I have drive a 2006 toyota prius, package 7 with hid headlamps. I have noticed over the last few years that my headlamps inconsistently fail. Sometimes when I turn my car on and switch on my headlamps, only one or the other side will illuminate. Other times, both headlamp sides will turn on, but after some time, one or both will turn off. All of this with the dash indicator showing that the headlights are on. While driving, I have remedied this problem by flipping the on-off switch to re-illuminate the lights. However, in the course of a drive they will fail again and I periodically have to flip the on-off headlight switch to have my lights work. I do feel this is unsafe and am uncomfortable driving at night or in dark places.
2006 Toyota Prius lights complaints
Page 7 of 33: complaints 161 to 190 of 941, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While driving to work at 4 a.m. On a back road, both hid headlamps failed. Trying to use high beams didn't work. Only turning lights off and back on would get them to work again. This happened several times. There needs to be a safety recall on these headlamps, no exceptions or limits on time/mileage. This is dangerous and if you check the web, toyota knows all about it. Talking to toyota they told me it was my problem. Really? Basic safety on a vehicle should be the responsibility of the manufacturer. This wasn't a one light failed and then months later another failed. They both quit at the exact same time. I guess someone needs to be killed before toyota takes responsibility. Their website spews how committed they are to safety. Sure, as long as the consumer has to pay thousands for it (the cost of this repair can be over a thousand dollars), they are committed. If they have to pay for their design flaw...well...then they aren't so helpful. Apparently this is a recurring theme with toyota and they need to be fined heavily and forced to fix this. Take action now before someone dies, please!
Bought the the 2006 toyota prius new. The hid headlight bulbs have already been replaced twice and they need replaced again. Toyota helped with the first replacement. Each bulb started out at $300.00 a piece, toyota has since lowered the cost to $150.00 each plus labor. The design requires the front bumper to be removed to install the lamps. To do this is at least another $100.00 labor. Looking at the internet, I am one of the thousands who have had this problem. A recall on this problem needs to happen.
This is a follow up to the federal safety agency case # pe09019. The federal safety agency closed this case as a non-safety, non-recall case, because only one headlight was failing, giving the driver time to get to a service center. However, the problem is degenerative...though no cases of dual-headlight failure had been seen by the federal safety agency at the time, in the past few months there have been several cases reported on prius owner websites. All are cases that began with one intermittent light and progressed to both. I would like my case recorded by the federal safety agency and included in any future class-action suit that I may be eligible for. I have a 2006 toyota prius with hid headlights. They began to fail intermittently in 2009, when my car had app. 35,000 miles logged. I never received notice of the open the federal safety agency case, or of the class action suit that toyota settled by extending warranties and/or reimbursing repairs. I got 1 warning ticket for which I attempted to get them fixed, but this time and other times I went for service the problem was not evident (no loose wires, bulbs worked fine, etc.) and I was told that there was nothing to fix. Last week both of my headlights failed simultaneously, as did the parking lights and high beams while driving on the freeway at night. Fortunately I didn't have an accident, and I quickly toggled the control stick to reset the lights, and thought I'd recovered dim headlights and drove home, where I discovered that I had driven over 200 miles with only my parking lights on. The next day, the left headlight bulb worked again, the parking lights work, but the high beams still will not turn on. I have an appointment to have the bulbs changed (the only recommended procedure quoted to me by toyota service). However, I've read reports online of others who did this fix and even more, yet had the headlights fail again sometime later.
One of our hid headlamps turns off intermittently. Sometimes it is off, and sometimes it is on, no way to predict. We had the light bulb replaced by our local mechanic with an after-market product, but the problem persisted. So we went to the dealer, who also replaced the light bulb (much more expensively), but it still turned off whenever. Now the intermittent turn-off has started to occur on the other side. So far they have not both been out at the same time, but if that happened, it would be a real safety issue. The dealer service department doesn't seem to know why it is doing this, and can only suggest that we replace the lightbulb again. It is not an acceptable solution to us to keep replacing $150-$300 lightbulbs. We need to know the underlying cause of the problem, whether it is in the headlamp assembly, or some other part that controls the light. In summary, a product that fails intermittently, even after being replaced has a defect that needs to be investigated. And also, the dealer/maker should know why this is happening and do something about it.
