2006 Toyota Prius complaints

BOTH HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF, THEN BACK ON, AND THEY WOULD WORK FOR A WHILE, THEN ONE OR THE OTHER WOULD GO OUT AGAIN. FINALLY, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN AT THE TIME, AND FORTUNATELY FOUND A DEALER OPEN ON SATURDAY. WE SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT AS WELL. *TR

HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. LATER IT COMES BACK ON AND THEN GOES OUT AGAIN UNPREDICTABLY. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS DEPENDING ON WHERE I AM DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENS. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS. MY HID HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND THEN ONE GOES OUT. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON, THEY WORK AGAIN FOR A SHORT TIME, YET THEN ONE WILL FLICKER AGAIN AND TURN OFF. THIS HAPPENS TO BOTH HEADLIGHTS. IT SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY 2006 PRIUSES, HOWEVER THE TOYOTA DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT ANYTHING COVERED BY WARRANTY, AND WANTS TO CHARGE AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE LIGHT, WHICH POSES A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NO SPECIFIC EVENTS IDENTIFIABLE. WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION, EACH OF THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF INDEPENDENTLY OF THE OTHER WHEN DRIVING. THE LIGHT (OR LIGHTS) WILL TURN BACK ON AFTER TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON. TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH EOM BULBS FOR $550. MANY OTHERS WITH TOYOTAS WHICH HAVE THESE BULBS APPEAR TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALTHOUGH SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD TOLD ME MY HEADLIGHT WAS OUT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, IT SEEMED TO BE FUNCTIONING WHEN I CHECKED IT. THEN, ONCE I SAW THAT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OFF WHEN I WAS BEHIND A SHINY VEHICLE. I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF & THEN ON & IT IMMEDIATELY ILLUMINATED. I NOTICED FROM TIME TO TIME THAT I HAD THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT ALWAYS CORRECTED BY TURNING OFF & BACK ON. SINCE I LEAVE MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON ALL THE TIME, I THOUGHT MAYBE EVERY TIME I STARTED THE CAR I NEEDED TO TURN THEM OFF & THEN BACK ON. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETECT THAT I AM HAVING THIS PROBLEM UNLESS I HIT A DARK PATCH OF ROAD OR GET BEHIND A SHINY VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT. THEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC TWICE, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GROW OVER TIME. SATURDAY, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP & THAT'S WHERE MY CAR IS TODAY. SUNDAY EVENING I GOOGLED PRIUS & UP POPPED 'HEADLIGHTS.' I WAS VERY SURPRISED! I BEGAN TO READ & EVERY STORY WAS MY STORY. THE REPAIR CAN BE VERY VERY VERY EXPENSIVE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DRIVER OFTEN HAS NO CLUE OF THE PROBLEM. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT CAUSE A WRECK OR GET A TICKET BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE THREE YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED MY '06 PRIUS I AM HAVING HEADLIGHT FAILURES THAT START INTERMITTENTLY BEFORE COMPLETELY FAILING TO OPERATE. IT STARTS WITH ONE LIGHT GOING OUT AND COMING BACK ON AFTER MOMENTARILY TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS. THE FIRST EPISODE ( AT 30,000 MILES) RESULTED IN BEING PULLED OVER AND TICKETED BY THE POLICE ($70) THE DEALERSHIP ARRANGED FOR A ONE TIME MANUFACTURER REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES (BULBS LENSES AND BALLASTS) ALTHOUGH THE BULBS WERE FINE -- AT A COST OF NEARLY $800. NOW AT 69,000 MILES (17 MONTHS LATER) THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. A WEEK AGO PASS. SIDE LIGHT BEGAN FLICKERING WHILE DRIVING, TWO DAYS INTO THAT THE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AND UPON TURNING OFF AND TURNING ON LIGHTS IT WOULD ILLUMINATE AT A VERY LOW INTENSITY AND THEN GO OUT. TWO DAYS AGO THAT LIGHT FAILS TO ILLUMINATE. LAST NIGHT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT WENT OUT LEAVING ME IN TOTAL DARKNESS ON A DARK ROAD. TERRIFYING! TURNING ON HIGH BEAMS DID NOT HELP. AFTER TURNING OFF AND ON 2 TIMES, DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. GOING TO DEALER MONDAY, IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS GOES OUT ABOUT 2-3 TIMES A DAY. WHEN I NOTICE IT OUT, I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON. THIS USUALLY LAST A FEW MORE HOURS. THIS REPAIR IS VERY COSTLY AND NOT COVERED BY THE DEALER. BUT, HEADLIGHTS ARE SAFETY ITEMS AND SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AFTER BEING ON FOR AWHILE TURNING THE SWITCH OFF THEN BACK ON THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON IT HAS HID LIGHTS. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP UNEXPECTEDLY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. ON ONE OCCASION BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN WILL CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. HAVING BOTH HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF ON-LINE COMPLAINTS AND POSTS DETAILING THIS ISSUE. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2005, 2006 PRIUS EQUIPPED WITH HID HEADLIGHT. TOYOTA STATES THAT REPLACING THE BULB AND/OR THE HID CONTROLLER (ECU) "MAY" FIX THE PROBLEM. DEALER SAYS THAT REPLACING THE BULB AND THE ECU IS ~$1,000 PER SIDE. A TOTAL OF $2,000 FOR BOTH SIDES. $2,000 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS IN A THREE YEAR OLD CAR???? DEALER HAS ASKED THAT I SWITCH BULBS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. DEALER IS ASKING THAT I PAY FOR A NEW HEADLIGHT ECU AND SEE IF THE HEADLIGHT STILL SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IN ESSENCE THE DEALER IS ASKING THAT I RISK MY SAFETY BY EXPERIMENTING WITH REPAIR ATTEMPTS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIND OUT WHAT WRONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON THESE CARS, IDENTIFY A FIX AND ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT (DID WE NOT LEARN FROM THE FORD PINTO?) *TR

