2006 Toyota Prius complaints

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE. STARTED WITH LEFT HEADLIGHT, 2 YEARS OWNERSHIP, 1ST OWNER, NEW IN MARCH 2006. LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERED OFF, BUT TURNED BACK ON WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE RESET. PROBLEM BECAME WORSE OVER TIME AND NOW BOTH HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY FLICKER OUT. LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON WHEN TURNED OFF, THEN BACK ON. DO NOT REMAIN ON FOR LONG. TAKEN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TWICE, DEALER CLAIMS NO INHERENT ISSUE WITH THE LIGHTS, NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND WILL COST $850 TO REPLACE. (JOHN ELWAY'S TOYOTA IN ONTARIO, CA). LIGHTS DO NOT REMAIN ON AND CREATES A HAZARD TO DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL FOR THE BURNED OUT HEADLIGHT(S). *TR

HEADLAMPS ON 2006 PRIUS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. LEFT LAMP MAY FAIL; RIGHT LAMP MAY FAIL; OR BOTH MAY FAIL SIMULTANEOUSLY. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON FIXES THE PROBLEM FOR A PERIOD OF TIME-- MAYBE MINUTES OR HOURS. BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND PRESENTS A DANGER TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS BUT ALSO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. NO ACCIDENTS SO FAR. REPAIR COST TO BE $1500. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $300.00. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. HE HAD TO HAVE THE COMPONENT REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT HAVE A RECALL OR WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000, THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,968.

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. 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. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 PRIUS AND I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION 3 TIMES. I READ THAT IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A CASE OF THE GAS PEDAL BEING CAUGHT ON THE FLOOR MATS. I TOOK OUT THE CARPET MAT AND I CURRENTLY HAVE ONLY THE PLASTIC ALL WEATHER MAT (I TOOK OUT THE CARPET MAT) WHICH IS SECURED WITH THE TWO PLASTIC HOOKS. MY DAUGHTER GETS HER DRIVERS LICENSE NEXT MONDAY AND I WAS GOING TO HAVE HER DRIVE THE PRIUS. I'M AFRAID TO HAVE HER DRIVE IT NOW. ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM IS JUST THE FLOOR MATS AND THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS? BECAUSE IF IT IS JUST THE MAT ISSUE THEN I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THAT. IF IT COULD BE ELECTRIC THAN I WON'T LET HER DRIVE IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING THE HEAD-LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. DURING THE FIRST INSPECTION THE HEAD-LIGHTS WERE REPLACED. AT THE SECOND INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT A REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND IT WAS RAINING AND ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I ALMOST HIT A ROAD RAIL BECAUSE IT WAS REAL DARK AND RAINING. THAT WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING AND ONE WENT OUT AND THEN THE SECOND ONE WENT OUT TEN MINUTES LATER. I CALLED TOYOTA AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN DURING THE DAYLIGHT. THEY SAID THE HID BULBS GET HOT AND BURN OUT OVER TIME. IT COST ME 281 DOLLARS. A WEEK LATER SAME PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT LIGHT. HOWEVER THIS TIME I ALMOST KILLED MY WIFE AND I AS A CAR WAS JUST BEGINNING TO PASS ME AND I LOST VISION ON THE RIGHT SIDE. GUYS THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. I AM TAKING IT IN TOMORROW DURING THE DAY TO HAVE THE SECOND LIGHT REPLACED. THE SERVICE REP WAS VERY NONCHALANT WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT TWO LIGHTS BLEW OUT WITHIN A WEEK, THEY ARE HIDING SOMETHING. YOU COULD TELL BY HIS NON-ACTION. I ASKED HIM IF THIS HAPPENS OFTEN AND HE SAID NO. WELL I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IS NOT TRUE AND IT HAPPENS OFTEN. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED TO GET THE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK INTO THIS. I INTEND TO WRITE MY CONGRESSMAN AND SENATOR ABOUT THIS AND SEND THEM INFORMATION I HAVE GATHERED. PLEASE HELP US BEFORE WE GET KILLED IN THIS CAR. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE BEEN UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING OVER THE PAST 4 MONTHS. IT STARTED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE ONLY AND THEN MOVED TO BOTH LIGHTS AND NOW I'VE BEEN TOLD MY TAIL LIGHT FLICKERS ALSO. I CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BY TURNING THE LIGHTS SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, BUT IF I MAKE ANY TURNS THEY FAIL AGAIN. THIS PAST SATURDAY NIGHT (10/24/09) AT 10 PM WHILE ON A WINDING COUNTRY ROAD I WAS VEERING RIGHT AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY LIGHTS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND I HEARD A SMACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. I FLIPPED MY LIGHTS BACK ON IMMEDIATELY AND STOPPED AT THE SAME TIME. I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND FOUND A WOMAN STANDING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE SAID SHE WAS FINE, BUT MY PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR HIT HER ELBOW/ARM. SHE SAID SHE WAS NOT REALLY INJURED AND DIDN'T WANT TO CALL AUTHORITIES OR CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. SHE ASKED WHY I TURNED MY LIGHTS OFF WHEN I ROUNDED THE CORNER. I TOLD HER I DIDN'T, I HAD A SHORT IN MY LIGHTING SYSTEM. SHE SAID I WON'T PRESS CHARGES, BUT YOU NEED TO GET THOSE LIGHTS FIXED. *TR