In addition to my complaint, odi id #10400072, when I turn my headlights on, the lighting in my console loses it brightness--alot. During the daytime, it is very difficult to see the odometer/speedometer and all other information provided on my console... This includes the built-in GPS/info screen. This is definitely a design flaw that toyota created and approved for sale here in the u.s. I cannot understand why toyota is not held fully accountable for these very serious flaws and are required to correct these very serious flaws at no cost the the innocent consumer that are victims for purchasing these vehicles fully trusting that toyota fully backed up their vehicles and reputation. What will it take to require toyota to make the necessary repairs to rectify these very obvious flaws in their vehicles? A death as a result of an innocent driver and his family trusting the toyota brand name? I sure hope not.
Like many other prius owners, I began to experience headlamp problems after about 4 otherwise very satisfactory years of driving my 2006 prius. One of the lamps (the right so far) goes off irregularly during operation, and I can't tell when it has gone. This condition creates a safety hazard for other drivers because (1) in the dark a "one-eyed" car could be looming on either side of the one visible light, and (2) to reduce the risk (I think!) I routinely drive with brights on which blinds on-coming drivers. Blogs on this subject make a fix sound too uncertain and expensive to entrust to a dealer or do myself. The federal safety agency should take another look.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact noticed the passenger side headlight failed. The contact replaced the bulb and the headlight failed three more times on both the driver and passenger sides. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
Toyota 2006 prius. Both hid head lamps intermittently go off, but usually not at the same time. Currently have 75k mi on car. Problem started when car had approx 55k miles on it.
We have a 2006 toyota prius that the dealer wants $900.00 to replace the headlights. The headlights cost $150.00 each and the rest of the labor charge is do to the design of the car which requires the front bumper to be removed to change a light bulb. This is not only a bad design, but a rip off for the american consumer.
The right headlight for our 2006 toyota prius goes out intermittently. When the lights are turned completely off, then back on, the headlight begins to work again. This is a regular daily occurrence and has caused us to avoid using the vehicle at night for safety reasons. The headlight controller was replaced in 2008, when we first had the issue, but the problem has resurfaced. Toyota has said that there is no problem with the parts and has refused to correct the problem under warranty.
While driving in the dark in the middle of the night, the headlights spontaneously went out without warning. I drove in pitch black darkness until I could stop the car. Then I took it to a toyota dealer service department and the mechanic told me the lights were overheating and then failing.
The drivers side headlight keeps going out. When first turned on, it glows and after awhile it goes out. When I turn the lights out and back on, it glows again; but for only a very short time. It refuses to stay on when needed during inclement weather or night driving. This is very dangerous to say the least! It is only a matter of time before I am pulled over by police for this defect. I've seen this problem has been reported by many other 2006 prius owners and I feel it is my responsibility to report this malfunction/defect myself. Toyota should be held fully responsible for this defect and should be required to fix this very dangerous safety-related defect. I hope you can help with in requiring toyota to recall these vehicles and fix this very dangerous and definitely safety-related situation/defect/malfunction. I hope we won't have to wait until some people are killed or injured as a result of this safety-related defect before appropriate action is taken to resolve it.
My 2006 toyota prius has had an ongoing problem with their hid headlights. While driving one or both headlights will go off. A quick temporary fix will be to flick the lights off then on again which actually deteriorate the hid bulb leading to shortened life span. However you really have no choice when driving at night. Sometimes you don't even realize they're both off. This can be very dangerous as other drivers wouldn't be able to see your car. Replaced the bulbs and the problem persists. There exists a class action settlement girardgibbs.com, and was told by the dealer that the problem is the ecu. They only addressed this concern to me after I brought them information about the settlement about a month ago. In the past they've only been either saying they can't reproduce the problem or that I need to replace the bulb. I can tell you right now these are my third pair of bulbs and its definitely not the bulbs as the problem persists just days after the new bulbs are installed. I found out that the settlement extended the warranty to 5 years and 50,000 miles however my car falls outside the mileage range. They won't pay for the ecu because the dealers have never specifically addressed the ecu as being the problem with my car within the extended warranty range even though there were numerous times I would complain about the lights within that range. Toyota needs to recall the ecu for 2006-2009 prius models. It is not the bulbs.
