2006 Toyota Prius complaints

INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF. BY TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF, THE LIGHTS CAN BE TURNED BACK ON. THE PROBLEM IS DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE AND PROVE TO TOYOTA SERVICE TECHNICIANS. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS ON 2006 PRIUS KEEP FAILING. FIRST FAILURE AT ABOUT 14K MILES; TWO FAILURES BETWEEN 20K AND 30K MILES. TOTAL OF FIVE HID FAILURES: 2 FOR PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT; 3 FOR DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT. FAILURES ARE INTERMITTENT, OFTEN WHILE DRIVING. HITTING HID LAMP LIGHTLY OFTEN RESTORES LIGHT. INITIALLY BULBS WERE REPLACES (TWICE). SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENTIRE UNIT (INCLUDING COMPUTER BOARD) WERE REPLACED. BULBS SHOULD LAST LIFE OF CAR-- NEITHER ORIGINAL HID LIGHT LASTED THE FIRST YEAR. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT KEEPS GOING DEAD. IT FIRST HAPPENED IN OCTOBER 2006 WHEN I DROVE TO WORK OUT AT CURVES. AFTER BEING IN THE BUILDING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES I CAME OUT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. CALLED DEALER. DEALER SAID THAT THE PRIUS WAS A COMPLICATED CAR AND I PROBABLY WAS CONFUSING THE COMPUTER BY THE WAY I WAS SEQUENCING THE START OF THE ENGINE. IN ANY CASE I LET THE CAR SIT FOR A HALF HOUR AND TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED UP. SINCE THEN THE PRIUS HAS GONE DEAD AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. SOMETIMES I COULD WAIT AND IT WOULD START UP. OTHER TIMES I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT JUMPED. I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO JACK TAYLOR TOYOTA THREE TIMES. EACH TIME THEY INSISTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR (ALTHOUGH THEY DID REPLACE THE AUX BATTERY). THEY INSISTED THAT IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING IN THE WAY I DRIVE THE CAR AND SUGGESTED OVER AND OVER THAT I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR ENOUGH MILES. HOWEVER, I DRIVE THE PRIUS, WHEN IT IS NOT DEAD, 250 TO 300 MILES A WEEK AND IT TYPICALLY GOES DEAD AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN IT SOMEWHERE. THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE PRIUS TO THE DEALER WAS SPRING OF 2008, THEY AGAIN INSISTED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I REFUSED TO TAKE IT BACK. WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TALKED TO THE HEAD MECHANIC AT JACK TAYLOR AND CLOSED THE CASE SAYING IT WAS MY FAULT THAT HE CAR WAS GOING DEAD. SHE THEN THREATENED ME BY SAYING THAT I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE LOANER UNLESS I PICKED UP THE PRIUS. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT JACK T

THE CAR HEADLIGHTS GO IN AND OUT ALL THE TIME. WE'VE ALREADY REPLACED BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE TWICE. WHEN A LIGHT GOES OUT, YOU CAN TURN IT OFF THEN ON AGAIN AND IT WILL WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES (AND SOMETIMES HOURS). I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A MAJOR COMPLAINT OF THE 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED YET! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOUR HEADLIGHTS WILL WORK OR NOT. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY PRIUS WILL GO OUT RANDOMLY EVERY 5 TO 10 MINUTES. USUALLY IT IS JUST ONE OR THE OTHER BUT OCCASIONALLY IT WILL BE BOTH HEADLIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME. TO RESOLVE THIS YOU HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS RAMPANT PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION FROM TOYOTA WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT $1216. THIS PROBLEM SHOWED ITSELF SOON AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO PAY THAT KIND OF MONEY TO REPAIR THIS DESIGN FLAW. THIS IS NOT JUST A BURNED OUT BULB. INSTEAD PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW THESE LIGHTS TO CYCLE OFF AND WILL APPLY THE MANUAL OFF/ON. THIS CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION - ESPECIALLY WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME AT NIGHT. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL AND REPAIR THIS DESIGN FLAW. *TR