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. IN MARCH OF 2008 BOTH HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED BY MAITA TOYOTA IN SACRAMENTO CA, BECAUSE THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD TURN OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. THE DEALER PAID FOR THE SERVICE, AS THE PARTS WERE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE NEARLY $1000 REPAIR BILL WAS WHAT PROMPTED ME TO REQUEST THE DEALER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. TODAY I PAID $280 TO MAITA TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB AGAIN, THIS IS 18 MONTHS AFTER THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPLACED. TOYOTA CLAIMS THESE HID BULBS WILL LAST 3 TIMES LONGER THAN STANDARD BULBS, YET I'VE HAD 3 REPLACED IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS. I HAVE OLD BULB FROM TODAYS REPAIR. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT AFFECTS THE HEADLIGHTS, AND RESULTS IN THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WITHOUT NOTICE. AT NIGHT THIS COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

AFTER ABOUT 7 MONTHS, I STARTED HAVING THE PASSENGER FRONT LIGHT OF MY CAR INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF AND ON. IF I RESTARTED THE CAR, IT WOULD GO ON TO BEGIN WITH, AND THEN GO OFF SOMETIME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WHEN I WOULD TAKE IT IN TO THE SHOP, USUALLY I HAD TO WAIT A WHILE AND THE CAR WOULD BE TURNED OFF AND WHEN THE SERVICE AGENT WOULD COME OVER THE LIGHT WOULD BE ON AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. AFTER THREE FIX IT TICKETS FROM THE POLICE, THEY FINALLY FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY. BUT NOT LONG AFTER THEY FIXED IT, THE DRIVERS SIDE STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND SAID THAT THERE MUST BE SOME PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS AND ASKED IF THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THEY SAID NO. THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHEN I GOT HOME I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND SAW IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE. I CALLED THEM BACK AND THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO TELL ME IT WAS A PROBLEM AND THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT I SHOULD CALL THE NATIONAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE. THEN A WEEK LATER I GOT ANOTHER FIX IT TICKET FROM THE POLICE. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS TILL TODAY. I AM VERY NERVOUS AT NIGHT TO DRIVE WITH ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN MARINA DEL REY DID NOTHING . *TR

HID HEADLAMPS SELF-EXTINGUISH WHILE DRIVING, REQUIRING POWER SWITCH TO BE CYCLED ON AND OFF TO RESTART. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE REDUCED VISIBILITY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF DRIVING WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. HID HEADLAMPS ARE WELL UNDER THEIR DESIGN LIFE EXPECTANCY AND SHOULD NOT BE FAILING. REPLACEMENT IS EXPENSIVE AND TIME-CONSUMING AND ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS, THE FIX IS ONLY TEMPORARY. BEEN PULLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

