One hid headlamp will occasionally turn itself off. Turning headlamp switch off for 3-5 minutes and then back on will correct the issue. As one could imagine, very problematic when driving on the freeway at night. Multiple bulb replacements (over $150 each) have had no effect. Dealer recommended full headlamp replacement is over $1000. Research found that many others have had a similar issue, and eventually trace the problem back to the ballast of the hid lamp, which is easily damaged by water from poor design (the ballast is weather-sealed against the engine compartment, but not against the headlamp itself; any water that makes its way into the lamp will run down and pool on the ballast electronics).
2007 Toyota Prius lights complaints
Page 6 of 37: complaints 131 to 160 of 1,061, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My headlight comes on but goes out intermitently. If I turn the light off and turn it back on it comes back on. I;ve read about other people having this issue and heard that replacing the expensive bulb sometimes doesn;t fix the problem and there is a class action suit on it.
While driving at night the headlamps will randomly and somewhat frequently just go out. If I turn the switch off and back on again they will come back on. This is very dangerous because it is not always obvious that they have gone out. I have read that many other people experience this problem and a recall should be issued.
The headlights go at without warning. Sometimes one goes out sometimes both while we are driving. Bulb replacement does not fix the issues. This has continued to be a problem for years. Toyota service has not offered a fix that works! I have been driving on the highway or local roads when, all of a sudden, all the lighting goes dark. I have had success in relighting the headlights by turning off the headlights at the main switch and then turning them back on. Extremely dangerous. Breaks are also a menace: on wet roads it is especially noticeable when using the breaks. If you are breaking and a tire goes over a more slippery surface than the pavement, such as a manhole cover, the ABS system cuts breaking to all the wheels such that the car continues on as if the breaks are not being applied - the car effectively releases the breaks and you loose control of the car until its systems decide to return controls to the driver. This happens over and over and over. Try it on a road with a bit of loose gravel on it or the leftover coarse sand from winter road maintenance or going through a milde pothole where gravel has spilled onto the road....breaking in these conditions will consistently cause the car to diminish breaking power to such an extent that the car is no longer lowing down. We own 6 cars of varying makes and this is the only car that has this issue. The other side of this same issue is that if you are pulling out into traffic and a drive wheel hits a slightly slippery patch, the engine power is cut for so long and so severely that we are at risk of being hit. This happens every single time. Toyota service has not offered a fix. Though we have told them abou this issue repeatedly, they typically do not write it down and tell us it is normal. It is not normal or safe.
Lights intermittently fail while driving. Usually only one side but occasionally both at once. Very dangerous and scary. Toyota has told me they don't know what the problem is.
The driver side headlight keeps going off, when driving the car, even with a brand new bulb in. Also, one time, both headlights went out when I was sitting at a stop sign, and turned on the turn signal. Huge safety problem! The lights come on when turned on initially then go off as I am driving on any road.
When my vehicle has the headlights on while I am driving one or both will spontaneously go off. This occurs more when it is wet out, and seems to occur more when I hit a bump, but it will occur often with no antecedent. If I turn the headlight switch off and then on again the headlight (or headlights) will turn back on but then may go off randomly again later while driving. The bulbs are fine. I've read online and this seems to be a common problem for the 2006 and 2007 prius. So common I doubt it is a random malfunction but a engineering/electrical design or equipment problem. Very dangerous when driving at night. Occurs almost every time I drive it.
I started to notice the right hid headlight bulb spontaneously go out while driving and read somewhere that this might be a pre warning that the bulb was at the end of its life. I went ahead and replaced both bulbs (which are ridiculously expensive) with brand new ones, yet this did not fix the problem. At any given time, the right bulb decides to turn off and sometimes the left one for no apparent reason (not tied to hitting bumps). This is extremely dangerous to be driving at night when at any given time the bulbs could go out. I read somewhere that this isn't really deemed a safety issue because its usually just one bulb that goes out and that gives you enough time to get to a service station, but if thats the case, tell me how I can get pulled over by the police for having a bulb out and how they justify the dangers associated with it? According to trafficviolationslawfirms.com: "traffic laws in each state contain statutes regarding nighttime driving and the appropriate use of headlights. Driving with poor visibility due to conditions, such as poor or non-working headlights is a main cause of nighttime accidents. Aside from being a main cause of nighttime accidents, driving without headlights after dusk or before dawn, will result in a driving without lights ticket from law enforcement." what will it take for toyota to issue a recall on a known and widespread issue? This reminds me of the movie "fight club": your driving 65 MPH down a dark road and your headlights go out, a deer you cant see jumps out in front of the car, and you crash and burn with everyone trapped inside. Now, should toyota initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, a, multiply by the probable rate of failure, b, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, c. A times b times c equals x. If x is less than the cost of a recall, they don't do one.