ONE OR SOMETIMES BOTH HID HEADLAMPS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING, AND CAN BE RE-LIT BY TURNING OFF AND TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THIS AFFECTS BOTH LOW AND HIGH BEAMS. I'VE NEARLY RUN OFF THE ROAD WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ABRUPTLY ON A NARROW MOUNTAIN ROAD. I HAVE HAD TO TURN ON MY FOG/DRIVING LIGHTS ROUTINELY AS A BACKUP. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS. THE HID HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT RELIABLE. THEY WORK SOMETIMES & SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE HID BULB. THEY TURN OFF & ON UNEXPECTEDLY. THE DEALER PRICE TO REPLACE THE ONE BULB WAS $479. BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHT FAILED WITHIN A WEEK OF EACH OTHER. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE LIGHT SIMPLY GOES OUT ON ITS OWN. TO GET IT TOO COME BACK ON, I HAVE TO COMPLETELY TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS & TURN THEM BACK ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR ONLY 2 YEARS BUT, SINCE IT HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT, THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY WANT TO CHARGE $1300 FOR A NEW COMPUTER CIRCUIT BOARD, HEADLIGHT & HEADLIGHT HOUSING. ACCORDING TO OTHER PRIUS OWNERS ON THE DISCUSSION FORUM AT WWW.PRIUSCHAT.COM, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 MODEL PRIUS. SO FAR, TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. AS THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS / MANUFACTURING, THEY SHOULD DO SO IMMEDIATELY. *TR

MY FRONT HEADLIGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK RELIABLY. IT WILL STOP WORKING SOMETIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING, BUT MAY RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION WHEN I POWER OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TO GET THIS REPAIRED, THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE DISCUSSION BOARDS, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PRIUS DRIVERS THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHT DRIVE ELECTRONICS. *TR

AFTER 3-5 MINUTES OF RUNNING THE HEADLIGHTS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE JUST TURNS OFF. I CAN TURN THE CAR & HEADLIGHTS OFF & WHEN I TURN THEM BACK ON AGAIN, IT WORKS JUST FINE. THE DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE SEEN THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM ANOTHER OWNER. THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE HID HEADLIGHTS FOR $385 PLUS LABOR. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PRUIS AND TOYOTA SHOULD COVER IT. I HAVE 47K MILE AND AN TOYOTA EXPENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED. THIS BEGIN OCCURRING FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. THE LIGHT DOES NOT FAIL EVERY DAY. *TR

HEAD LIGHTS & TAIL LIGHTS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY IN 2006 PRIUS. PROCEDURE: START CAR TURN ON HEADLIGHTS WAIT ONE OR BOTH LIGHTS GO OFF TURN OFF LIGHTS TURN ON LIGHTS LIGHTS ARE BACK ON. REPEAT ABOVE... *TR

HEAD LIGHTS ON MY 06 PRIUS KEEP GOING OUT. *TR

PRIUS HEADLIGHTS STARTED GOING OFF SPORADICALLY. SOMETIMES RIGHT SOMETIMES LEFT SOMETIMES BOTH. HARD TO TELL WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. SOMETIMES TURNING LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON SOLVES THE PROBLEM. FIRST NOTICED THIS LAST WEEKEND (TODAY IS SEPT 24TH 08). DO NOT KNOW YET HOW TO REPRODUCE INTENTIONALLY, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE TIMES THIS WEEK. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. STOP CAR AND TURN OFF AND BACK ON AND LIGHTS WORK AGAIN. MANY TIMES ONLY ONE LIGHT IS WORKING UNTIL I RECYCLE THE SWITCH. THE LIGHTS HIDS AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE AUTOMAKER WILL DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY CAN REPLICATE THE ISSUE. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE HEADLIGHTS, WHICH COST AROUND $400 TO REPLACE. THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA'S ONLY SOLUTION IS TO DRIVE IN WITH THE HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING. THAT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A TERRIBLE SOLUTION. *TR