RIGHT HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE. TURNING HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON IS TEMPORARY SOLUTION. TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED BULB, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE BULB IS NOT THE PROBLEM SINCE IT'S NOT BURNED OUT. *TR

MY HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL, INCREASING NUMBER OF TIMES, I REPORTED IT WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. 20 TIMES WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE ER WITH MY GRANDCHILD AT NIGHT LAST NIGHT BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALLABLE SAFETY ISSUE? THE DEALERS JUST CHARGE YOU TO REPLACE LIGHT BULBS WHICH DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, SO THEN IT IS NOT LISTED AS A COMPLAINT TO THEM. THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING WORST. ARE YOU TELLING POLICE IN MY AREA NOT TO STOP PRIUSES BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THEY SEE US DRIVING WITHOUT A LIGHT OR NO HEADLIGHTS. CAN I SEND THIS COMPLAINT TO ANYONE ELSE ABOVE YOUR AGENCY? YOUR FORM DOES NOT ACCEPT MY VIN NUMBER . *TR

1. APRIL 1, 2006 I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS 4 DOOR SEDAN. 2. THE TIRES SHOWED CUPPING AND FEATHERING AT 14, 000 MILES. 3. THE TIRES WERE NOT SAFE TO OPERATE BECAUSE OF THE CUPPING ON ONE SIDE OF THE CAR AT 46,500 MILES. THE PROBLEM BECAME APPARENT WITHIN 2,500 MILES ON THE NEW TIRES. THE TOE IN WAS CHANGED IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA FACTORY STOPPED ALL MECHANICAL CORRECTION BY THE LOCAL DEALER. *TR

I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN YOUR DECISION NOT TO RECALL THE TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. TO START WITH BOTH LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE GO OUT AND ALSO ONE LIGHT GOES OUT JUST DRIVING FOR NO REASON. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE HEADLIGHT WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM , SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO SAID IT UNFIX-ABLE EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. SO BASICALLY YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM PERMISSION TO HAVE A CAR THAT LIGHTS DO NOT REMAIN ON AND CANNOT BE FIXED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I GOT THE CAR. HAS TOYOTA PAID OFF SOMEONE? THERE ARE OTHER SAFETY ISSUES ALSO IN THE DESIGN OF THIS CAR AND TOYOTA HAS NO MOTIVATION TO FIX THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO LIE ABOUT GAS MILEAGE, NOT TELL YOU ABOUT IF YOU HAVE A KEY BREAK THAT YOUR CAR HAS TO BE SPECIAL TOWED, SO IF YOUR PARKED WHERE A FLATBED CANNOT GET YOU YOUR IN TROUBLE. ALSO ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS KEEP THE CODE ON FILE LIKE WITH REGULAR KEYS BUT THEY REFUSE TO KEEP THE CODE OR EVEN GIVE IT TO THE OWNER SO A KEY CAN BE MADE. THUS IT COST A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO GET A NEW KEY. THE DATE OF THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEM IS ONGOING ABOUT ONCE A WEEK LATELY. RECENT TIME IS NOTED BELOW. I ENTERED VIN IT WOULD NOT TAKE IT. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. STARTING WHEN THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 69,000 MILES, I WOULD NOTICE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN WOULD CAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT TO START WORKING AGAIN FOR A TIME. SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHT WOULD FAIL AGAIN THE SAME DAY. SOMETIMES IT WOULD BE WEEKS BETWEEN FAILURES. DEALER DIAGNOSED A DEFECTIVE HID CAPSULE AND SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $510. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AROUND 20,000 MILES. THIS WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. AT 40,000 THE LEFT HEADLIGHT STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY -- RIGHT AFTER IT WAS OUT OF THE OFFICIAL WARRANTY. I ASKED THE TOYOTA DEALER TO REPLACE IT, BUT THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE FULL REPAIR COST. THE LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY -- IF YOU TURN IT ON AND OFF IT COMES BACK ON BUT GOES OUT PRETTY OFTEN. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I KNOW THAT MANY OTHER PRIUSES HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS (I SEE MANY WITH ONE LIGHT AND I'VE READ OF MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS). *TR

