid
08/15/201036000
 This car is fairly new and has hid headlights. last week the right headlight went out. by turning the lights off and on, i was able to get it to come on. i took it to the dealer and they said they checked it out thoroughtly and could find no problem. yesterday, the right headlight was again out, and turning it off and on got it to light up, but dimmer than the left. i believe there is a safety defect in these hid headlights that toyota is not recognizing.
08/15/201043000
 The headlights on my 2008 toyota prius just go out randomly. sometimes it is just the driver side or the passenger side headlight, but at times it has been both. i have to turn the headlights off and then back on to get them to work. but this isn't a permanent solution because it will happen again the next time i start the car. it has even happened 2+ times on the same trip. this is a safety hazard because i generally don't know when one or the other light has turned off unless i happen to see it in the back bumper of the car in front of me. and it would definitely be a hazard if both lights go out and the on/off trick doesn't get them working again. the car is almost 3 yrs old and has 45000 miles. toyota service department claimed to have not heard of any issues with the lights and i was told they could not see anything wrong and could not replicate the problem while they had my car.
08/09/201062000
 Started driving 2008 prius home and the drivers side headlight went out then both lights. turned them off and then on again and they worked for a few minutes off again.
08/15/201043000
 The headlights on my 2008 toyota prius just go out randomly. sometimes it is just the driver side or the passenger side headlight, but at times it has been both. i have to turn the headlights off and then back on to get them to work. but this isn't a permanent solution because it will happen again the next time i start the car. it has even happened 2+ times on the same trip. this is a safety hazard because i generally don't know when one or the other light has turned off unless i happen to see it in the back bumper of the car in front of me. and it would definitely be a hazard if both lights go out and the on/off trick doesn't get them working again. the car is almost 3 yrs old and has 45000 miles. toyota service department claimed to have not heard of any issues with the lights and i was told they could not see anything wrong and could not replicate the problem while they had my car.
08/09/201062000
 Started driving 2008 prius home and the drivers side headlight went out then both lights. turned them off and then on again and they worked for a few minutes off again.
06/01/201032000
 Driver's side headlight on 2008 prius fails intermittenly
06/22/201062195
 Driving to work in the a.m., and about 5 minutes after leaving the house, my driver's side headlight went out again. i turned off my headlights, then back on and both lights came back on. there is definitely something wrong with the electrical system supporting the lighting. this is a safety hazard and it now has me nervous every time i get on the road that it will go out at any time day or night. it is likely making prius owners focus too much on watching for signs their headlights are still on instead of concentrating on their driving.
06/19/201062153
 Driving down the road last night (6/19) and my driver's side headlight went out as i was crossing over a bridge. i closely followed the car in front of me and as soon as i got off the bridge i turned off, then back on my lights, and both headlights came back on. this is a continuing safety issue that needs to be addressed!!!
06/09/201062010
 Hid headlights unexpectedly shut off while driving. when i turn them off, then back on, they work perfectly fine, but i don't know when they'll go out again. this is clearly a safety issue. it does appear that the hid headlight equipped prius has some electrical or design defect.
06/08/201061890
 Hid headlights unexpectedly shut off while driving. this is clearly a safety issue and appears to be a defect with the electrical system or design of the lighting components other than the bulbs because if i turn them off they come back on fine every time like there's nothing wrong with them.
06/05/201061853
 Hid headlights that unexpectedly shut off while driving, but come back on when manually turned off, then on. appears to be problem with the electrical system, not the lights, or a design defect.
05/15/201040000
 I own a 2008 toyota prius and on two seperate occasions the hid lightbulbs have flickered and gone out while driving. the replacement cost of the lightbulbs is in excess of $200.
02/14/201036000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while the contact was driving approximately 30 mph the driver side headlamp flickered and became inoperable. the vehicle continued in operation. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection where the technician stated the headlamp failure was common. the headlamp was replaced at the cost of $250.00. the identical failure occurred on a separate occasion with the passenger side headlamp. the authorized dealer had been notified to schedule an appointment for the other headlamp replacement. the failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
03/01/201036000
 Toyota prius hid headlights fail intermittently when driving. sometimes it is the left headlight, sometimes it is the right headlight and sometimes it is both. especially dangerous when both headlights turn off by themselves and we are driving at night.
05/01/201040000
 Both hid headlights have gone out in under 40,000 miles in my 2008 toyota prius
04/10/201052895
 2008 prius with hid headlights. the problem is that the driver's side headlight goes out intermittently. turning the lights off and back on again sometimes restores the defective light. this is a safety related issue that appears frequently on the prius chat list and is an expensive fix. toyota has chosen not to address this issue at this point.
12/27/200958000
 I have a 08 prius. the last few months i have been having problems with my headlights. i have people tell me i have a light out, but when i check its working. it seems that i am driving in the dark sometimes with just my fog lamps, i turn the lights off and on then they seem brighter. headlamps cost $179. plus labor. toyota will not guarentee that is the fix and talking it may cost upwards of 4-5 thousand dollars for dependable lights. this seems like a a crime too me. i hear of a possible recall of this problem but not really sure what to do about the problem now, i don't have 4-5 thousand dollars to have properly working headlights.
04/10/201036300
 The hid headlamp of my 2008 toyota prius was working intermitently and i got a traffic ticket for it. since i was unaware that the lamp was out, the ticket was only a warning. i had the lamp replaced at my expense at 36300 miles and $300!
04/23/201038232
 I own a 2008 toyota prius that has intermittent headlight failure. i have been traveling to and from washington hospital center and my residence in southern maryland. approximately, 75 miles each way daily to visit my mother in icu. i have been stopped on numerous occasions by the metropolitan police department as well as the maryland state police for a headlight out. while being issued a citation, i turn my lights off and on again so the officer can see that it is a mechanical failure, not negligence on my part. this is a safety issue that needs to be repaired by toyota.
04/10/201032000
 2008 toyota prius headlights - the car only has 2 years and 30k miles and the passenger headlight flickered until it finally stopped working. went to the dealer and they want over $300 to change a light bulb!! so trying to do it myself and i have to take the car apart. it is unbelievable!
04/20/200844000
 2008 toyota prius--44,000 miles, led headlights keep going out--$166 part + $45 labor. i replaced one in january, 2010, now another april 19, 2010. these are very pricey lightbulbs and need to be recalled and not priced to the customer. the incident date below is the second occurence. when the police stopped and issued me a warning to tell me that my front headlight was out, he also said that my rear tail-light was out as well. there are definite problems with toyota and their prius lighting and i'm tired of paying the bill. my bill today is $250. i also bought a $1100 extended warranty which was of no use.
04/15/201045000
 2008 toyota prius hid headlamps are intermittant while driving. public and personal safety hazard! replaced hid bulbs with the proper type, and the intermittants continue to occur. phillips d4r hid bulbs are the recommended replacement bulbs. hid headlamps wink off at random, when the brakes are applied. i think that the internal mechanism of the headlamp beam adjuster (which consistes of a weighted, damped and moveable subreflector) may be hitting the bulbs and causing them to prematurely fail, or the bulbs and ballast are faulty. phillips d4r hid bulbs are extremely expensive, and are extremely difficult to replace because the access to the back of the headlamp assembly is very cramped and confined.
04/10/2010280001
 Hi, while driving to work this morning, my left headlight flashed and then stopped working. my 2008 toyota prius is about 1.75 years old with approximately 28,000 miles. i have heard from other prius owners that they have had problems with their headlights. i have also heard the replacement cost for the headlight is $300.00. i find that hard to believe, nonetheless headlights in everyother car i have owned seem to have a life of 10 or more years. this is a safety issue because i drive to work early in the morning when it is dark and i sometimes don't return home until after dark. the bulk of my driving has been in the daylight, however i need my car to get to work. also on 3 occasions my cruise control accelerated beyond where i set it. for example i reset the control after having hit the brakes. i got back to my speed and set the cruise control at 70mph. i noticed a short while later the car was going 95. i hit the brakes to slow down and the car immediately came out of cruise control and slowed down as it should. i now take the car all the way out of cruise control shutting it off after i hit the brakes. i next turn the control back on and reset the cruise. using the cruise this way i have not had the problem of the car speeding up. ii figure i will continue to use the cruise this way and observe whether there is any problem. however,i don't believe toyota intended for the cruise control to be used this way. thank you *tr
04/03/201042200
 Feb 6, 2010 - purchased 2008 toyota prius with 40940 miles. march 1, 2010 - passenger side headlight failed during night driving. mileage approx. 42200. light worked the next day, but only for a short time. worked internittenly throughout that day. contacted dealership. march3, 2010 - headlight replaced by dealership for cost of labor only. april 3, 2010 - new passenger side headlight again failed during night driving. worked the next evening without incident. will contact dealership 4/5 to address internitent headlight issue.