Headlamps and tail lights subject to intermittent periods of failure to stay lit while driving. Not regular, nor consistent to one light and not the other. General unreliability of electrical road illumination system. Creates a high potential for dangerous accidents with oncoming vehicles failing to recognize my vehicle profile accurately when approaching on narrow roadways.
I was driving after dark on the freeway. After 2 minutes the driver side headlight went out. I turned the lights off and back on. The driver side light went out again after another 2 - 3 minutes. This repeated for 3 more times. After the 5th time turning the lights off and back on, both headlights went out after about 3 minutes. This while moving at more than 60 MPH on a dark freeway. I turned the lights off and back on again, and the precedure repeated from the beginning, I.e. Left headlight went out 3 more times before I reached my destination. My prius has hid lights and this appears to be a common problem as these ars get older. Does someone need to die first before the federal safety agency gets toyota to fix this problem?
The lights on this vehicle have been an issues since I bought it in 2012. The headlights randomly go off while driving, usually one at a time. They will come on again if you notice it and flick the switch. Replacing the bulbs has not solved the problem(had one replaced) now my daughter is driving the vehicle and she has been stopped a number of times with a headlight out. I will again replace the bulb, but this does not appear to be the underlying problem, which appears to be a manufacturers problem to me.
Headlamps go out suddenly and back on if switched turned off then on. Bulbs werereplaced as part of recall and it continues to happen. Over $500 quote to replace bulbs but no guarantee it doesn't continue to happen.
While returning home the lights (both) flickered and the left headlight went out. After a stop for groceries and preparing to leave both headlights were working. As we neared our home the left light went out again. Both situations happened around 8:00 and 8:30 pm. Since the first incident we have had the left, right and both lights fail on at least a dozen separate occasions. We have discovered this problem has affected hundreds of thousands of prius'. Toyota is responsible for this known problem and must fix these failures.
Driving the car the headlights will just go out. 6 months ago it use to happen once or twice a week but is getting worse and now on august 16, 2015 9:30 pm, it happened 2 times in a 35 minute drive on the highway. Had this been on one of the windy back roads without streetlights it would have been a lot more dangerous. By searching the web we have figured out that we need to turn the lights off and back on to get them to come back on. It happens at 25 MPH, 45 MPH or 55 MPH.
My right headlight began flickering around 2-3 months ago. I then purchased 2 hid bulbs to replace both sides at 1x. Immediately after the replacement a few weeks ago, my right light would flicker then both headlights would turn off. Id immediately have to turn lights on and off then they would come back on. The lights would stay on for about 45 seconds then flicker and off again and id have to start the cycle again. I travel 120 miles a day and this has limited the ability to use the vehicle safely and with peace of mind.
Right headlight failed. I had this headlight replaced about 20k miles ago, along with the other on the left side. The previous replacement was due to lights flickering off while driving; a very unsafe condition to develop while night driving. Intermittent lighting continued until the headlamps were replaced. Now, 20k miles later, the headlamps are failing again. This is neither safe nor consumer friendly.
The headlights on the vehicle continue to fail, day in and day out. Now both headlights shut off and won't stay on for longer than a minute.
Head lamps randomly shut off. Sometimes it is one light and other times is it both lights. Very dangerous for my pregnant wife to be on the road and have the headlights shut off!
One headlight started to flicker and then both headlights went out while driving. Tried to turn off and back on and went on for a few seconds and then they were done. Had to drive back in the dark. We were out of state and it happened during the 4th of july holiday weekend so we had to cut the trip short and get extra hotel nights as we could no longer travel at night.
The left head light functions intermittently. It will turn off while driving smoothly, fast or slow. I can drive over bumps and uneven roads and have the light on the entire time, or sometimes it shuts off. My car has new bulbs and the connections have been checked for correct installation. After reading many forums,I've heard that the dealers will replace the computer, light bulb and light assembly for at least 2600$. Consumers should not have to pay for functioning light assemblies. Please look ivy this problem.