MY 2006 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS HAVE STARTED FLICKING OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING, ONE OR THE OTHER, OR BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THEY WILL COME BACK ON IF THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF, THEN BACK ON, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY GO BACK OUT AGAIN IN 1-2 SECONDS, OR LATER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET (SEE WIKI.ANSWERS.COM). IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE LIGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS OFF. USUALLY, TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS TELLING ME TO REPLACE THE BULB, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHEN THE LIGHT STILL WORKS FINE AFTER TURNING THEM OFF AND BACK ON. *TR

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I BOUGHT THE CAR TONIGHT, DROVE OFF THE LOT, THOUGHT THE HEADLIGHTS SEEM HORRIBLE BUT DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. I WENT DOWN THE ROAD AND NOTICED I SAW MORE FROM THE CARS AROUND ME. I HAD THE DRIVING LIGHTS ON, BUT THEY ONLY SHOW A VERY SHORT DISTANCE IN FRONT OF THE CAR. I TURNED ONTO THE MAIN ROAD (4 LANE, DIVIDED HIGHWAY) AND HIT THE HIGH BEAMS - THE LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A ROAD I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURN ON THE FLASHERS TO TRY TO SEE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS A TOYOTA "CERTIFIED" AND VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTED A FEW WEEK AGO "SUPPOSEDLY" CAR THAT WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SHOWROOM FLOOR TO THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR EITHER THE VA INSPECTION NOR THE TOYOTA CERTIFIED INSPECTION AND NOW WONDER IF ANYTHING ON THE TOYOTA CERTIFIED INSPECTION WAS REALLY DONE. THE MARKER LIGHT (PROPER NAME? YELLOW LIGHTS) ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ALSO DOES NOT WORK WHICH WOULD FAIL BOTH THESE INSPECTIONS IF PROPERLY DONE. *TR

HEADLIGHT GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY (NO ACCIDENT CAUSED IT ... IT JUST HAPPENS). *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS INTENDED TO LAST LIFE OF VEHICLE. PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY FAILING AFTER 25000 MILES... INITIAL INDICATION WAS LIGHT WAS NOTICEABLY DIMMER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT. AFTER A FEW WEEKS LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME DRIVING, CYCLING POWER TO HEADLIGHTS CAUSES LIGHT TO COME BACK ON, ALTHOUGH PERIOD OF OPERATION IS BECOMING SHORTER AND SHORTER. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER WHO SPENT APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR TROUBLE SHOOTING BEFORE ASKING FOR COME TO RETURN FOR LONGER TROUBLESHOOTING PERIOD. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH HAS HID HEADLAMPS THAT HAVE INTERMITTENT FAILURES. THIS PROBLEM HAS COME ON OVER THE LAST YEAR. USUALLY SWITCHING THE HEADLAMPS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN TURNS THE LAMPS BACK ON. HOWEVER TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED AT NIGHT AND HAVING YOUR HEADLAMPS SUDDENLY GO OUT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. READING ON THE INTERNET AND REALIZING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES MADE ME DECIDE IT MUST BE REPORTED TO YOU SO YOU CAN PUT PRESSURE ON TOYOTA TO RECALL AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET DUE TO THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY TEN MINUTES (ON AVERAGE) WHENEVER THE HEADLAMPS ARE ON. *TR

LIKE MY WIFE I OWN ANOTHER 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH HAS HID HEADLAMPS THAT HAVE INTERMITTENT FAILURES. THIS PROBLEM HAS COME ON OVER THE LAST YEAR. USUALLY SWITCHING THE HEADLAMPS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN TURNS THE LAMPS BACK ON. HOWEVER TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED AT NIGHT AND HAVING YOUR HEADLAMPS SUDDENLY GO OUT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. READING ON THE INTERNET AND REALIZING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES MADE ME DECIDE IT MUST BE REPORTED TO YOU SO YOU CAN PUT PRESSURE ON TOYOTA TO RECALL AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET DUE TO THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY TEN MINUTES (ON AVERAGE) WHENEVER THE HEADLAMPS ARE ON. *TR

HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY TURN OFF. NOTHING APPEARS TO AGGRAVATE OR CAUSE THIS. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE PER DRIVE. ONLY WAY TO FIX IT, (WHEN I EVEN NOTICE IT) IS TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF AGAIN. *TR

BOTH OF MY HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY GO OUT, BUT AT DIFFERENT TIMES SO FAR. WITHIN THE CITY IT IS HARD TO TELL BUT IS NOTICEABLE ON THE OPEN ROAD. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY BOTH DECIDE TO GO OUT AT ONCE. TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND BACK ON A FEW SECONDS LATER HAS SO FAR CAUSED BOTH TO BE ON, BUT FOR HOW LONG WHO KNOWS. *TR

1. NORMAL DRIVING 2. HEADLIGHTS (MOSTLY PASSENGER SIDE) GO OUT BUT WILL COME BACK ON WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. ONCE BACK ON THEY STAY ON FOR VARYING LENGTHS OF TIME (AS SHORT AS A FEW SECONDS AND AS LONG AS A FEW HOURS - MOST TIMES IT IS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME). THE BURNED OUT HEADLIGHT WARNING LIGHT NEVER COMES ON (AS THE LIGHTS ARE NOT BURNED OUT). THIS HAPPENS IN DAYLIGHT OR NIGHT (IT IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT NIGHT). THIS HAS GONE ON FOR MANY MONTHS. 3. I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECKED MULTIPLE TIMES, THE DEALER (MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY) HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HAS TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE BEFORE I FIRST VERIFIED IT IN MAY. FOR NEARLY THE ENTIRE TIME I HAD THE CAR I NOTED SUDDEN CHANGES TO THE LIGHT PATTERNS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. SINCE THE BURNED OUT BULB WARNING NEVER CAME ON I WAS SLOW TO CHECK FOR A HEADLIGHT THAT WAS OUT. ONCE I DID NOTE THAT MY HEADLIGHT WAS OUT I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, BUT IT WAS BACK ON. HOWEVER THE HEADLIGHTS DO GO OUT AGAIN AND AGAIN. *TR

MY HID HEADLIGHTS WILL "FLICKER" AND THEN ONE WOULD GO OUT. I CAN GET THE HEADLIGHT BACK ON BY SIMPLY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON. THIS PROBLEM WAS RARELY INTERMITTENT AROUND 25K MILES AND STARTED GETTING WORSE AS I APPROACHED 40K MILES. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ON EVERY VISIT AND THEY COULD NOT LOCATE ANY ISSUES WITH THE HEADLAMPS. I CAN'T GET IN MY CAR WITHOUT HAVING TO SHUT OFF THE HIDS MULTIPLE TIMES DURING A VERY SHORT TRIPS AND GET PULL OVER SEVERAL TIMES BY THE POLICE. RECENTLY I GOT FRUSTRATED AND TOOK THE CAR IN THE DEALER AND ASK THAT THEY REPLACED THE BULBS. THEY NOW ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DRIVER SIDE BULB IS BROKEN AND THAT I HAVE TO PAY $520 TO REPLACE IT. I TOLD THEM THAT BOTH HEADLAMPS GO OUT AND SO IT MUST BE DEFECTIVE OR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE SEARCHED SOME OWNERS BLOGS AND FOUND MANY USERS REPORTING THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT WORKS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW DOES NOT WORK. *TR

FRONT HEAD LAMP ON PRIUS CUTS OUT INTERMITTANTLY. IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE WITHOUT MAJOR LABOR (INCLUDING REMOVING BUMPER). APPROXIMATE COST 450.00 TO 500.00. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AT NIGHT, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