04/02/2010
 I noticed the passenger side headline on my 2008 prius start flickering, my car has 44k miles. according to my dealership, the fixture is overheating and will fail soon. total cost to replace and install new bulb will be over $400 for a light bulb. i believe that this part or design is defective.
03/28/2010595411
 Toyota prius - 2.5 years old, under full parts & labor factory warranty head lights hid bulbs work intermittently. dealership response: pay $771.43+tax for bulbs - got written quote *cn
03/01/201032000
 Prius 2008 headlamp: both the passenger and driver side headlamps, one at a time, intermittently turn off. if i turn the lights of for a few seconds, the light comes back on and stays on, sometimes for a short while and sometimes for a longer period. i have not had both go out at the same time. this has been going on for at least one month.
03/22/201040000
 I was driving to the airport one night and the headlights on my 2008 prius turned off. i was able to turn them back on by reseting the light switch. this happen several times during my trip to and from the airport. i took the vehicle into dublin (ca) toyota but they were unable to accurately diagnose the problem. everything checked out ok to them even though the lights were turning on and off in their service bay. they suggested changing both lights for $600 which they said was a discount from toyota. however they could not guarantee this would correct the problem. i decided to order the bulbs and change them myself. i understand this is a fairly common problem with the prius. need your help to force toyota to find the root cause of the failure.
03/17/201036000
 Left from headlight has failed at 28 months / 36,000 miles, and i've been quoted >$200 to repair!
03/17/201035000
 2008 prius. at 35,000 miles the passenger side headlight burnt out, covered by wrranty. at 40,000 miles the driver's side burns out, but it is not covered by warranty. $200 to replace. i've never been told by carson city toyota that prius cars have a problem with headlights.
02/06/20108500
 Hello....i just received a notice from toyota entitled customer support program..(no mention of recall). in it, they say that there is a problem with headlights going out...and while they've been charging for them at 300 dollars each, they now realize that it's some kind of electrical issue....that causes the lights to fail...now, in light of everything else, it seems that this is a potentially serious problem and should be a recall...not a hide the problem kind of customer support letter......someone should be monitoring this one too....if toyota can hide something that is a recall-warranted problem, what next..? it worries me....
03/05/201045000
 2008 prius head light failure. both headlights have gone out. not under warrentry ihad new headlight put in (1-2009 & 1 in 2010)
03/13/2010354991
 Toyota prius vin=[xxx] passenger hid headlight failed while driving at night. stopped, shut off engine, restarted and headlight reenergized, but failed again while driving after a few minutes. miles on car 35,499. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
03/06/2010369001
 2008 toyota prius hid headlamp has gone out on the drivers side...dealership in asheville only says its past the 36,000 miles and out of warranty. going to have the dealership check out the light and what is wrong. saw all the complaints with other owners and this is a problem, and a safety issue. there should be a recall on this or a lemon law put on it so toyota will handle the costs. i am just wondering how much it will cost. the light alone is about $150.00 each. *tr
03/08/2010498781
 Premature failure of hid light bulb on 2008 toyota prius with 49,000 miles on it . then being told by the dealer it will cost 250.00 to replace it.i understand this a really common failure on prius with hid light bulbs and it happens alot.. *tr
09/01/2009430001
 Both headlights went out periodically without warning making it unsafe to drive at night. then noticed the drivers side went out periodically and had to flip the switch for light to go back on. this happened for month or so. then it completely went out. then about month later - the passenger light would go out without warning leaving me with no lights while driving at night. by flipping the switch, the light would go back on for few minutes and then again shut off. car is a 2008 prius. this should not happen to a barely 2 year old car. there seems to be some sort of malfunction with the wiring, etc because the lights should not be going out so soon... *tr
03/01/2010440001
 I purchased a 2008 prius with hid bulbs and they both started going out a couple weeks after owning it while i was driving home at night. in just a matter of minutes, i had no lights at all! i was in a urban area, so the street lights were there so that i could see. but if i were in the country, as i usually am about once a week, i would have been in big trouble. *tr
03/08/2010250001
 The driver's side hid headlamp intermittently fails while the car is in operation. i have brought this to the toyota dealers several times, only to be told the problem cannot be recreated. *tr
03/05/2010490001
 Headlights often go out. if i stop and manipulate the connection, it will come back on. there is no guarantee the light will stay on. primarily happens on the drivers side light but passenger side has also gone out. they have never(as yet) both gone out at the same time. *tr
02/06/2010302004
 Approx. one month ago i noticed that the headlights on my 2008 toyota prius would intermittently turn off while i was driving. this has happened on at least 4 occasions. three times only the left headlight would go out, and one time both headlights went out simultaneously. i don't do too much night driving so i don't know exactly when the problem began, but my best estimate is one month ago. again, this is an intermittent problem as the vast majority of the time the headlights are working as they should. i know of no cause for this problem as the situation has occurred during freeway driving during clear conditions and rain conditions, as well on when driving on surface streets. when both headlights went completely out it was dusk and i was only a block from home. the 3 other times when just the left headlight went out i knew of no way to get the light back on and just continued my trip with one headlight functioning. *tr
01/19/2010200001
 While driving my 2008 prius at approximately 2 a.m.on a mountainous road with many curves and wildlife the passenger headlight went out in both the high and low beams. i was startled and swerved, but luckily i maintained control of the car. i did not feel safe driving while it was still dark. at the first opportunity i pulled of the road in a safe place and spent the remainder of the night in the car. when it was light enough to continue i drove to my destination and called the local toyota dealer and was utterly shocked when i was told what it would cost to replace the bulb. i am on a fixed income and this posed a financial hardship. the car only had a little less than 20,000 miles. i have since learned that this is a common problem. not only is the cost to replace a bulb (yes a bulb) ridiculous but this poses a safety hazard and toyota should be made to correct this defect. *tr
02/21/2010224001
 I have a 08 prius. several days ago someone told me that one day-time running light was out. two nights ago i checked and both lights were working so i thought i was ok. last night after driving about an hour, both head lights went out. i turned the switch off and on again and the lights came back on. about a minute later the right light went off. after another hour of driving the left light went out and i repeated the turn on cycle and it stayed another coupler hours. (i drove home with the flasher as this would have enabled me to see the road a little is case the light went out again., ) i made it home ok and am contacting my dealer today. *tr
02/15/2010191001
 Intermittent operation of hid headlight (one side) on 2008 toyota prius. sometimes both hid headlights work as intended; sometimes one (in this case the left) headlight ceases to work. *tr
02/14/2010210001
 Premature headlight failure at 20,000 miles. *tr
11/14/2009550001
 I have about 57,000 miles on my 2008 toyota prius. when driving at night the headlights will go out. not both but either the left or right headlight. the left more than the passenger side. if i turn the lights off and back on the lights re light. as my running lights are on, oncoming traffic can still see me coming, but my vision is greatly reduced. *tr
11/05/2009200001
 After owning our 2008 toyota prius hybrid for 2 years, we have had to replace both headlamps already. they both failed prematurely. fortunately for us our dealership replaced the headlamps with no charge as we are well under the 36,000 mile warranty. my question is what is going to happen when that warranty expires, and it will soon. will toyota or our dealership keep replacing these headlights bulbs. i think not! they will more than likely make me pay for them! with the 35 complaints that are listed here about the same issue, one would expect/demand that toyota would voluntarily cover the costs involved with replacing these headlight bulbs, that keep going out prematurely. surely this is a safety hazard as we need 2 working headlights to avoid being ticketed by the police. my wife and i are extremely disappointed with toyota that these headlight bulbs keep failing prematurely! why is there not a recall issue about these headlight bulbs. surely they should last a lot longer than 2 years. i have owned vehicles that never had the headlight bulbs replaced. one in particular was a 1987 camaro with 187,000 miles on it. neither headlight bulbs were ever replaced on that vehicle in the 12 years we owned it. *tr
07/07/2009150001
 Headlights unexpectedly stop working. *tr
01/03/2010655001
 Hid headlights go out when driving. sometimes can be turned on again by turn off headlight and turning the switch back on. the headlights go out one at a time. *tr
09/15/2009340001
 2008 toyota prius (touring model) -- driver side hid headlight began to fail in sept 2009. became more frequent as time elapsed (would occur 3+ times during 30 minute trip). turning lights off and back on temporarily resolved issue, but driver bulb would eventually fail again. resulted in reduced visibility and potential blind spot for driver in front of vehicle. researched online - suspected ecu. contacted toyota corporate around december 2009. was advised that ecu was not the problem - bulb repair suggested. dealer diagnostic suggested. did not go to deal to spend $100 to tell me a light bulb should be replaced. received notice jan 2010 that symptoms matching mine was due to headlight reaching end of life. ordered and attempted to replace bulbs in jan 2010. did not bring to toyota as cost to replace bulbs was at least 6x more that do it yourself. attempt to replace bulbs resulted in mixed success. was able to get both hid headlights replaced and functioning (after passenger side or driver side would not remain on consistently). tested high beams - after high beams were disengaged both headlights went out, but headlight switch remained engaged. disconnected and reconnected wiring. only passenger side bulb functioned. afraid to use high beams and no faith in headlights. reluctant to spend hundreds of dollars to have dealer change bulbs, same problem occur, and spend hundreds or 1,000+ dollars. original bulbs retained and i will be putting them back in once weather is warmer. strong belief that bulbs are not to blame and ecu or other electrical component is at fault. dozens of similar issues reported online. *tr
01/26/2009390001
 Hid bulb went out on front left of car when it was just out of warranty. *tr
11/28/20091
 2008 toyota prius. brakes seems to lose hold when driving at slow speeds and hitting a bump in the road. the loss of braking seems to only last for a fraction of a second but is very disconcerting. also, driver's side headlamp kept malfunctioning, going off periodically when driving. dealer could not replicate problem in shop, so stated there was no problem. took car back three additional times for same issue. finally dealer said there'd been numerous complaints and changed out the headlamp at a cost of $250.00. ($150 for the headlamp and $100 for labor) later got a letter from toyota acknowledging the faulty headlamp issue, but said toyota had given us a discount by only charging $150.00 for the headlamp instead of the regular $300.00 cost. $300.00 for a headlamp seems excessive and if it's a common issue why is toyota not issuing a recall for this matter.*tr
10/09/2009
 The headlights on my 2008 prius will intermittenlty fail, sometimes both at the same time while driving. the intermittent failure is daily, and will happen several times depending upon the duration of the drive.