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT IN 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. TURNING OFF BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN BRINGS IT BACK TO LIFE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. AT LEAST ONCE BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. TURNING THEM OFF/ON CAUSED THEM TO RELIGHT. THERE ARE MANY PRIUS OWNERS DISCUSSING THE DEFECT AT A 600+ COMMENT FORUM POSTING LISTED HERE: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/GEN-II-PRIUS-CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/34584-HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM.HTML USERS HAVE REPORTED THAT REPLACING THE BULBS DOES NOT WORK AND THAT OFTEN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WIRING OR HEADLIGHT COMPUTER IS NEEDED. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS MYSELF AND VERIFIED THAT THIS ACTION ALONE DOES NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON, BUT I NEVER KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL REMAIN LIT. THIS IS DANGEROUS. THE LIGHTS HAVE SOME TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO SOLVE. I DRIVE DARK COUNTRY ROADS AND NEED RELIABLE LIGHTS. *TR

IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY WITH POOR VISIBILITY. I DROVE ABOUT 15 MILE MPH ON A ONE-LANE ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR SIGNALS. I SAW A CAR AHEAD OF ME AND SLOW DOWN EVEN MORE TO ABOUT 10 MILES MPG AND KEPT DISTANCE. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY ABOUT 30 FEET AWAY, I ENGAGED THE BRAKE. HOWEVER TO MY DISMAY, THE CAR KEPT ROLLING. WHEN I REALIZED THAT I SHOUT IN PANIC "PLEASE STOP, STOP!" FOR ABOUT 8 SECOND I HOPELESSLY WATCHED MY CAR SLOWLY RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT A SPEED ABOUT 5 MILES MPH. BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A SLOW SPEED, MY CAR'S FRONT BUMPER WAS ALMOST INTACT BUT MY HOOD WAS DAMAGED BY THE REAR BUMPER OF THE SUV. I HAD AN ESTIMATED DAMAGE ABOUT $1100. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE SLIPPERY ROAD. AFTER SEARCHING INTERNET, I REALIZED THAT THE SLOW SPEED BRAKE FAILURES ARE WELL-DOCUMENTED BY MANY DRIVERS. OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE WERE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT I EXPERIENCED. THEREFORE I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS W/ 75K MILES. FOR TWO YEARS I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH A FAULTY HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT KEEPS TURNING OFF DURING USE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. I NEVER REALLY KNOW WHEN THE LEFT HEADLIGHT IS GOING TO FAIL ME. I CANNOT AFFORD THE RIDICULOUS REPAIR FEE. I HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS WARNINGS BY POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT MY CAR HEADLIGHTS ABSOLUTELY SUCKS. PLEASE HELP ME IN GETTING TOYOTA TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM TAKING MY MONEY, BUT THEY DO HAVE A PROBLEM FIXING THIS OBVIOUS FACTORY DEFECT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA PRODUCT. I AM GOING TO WARN ALL POTENTIAL BUYER TO STEER CLEAR OF THIS COMPANY THAT DENIES FACTORY DEFECT ACCOUNTABILITY. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS AND I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF AT RANDOM TIMES AND YOU MUST TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND IT HAPPENS MANY TIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS. I M TOLD BY THE TOYOTA DEALER IN SILSBEE TEXAS THAT I MUST REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS AT A COST OF ABOUT $1700 EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IT IS NOT COVERED AND I HAVE BEEN GIVEN A WARNING FOR THIS PROBLEM FROM THE JAPER TX POLICE AND IT IS DEFINITELY CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD THIS FIRST OCCURRED AT ABOUT 44,000 AND IM FINALLY GETTING IT REPLACED AT ABOUT 88,000 MILES. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILS. BEGAN AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES. MINUTES, SOMETIMES SECONDS, AFTER STARTING CAR, HEADLAMP BEGINS TO FADE, THEN GOES OUT. IF I FLICK THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF, IT COMES BACK ON BRIEFLY, THEN OUT AGAIN. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, AND INFORMATION FROM OTHER OWNERS IS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, EXPENSIVE TO FIX, RECURRENT (AND UNRELIABLE) AND A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN FOR PRIUSES. SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS AT: HTTP://WWW.HYBRIDCARS.COM/FORUMS/REPLACING-HEADLIGHT-BULB-T910.HTML. *TR

1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: MANY PEOPLE TOLD ME THAT ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY PRIUS 2006 WAS OUT - WHEN I CHECKED EVERYTHING WAS WORKING. 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES: I WAS DRIVING ON A POORLY LIGHTED ROAD LAST NIGHT (10/13/09) AND ALMOST GOT INTO ACCIDENT BECAUSE BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY AND CHILDREN INSIDE THE CAR. I STARTED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE REFLECTIONS OF MY HEADLIGHTS ON THE BACKS OF OTHER CARS AND NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT QUITE FREQUENTLY - ONE OR BOTH AT A TIME. 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED (AND IF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE): I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH HID BULBS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE BULBS THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY WORK FINE BUT SOME DEFECT CAUSES THEM TO SWITCH OFF. I CALLED TOYOTA MAIN CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND THEY AGREED TO OPEN A CASE #0910122928 AND TOLD ME THAT A CASE MANAGER WILL CONTACT ME SOMETIME AT THE END OF THIS WEEK. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE ONE CAR AND HAVE TO DRIVE TO WORK AND TAKE MY CHILDREN TO AND FROM AFTERCARE AFTER DARK. TOYOTA EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAVE SUCH A LONG WAITING TIME BECAUSE THEY GET MANY COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS. SO, INSTEAD OF HIRING MORE CASE MANAGERS AND INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE THEY JUST TELL PEOPLE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT ACCIDENT! *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2006 PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT ANY PATTERN. THE CAR CANBE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE LIGHTS ON AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE ONE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT COMPLETELY (BOTH LOW AND HIGH BEAMS) THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO COME BACK ON IS BY TURNING THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF AND BACK ON. MOST RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING WITH LOW BEAMS ON, WHEN I TRIED TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT - VERY DANGEROUS. UPON RETURNING TO LOW BEAMS ONLY ONE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TURNING THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF AND BACK ON DID RESET THE LIGHTS TO WORK BUT NOT ENJOYABLE WHILE DRIVING! THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY PATTERN TO THESE EVENTS. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS ON-LINE REPORTING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON-AND-FF SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JANUARY OF 2008. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS WITH APPROXIMATELY 68K MILES ON IT. BOTH HEADLIGHTS SIMPLY GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS ON A BACK ROAD AND NEARLY WENT OFF A CORNER INTO A RAVINE. IT WAS MY PRESENCE OF MIND TO BRAKE QUICKLY AND CYCLE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT PREVENTED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM YET THERE IS NO BULLETIN OR ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANY KIND BEING SENT OUT TO PRIUS OWNERS. WHEN THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WOULD BE NEARLY $700 TO SIMPLY REPLACE THE BULBS AND THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE END OF REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM, I WAS SPEECHLESS. I'M UNEMPLOYED AT THE TIME AND SUCH A COSTLY CHARGE TO DO SOMETHING THAT WON'T EVEN ADDRESS WHAT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE. I HAD TO SLEEP IN MY CAR ON A BUSINESS TRIP THAT I JUST RETURNED FROM BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE ON BEING PULLED OVER AT NIGHT FOR DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND INCUR EVEN MORE EXPENSES. WILL SOMEONE ACTUALLY HAVE TO DIE IN ORDER FOR THIS ISSUE TO GET THE RESPONSE THAT IT DESERVES FROM TOYOTA? YOUR AGENCY, WITHOUT FULL REVIEW OF DATA THAT TOYOTA WAS TO SEND TO YOU, HAS PREMATURELY DECIDED TO NOT TREAT THIS AS A SAFETY DEFECT. YOU HAVE MADE A MISTAKE AND LEAVING THIS AS A CIVIL COURT MATTER IS A COMPLETE COP OUT. *TR

1. NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS 2. PASSENGER OR DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP GOES OUT. INTERMITTENTLY 3. BULB REPLACEMENT. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT A YEAR. IT COMES ON JUST FINE, BUT AFTER DRIVING A SHORT WHILE, IT SOMETIMES (NOT ALWAYS) GOES DARK ON ITS OWN. TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH ON & OFF COMPLETELY USUALLY GETS IT BACK ON. RECENTLY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT DARK ALL ON THEIR OWN AFTER I HAD BEEN DRIVING A SHORT TIME. THE POLICE NOTICED & PULLED ME OVER - VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF & ON AND THEY BOTH CAME BACK ON, SO THE POLICE LET ME GO. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. I DON'T ALWAYS NOTICE WHEN THEY'VE GONE OUT - THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD REPLACE THE BULB, BUT THAT MIGHT NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS HAPPENING IN MANY OTHER TOYOTA PRIUSES YEAR 2006-2008. *TR

MY 2006 PRIUS HAS THE INTERMITTENT FLICKER/FADE/FAILURE PROBLEM WITH BOTH HEADLAMPS AS I HAVE SEEN REPORTED BY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS. I HAD AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP REPLACE THE DRIVERS' SIDE HEADLAMP IN MARCH, 2009, BUT IT RESUMED THE FADE/FAIL PATTERN WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. DEALERSHIP WANTS OVER $500 TO REPLACE ONE UNIT, WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL CURE THE PROBLEM. IT IS HARD TO THINK THE BULBS ARE THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY ARE AT NORMAL BRIGHTNESS MOST OF THE TIME.*TR

HID HEADLIGHT SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK. FLICKING THE SWITCH OFF, THEN ON TURNS IT BACK ON BUT LATER SHUTS OFF AGAIN. *TR

HEADLIGHT REGULARLY GOES OUT. TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND ON IT COMES BACK ON. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS HAS HAD A PROBLEM SINCE ABOUT 25,000 MILES WHERE THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WILL PERIODICALLY GO OUT. I CAN GET THE LIGHT TO COME BACK ON BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEY COME BACK ON. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD WITH MY BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS ON AND THEY BOTH WENT OUT. IT WAS COMPLETELY DARK AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE TRYING TO HOLD THE CAR STRAIGHT SO I DID NOT STRIKE A TREE OR POLE AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I FUMBLED WITH THE SWITCH AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON BY TURNING THE SWITCH COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN BACK ON. I HAD TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON EVERY COUPLE MINUTES TO KEEP THEM WORKING. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO OTHER COMPLAINTS ENDED WITHOUT A RECALL BECAUSE BOTH LIGHTS DID NOT GO OUT WITH SOME OF THOSE SURVEYED. I WILL TELL YOU THAT BOTH OF MY LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY WITH NO FOREWARNING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THEM BACK ON. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57800.