I WANTED TO ADD MY EXPERIENCE WITH PREMATURE HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 MODEL. SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THE D4R HID LAMP WAS USED IN ANY AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATION I AM SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL REQUIRED. MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE "INTERMITTENT" FAILURE AND HAVE BEEN BEHAVING AS SUCH FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. AS NOTED BY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM CYCLING THE HEADLIGHTS AND HITTING THE PLASMA WITH THE INITIAL HIGH VOLTAGE CHARGE WILL ALLOW THEM TO WORK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BUT NOT ALWAYS. SOMETIMES THEY WILL WORK FOR AN ENTIRE EVENING AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL AFTER SEVERAL "CYCLING" ATTEMPTS. IT IS GENERALLY MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT THAT FAILS BUT I HAVE HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE FAIL AS WELL AND JUST RECENTLY AT TIMES HAVE EVEN HAD BOTH FAIL. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT AND REQUIRES ME TO PULL OVER AND "CYCLE" UNTIL MY LIGHTS ARE RESTORED. THROUGH EXTENSIVE REPLACEMENTS AND POSTINGS ON WWW.PRIUSCHAT.COM IT IS GENERALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE D4R ITSELF AND NOT THE BALLAST OR ANY TYPE OF WIRING ISSUES. AT AS MUCH AS $300 EACH THROUGH TOYOTA THESE BULBS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE BURDENED WITH THIS CONSIDERING THE PROBLEM SEEMS READILY APPARENT TO ALL 2006 OWNERS. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE HAS VERY HIGH MILEAGE (144,000) 70-80% OF THOSE MILES ARE DRIVEN DURING THE DAY AND I DO NOT RUN THE HEADLIGHTS DURING T