Like so many others have reported, one of the hid headlights will suddenly stop working. Turning the lights off and then on again "fixes" the problem for that moment. But the problem can reoccur within a few minutes. I have experienced this problem most every time I have driven the vehicle at night since the initial incident. Given all the other complaints, and the 2011 class action lawsuit on this issue which toyota settled without admitting guilt, this is a safety issue well-known to toyota. Evidence shows the problem is not the light bulbs but the electronic control unit (ecu) or other electrical issue. I have enquired to toyota customer service. They acknowledge the class action lawsuit and say my vehicle qualifies under the lawsuit, but they will not take responsibility for fixing the problem. The best they offer is for me to pay to get new light bulbs and then submit my receipts to them for possible reimbursement. Given the many comments by others that the problem continued even with new bulbs, this "resolution" by toyota seems hardly adequate. The federal safety agency must and should take action and demand toyota properly repair/resolve this issue. I bought this used vehicle in october 2014 at a toyota dealership in the phoenix area.
Date and mileage are approximate. While driving at night my headlights went out completely. Since then, they continually go out randomly. Sometimes it will begin with one or the other going out and then both. At this point, I am able to turn them off and on again and they come back on for awhile....I am quite concerned about this as sudden darkness while driving at night is a serious safety hazard. Does an accident and/or death need to happen before action is taken?... I am also quite confused that there has not been a recall as this problem seems to be quite common.......updated 08/20/15 *bf updated 12/10/15
I was driving down the interstate when all of the sudden my headlights went completely out thank god I was able to pull over and get them working again this happened in march for the first time and has now happened 7 times since this is very dangerous and I think this needs some attn.. Thanks bill
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota prius. While driving at approximately 50 MPH, the instrument panel, the headlights, and the tail lights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the headlights were replaced but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 75,642.
I bought a used and regularly serviced 2007 toyota prius in september 2014 with 69,000 miles. This week of april 5th, the airbag symbol showed up on the dash along with the headlights not working properly. When I took the vehicle in to the local toyota dealership, I was told that the steering wheel spiral coil was broken and ;that my airbag system was disabled. This happened at 85,000 miles. It cost me almost $500 to have this coil replaced. The service manager said this was simply due to normal wear and tear. I also have outside hatch rubber opener that is gooie and sticky and the hatchback door often will not open. Updated 10/31/2017
Passenger side hid head light will intermittently go out. But, the light will work properly again if it's turned off/on again.
Starting in 2014 our prius headlights usually one side or the other side would sporadically go off. And most dangerous they both go off. This is especially dangerous when driving at night at high speeds. I've had both lights checked on and they are working no bulb issue. My mechanic said this is an issue with this year and model car.
The headlights have started working intermittently. First one at a time and now both. If they go out, turning the switch off and then on again will make them come back on. The repair cost for the headlights to be replaced is $350 + it is extremely dangerous to have headlights that do not work reliably. The fact that the repair cost is so extreme will lead to many of these cars to not be fixed. Toyota should take responsibility for the defective lights and issue a recall.
For the last year or so, I've had trouble with the headlights on my prius. I first noticed it last spring - I was driving back home along the highway and suddenly noticed my headlights were out. I flipped them off and then tried to turn them back on again and they came back on. Over the next several months it happened again - but it was hard to notice because I did not do much driving at night and when I did, it was in well-lit areas. When I moved for a new job, I noticed this happening more frequently - though I suspect I'm just more aware of the problem because I'm doing more nighttime driving and in more rural areas. The disturbing part is that now both headlights will go out - particularly after making a left-hand turn. Again, by flipping off the lights and then turning them back on, the lights will then work. But on a least a few occasions, they will go out again within a few minutes. Now, I'm noticing that one headlight will often go out - though not the same side. I've had mechanics look at it who are unable to do anything other than replace the bulb; but they don't believe that the bulb is the issue. My preliminary research online has shown me that my model prius has a history of headlight issues that sound identical to mine. Any assistance would be appreciated - I am a teacher in a rural area with limited funds who cannot avoid driving at night.
Headlights go out intermittently, random malfunction. Will come back on if you turn the headlights off and back on. They work normally some of the time and then will shut off as you are driving.
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