01/30/2010
 Hid going on and off constantly.
01/15/2010385001
 I own at 2008 toyota prius. recently, i was driving at night on a dark stretch of rt. 15 in pa and my headlight turned off. i thought i must have somehow hit something to cause it to turn of, i quickly turned the knob and it went on again. it has since happened a few times and may in fact have happened more frequently but i only notice it if i'm on a unlite or not well traveled road. i see from prius owners' message boards that it is an ongoing problem that toyota is well aware of. i see from a nyt article that it has been reported to your agency but you haven't taken action. i believe you should, because losing a headlight is a danger to the driver and to oncoming traffic. it seems doubly unfair that a driver can be cited for a violation that is beyond his/her control. i contacted the dealer who said it would be $385 to replace the light bulb have not gone in for the repair, it's expensive and from what i've read, the problem may be electrical rather than a burned out bulb. *tw these high-intensity discharge (hid) headlights are not an option on the car, it's the only bulb that fits the prius, but if the problem is electrical then changing the bulb for $385 will not stop the headlight unit from shutting off again without warning, sometimes in dangerous situations. please take toyota to task for this, they know the problem exists but they are passing the buck to the owners without guaranteeing that the problem will be solved and we'll be safe driving at night. toyota has known about the faulty brakes, the sticking gas pedal and headlights suddenly turn off , what else are they hiding from consumers? it's time for nhtsa to step and force toyota to fix our headlights before tragic accidents happen.
02/05/2010550001
 To whom it may concern, i am writing to file a complaint about the short lifespan of the hid headlights of my 2008 toyota prius. after less than a little over two years both headlights require replacement as they have been shutting off while driving on the interstate/surface streets resulting in being pulled over by the highway patrol and local police departments. the failure of the hid headlights represents a serious safety issue for both myself/passengers in my vehicle and surrounding cars driving next to me on the road. for such an expensive vehicle (over 28k sticker) - the headlights should have a longer lifespan than a little over two years. i have brought my vehicle back to the dealership and have been informed that each headlight costs near $200/each and would require an hour and a half labor to replace them as the front bumper needs to be removed to replace the headlights bringing the total replacement cost to near $600. for a company that touts having such high quality and being so eco-friendly - you would think that they would use parts that lasted much longer and were not so expensive to replace? it is nonsensical that toyota has designed a car with headlights that require professional installation and cost near $600 to replace. the short lifespan and expense of the hid headlight replacement should be enough to warrant an investigation. any assistance that you can provide is greatly appreciated. thank you. *tw
02/04/2010450001
 My 2008 toyota prius, touring edition with hid headlights: the passenger-side headlamp goes out intermittently after initial ignition at start. turning off the headlamps momentarily will restore illumination, but it will again malfunction after 20 minutes or so. other exterior lamps will also shut off momentarily without indication or reason. toyota refuses to admit their defect, which could prove very dangerous. *cn
02/03/2010510001
 I purchased a new 2008 toyota prius in oct. 2007 with hid headlights. it is currently 28 months old and has 51k miles. the hid passenger headlight just prematurely burned out and i must have it repaired in order to safely (and legally) drive at night. this is a known toyota defect that needs action to correct. *tr
01/05/2010460003
 I purchased a new 2008 toyota prius in june 2008 and had several major issues with the auto. currently, i have a problem with my headlights. they flicker and now the driver side headlight does not stay lit. initially, toyota said that i would have to pay for the repair because although i have only had the car for approx 19 months, i have exceeded the 36000 mile warranty. they wanted almost $300 to change a light bulb! i complained and was told to call their 800 number by a repair tech at the dealership. i did. meanwhile, the dealer offered to do the job for 1/2 price. i said that i would like to think about it and was then contacted by toyota of n.a. concerning my call made to them. they knew about the dealer offer and asked if i was happy with that offer. i told them that i believed the repair s/b done for free. they then told me that the 1/2 price offer
01/02/2010300001
 I own a 2008 toyota prius. given the already many complaints, i would like to add my comments on this prius. first this car is very unsafe due to poor visibility. you can not see out of this car. second, i had the headlight failures that these cars have. i have had both headlights replaced in this car. the headlights would go out while driving in the dark. many times i had to turn the switch off and back on while driving in the dark to get the headlights to come back on. this is not safe and many, many prius's have this problem. the dealer replaced the headlights but not without a struggle on my part. last point i would like to make is that this 2008 prius has the same exact issues with brakes and stopping that the 2010 does according the accounts i have read. for example, i went over a railroad track recently which when it hits an uneven surface it is very hard to stop! i almost hit a car that was turning just past these tracks because it feels like the car does not have a good grip to the road. it happens also with even a small cluster of small pot holes. this car is not safe in my opinion. i do not understand how the headlights alone did not make a recall. it is an ongoing unsafe situation. the car not stopping however is something that needs to be recalled and not just limited to the 2010 prius. *tr
11/17/2009500001
 Headlights on toyota prius 2008 started dimming and going out intermittently at 50,000 miles. lights will go back on when turned off and then back on again. i have been stopped 3 times by the police for a headlight out and been let go with a warning. in addition, the abs system activates for no reason on dry roads and brakes are slow to engage. *tr
10/06/2009366001
 The hid lamps in my 2008 toyota prius began flickering about 4 months ago. after being pulled over by an officer for an out headlight, i noticed the headlight would shut off at random times. the problem has only increased in frequency. one of the headlights now goes out about every 20 minutes; a couple of times they both have shut off at the same time. i keep my lights off during the day, but this has not helped the problem. i was lucky to not get a ticket from the officer, and even luckier to not wreck on the pitch black road when they both shut off at the same time. *tr
01/18/201040000
 2008 toyota prius with hid headlamps that flicker and impossible to replace. the cost to replace is prohibitively expensive. the owners manual incorrectly depict headlamp replacement. generally this is a major repair and not a maintenance issue.*cw
12/24/2009360001
 I have a 2008 toyota prius. the hid bulbs did not last over a year. *tw
01/25/2010450001
 2008 toyota prius hid headlights failing after 45k miles or 750 hours. iniitially it was just the drivers side that would just turn off while driving, now it is both headlights at the same time. if they are turned off, you can then turn them both back on but there is no telling when they will shut off again. i called the dealership and was told that i would have to foot the cost of the replacement lights and labor. i have done some further research and found that i am not the only one having this issue. hid lamps have an average of 2000 service hours. these headlights did not even make it to 50% of the average service life. i am concerned that if i replace these items out of pocket that i will again have to replace them in two years. *cn
12/01/2009220001
 Toyota prius hid headlight - my prius headlight went out while driving down a highway. since then the low and high beams go on and off randomly. i took it to the dealer and they told me the bulb was fine and it was a short in the electircal that they could not find. they suggested that i just drive with it and keep trying to shake the wires and determine where the problem was. now (a month latter) i get a letter from toyota telling me it is a known problem with the bulb all along. the solution is to avoid using my headlights (that was the suggestion in the letter, only use them when required by law) and if i have to use them allow them to cool before i turn them on again! what a bunch of idiots for suggesting not using your headlights! i'm still under warrenty, but will now have to pay ~$200 each time this problem bulb burns out - unless i follow toyota's advice and skip using them at all :). *tr
01/17/2010368001
 2008 toyota prius with hid headlights and 36,800 miles. one or both lights turn off intermittently usually on wet or damp days. nighttime driving is frightening just waiting for the lights to suddenly go off. this is a well documented safety related defect yet nothing has been done. *tr
01/01/20101
 I would like my name added to the formal complaints regarding the toyota prius headlights. i know that you have many cases on file. i have a 2008 prius and find it deplorable that the owners have to pay such high prices to have our headlights fixed. this should be a factory warranty recall. it is truly unacceptable. please push for a recall. in these hard times, it is almost impossible to maintain a vehicle. when you buy a car, you expect that the headlights of all things (especially on a 2008 vehicle) would actually work. thank you. *tr
01/01/2010550001
 Driver-side headlight turns off after driving for a while. it happens consistently. if i turn the lights off and then on again, it'll work for some time and then turn off again. dealer mentions that they will need to diagnose the problem and will charge about $200 for that. *tr
01/12/2010660001
 The right headlight was intermittently going off and on. didn't realize it until stranger pointed it out. i would turn the headlights off and on and the light would turns on again. i tried to use the high beam because i couldn't see road and then both lights went off.it is a very dangerous situation when its night and your far from home. there is no warning lights on car to indicate that the headlights go out. i am at the dealership right now and they have informed me they have to replace both lights at $150 each plus $100 each for installation - totaling $500+. the car has 66k miles. this cost is ridiculous and it is a safety issue not having any headlights. *tr