2006 PRIUS HAVING REPEATED HID HEADLAMP PROBLEMS. LEFT SIDE OR RIGHT SIDE WILL SHUT OFF, NEVER BOTH. NOT RELATIVE TO CLIMATE OR WEATHER. DEALER RECOMMENDED BOTH LAMPS BE REPLACED, $420, PLUS $90 DIAGNOSTICS FEE. CITATION FOR LIGHT LAW INFRACTION. REVIEWING INTERNET CHAT ROOMS, APPARENT PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHT SYSTEM JUSTIFYING AN INVESTIGATION. OVER 50 OCCURRENCES. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FADES THEN GOES OUT. TURNING THE SWITCH OFF/ON WILL TURN THE HEADLIGHT ON AGAIN - SOMETIMES IT WILL FADE OUT AGAIN, SOMETIMES IT WILL STAY ON. DEALERSHIP SWITCHED THE BULBS (PASSENGER TO DRIVER SIDES) TO SEE IF IT'S A BULB PROBLEM OR SOMETHING ELSE. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE (SAME BULB) IS DISPLAYING THE SAME SYMPTOMS. HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE BULB DUE TO THE HIGH COST. *TR

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WOULD PERIODICALLY GO OUT. HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT THE COST OF $250.00 NOT COVERED UNDER FULL WARRANTY. TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRUIS OPTION 6 PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER HEADLIGHT GOING ON AND OFF. HID'S. *TR

INTERMITTENT HID HEADLIGHT. I'VE SUSPECTED THIS FOR MANY MONTHS, BUT AN OBSERVER JUST CONFIRMED IT THIS AM. ONE LIGHT WILL FREQUENTLY TURN OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THEN WILL TURN ON AGAIN AS I SLOW TO A STOP. *TR

MY LEFT HEADLIGHT WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY KNOWN CAUSE. IF I SHUT THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN THEY WILL WORK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL THEY AGAIN SHUT IT SELF OFF. RECENTLY, I HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING MY LEFT LIGHT OUT, (I WAS UNAWARE IT WAS OUT) AND MY RIGHT LIGHT FAILED ALSO. IT WAS NIGHT TIME AND I WAS DRIVING ON BACK WINDING ROADS. I KNEW ENOUGH TO TURN MY LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON SO I WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO BEING ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. THE LEFT LIGHT ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. THE OCCURRENCE IS INTERMITTENT WITH NO APPARENT PATTERN OF FAILURE. THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH BULBS AND THE WIRING HARNESS FOR A COST TO ME OF ABOUT $1,800. I AM CONTACTING TOYOTA TODAY DIRECTLY IN REGARDS TO HAVING THIS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS A MANDATORY FACTORY RECALL. *TR

RIGHT HID HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. REPAIR > $200. PLEASE HELP RESOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

WE PURCHASED A NEW '06 TOYOTA PRIUS IN 2006. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY IN NOV. '07 THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THE BULB WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER (TEXAS TOYOTA OF GRAPEVINE). AROUND NOVEMBER '08 WE NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WAS CYCLING ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIMES TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON TURNED THE LIGHT BACK ON BUT NOT ALWAYS. THE LIGHT ALSO APPEARS DIMMER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. DURING A TRIP TO THE DEALER IN FEB. '09 TO ENQUIRE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS (WARRANTY IS EXPIRED(MILEAGE)), THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT THE ORIGINAL ISSUE WAS A COMPUTER CHIP AND NOT THE BULB. NOW THE DEALER HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE CPU CHIP UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE REPAIR WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY IN NOV. '07. HOWEVER THE DEALER IS CHARGING ME FOR REPLACING THE BULB THAT THE BAD CPU CHIP RUINED. *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. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TODAY. IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHEN THE LIGHT SHUTS OFF UNLESS I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT OR CAN SEE THE REFLECTION OF THE CAR IN ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS IT STANDS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL ONLY STAY ON FOR A SHORT TIME NOW AFTER I TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF. *TR