PURCHASED NEW TOYOTA PRIUS AUG. 2006; WITHIN ONE YEAR RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, BUT DIDN'T BURN OUT COMPLETELY, BUT WOULD GO ON AND OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES. TOOK IN AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (BULB COSTS OVER $300!). AUGUST 2008, SAME THING, RIGHT HEADLIGHT WOULD SPORADICALLY WORK. TOOK INTO DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO RESEARCH IF A SHORT CIRCUIT. THEY SAID NO, JUST BAD BULB. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BULBS ARE DELICATE AND THIS CAN HAPPEN IF GOING OVER BUMP IN THE ROAD. THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY THE $300. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE LEFT BULB NOW SPORADICALLY WORKS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE A $300 BULB ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR. AFTER READING ON PRIUSCHAT.COM, OTHER PRIUS OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME COMPLAINTS. THERE MUST BE A DEFECT FOR 3 BULBS TO GO OUT WITHIN 2 YEARS AND AGAIN, THEY DON'T BURN OUT COMPLETELY. WHEN YOU FIRST TURN THE LIGHTS ON, THE BULB COMES ON, BUT WHILE DRIVING, IT JUST GOES OUT. WHEN YOU TURN YOUR LIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN, THE BULB COMES ON AGAIN, BUT WON'T STAY LIT. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE BY THE POLICE BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP GOES OFF WHEN VEHICLE RUNNING & BEING DRIVEN. WHEN THE HEADLAMP SWITCH IS BRIEFLY TURNED OFF, THEN BACK ON, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP COMES ON AGAIN, BUT ALWAYS GOES BACK OFF AFTER A FEW SECONDS OR UP TO A MINUTE OR TWO. THIS CYCLE OF TURNING OFF & ON CAN BE REPEATED INDEFINITELY. THE PROBLEM STARTED SPONTANEOUSLY. NOTHING HAS YET BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM; A PHONE CALL TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS MET WITH UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHAT MAY BE WRONG, AND I HAVE YET TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, WITH 41,000 MILES. MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILED 2 DAYS AGO, CAR WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER, THEY CHANGED A $260.00 "COMPUTER" THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHT, WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, MY COST $55.00. ON MY WAY HOME BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED, RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER, HID LIGHT BULB WAS CHANGED TODAY, MY COST $320.00. NOW THE LEFT HEADLIGHT IS ALSO FAILING INTERMITTENTLY, WHICH SEEMS ODD AND VERY COINCIDENTAL. TOYOTA IS UNABLE TO TELL ME, IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES, THOUGH THE INTERNET SEEMS TO HAVE INFO ON THE SAME SITUATION WITH OTHER OWNERS. $600-$1,000 SEEMS EXCESSIVE TO REPAIR THE HEADLIGHTS THAT SEEM TO BE A MODEL PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY AFFECTING 2006 MODEL PRIUS. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THESE ITEMS? *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2006 PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL AND RECOVER WHEN THEY ARE TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. THIS HAS GONE ON FOR OVER ONE YEAR AND I FINALLY BEGAN LOOSING ALL LIGHTS ON HIGH BEAM AND THEY WOULD NOT RECOVER WHEN THEY WERE TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. I JUST PAID OVER $500 FOR A PROBLEM THAT I NOW REALIZE IS SHARED BY MANY OWNERS. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL?? *TR

OUR TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 IS EXPERIENCING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT, AND SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO "WINK-OUT" DESPITE THE DEALER HAVING VERIFIED THAT THE CONNECTIONS ARE SOLID AND THE BULBS ARE IN FUNCTIONING ORDER. SIMPLY TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON "FIXES" THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RESURFACES THE NEXT TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. RECENTLY I DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WHERE THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT KEPT GOING OUT RANDOMLY. I WOULD HAVE TO SHUTOFF ALL LIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO COME BACK ON. NOT ONLY IS IT TOTALLY UNSAFE TO BE TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS (DRIVING OR NOT AT NIGHT) BUT IT IMPAIRS YOUR VISION WHEN ONLY ONE OF THE TWO HEADLIGHTS IS WORKING. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND AFTER $56 IN LABOR, $330 IN A HID BULB, AND TAX, MY PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN FIXED. THEY DON'T KNOW AS IT COULD BE THE BALLAST. HOWEVER AFTER TALKING TO A SCUBA BUDDY WHO IS ALSO A MASTER TOYOTA MECHANIC HE TOLD ME THAT ITS ALMOST ALWAYS THE BULB AND THEY ARE MORE THEN LIKELY DEFECTIVE AND THAT IN HIS OPINION THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