10/18/2009464001
 The right head light will intermittently go out while vehicle is being driven. turning off the lights completely and then turning them back on will sometime solve the problem and the head lights will work for a while. driving visibility is greatly affected. since the problem is intermittent, i never actually know when both my headlights are working properly. and, turning the headlights off and on while driving is not really a safe thing to do. *tr
11/10/2009340001
 Under normal driving conditions both the passenger and driver front headlamps have gone out. by switching the light control off and on, then the headlamps come on for 10 - 30 seconds and then go off again. this occurs every time the headlamps are turned on. it is a definite safety issue. i took the prius into the dealership and was told that the hid mechanism and the lamps needed to be replaced. the original warranty is up, but i have an extended warranty. even with that, the dealership is charging $300 to fix the problem. i will ask for the old parts. *tr
12/30/2009370001
 I was driving down the road, and the driver's side headlight suddenly quit working. i turned the lights off and then back on; the headlight began working again. this happened three times in a 10 mile stretch. the following day the same thing happened with the passenger's side headlight. my parking lights have done the same thing as well. *tr
12/27/2009260001
 My 2008 toyota prius headlights stops working all of a sudden without any warning. if i turn off and turn on the lights again, they work fine for few minutes and suddenly stop working again. since the lights stops working randomly, this is very dangerous while driving alone in remote roads that do not have adequate street lighting. i request nhtsa to investigate into this promptly. *tr
12/25/2009200001
 While driving, the driver's side headlight will fail (turn off) for no apparent reason. turning the headlight switch off then on will restore the headlights functioning. i have been stopped by the police once for this, and have noticed it now on my own many times since; almost every time i drive. *tr
08/01/2009420001
 Toyota prius hid headlight unexpectedly turns off. car only has 42,000 miles on it. this is second headlight to go through this problem. first occurred at about 15,000 miles. replacement costs upwards of $300+. first light was covered under warranty. second, the dealer simply told me to pinch pennies. *tr
11/20/2008310001
 2008 toyota prius (non-touring) -- hid headlamp auto turn off noticed that upon arrival at home one evening from work, that only my passenger headlamp was working. however i went to replace the bulb the following weekend, the driver bulb was clearly on and working properly. since then and in seemingly increasing frequency, i have been keeping notice of this matter and it has now gotten to the point where the driver hid headlamp turns off at least every other trip home from work during the evening. turning all lights off and immediately back on corrects the issue unless done too fast. and after doing so the driver side is not as bright for some 5-10 minute period of time. however, after the hids have been off over night and during most of the day (while parked) they both turn on and appear to be at nearly the same brightness until the driver hid headlamp just up and turns off when it wants to. the turn off is rarely associated with a major bump or other road obstruction but the lamp rarely stays on when encountering such things (rocks, bumps, chipped road surface, etc), but in general it just turns off when it wants to without any detectable reason. first noticed on or around nov 20, 2008 but in the past year the problem has grown in frequency to maybe once every 4-5 weeks to now once every 2-3 days. i travel approx. 65 miles eachday round trip to work and it is generally dusk or nightfall when i return home. *tr
12/09/20091
 Led brake tail lights too bright. blind driver behind vehicle at night. *tr
12/07/2009491001
 The headlights on my 2008 toyota prius went out while driving at night in a very rural setting! i was able to turn them back on by turning off/on the headlight switch. yet, only one or both lights would come on. as my car has 49,000 miles in less than 2 years, it is out of warranty. i took it to the dealership and was told that the bulbs had a short in them. yet i thought the bulbs were to be longlasting? also, it was a safety factor that they both went out at night! i have seen other reports on blogs that this has happened to others. can you help before someone gets hurt! finally, the repair cost for the lights was enormous! it was $254 per light to be fixed! i am just blessed that this did not occur in a busy intersection or with oncoming traffic! *tr
10/28/2009590001
 I was driving my 2008 toyota prius on the highway at night, and both headlights suddenly cut out. i immediately pulled over, put the car in park, and flipped the head light switch back and forth. in doing this, both lights came back on and remained on for the remainder of my trip. the following day the driver's side light went out, but came back on after i flipped the headlight switch back and forth. the car continues to have this same headlight issue on a daily basis, though it is typically the driver's side headlight that goes out. i first contacted the dealership, and they encouraged me to merely change the bulb. however, i investigated the problem further, and contacted toyota directly. they confirmed that they have had other cars with the same issue, and that the light will actually burn so hot, that a mechanism shuts them down, so that it doesn't burn up a sensor. they went on to say that they have issued a technical service bulletin because the bulbs should last longer, however they do not plan to issue a recall at this time. *tr
11/28/2009400001
 Drivers side headlight failed. did not work at all after turning headlights on and off. i was traveling for work (about 2000 miles of driving over 4 days) and did not have time to either repair the problem myself or take it to the dealer. during the 4 days of driving with one headlight, i noticed the passenger's side headlight failing as well, intermittently, leaving me with no headlights. if i turned the lights off then back on, the passenger side worked, but the drivers side still didn't. the passenger side light would stay on for hours after cycling the power, so it seems to me like a random intermittent problem, not due to overheating or bulb life. *tr
11/20/200929000
 Toyota prius 2008, driver's side hid headlight went out at 29k miles <2 years of use, different dealerships tell different stories on whether it's a warranty repair; bulb pricing ranges from $30 to $350; sandy springs toyota sold us the wrong part; owner's manual gives wrong instructions: the light bulb casing looks nothing like the diagram; some online sources cite a total cost + labor $1700; some don't recommend downgrading to a non-hid bulb; some say that the voltage is very high and poses risk of electrocution when replacing at home; *tr
10/09/2009223001
 Off and on high intensity discharge headlights on 2008 prius with nearly 23,000 miles. since october 2009 my right side hid headlight intermittently turns off. to get the headlight working again i have to pull over, turn the car off, wait a minute, then turn the car back on. once the light is on again, sometimes it will stay on for the remainder of my trip and other times it will go out again. this is dangerous, especially at night. this is definitely a safety issue. *tr
11/17/20091
 I own a 2008 prius purchased new. i have the hid headlights. the car has 49,000 miles. the headlights go out and will come back on sometime on their own or by turning the lights off and back on. this is very dangerous. i do not think it is the bulbs that are bad due to the come back on. i went online and found that this problem is happening to alot of prius owners and the outrageous prices that dealers are charging to replace the bulbs just for it to recur. *tr
11/04/2009300001
 2008 toyota prius headlights: the driver side headlight goes out unexpectedly. if the lights are turned off and back on the headlight comes back on. this occurs with both low- and high-beam operation. the problem is intermittent and very dangerous. i took the vehicle to a repair shop to diagnose the problem and they said the lights worked fine for them and they couldn't replicate it. they checked the connections thinking that may have been an issue. the problem has gotten worse. i had an occasion driving to work along a very dark rural section of open road where there are large herds of deer and elk often jumping the fence and wandering close to the road. on one occasion my lights went out and i had to turn the lights off and on again while also trying to slow down without causing an incident. upon the lights coming back on i immediately saw several deer that had wandered out of the growth by the side of the road and into my path no more than a 100ft in front of me. i had to brake very hard to avoid them. without adequate lighting if i had tried to pull off to the side of the road in a controlled manner i would have likely driven right into the deer. this caused an extremely dangerous situation that could have been a lot worse. i am now furious at the quoted cost to replace the bulbs. but, i have no option but to shell out the money to replace them. i'm even more furious that toyota seems to be ignoring the problem in the hope it will go away. i regard this as a huge safety issue that i believe toyota should address with a recall to fix the obvious defect in the prius lighting system. this problem detracts from an otherwise excellent car. *tr
11/11/2003216921
 Off and on high intensity discharge headlights 2008 prius 15 months old, 22,800 miles. randomly go off making driving at night hazardous. replacement price over 500 dollars! no accident yet. *tr
11/07/2009280001
 I drive my car and the driver side headlight goes off. i can switch the light on and off and it will come on for a few minutes to a little while and then go back off. it happens all the time. replaced the bulb and check the fuses. *tr
05/01/2009380001
 2008 toyota prius headlamp keeps going out. replaced both hid headlamps as toyota corporate told me to do and problem consists. safety hazard while driving at night with children in car and busy pedestrians on dark roads with strollers and babies not counting deer or other animals. toyota has refused to recall issue. im tired! *tr
11/01/2009232101
 Driver's side hid headlight spontaneously failed, both high and low beams, was able to continue driving with only passenger-side headlights but was concerned they might fail as well. car is less than 2 years old; dealer covered replacement under standard toyota prius warranty. *tr
11/08/2009160001
 A recall is necessary on this prius headlight issue. they are continuing to fail right and left and the dealerships are ripping people off to the tune of over $300 to change a headlamp. they fail at less then 16k miles either totally or by intermittently going on and off. *tr