HID LEFT HEADLAMP BLINKING WENT TO DEALER THEY REPLACED 300.00 BULB, HAD TO FIGHT FOR WARRANTY (25,000 MILES). THE VERY NEXT NIGHT THE RIGHT SIDE WENT OUT. GOT A WARNING FROM THE POLICE. THEY REPLACED THAT ONE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 46,000 THEY ARE DOING IT AGAIN. 600.00 PLUS LABOR! OUT OF WARRANTY NOW. ALSO THE SELF LEVELING FEATURE POINTS THE LIGHTS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THESE THINGS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THE DEALER HAS ADVISED THAT THE REPLACEMENT IS VERY EXPENSIVE - OVER $400. WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2006 PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. AFTER 50,000 MILES, THE PASSENGER SIDE BULB WILL GO OUT AFTER BEING ON FOR 20 MINUTES OR SO. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON, THE BULB LIGHTS UP RIGHT AWAY AND THEN BLINKS OFF APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER. IF I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT, THIS WOULD BE A SAFELY HAZARD. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE. THEY SAID THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN DOWN YET. THEY STATED THAT AS OF 1/2008, THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED TO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID SINCE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE BULB (APPROXIMATELY $150), AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR LABOR. LABOR, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GET THE REPAIR DONE, COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM $50 TO $300, JUST FOR ONE HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT. SINCE I DIDN'T BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THIS ISSUE WAS NOT COVERED. I AGREED THAT TOYOTA WOULD PAY FOR THE BULB. I HAD THE BULB REPLACED. I PAID FOR THE LABOR AND THEY PAID FOR THE BULB. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE OLD BULBS! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HID (HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTS) THAT WOULD NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD OPERATE MOMENTARILY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, BUT THEN DIM AFTER A MATTER OF MINUTES. THE DEALER ESTIMATED THE REPAIR COST TO BE OVER $600. THE CONTACT ALSO FILED A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND IS AWAITING A DECISION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT OCCASIONALLY TURNS OFF. I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 06 AND NEWER PRIUS AND IS AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. SOME HAVE HAD BOTH LIGHTS FAIL LEAVING THEM WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. IF YOU TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE LIGHT OR LIGHTS WILL TURN BACK FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND INSTEAD OF FIXING THE PROBLEM FOR FREE, TOYOTA IS CHARGING AN ABSURD AMOUNT TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH COULD BE TEMPORARY. MANY HAVE HAD THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AND CAN BE EASILY FOUND ON CHAT ROOMS AND FORUMS ONLINE. *TR

A YEAR AGO, MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS' RIGHT HEADLAMP WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. TOYOTA REPLACED THE BULB AND BULB COMPUTER AT A COST OF JUST UNDER $1000.00. THAT TIME WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD APPROX. 30K MILES ON THE CAR. NOW, IN FEB. 2008, I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT HEADLAMP. SINCE THERE IS NO LONGER WARRANTY COVERAGE, I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS. THEY ADMITTED THAT THE OLDER BULBS WERE NO GOOD AND AGREED TO REPLACE THE BULB BUT NOT PAY FOR THE LABOR. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY THE $280.00 LABOR COST. THERE IS NOW 45K MILES ON THE CAR. *TR

1. NO SPECIAL EVENT LED TO FAILURE. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT ABOUT 35,400 MILES (ODOMETER). 2. TWO HEADLIGHTS GO OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. EACH HEADLIGHT CAN ALSO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING INDEPENDENTLY OF THE OTHER. 3. POWERING OFF /ON THE CAR RESOLVES THE PROBLEM. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN SOLVES THE PROBLEM. THE REPAIR SHOP (DEALER) COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND SO DID NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS AT MY FIRST VISIT. I AM ABOUT TO GO BACK AND TRY AGAIN. *TR

HEADLIGHT ON 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY GO ON AND OFF. THE COMPUTER AND BULB HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. THIS HAS BEEN CONTINUOUS FOR TWO YEARS, DESPITE THE CONSTANT REPLACEMENT OF PARTS. *TR