Intermittent headlight failure. Pulled over on 03/01/2010 by a sheriff deputy with a warning that one headlight was out. Five minutes later after a stop, headlight worked fine. Various times over the past year one or both headlights have gone out only to come back on later.
Within 6 months I had a headlight from my 2006 toyota prius go out from both sides. Cost $300+ to fix each one.
Drivers side head light intermittantly turns on and off
2006 toyota prius. Headlights keep burning out. I have replaced the headlights twice now and they burn out within three months. There has to be some problem with the wiring for these headlights.
I own a 2006 toyota prius with hid headlights. The right headlight is intermittent. This is a safety hazard especially driving down a dark road at night.
Purchased a used 2006 toyota prius in december 2009. Current mileage is 98k. Received a notice last week about a class action settlement which would pay for past headlight replacement costs, and extend the new vehicle limited warranty through the earlier of 5 years or 50,000 miles. Two days ago, after driving 30 minutes in rain with the headlights on, I found the left headlight was out. Turned off the vehicle, and ten minutes later drove one mile and stopped, and found the right headlight was out. Upon returning home, the right headlight was out and the left headlight was flickering; I recorded this with video on my phone...and within 20 seconds the flickering bulb also went out. I have teenage drivers - this is a safety issue, not just a maintenance issue! Both lights could burn out on a dark unlit road without warning and the driver -- especially an inexperienced driver -- could have a very serious accident. I have no idea if the previous owner experienced this problem when the car had less than 50,000 miles or not. But the bottom line is that this is an unpredictable safety issue which can occur at any time and at any speed....and the class action settlement does not ensure that this unsafe situation will be corrected for all prius with hid headlights! The federal safety agency - we request your help with this situation.
I own a 2006 toyota prius with hid headlights. The headlights turn off by themselves intermittently. Sometimes one, sometimes both. You can't always tell when they are off because, in general, the headlights do a very poor job of illuminating the road in front of the vehicle. I have complained to the dealer since I have owned the car but have been consistently told that there is nothing wrong, just that maybe the car needs to have the headlights replaced. This has been happening off and on since I purchased the vehicle in august 2006.
Headlights have failed repeatedly on 2006 toyota prius. Owner replaced headlamps three times; dealer has replaced two headlamps. In one case, headlight ceased working then later worked. This began in august 2010 and has continued ever since with latest headlight outage occurring 02/12/2011.
The hid headlights on this vehicle are intermittent. Either or both headlights fail without warning, and re illuminate by cycling the headlight switch. So far one dealer repair attempt has not been successful in fixing the problem. Repairs for this headlight system are very expensive, and not always successful.
I own a 2006 toyota prius with original hid headlights. The headlight on the driver side keeps flickering and going out. I have to turn off the lights and then turn them back on to make the light come back on.
Problem with intermittent hid headlight operation
Toyota is charging over $250 for replacement of one hid light buld. This makes it very difficult to replace a piece of required safety equipment on the 2006 prius.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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. I've read that this is a common problem with the model.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, both the front and passenger headlight failed simultaneously. The contact received a ticket because of the failure. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified. The failure mileage was 85,000.
Hid headlamps go out without warning. Sometimes just one, more recently both, so driver loses ability to see at night. Turning light switch off and then on again restores the lights, but they go out again after a while. The one-light failure has been happening intermittently over the last several weeks; in last two weeks both lights have gone out at once, and the problem has become frequent and hazardous.
2006 toyota prius. Faulty headlights. Replaced both headlights in aug 2010 only to have one fail jan. 3 and the other failed jan 8 2011. Added daytime running lights by dealer in 2007 so do not have the ability to turn them off and on. Do not understand how one can have both lights fail as stated in so many other complaints.
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