HEADLIGHTS CUT OUT. *TR

CONTRARY TO YOUR INVESTIGATION REPORT, BOTH HID HEADLAMPS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY AT INTERSTATE SPEED. ONLY LIGHT REMAINING WERE FOG LAMPS. HEAD LAMPS RESET AFTER TOGGLING SWITCH. THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. PLEASE RECONSIDER INVESTIGATION OR RECALL. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT GOES OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. CAN TURN OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY WILL STAY ON FOR A FEW MINUTES. NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON LATE 2000 MODEL YEAR TOYOTA PRIUS. HID HEADLIGHTS ARE REPEATEDLY FAILING, USUALLY BOTH AT ONCE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO FIND HIM/HERSELF IN TOTAL DARKNESS. SECOND SET OF REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS IN 18 MONTHS, COSTING $1,000 PER SET TO REPLACE. *TR

HEADLIGHT BULBS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN LIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON THE LIGHT WILL WORK. AT LEAST ONE TIME BOTH LIGHTS WENT OFF AT NIGHT LEAVING NO VISIBILITY FOR SEVERAL SECONDS WHILE I TURNED OFF THEN ON THE SWITCH. THIS WAS VERY HAZARDOUS AT 55 MPH. IT APPEARS THERE IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THESE LAMPS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA. DEALER REPLACEMENT OF THE TWO BULBS WILL RUN MORE THAN $400. *TR

WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, LESS THAN 30K MILES, LEFT HEADLIGHT OF 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THEN A MONTH OR SO LATER THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILED. THEN BOTH. WHEN LIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON, THEY USUALLY ILLUMINATED AGAIN AT LEAST FOR A SHORT TIME AND THEN FAILED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING OR PATTERN WHILE DRIVING. DEALER REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS AT 30K. AT 45K, PATTERN BEGAN EXACTLY THE SAME. AT 50K SERVICE, DEALERSHIP WAS MADE AWARE OF PROBLEM, DID NOTHING BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM IN SHOP. AT 55K, DEALER WAS AGAIN MADE AWARE OF PROBLEM, WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE IT IN ONE HEADLIGHT AND OFFERED TO SELL THE ONE NEW HEADLIGHT FOR $400 PLUS LABOR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. EVEN IF THE HEADLIGHT IS REPLACED AT GREAT EXPENSE, PATTERN WILL BEGIN AGAIN. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIPS KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE NOT FIXING IT BECAUSE IT IS EXPENSIVE FOR THEM AND IT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM TO PROFIT BY SELLING EXPENSIVE HID HEADLIGHTS, WHICH THEY DO NOT COVER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. IF THERE HAS NOT BEEN ALREADY, THERE IS GOING TO BE AN ACCIDENT AND A LAWSUIT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. LAST NIGHT AFTER DUSK I REALIZED MY LIGHTS WERE OUT ONLY WHEN AN ONCOMING CAR SWERVED TO AVOID ME. *TR

AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE TOYOTA COVER THE COST OF REPLACING HID LAMPS IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS THEY FINALLY DID SO AT NO CHARGE FOR PARTS BUT CHARGED $100 LABOR STATING THAT I COULD GET THAT REFUNDED BY TOYOTA PROVIDED A RECALL ON THE LAMPS WAS ISSUED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE LAMPS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. WHEN OR IF THE DRIVER DETECTS THAT ONE LAMP GOES OUT THEN BY TURNING THE SWITCH ON AND OFF QUICKLY THE LAMPS ALWAYS RESTART BUT AGAIN THEY WILL GO OUT AGAIN MAYBE IN 15 MINUTES OR MAYBE NEVER. AS A DRIVER YOU MAY NOT NOTICE IT UNTIL THEY BOTH GO OUT. I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY CAR FRO OVER A YEAR BEFORE THE DEALER FINALLY ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. REPLACING THE LAMPS FIXED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS THE REPAIR DATE. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HID FAILURE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. HEADLIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEAL SAYS TO JUST REPLACE BULB THAT IS NOT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. WORKS ONE MINUTE THEN OUT THE NEXT. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. FIRST MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. AT TIMES IT WORKED. ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A VERY DARK STREET AND MY HEADLIGHTS WERE SO DIM I COULD HARDLY SEE. I THEN TURNED ON MY BRIGHTS AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I HAVE CHECKED MY LIGHTS WHILE CAR WAS PARKED AND THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCURRED, INCLUDING THE BRIGHT LIGHTS GOING OUT. *TR

NO INJURIES YET, BUT WITH HEADLIGHTS CONTINUING TO GO OUT, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. I JUST HOPE IT ISN'T ME OR MY KIDS. HTTP://WWW.HYBRIDCARS.COM/FORUMS/REPLACING-HEADLIGHT-BULB-T910.HTML. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. FIRST THE DRIVERS SIDE NEXT THE PASSENGER SIDE. IF I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS THEY WILL COME BACK ON. SOMETIMES I CAN'T TELL IF A HEADLIGHT IS OUT UNTIL I PULL UP TO A WINDOW OR BEHIND ANOTHER AUTO. LAST NIGHT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEY CAME BACK DIM. THANK GOD I HAVE FOG LIGHTS AS IT WAS LATE AND NEEDED TO GET HOME ASAP. I DON'T KNOW WHEN MY LIGHTS WILL WORK AND WHEN THEY WONT. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND I NEED THE BULBS REPLACED (COST OF $300.00) AND FROM MY INTERNET RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON (SCARY) PROBLEM. MOST PEOPLE REPLACE THE BULBS ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM PERSIST (LEADING TO OTHER EXPENSIVE REPAIRS) AND NOT FEELING CONFIDENT AND SAFE IN THEIR AUTO. AGAIN, THE LIGHTS JUST GO OFF SUDDENLY WHICH IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THEY CAN BE TURNED ON AGAIN BY TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS, AND TURNING THEM ON. *TR

INTERMITTENT FRONT HEADLIGHT LOSS ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. LOSS OCCURS SOON AFTER DRIVE BEGINS. HEADLIGHT CAN OFTEN BE REGAINED BY TUNING LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRUIS HEADLIGHT FAILURE. ON GOING PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THE HEAD LIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY TURNING OFF. TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A BULB ISSUE. BULB REPLACED FOR APPROX $200 BUT IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WHEN ONE OF THE BULBS DOES BURN OUT THERE IS A REAL PROBABILITY THAT THERE WILL BE NO HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED BY TOYOTA. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS WITH ITS DRIVERS-SIDE HID HEADLIGHT. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE THIS ($299 AT THE TOYOTA DEALER). INVESTIGATING THIS ON THE INTERNET TURNED UP HUNDREDS OF POSTS ABOUT THE SAME EXACT ISSUE, OFTEN ON THE 2006 MODEL YEAR TOYOTA PRIUS. THE LIGHT RANDOMLY TURNS ON AND OFF - WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, NOT TO MENTION THE EXPENSE OF GETTING IT REPLACED. WE WERE NOT EVEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL WE WERE STOPPED BY THE POLICE AND GIVEN A WARNING TO GET THE HEADLIGHT REPLACED. WITH SO MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, I WONDER WHY TOYOTA IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, THE DEALER WAS NOT EVEN SURE IF THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE HEADLIGHT OR WITH THE "COMPUTER" THAT CONTROLLED IT. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THEY WOULD FIRST REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT (FOR $299) AND IF THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER FOR AN AS-YET UNDISCLOSED COST. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND URGE TOYOTA TO RECALL THE HEADLIGHTS AND/OR THE "COMPUTERS". THANKS MOHAN *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. OVER THE LAST MONTH, OR SO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT GOES OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING. THE ONLY FIX I'VE FOUND IS TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF, THEN ON AGAIN. THE LIGHTS WILL THEN REMAIN ON FOR APPROX. 10-20 MINUTES, AT WHICH TIME THE SAME LIGHT GOES OUT AGAIN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN AS TIME PASSES AND THE TIME THE PROBLEM REPEATS ITSELF IS GETTING SHORTER. I TRIED TO HAVE THE DEALER LOOK AT IT, UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE ME A $100 "INSPECTION FEE." SINCE THEN, I'VE HEARD OF MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA AND/OR NHTSA. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH FAULTY HEADLIGHTS. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE ALL OVER INTERNET. *TR