JUST A FEW HUNDRED MILES SHY OF THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY (JUST ON THE HEADLIGHTS), MY LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. WHEN FLIPPING THE HIGH BEAMS ON DID NOT LIGHT THE OFFENDING BULB (I DID NOT AT THE TIME REALIZE THAT HID HEADLAMPS DO NOT HAVE SEPARATE HIGH AND LOW BEAM FILAMENTS, BUT SIMPLY CHANGE THE FOCUS OF THE ONE HID CAPSULE.), I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED INTO A PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT BULB (NON-HID). I DID THINK IT STRANGE THAT THE LIGHTS BOTH WENT BACK ON WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR, BUT I DECIDED THAT I SHOULD REPLACE IT ANYWAY. ON THE NEXT DAY, I REMOVED THE OFFENDING BULB (NOT AS DIFFICULT AS SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK) AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS SOME SORT OF RARE-EARTH DISCHARGE LAMP. BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF ILLUMINATION SYSTEM SHOULD BE VERY RELIABLE (THERE BEING NO FRAGILE FILAMENT TO FATIGUE AND BREAK), I FIGURED THAT I JUST HAD THE BAD FORTUNE TO RUN INTO A RARE CASE OF INFANT MORTALITY, OR JUST A DEFECTIVE BULB TO BEGIN WITH. ALTHOUGH THE BULB CAN BE RELIGHTED (BY SWITCHING HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON), IT MUST BE DISTRACTING TO OTHER DRIVERS, NOT TO MENTION: WHAT IF I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS TO RELIGHT ONE AND BOTH DECIDE NOT TO REIGNITE. WHAT THEN? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! FORTUNATELY, I GOT BOTH LIGHTS REPLACED (THE RIGHT SIDE WENT SHORTLY THEREAFTER) UNDER WARRANTY. (PLUS $80 LABOR) NOW, AT 82K MILES, HERE WE GO AGAIN. THIS TIME, I CALLED TOYOTA. I COULD GET ABSOLUTELY NO COMMITMENT OUT OF THE REPRESENTATIVE, BUT HE INSISTED THAT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP MUST

TOYOTA HAS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH HEADLAMPS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY ON 2006 AND NEW PRIUSES RATHER THAN FIXING THE ISSUE, THEY'RE CHARGING CUSTOMERS UPWARDS OF A $1000 TO REPLACE (2) *DEFECTIVE* HEADLAMP BULBS. IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A MAJOR ISSUE, HOWEVER I ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER PRIUS OWNER ON THE FREEWAY, WHO WAS DRIVING BOTH LIGHTS OUT. AFTER EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT THING IN MY OWN PRIUS, IT'S A VERY SCARY SCENARIO. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/34584-HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM.HTML HTTP://FORUMS.MERCURYNEWS.COM/TOPIC/ROADSHOW-COST-TO-REPLACE-ON-AND-OFF-PRIUS-HEADLIGHTS-CAN-RUN-950-MDASH-OR-NOTHING PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW TOYOTA TO KEEP SCREWING CONSUMERS INTO PAYING FOR $1000 BULB REPLACEMENTS. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE GAMBLING WITH INTERMITTENT LAMPS DUE TO THE HIGH REPLACEMENT COST. *TR

TOYOTA 2006 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT. HID HEADLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. IT COMES WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON THEN GOES OUT SUDDENLY. TURNS LIGHTS OFF AND ON CAUSE THE LIGHT TO BURN AGAIN. AS TIME GOES BY HAVE TO DO THIS MORE FREQUENTLY. THE LEFT LIGHT PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BY REPLACING THE BULB (EXPENSIVE). NOW THE RIGHT LIGHT IS BEGINNING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND SEE THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE PERSON IS EXPERIENCING IT WITH THEIR SECOND SET OF BULBS. I FEEL TOYOTA HAS AN ISSUE AS THE BULBS SHOULD LAST 10 YEARS. *TR

JUST LIKE IT SEEMS THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS. I HAVE BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURES FOR MANY MONTHS. INITIALLY IT WAS ONLY IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOW IT ALSO OCCURS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OR EVEN MORE DANGEROUS ON BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS HAPPENING WITH MORE AND MORE FREQUENCY. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE PROBLEM, THEY FOUND NOTHING, JUST RECOMMENDED REPLACING A VERY EXPENSIVE BULB. I TOOK IT BACK A FEW MONTHS LATER AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND SOMETHING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE (NOT THE DRIVERS ALTHOUGH IT IS NOW HAPPENING ON BOTH). ONCE AGAIN THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE BULB. THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY CONFIDENCE THAT IT WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME WITH THIS MANY COMPLAINTS SPANNING THAT CONTINUE TO COME IN, SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. DOES THERE NEED TO BE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE SOMEONE TAKES ACTION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR IN BAD WEATHER, OR IN THE DARK BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE GOING TO GO OUT. YESTERDAY I DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY BEFORE THEY WENT OUT (THEY WOULD NOT COME BACK ON WHEN I TURNED THEM OFF THEN ON). *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHT GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND I ONLY CAN TELL IF I AM LOOKING AT THE REFLECTION IN THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS CUT IN-AND-OUT. WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS STAY ON. THEY CAN GO OUT AGAIN DURING DRIVING AT NIGHT -- IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS CUSTOMER SAFETY ISSUE NOW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWNS AND THE SPEED INCREASED TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, BUT FAILED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WHERE SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FLOORMAT WAS PINNED DOWN TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1,600. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 04-14-09 *BF UPDATED 04/15/09.*JB