KNOWN FAILURE OF HID HEADLAMPS ON 2006 PRIUS. THE LIGHTS PREMATURELY FAIL AS FOUND ON PRIUSCHAT.COM OVER AND OVER. MY LIGHTS FAILED THE SAME WAY WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT SHUTTING OFF. TURNING OFF THEN BACK ON THE HEADLAMPS CURES THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE CAUSED HER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE BEHIND THE CONTACT WITNESSED THAT HER BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT'S THE RIGHT ONE AND SOMETIMES IT'S THE LEFT ONE. I'M AFRAID THAT SOMETIME IT WILL BE BOTH. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT BUT SINCE IT IS AN INCONSISTENT PROBLEM, IT IS NOT ALWAYS NOT WORKING WHEN I TAKE THE CAR IN SO THEY HAVE A HARD TIME DIAGNOSING IT AND REFUSE TO CHANGE OUT THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. THEY ALMOST LOOK AT ME IN DISBELIEF AS IF THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. YET, I SEE MANY OTHER PRIUS' DRIVING AROUND WITH ONE HEADLIGHT ON SO I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE IN THERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO IT AND DO THE RIGHT THING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST AND THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING AND WILL ONLY WORK AGAIN IF YOU TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 PRIUS ONE HEAD LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND THEN THE OTHER AND I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS. SOME TIMES ITS THE DRIVERS SIDE SOME TIMES THE PASSENGER SIDE AND SOMETIMES BOTH. BUT ON THE FREEWAY IT'S SCARY WHEN THEY BOTH GO OUT! *TR

I DRIVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN 2006. IT HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT. STARTING AT ABOUT 27,000 MILES, THE HID HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN SEEMS TO RE-IGNITE THE BULB UNTIL THE NEXT FAILURE. THIS CREATES A REAL SAFETY CONCERN AND THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER WARRANTY STATING THAT THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THIS ISSUE. THERE A NUMEROUS POSTS ON MESSAGE BOARDS SUCH AS PRIUSCHAT.COM (HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/34584-HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM.HTML) THAT SUGGEST THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE, BUT ACTUALLY A DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING FLAW. WITHOUT RELIABLE HEADLIGHTS, I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS AROUND ME. I HAVE A CALL IN TO TOYOTA AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. PERHAPS A RECALL IS IN ORDER, OR AT LEAST A SERVICE BULLETIN SO THAT DEALER SERVICE CENTERS DON'T REFUSE TO PERFORM NECESSARY MAINTENANCE. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO INDICATION FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT ONE IS NOT WORKING. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED THREE TIMES, AND THE ONLY THING THAT WAS FIXED WAS A REAR TAILLIGHT BULB. THE NON-WORKING HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN POINTED OUT TO ME BY SECURITY GUARDS IN THE PARKING GARAGE, AND LAST WEEK I WAS PULLED-OVER BY A NEW JERSEY STATE PATROL OFFICER BECAUSE ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THEM ON AGAIN IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF, AND THEN RESTART IT. IT HAS NOW BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF, PASSENGERS, AND OTHER DRIVERS. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN THAT IF I NOTICE THEM NOT WORKING, BRING THE CAR IN WITH THE LIGHTS STILL OUT, AND THEN THEY CAN TRY TO TRACK DOWN THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES I HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT, OR NOTICED THE OUTAGES HAVE BEEN AS I DROVE INTO MY OFFICE OR LATER AT NIGHT WHEN THE DEALER IS CLOSED, OR OUT OF TOWN ON THE TURNPIKE. THIS SOLUTION IS MERELY AN AVOIDANCE BY THE DEALER TO REPLACE A KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, PACKAGE 6. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC ANTECEDENTS. THE HEADLIGHT MAY STAY ON OR MAY NOT DURING ANY TIME DRIVING. IF I TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON, THE AFOREMENTIONED HEADLIGHT WILL COME BACK ON AND STAY ON. OR NOT. AGAIN, THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. I HAVE REVIEWED THE DISCUSSION BOARDS AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM AMONG SEVERAL PRIUS DRIVERS. TOYOTA HAS NO TECH SHEETS OR RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. THEY SAY TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL CHECK IT OUT, BUT SINCE IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHETHER THE PROBLEM WILL OCCUR DURING AN APPOINTMENT/DIAGNOSTIC TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT, AND I AM CERTAINLY AT RISK OF GETTING A FIX-IT TICKET FOR IT. HOWEVER, I AM HAVING TROUBLE "FIXING" SOMETHING THAT MANIFESTS SO UNPREDICTABLY. I AM WONDERING IF THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS? I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM IN 1/2008, AT ABOUT 35,000 OR 36,000 MILES, JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS INDIVIDUALLY GO OUT SPORADICALLY. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, AND TURNED BACK ON AGAIN, THE HEADLIGHTS WORK. USUALLY, ITS THE LEFT HEADLIGHT BUT HAS ALSO BEEN THE RIGHT. REPLACEMENT OF THE LEFT HEADLIGHT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TODAY, THE "ECU'S AND HID BULBS" WERE REPLACED. DON'T YET KNOW IF THIS CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE AND AM CONCERNED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. LOSING HEADLIGHTS IS DANGEROUS. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT FAILURE. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM DURING NIGHTTIME OPERATION. REQUIRES EMERGENCY MANUAL SWITCHING OFF AND THEN ON OF LIGHT SWITCH TO REIGNITE LIGHTS. CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY DID NOT INDICATE THAT THIS IS A MASSIVE DEFECT. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY QUOTED EXPENSIVE, EXCEEDING $800.00 BULB REPLACEMENTS. MY CAR IS A COMMUTER CAR AND IS BEYOND WARRANTY. THIS FAILURE HAS NOW OCCURRED 5 TIMES, DURING EVENING OPERATION AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 AND 65, REQUIRING EMERGENCY REACTION. *TR