10/29/2009150001
 Hid headlights on 2008 toyota prius began to dim suddenly and stay dim. flashing lights on and off temporarily brighten the lights but they become dim again. happens constantly. *tr
11/02/2009560001
 Both headlights on our 2008 prius began flickering on and off, and ultimately would flicker off at night leaving us with no lights. if we turned the lights off and then on again, the lights would work for a few minutes then turn off again. the car was only two years old. when we took the car to the dealership, we were told we would need to replace both bulbs at a cost to us of over 600 dollars. toyota dealership replaced both lights, the next day the passenger hid headlight was already out again, so we took the car back, and they said the brand new bulb must have been defective. i don't believe them, it seems obvious there is a problem with these hid lights. *tr
11/02/2009420001
 Left front headlight on 2008 toyota prius keeps going off. *tr
10/26/2009560001
 Both headlights on our 2008 prius began flickering on and off, and ultimately would flicker off at night leaving us with no lights. if we turned the lights off and then on again, the lights would work for a few minutes then turn off again. the car was only two years old. when we took the car to the dealership, we were told we would need to replace both bulbs at a cost to us of over 600 dollars. *tr
10/10/2009470001
 I had a headlight go out. before i could get it fixed i noticed that it would come on when i turned the lights on and then fade out. subsequently, the other headlight went out while driving down the road, at night. i turned off the headlight switch and then turned it back on and the one light came back on. i took it to the dealer and they replaced one bulb. it lasted a week and then driving at night the lights went out again. i again turned the lgithts off and on and the came back on. i have researched this problem online. http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=2h&oq=&ie=utf-8&rlz=1t4ggik_enus283us283&q=prius+headlight+problems. this is a clear safety issue that needs to be addressed. who is to say that someone hasn't been killed already. are there any unexplained prius accidents running off the road for no reason? *tr
10/26/2009410001
 My right headlight goes off and sometimes it will come back on with me turning off the on the headlight. my wife today had the light turn off and the maintenance light came on. i tried to turn off then on but the light stayed off. i am going to have the vehicle towed 55 miles to the toyota dealer in redding ca. upon reading the prius chat site i have found out that this is a common problem with prius's with hid lights. this i feel is a factory problem and should not cost me anything to fix. thanks dennis swope *tr
07/16/2009415001
 The hid bulb on the passenger side of my 2008 toyota prius with only 40k miles on it, goes out intermittently. if i turn my switch off and then back on, the bulb will come back on, for a little while. the dealership wants $300 to replace the bulb. the hazard of possibly losing the driver side light before i can get the passenger side repaired is of great concern. this is a continuing, constant problem. *tr
10/15/2009370001
 I work in the field of law enforcement. i got off duty and was getting ready to leave when another officer notified me that my drivers side headlamp was not operable. as a peace officer i can testify that i've had numerous contacts with the owners of late model prius' pertaining to headlamps and tail lamps being inoperable. this is a serious safety issue and toyota needs to recall the vehicles and make the necessary repairs. i can say that the local toyota dealer fixed the issue immediately when i took it in for repairs. i told them i was not going to pay the $300.00 plus to fix the issue considering it's a common problem with the late model vehicles. the dealer is very reputable and fixed the vehicle without charge. now i'm concerned about the other head lamp and having it replaced before it goes out. *tr
10/16/2009380001
 The hd headlights on my 2008 toyota prius go off at times. last night i was driving and both headlights went off, i tried the brights but they didn't work either. i pulled over to a gas station and turned of the car and restarted it. this time only one light came on and the brights worked only on one side. this happened in august too but then the lights came on again and there wasn't a problem. however in the past 3 days the problem has resurfaced. the bulbs are not burnt. i live in the mountains so it was very scary when the lights suddenly went off on the winding mountain road. *tr
09/07/2009366001
 I have a hid headlight on a 2008 prius that appears to flicker and then goes out. the problem seems to be intermittent and was brought to my attention by a policeman. when i start the car at home the headlight comes on brightly. a few miles down the road the problem starts. repair cost is very expensive. *tr
03/10/20091
 I have a 2008 toyota prius with high intensity discharge headlamps, and more often than not they both go out randomly, i have to turn them off then on again to get them to work as many as 5 times an hour of driving (commuter), this problem really started to be an issue back in march when the left headlamp consistently kept going out. now i brought it in for service and toyota will cover it this time but although my car is 1 year and 11 months old i have almost reached the 36,000 mile limitation. after which this repair will cost me approximately $1000.00. i do have toyota extra care warranty for 8 years or 125,000 miles and the will not cover such issues even if they are due to defects. i am concerned that if this becomes a consistent problem it may cause an accident. i commute daily approximately 50 miles and i always return from work at night. i will get the old set of lamps back from the dealer for analysis if needed. i really think that this concern should be of utmost importance because it has the potential to cause serious injury if it is not corrected. *tr
10/05/2009300001
 Safety issues with toyota 2008 prius headlight system. after living with poor headlight illumination and other headlight issues for about 19 months, i am registering what i consider to be significant safety issues. headlights: 1. not bright enough. 2. cannot be aimed to give distance illumination 3. blink off driving at night i have made numerous, mostly unresolved, trips to the dealer where we bought the car new. 1. it took two trips to the dealer, to resolve problems with the automatic system for raising and lowering the headlights. i was told the assembly has no shielding or seals to protect it from physical or corrosion damage 2. after alignment adjustments, the headlights continued to be aimed too low. with low beam they are so low that a pedestrian, bicycle, animal, more than about 30 feet away is very difficult to see at night. the high beam setting is somewhat better. we have had several close encounters with deer standing on the road and seeing them barely in time to avoid them. on several occasions i have not seen bicycles or people walking on the edge of the road in the dark again, avoiding them at the last second. the high beam the headlights are not bright enough to cause anyone to flash back at me when they approach from the opposite direction. i have the (expensive) high intensity lights. they have investigated auxiliary headlights for me but have nothing to offer, suggesting i go to an aftermarket person to install additional lights. (i am reluctant to do this, for reasons of complexity, and potential legality.) 3. i have made three additional round trips to the dealer for the problem of headlights (high and/or low beam) that turn off for no reason after driving a short period of time. luckily it is just one
10/02/2009440001
 Toyota 2008 prius hid headlights randomly turn off (one at a time, usually not together) while driving at dawn, night or dusk. no repairs done at this time until toyota or the vendor who supplies toyota hid headlights, computer chip, electronics, software, sensors, etc. evaluate why this is happening. the workaround is drive to the side of the road and stop, and to unsafely turn the light switch off, then back on. it is unfair to the consumers to pay for replacement components, labor when the manufacturer(s) does not understand why this is happening (based on talking to service rep in july 2009, no service bulletins from toyota, at airport toyota in vandalia, oh). *tr
09/22/2009394001
 Passenger-side hid headlamp failed on my 2008 toyota prius at ~36,400 mileage. took it to dealer 2 days later and they said problem could be lamp or computer and that both were expensive ($300), but since lamp was on they could not investigate the problem. i took car back and once again light dimmed then flickered off while driving. i did some reading and found that this hid failure is a well-known defect on second generation prius. current mileage is 36,900 so not under warranty. placed call to manufacturer to find out if there is any remedy for this defect and they will get back to me w/in 24 hours. i will have to get a replacement since it is unsafe to drive at night in semi-rural area with on-again/off-again headlights. this is a safety issue and i hope we don't have to wait for a fatality, like with the floormats, to get some action. *tr
09/04/2009390001
 I have a 2008 prius with about 40,000 miles on it, the headlamps are turning off randomly. i quickly flip the switch off, then back on and they remain on for about 2 minutes, then fail again. very dangerous when on country roads. i keep the fog lights on as back up. just got back from dealer and they told me $400 to replace. ouch! i decided to take the risk and keep on driving due to the extremely high cost and no decent guarantee after the install. *tr
09/15/2009500001
 Both headlight bulbs will go out when the vehicle is hot. it can be one at a time or simultaneously. additionally both tail light bulbs stopped working approximately 1 week prior. when the rear bulbs were replaced the headlight problem seemed to worsen. *tr
08/06/2009310001
 2008 toyota prius headlight failure--headlights will go out at anytime. driver switches lights off then back on to regain headlight. dealer said it is a failure of the high density lamp assembly. entire assembly replacement is the only repair. cost of assembly is 250 dollars and 50 dollars to remove & install. *tr
08/25/2009380001
 2008 toyota prius - hid headlights. lights turn off independently and intermittently. sometimes one, sometimes both. restarting vehicle will resolve problem temporarily, but they usually fail again. i contacted toyota experience hotline. a case manager stated that this is normal behavior for these headlights when they are starting to need replacement. this vehicle had 38000 miles when problem started. if the behavior were normal, wouldn't it be in the owners manual? a normal behavior wouldn't create such a safety hazard without some kind of warning light. for instance, when my tire pressure is low, a warning light comes on. we were only told to bring it to the dealer for inspection. *tr