I PURCHASED A USED 2006 PRIUS WITH 16,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 44,000 MILES AND I BEGAN TO NOTICE MY HID HEADLIGHTS DIMMING, FIRST ONE THEN THE OTHER. IT HAS NOW PROGRESSED TO THE WHERE THEY TURN OFF COMPLETELY. TOYOTA DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE A SURE WAY OF DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, LEADING TO UPWARDS OF $2,600.00 TO TROUBLESHOOT. THIS IS A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT TO PAY FOR HEADLIGHTS AND SEEMS, ACCORDING TO THE CHATS, TO BE A PERVASIVE PROBLEM. THIS NOW OCCURS EVER TIME I TURN ON THE LIGHTS. WITHIN 15 MINUTES THEY GO OUT. IF I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF THEY COME BACK ON FOR A BIT, THEN GO OUT AGAIN. *TR

MY TOYOTA 2006 PRIUS HAS INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURES. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS TO BE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS CHANGED THE BULBS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER ABOUT 9 TIMES AND THEY CONTINUE TO TELL ME IT IS BULBS DESPITE BULB AND ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. I CONTINUE TO BE PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AS A RESULT. *TR

2006 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS ARE FAILING, THEY JUST GO DIM AND THEN TURN OFF. TURNING THEM OFF AND ON WILL CAUSE THEM TO RUN FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, BUT EVENTUALLY THEY FAIL AGAIN. *TR

BOTH OF MY HID HEADLIGHTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AFTER LESS THAN TWO YEARS (FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE, THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE). THE LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IF I FLICKED MY HEADLIGHT SWITCH, THEY CAME BACK ON. THE LONGER I WAITED, THE MORE FREQUENTLY THEY TURNED OFF, SO I'M FORCED TO REPLACE THEM.. THESE ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS (IN EXCESS OF 400 EACH). THERE IS APPARENTLY A PATTERN OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE / MODEL. *TR

INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKEN TO DEALER, CHARGED FOR REPAIR, PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ON MANY TOYOTA PRIUS CARS. NOW HAVE 80,00 MILES AND PROBLEM IS BACK. INTERNET SHOWS THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM? *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA PRIUS 2006. ITS HEADLIGHT BULBS ARE NOT WORKING. LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY ARE OFF AND OTHER DRIVERS BLINK US ON THE ROAD TO WARN. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IS TELLING US THAT WE NEED NEW HEADLIGHT BULBS. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH TOYOTA. TOYOTA DENIED COVERAGE FROM MY BULB REPLACEMENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY PRIUS OWNERS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THE DEFECTIVE BULBS AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THIS IS A DANGEROUS NEGLECT BY TOYOTA AND CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURIES AND DAMAGES TO ITS CUSTOMERS. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO GO OUT. IF YOU CUT THE LIGHT OFF AND BACK ON IT WOULD WORK AGAIN. EVENTUALLY, THE DRIVER'S LAMP WOULD GO OFF AS WELL, WHICH HAPPENED AT NIGHT. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON WOULD GET THEM BOTH BACK WORKING. THE DEALER REPLACED A COMPUTER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY CHANGED THE BULBS ALSO. MY CAR NOW HAS 55,000 MILES AND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT IS DOING THE SAME THING. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS BOTH HEAD LIGHT (BULBS) BURNED OUT, ONE THE FIRST YEAR AND NOW THE OTHER (2) TOTAL FIRST COST $300.00 THE SECOND ONE THE PRICE HAS DROPPED TO $150.00 THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE YOUR DRIVING, IF YOU TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON THEY COME BACK ON. I JUST SPENT A HOUR AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT TELL ME THE REAL ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM BUT WERE HAPPY TO SUGGEST REPLACING THE HEAD LIGHTS AT THE COST OF $500.00 A PIECE. THIS SEAMS UNREASONABLE TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY TO PROVIDE A SAFETY FEATURE. *TR