OWNER OF A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS PURCHASED APRIL 29, 2006. WE HAVE NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE REVVING UP WHILE DRIVING. WE'RE DRIVING 45-55 MPH AND LASTED ONLY A FEW SECONDS. WE COULD FEEL A POWER SURGE IN THE ACCELERATION BUT BEFORE WE COULD ACTUALLY ANALYZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING THE EVENT WAS OVER. OCCURRING APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES. ON JULY 21, HOWEVER, IT OCCURRED AGAIN, LASTING MUCH LONGER. I WAS TRAVELING ON A ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THEN SLOWED TO 35MPH FOR A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE. I WAITED FOR A TIME TO PASS, THEN CHANGED LANES AND ACCELERATED TO PASS. EXACTLY AFTER, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS THE ACCELERATION INCREASED WITH A BIG SURGE OF POWER, ENGINE REVVING. I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE CAR, FIRST TAPPING THE BRAKES THEN FULL BRAKING BUT THE ACCELERATION WAS GREATER AND MY BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE ACCELERATION. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I WAS COMING UP ONTO A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGN BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT ENOUGH WITH THE BRAKE TO GET AROUND THE CORNER. I RAISED MY FEET OFF THE FLOOR, KEEPING BOTH HANDS TIGHTLY CLUTCHED ON STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL IT REACHED 62 MPH, THEN IT SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. I THEN HAD CONTROL OF THE CAR AGAIN. WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT. WE HAVE A 8 YEAR OR 80,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND ENDED UP CHARGING ME $80. THIS PROBLEM DOES EXIST. AND SCARED ME. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. TODAY I LOOKED

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 35,543 MILES ON IT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES OFF. I WILL BE BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER TODAY. *TR

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON, USUALLY CORRECTS THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE NEXT BUMP. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS. FIRST ONE SAID THAT BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO COVER THE COST, SAID TO BE $1800.00 TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. SECOND TOYOTA DEALER ALSO SAID THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER THE COST, SAID TO BE $850.00 TO REPLACE ONLY THE HEADLIGHT BULBS. *TR

HEADLIGHT FAILURE. *TR