08/31/2009400001
 Headlights on car go off while driving. i have to keep turning the switch off and on to get them back on. this is happening more and more. i will be driving on a dark road with no streetlamps and my headlights will go completely out. all of a sudden i find that i'm driving blind. . i have found that other prius cars are having this same problem. i have a 2008 prius with 41,000 miles on it. it's scary and very dangerous: http://www.hybridcars.com/forums/replacing-headlight-bulb-t910.html#comm... *tr
10/01/2008256001
 Hid head light goes off while driving in toyota prius 08. *tr
09/06/20091
 My 2008 prius frequently had failure of one and both headlamps at the same time. i was unable to bring them back on by turning them on and off. they would reset after vehicle sat for a time. *tr
03/01/2009420881
 2008 toyota prius pkg 6...lost power at 65mph...engine shut down and i lost control of car...pulled over...lights said there was no fuel but i had refueled earlier that morning. took to dealer...could not find a problem. also, hid headlights intermittently don't work...very unsafe...has caused trouble with police...i am beyond irritated with toyota. *tr
07/01/2009350001
 We have 2008 prius that first began having left headlamp go out when driving, we would have to pull over safe place along road turn mess with turning headlights on and off... created unsafe driving remainder of trip, aprox 200 miles night drive to get home with one headlight... not good on montana roads with wildlife prevalent on roadway... dealer replaced under warranty... two weeks later same trouble with right headlight while driving home at night from spokane wa. to bigfork, mt again dangerous 5 hr drive at night on freeway with poor visibility... this time dealer said they needed to replace both the right headlight and a computer sub assy... help.. both instances caused unsafe driving conditions, night with only one headlight with lots of wildlife crossing the hwy... and it is important to know we can not simply pull into service station and replace the headlight, it is a dealer only item that we are told involves removing the front bumper to replace... *tr
06/09/20091
 Headlight failure, had to have replaced. the part was covered by warranty but labor for $700 was not. *tr
08/01/2009360201
 Both the driver's and passenger's side high intensity discharge (hid) headlamps in my 2008 toyota prius have been flickering while driving over the last several weeks, creating a sudden unexpected hazardous limited visibility condition. there is less than 40,000 miles on the car, which i bought brand new from the dealer in november 2007. toyota's warranty does not cover the exorbitant repair cost of the prematurely expired hid bulbs, though there have been over 400 complaints against this defect. therefore i am filing an official complaint, and a suggestion for a full investigation into the possibility of a recall of the hid lamps. *tr
04/10/2009320001
 In the 2008 toyota prius touring edition, the hid (high intensity discharge) lamps fail at a more rapid pace than their standard halogen counterparts. when they do fail, they fail without warning and can be turned on intermittently, giving the impression of a loose bulb or wire and delaying repair. if the headlights are outside of their extremely short warranty period (only 36,000 miles), toyota also wants over $500 in parts and labor to repair these nigh-impossible-to-replace light bulbs, per bulb, even though the bulbs only cost about $123 each from a third-party supplier ($215 through toyota). because of the false sense of security caused by the appearance of a loose wire or bulb, and the reluctance to shell out $500 for repair, many drivers will choose to wait on repairs. shortly after the first bulb fails, less than 2000 miles in my case, the other bulb will fail, most likely because of an imbalance in the high-voltage hid system.should this happen at night, it could pose an extreme safety risk to the occupants of the vehicle. i recommend that a recall, or possibly a warranty extension on the headlights, be issued with all haste. *tr
02/01/2008320001
 Hid headlights have performed poorly, dim - particularly on high beam, since it was new. now left headlight only works intermittently. *tr
04/09/20091
 Head lamps went out with only 30k mile and both went out within a week of each other costing me 1k to repair. *tr
05/15/2009330001
 About 33k on my new beloved '08 prius my left headlight went out as i was pulling into my garage. the next morning it came on just fine. i noticed a decline from there. a few days later the right one went out and on a sunday trip about 2 months later both headlights flickered. i found that in the interim turning them off and then back on again helped sometimes. now the lights are out and i cannot drive at night or in the rain! the first dealership said they couldn't replicate the problem, so they couldn't fix it under warranty. they said they could replace the headlight, but at my cost. it doesn't seem like the light itself is the problem (why would it then come on after turning it off and on again?) *tr
07/14/2009380001
 Prius 2008 headlight go off and back on. dealer says this is a known problem but toyota has not done a recall. new light will be $500 plus labor to put it in. asked if this can happen with the other side and dealer says yes. *tr
08/15/2009300001
 I currently own a 2008 toyota prius, and formerly owned a 2003 prius. after approximately 30,000 miles, i was made aware by others that my driver's side headlight was out. after further investigation, i learned the lamp would turn on if i turned off the lights and then turned them back on again. i have since been pulled over three times due to a headlight being out. the function of the light has become very inconsistent- i conducted a road test of over 30 miles (auto mileage 47000) resulting in the drivers side lamp burning out seven times without relationship to driving conditions (speed, bumps etc). this is a serious safety hazard. i have paid almost $200 to toyota dealers who could not isolate a problem. since then, i carry the dealer info with me so when i get pulled over again, i can show the officer i have attempted to fix this problem to no avail from the manufacturer. since then i have discovered this is a common problem in this model. i have even seen other prius' with the driver's headlight out. *tr
07/25/20091
 I own a 2008 toyota prius. my passenger headlight began to change color and intensity and then began to turn off while driving. then both headlights started to turn off while driving. the headlights will come back on if i turn the switch off and then back on. the headlights have been inspected at a toyota dealership who said that they need to be replaced. the dealership quotes $655 for this repair. after researching the problem, i have found this is a known defect among many prius owners. *tr
07/15/2009700001
 Headlight passenger and driver side will intermittently turn off. if i turn off the headlights completely and turn them back on they will sometimes correct themselves and stay on for up to 15 minutes before turning off again. *tr
07/15/2009475001
 Defective hid headlights of prius by toyota. my 2008 toyota prius hid left side headlight began fading, intermittently ceasing and eventually ceased completely around 2nd week of july, 2009. the 100k mile bumper to bumper platinum extended warranty on the vehicle purchased from the toyota dealer when i bought the car would not cover this replacement. so, i had to pay $325 dollars on july 24th to replace it. that evening, the right side hid headlight began having the same gradual failure and it's now working weakly and intermittently. another $325 dollars will be needed to pay for it and i don't have it. for months, i have observed other prius with 1 headlight out and this is obviously a defective product. please investigate, punish and mandate a recall from toyota. *tr
07/25/2009304001
 Passenger side hid headlight failure on 2008 prius touring model. the light failed suddenly while driving at night. it flickers when turning the headlight switch off then on again but does not reilluminate. mileage is 30. *tr
04/15/2009380001
 2008 toyota prius headlight(s) turn off without warning. over the past three months, the passenger headlight turns off anytime from 2-30 minutes after being turned on. sometimes the driver headlight will turn off. on one occasion, the remaining light turned off, leaving me in the dark! luckily, i was in a 30mph zone with street lights. that's when i discovered that turning the lights off and on somehow resets them. internet reports indicate that this is a common problem with hid headlights on the prius. it's a safety issue, as my local police have twice informed me. *tr
07/14/20091
 The driver's side hid headlight system malfunctions (light goes out) approximately 30-60 seconds after vehicle startup. the passenger side hid headlight system failed (replaced) nine months ago. *tr
05/15/2009400001
 2008 toyota prius driver's side headlight goes out unexpectedly while driving. the headlight comes back on if the headlights are turned off and back on again. this has been occurring nearly daily since may 2009. problem occurs on both smooth and bumpy roads and at different speeds. *tr
06/01/2009250001
 Both front headlamps intermittently fail. turning the lights on and off fixes it for a short while. it is dangerous to drive without knowing if the lights are on at night. *tr
06/22/200974201
 2008 toyota prius hid headlight failure. vehicle was purchased new 2nd week of april 2008 and has less than 7,500 mi on odometer. driver side hid headlight failed on the evening below without warning while on highway. worked intermittently but dim, between june 22nd till replaced on 6/29 under warranty. *tr
06/28/2009370001
 2008 toyota prius. hid headlight dims or goes out. turning lights off and back on restores headlight. there are numerous reports of this problem on priuschat.com as well as other places. this is a safety issue for night driving. *tr
05/20/2009400001
 My 2008 toyota prius headlights go out intermittently while driving. sometimes one light, sometimes both. i will turn the lights off and turn them back on and they will both work for varying periods of time before one or both go out again. extremely difficult to duplicate for the service personnel. *tr
06/01/2009288001
 Drivers side hid headlight flickers and dies. can cycle power and comes on for 5 sec and dies. *tr
03/10/20083000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the bulbs blow out each month in the headlights and tail lights. the bulbs were replaced three times each. the current mileage was 91,000 and failure mileage was 3,000.
03/01/20091
 My 2008 pruis head lights have been going off at night. it is very dangerous because there is no warning at all. after turning the light control on and off they will come back on. the dealership told me i needed new bulbs at 259.00 each. i told them the bulbs were working and on and will come back on. after i told him reading about all the problems on the internet he told me to contact toyota. haven't heard from the as of yet. *tr
03/15/2009215001
 Passenger headlight went out on our 2008 prius in march 2009. since the car is still under warranty, the dealership replaced the headlight. the service manager told us that if we see even a flicker to come back in and have it replaced again before our warranty runs out. on may 26, 2009, the driver side light went out. we will be taking it in to have it replaced as well. *tr
04/17/2009620001
 Left headlight goes out, usually after the car has been on for a minute. usually it stays out for the entire time the car is on. the right headlight also went out once, requiring me to drive with just the dim flood lights, but it came back on a day later and has stayed on. this is a major safety issue when even one light goes out, and is intermittent, but to have both lights go out while driving at night is very dangerous. since it is intermittent, i would have to say this is a defect and not just the bulb burning out. *tr
04/21/200925000103/22/2008
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. in november of 2008, the passenger side headlight bulb blew out. the bulb was replaced. in april of 2009, the driver's side headlight bulb blew out and was also replaced. currently, both headlights are working, but the contact believes that the failures could recur. the failure mileage was 25,000. updated 06/09/09 *bf updated 06/09/09.*jb
04/09/20091
 My 2008 prius passenger headlamp intermittently fails to light. it is usually not working, but sometimes after turning the on/off switch a few times, it works for a period. when it fails, my headlights do not illuminate the road correctly, causing a very unsafe situation. i have received a warning from local police. i have not attempted to fix this yet, but after reading through this, http://www.hybridcars.com/forums/replacing-headlight-bulb-t910.html , forum, i decided to file a complaint. *tr
04/25/20091
 I have a 2008 toyota prius and the headlights do not work properly. they go out, then turn back on. this is a safety issue that toyota needs to take care of. *tr
04/25/2009295001
 Nothing leading up to the event of the failure of the headlamps going off while driving. i will be driving my vehicle on the road, and the lights will turn off; both headlamps, and while i can turn the switch off, then on again to make them operational again, they just turn right back off at random. this now occurs every time i use the vehicle. this is very dangerous. this is an accident waiting to happen, and manufacture does not warranty what the dealer claims is a faulty computer. the vehicle is currently at the dealer as i am in contact with toyota to cover expenses as i cannot afford $1000.00 in replacement repairs. *tr
04/20/2009442701
 I own a 2008 toyota prius. i have, within the past two days, experienced the failure of one of the hid headlights. it is my understanding that the prius has been experiencing premature failure of the hid lights. my car is just over a year old with 44,000 miles on it. i believe the headlights going out, not staying on, or failing prematurely is certainly a safety issue. i drive home from work each night in the dark and have decide the prius is now a 'daytime' only vehicle since it cannot be trusted to keep headlights on a dark, wooded highway at night. this is an accident waiting to happen. i believe it is time to have toyota own up to their problem with the premature failure of these bulbs. hid are expected to last somewhere in the vicinity of 3000-5000 hours, even with my high mileage, my hid have less than 1000 hours on them. there is obviously something more to this than just bulb failure and it is plainly dangerous and should not wait for someone to be injured! *tr
02/15/2009200001
 I have a 2008 toyota prius, package 6 model that i bought december 27, 2008. the car has about 23,000 miles on it. beginning in mid-february 2009, the left headlamp started going on and off. about two weeks ago, the right headlamp began doing the same thing. when i start the car, both headlamps will be on and on most drives, one of the headlamps will go out. if i turn the lights off and then back on, the headlamp will usually come back on for a bit (though sometimes it looks very weak) before going out again. sometimes the headlamp will come back on by itself when i am driving. on some drives (usually short ones) neither headlamp will go out. the left (driver side) headlamp does this much more frequently than the right. i'm concerned about being stopped for having a headlight out and that both lights may go out at the same time (they haven't yet). since the headlamp keeps coming back on, i don't think that replacing it will fix this issue. *tr
03/30/2009395001
 Recurring hid headlight /computer failure on 2008 toyota prius.
03/20/200938000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights worked intermittently. the manufacturer stated that the warranty would not cover the repairs for the vehicle. the failure and current mileages were less than 38,000.
03/18/2009406001
 I own a 2008 toyota prius, package 6, with 40600 miles on it. the hid headlights started to go out while driving. it started with the drivers side, then the passenger side light was affected. i could turn the lights off then back on and they would work again for a period of time. twice, while driving at night they both went out. luckily i was able to turn them off and back on and it stayed on. this problem shouldn't occur on a new vehicle with 40k miles. i was cited by a police officer on 18mar09 for driving with 1 operating headlight. *tr
03/01/2009410001
 2008 prius with hid headlights. both intermittently fail. can be corrected by switching lights off/on. safety issue because never can tell when they will fail. *tr
03/10/2009313301
 2008 toyota prius both headlights went out this morning and i was able to get them to come back on for about 5 minutes total while driving to work. i drive 70 miles on freeway each way in the dark. driver side bright light would come on briefly then go out again. passenger side bright light did not. i drove to work with the fog lights on only. *tr
02/19/2009600001
 2008 toyota prius hid bulbs have failed intermittent take it to the dealer and they replaced the ecu for the hid's 2x but will not warranty bulb, they want $349.99 for bulb and 1 hr labor this is a safety issue as both can go off together if i turn headlights on then off they work i have been given warnings by the police 3x already and try to explain so back to the dealer for the same run around i purchased 2 bulbs from my local parts store for a fraction at $149ea but still this is outrageous...nhtsa should force toyota into a safety recall which this is one. you need lights to drive at night? i do think so. *tr
10/16/2008200001
 Have a 2008 toyota prius. headlights operate intermittently. i understand this has been a problem with prius for a few years and has bilked alot of money from owners unfairly. who is our advocate. exorbitant prices are being charged for parts and labor. please help us. thank you. *tr
12/30/2008230001
 I burn my headlights in the daytime. a friend saw me driving, phoned me and said that i had a headlight out (left). after i arrived at my destination, i turned off the lights, then back on, and the headlight worked again. if this were to happen at night, it would of course, be more of a hazard. *tr
11/15/2008300001
 Premature hid headlamp failure. my car is barely 40k miles. headlamps intermittently goes out. it would come back on if i turn the headlamps off and then on. *tr
11/29/20081
 The headlight of my 2008 toyota prius stopped working so i when i had it replaced the dealership charged me $350.00 for the bulb. after i paid for the replacement of the bulb, the service manager game me a customer service number to call and complain about the price of the bulb. no one answered. i went home and checked the various blogs on the internet and found that this has been an on going problem with the toyota prius. the headlights seem to be defective. excluding the inflated cost of a light bulb, this has to be a safety concern for toyota. the bottom line is i paid just over $401.00 to replace a $10.00 light bulb. that is just plain wrong and someone should hold toyota responsible. thank you for your time in this matter. dennis bennett *tr
10/10/20081
 I have a 2008 prius and the hid headlights go out in the first 5 miles after starting up, both sides will go out, but if i click the switch they come back one. i' m a line haul courier and drive 423 miles a night so i have the pattern of the lights going out one side then the other for about 5 to 10 mins. hitting the switch to prime them back on then they stay one for an hour or even two. if i stop at 7-11 or gas, they'll act up for about another 10 mins, then they stay on. once in a great while one of them will go off, but i drive with my running lights on so i'll have light to catch when they go off. i started to complain after a month or so, but the gal said that it would cost $800.00 or more, (i've heard it's higher. i 've asked a couple of times and was told 'it's electrical! i can't afford that kind of scratch for something that's should be all working, for $26,000! i just figure that it should work and if it don't, why should i pay for something that should come with this high tech vehicle!! any way i love it except from the intermittent high light failure...i hope my chp doesn't blow a fuse if something happens and they test it and toyota was at fault as it should provide a safe car for california highways... *tr
09/25/2008440001
 Headlight failure on the prius seems to be an on going issue from year to year for the models that have the hid type. i lost the drivers side light about the first of sept. 08 and the passenger side this morning. doing a search and reading of the problem is why i am filing a complaint. *tr
01/15/2008321052005/08/2007
 When i turn my head lights on after a few minutes left light goes off i turn off the lights and turn back on again the both lights are on for few minutes and then again left light goes off. *tr
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS
08/27/20112
 2008 toyota prius. consumer writes in regards to both headlights failed while driving at night. *tgw the consumer stated the headlights did not flicker, nor was there any gradual flickering dimming of the lights. about a month before, one headlight went out. the next day, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but both headlights were operational and no repair was made. the dealer informed the consumer the lights were working and that the hid headlights sometimes exhibit an erratic behavior when they were in the process of failing. the consumer agreed to let the dealer replace the hid bulbs at a cost of $ 555.32. *jb
03/01/200920000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights on the right side of the vehicle kept failing and turning off. they were replaced twice. the contact called the manufacturer who replaced the headlights the first time at no expense to him. the contact then received a letter stating the second pair of headlamps would be replaced at a reduced rate. the failure mileage was approximately 20,000. the current mileage was approximately 30,000.
02/23/2010250001
 The high intensity discharge (hid) headlamp on the driver's side continues to flicker on and off. the car is still under warranty, but according to toyota, they are unable to replicate this and continue to send me back on the road with malfunctioning headlights. this combined with issues surrounding the traction control (submitted in a prior complaint) render the vehicle dangerous and i am now uncomfortable driving this vehicle. toyota and my dealership, walser toyota of bloomington (minnesota) have refused to do anything. i have now scheduled an appointment to have the lights replaced at my own expense (despite the factory warranty). *tr
12/10/200938000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius which was purchased in 2008. he stated that the exterior hid headlights failed intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they replaced the light bulbs but would have to remove the entire front fender in order to reach the headlight assembly. there were no recalls for the type of failure as described. the contact was concerned with the unpredictability of the headlight failure and his safety at night. the vin was not available. there was no particular speed described at the time of the incident. there were no repairs made to the vehicle to date. the failure and current mileages were under 38,000.
06/01/2009290001
 2008 toyota prius both headlights went out @29,000 miles. was able to replace under warranty. 6 months later @44,000 miles, left headlight went out. this should be a recall. its terrible that a hid lightbulb costs $150 and not including labor! in this economy, we don't have $200 laying around to replace the bulb. on top of that, you get pulled over by the police and you get a ticket and you are forced to replace the bulb when you don't have the money. these high priced bulbs should last for the life of the car not replace them every 6 months or so. please make toyota recall these lights. *tr
12/23/2009460001
 Prius is 2 years old. driver's side hid headlamp fails intermittently. note the numerous complaints on this website re: hid headlamp failure. toyota offered to install a new bulb without charge for the part (normally $150 dollars) but insisted on charging $93 labor. 93 dollars to change a bulb? a bulb that should last for many, many years? when will toyota admit to a defect? i paid extra for hid headlamps for this? *tr
06/12/200840000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving the headlights failed intermittently without warning. the vehicle has not been taken to the dealer for inspection. the current mileage was 40,000.
11/10/200930000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving at night the head lights intermittently fail. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. since the technician could not identify the cause of the failure, he could not provide a remedy. the failure mileage was 30,000.
11/19/2009395001
 I own a 2008 toyota prius and the driver side hid bulb burnt out on 11/19/2009. i normally drive my car to and from work. i promptly called toyota service department on 11/20/2009 and i asked the female customer representative if the hid would be covered under warranty. i purchased an extended warranty when i purchased the car back in january of 2008. she said she did not know if it would be covered; i would have to come in and see. at 11/21/2009 7:30 am, i roll into toyota's dealership and one of the service managers replied to me that the bulbs were only covered up to 36,000 miles even with the extended warranty. he was rude and i promptly left toyota. *tr
10/28/200960000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. on october 28, 2009 both headlights failed. he turned the vehicle off for a few minutes, and then the head-lights turned back on. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. he will contact the manufacturer. the current and the failure mileages were 60,000. the vin was not available.
09/17/2009240001
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving 45 mph at night the driver-side headlight failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the headlights' computer chip was replaced. after the repair both exterior head lamps failed. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer and both computer chips were replaced. the failure mileage was 24,000. the current mileage was 25,000. the vehicle identification number was unavailble. updated 10/29/09. *lj both headlights failed and were replaced. updated 10/29/09*jb
09/10/2009450001
 The right hid headlamp on my 2008 toyota prius has failed. the headlamp now goes on and off intermittently. i looked into replacing the bulb, but upon being told the cost would be up to several hundred dollars and not covered under warranty, i decided to find a bulb and replace on my own. *tr
09/09/200960160
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that as he was driving 40 mph his headlights shut off and he could not see which resulted in him hitting a dog. the manufacturer was notified and a representative stated that someone would return his call. the vehicle has not bee diagnosed by the dealer. the failure mileage was 60,160.
02/18/200952000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving at an unknown speed, the headlights failed unexpectedly. the failure occurs mostly in dark conditions. the dealer stated that they would investigate the issue. the contact found numerous complaints regarding the headlights and believes that this is a serious defect and safety issue. the failure occurred four times and the dealer recommended turning the headlights on and off until they remain illuminated. the failure mileage was 52,000 and current mileage was 54,000.
07/01/200923000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the passenger side headlight was dim, but the other headlight illuminated properly. she took the vehicle in for inspection, but the passenger side headlight was working normally at the time. a few days later, the failure recurred. while driving 15 mph, the passenger side headlight suddenly dimmed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the headlight began working normally again. the dealer replaced both headlights. through research, the contact found this to be an ongoing issue with her make and model vehicle. she believes that it is a safety hazard and a recall should be issued. the current and failure mileages were 23,000.
04/02/2009241831
 Premature headlamp failure on toyota prius and extremely expensive replacement. *tr
09/15/2008420001
 I have a 2007 prius headlights go off 1 at a time then both sometimes,they come on when i flip on off switch; this has been happening at least 10 times per week dealer tells me bulbs for $509 plus tax does not make sense since bulbs work fine most of the time other people indicate that changing bulbs does not solve problem. *tr
10/16/2008216441
 The headlights on my 2008 toyota prius work intermittently which cause real safety issues when driving. the headlights are hid (high intensity discharge) and the toyota dealer has tried repairing the problem but the problem returns. this recurring problem has been noted by many owners but toyota does not cover the problem if it is out of their 3yr / 36kmile warranty. this is a safety issue that should be covered under warranty by toyota regardless of mileage. they probably don't want to cover this under warranty as the bulb costs ~$300 (~$400 installed). *tr
04/04/200883104/04/2008
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights fail to project far enough down the road. the failure is evident while driving at any speed. the current mileage was 450 and failure mileage was 83. updated 05/19/08. *lj updated 05/19/08
01/15/2008321052005/08/2007
 When i turn my head lights on after a few minutes left light goes off i turn off the lights and turn back on again the both lights are on for few minutes and then again left light goes off. *tr