HID HEADLIGHT ON 2006 PRIUS GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND ON CAN MAKE IT GO ON AGAIN. DEALER IS NOT MOTIVATED TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS IS PRIMARILY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE A HEADLAMP THAT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY '06 (94K MILES) FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. IT WAS ALWAYS THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT WILL WORK JUST FINE WHEN I START THE CAR. IF I MAKE A STOP (TO GET GAS, ETC.) AND THEN TURN THE CAR BACK ON, THE LIGHT WILL WORK FOR A FEW MILES, THEN IT JUST CUTS OUT. YESTERDAY (1/21/09) MORNING WHEN I LEFT THE HOUSE, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING. I STOPPED AND GOT GAS. WHEN I LEFT THE GAS STATION, THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. AT SOME POINT ABOUT 10 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, I REALIZED I HAD NO HEADLIGHTS!! I WAS ON I-66 AT 5AM (IN THE DARK) WITH NO HEADLIGHTS!!! LUCKILY I HAD FOG LIGHTS B/C I STILL HAD ANOTHER 25 MILES TO GO TO GET TO WORK. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE DEALERSHIP LATER IN THE MORNING AND THEY REPLACED MY BULBS ($318 FOR THE PAIR............AND $147.15 FOR LABOR). I AM NOT HAPPY TO SAY THE LEAST. MY HUSBAND FOUND A WEBSITE (PRIUSCHAT.COM) AND SHOWED IT TO ME. I FIND IT QUITE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT MY MOM HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER PRIUS. SHE FOUGHT IT AND TOYOTA PAID FOR THE BULBS AND THE LABOR COSTS. MY BOSS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER '06 PRIUS, TOO................AND TOYOTA PAID FOR IT. *TR

HEADLAMP ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS SPORADICALLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES ITS OWN FOR 2 MINUTES, OTHER TIMES ITS OWN FOR 30 MINUTES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HAD THE LAMP REPLACED FOR $300 AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW TOYOTA IS TELLING ME IT'S THE COMPUTER $1100. MANY MEMBERS OF ONLINE FORUMS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND ITS DETERMINED THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT KNOW WHAT WRONG. AVERAGE LOSS IS $1500 FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS AND LABOR AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR

HID LIGHTS TURN OFF INDEPENDENT OF VIBRATION, HEAT, DURATION OF TIME ON. OCCASIONALLY BOTH TURN OFF AT THE SAME TIME. TURNING BRIGHTS HAS NO AFFECT. TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON FIXES THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, COMPUTER, AND BULBS AND THEN BEGAN TO RE-OCCUR AFTER 10,000 MILES. *TR

RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILURE AND ALSO INTERMITTENTLY FLICKERS OFF AND ON. IT OCCURS COMPLETELY AT RANDOM. NEW PART HAS BEEN ORDERED, BUT HASN'T ARRIVE YET AND OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR

I'VE GOT A PACKAGE 6 2006 PRIUS WITH MULTI-REFLECTOR HALOGAN AUTO-OFF HEADLAMPS. THE HID LAMPS ON THIS MODEL PRIUS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FAILING WITHIN THREE YEARS. SEE HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/34584-HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM.HTML. THE PASSENGER SIDE 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. 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. VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER POSTED DESCRIPTIONS. *TR

HID HEADLIGHT DEFECTS ON TOYOTA PRIUS 2006. REPLACED BOTH LIGHT ON 2007 AFTER ONE YEAR I HAVE TO REPLACED AGAIN ON 2008. THE LIGHT DID NOT DIE JUST GOES OUT. I HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON/OFF AND THE WORK AGAIN FOR FEW HOURS OR FEW DAY THEN HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR