Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. While driving at night the head lights intermittently fail. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. Since the technician could not identify the cause of the failure, he could not provide a remedy. The failure mileage was 30,000.
2008 Toyota Prius lights complaints
Page 18 of 21: complaints 491 to 520 of 583, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I was driving my 2008 toyota prius on the highway at night, and both headlights suddenly cut out. I immediately pulled over, put the car in park, and flipped the head light switch back and forth. In doing this, both lights came back on and remained on for the remainder of my trip. The following day the driver's side light went out, but came back on after I flipped the headlight switch back and forth. The car continues to have this same headlight issue on a daily basis, though it is typically the driver's side headlight that goes out. I first contacted the dealership, and they encouraged me to merely change the bulb. However, I investigated the problem further, and contacted toyota directly. They confirmed that they have had other cars with the same issue, and that the light will actually burn so hot, that a mechanism shuts them down, so that it doesn't burn up a sensor. They went on to say that they have issued a technical service bulletin because the bulbs should last longer, however they do not plan to issue a recall at this time.
Drivers side headlight failed. Did not work at all after turning headlights on and off. I was traveling for work (about 2000 miles of driving over 4 days) and did not have time to either repair the problem myself or take it to the dealer. During the 4 days of driving with one headlight, I noticed the passenger's side headlight failing as well, intermittently, leaving me with no headlights. If I turned the lights off then back on, the passenger side worked, but the drivers side still didn't. The passenger side light would stay on for hours after cycling the power, so it seems to me like a random intermittent problem, not due to overheating or bulb life.
Toyota prius 2008, driver's side hid headlight went out at 29k miles <2 years of use, different dealerships tell different stories on whether it's a warranty repair; bulb pricing ranges from $30 to $350; sandy springs toyota sold us the wrong part; owner's manual gives wrong instructions: the light bulb casing looks nothing like the diagram; some online sources cite a total cost + labor $1700; some don't recommend downgrading to a non-hid bulb; some say that the voltage is very high and poses risk of electrocution when replacing at home;
Off and on high intensity discharge headlights on 2008 prius with nearly 23,000 miles. Since october 2009 my right side hid headlight intermittently turns off. To get the headlight working again I have to pull over, turn the car off, wait a minute, then turn the car back on. Once the light is on again, sometimes it will stay on for the remainder of my trip and other times it will go out again. This is dangerous, especially at night. This is definitely a safety issue.
I own a 2008 prius purchased new. I have the hid headlights. The car has 49,000 miles. The headlights go out and will come back on sometime on their own or by turning the lights off and back on. This is very dangerous. I do not think it is the bulbs that are bad due to the come back on. I went online and found that this problem is happening to alot of prius owners and the outrageous prices that dealers are charging to replace the bulbs just for it to recur.
2008 toyota prius headlights: the driver side headlight goes out unexpectedly. If the lights are turned off and back on the headlight comes back on. This occurs with both low- and high-beam operation. The problem is intermittent and very dangerous. I took the vehicle to a repair shop to diagnose the problem and they said the lights worked fine for them and they couldn't replicate it. They checked the connections thinking that may have been an issue. The problem has gotten worse. I had an occasion driving to work along a very dark rural section of open road where there are large herds of deer and elk often jumping the fence and wandering close to the road. On one occasion my lights went out and I had to turn the lights off and on again while also trying to slow down without causing an incident. Upon the lights coming back on I immediately saw several deer that had wandered out of the growth by the side of the road and into my path no more than a 100ft in front of me. I had to brake very hard to avoid them. Without adequate lighting if I had tried to pull off to the side of the road in a controlled manner I would have likely driven right into the deer. This caused an extremely dangerous situation that could have been a lot worse. I am now furious at the quoted cost to replace the bulbs. But, I have no option but to shell out the money to replace them. I'm even more furious that toyota seems to be ignoring the problem in the hope it will go away. I regard this as a huge safety issue that I believe toyota should address with a recall to fix the obvious defect in the prius lighting system. This problem detracts from an otherwise excellent car.
I own a 2008 toyota prius and the driver side hid bulb burnt out on 11/19/2009. I normally drive my car to and from work. I promptly called toyota service department on 11/20/2009 and I asked the female customer representative if the hid would be covered under warranty. I purchased an extended warranty when I purchased the car back in january of 2008. She said she did not know if it would be covered; I would have to come in and see. At 11/21/2009 7:30 am, I roll into toyota's dealership and one of the service managers replied to me that the bulbs were only covered up to 36,000 miles even with the extended warranty. He was rude and I promptly left toyota.
Off and on high intensity discharge headlights 2008 prius 15 months old, 22,800 miles. Randomly go off making driving at night hazardous. Replacement price over 500 dollars! No accident yet.
I drive my car and the driver side headlight goes off. I can switch the light on and off and it will come on for a few minutes to a little while and then go back off. It happens all the time. Replaced the bulb and check the fuses.
2008 toyota prius headlamp keeps going out. Replaced both hid headlamps as toyota corporate told me to do and problem consists. Safety hazard while driving at night with children in car and busy pedestrians on dark roads with strollers and babies not counting deer or other animals. Toyota has refused to recall issue. Im tired!
Driver's side hid headlight spontaneously failed, both high and low beams, was able to continue driving with only passenger-side headlights but was concerned they might fail as well. Car is less than 2 years old; dealer covered replacement under standard toyota prius warranty.
A recall is necessary on this prius headlight issue. They are continuing to fail right and left and the dealerships are ripping people off to the tune of over $300 to change a headlamp. They fail at less then 16k miles either totally or by intermittently going on and off.
Hid headlights on 2008 toyota prius began to dim suddenly and stay dim. Flashing lights on and off temporarily brighten the lights but they become dim again. Happens constantly.
Both headlights on our 2008 prius began flickering on and off, and ultimately would flicker off at night leaving us with no lights. If we turned the lights off and then on again, the lights would work for a few minutes then turn off again. The car was only two years old. When we took the car to the dealership, we were told we would need to replace both bulbs at a cost to us of over 600 dollars. Toyota dealership replaced both lights, the next day the passenger hid headlight was already out again, so we took the car back, and they said the brand new bulb must have been defective. I don't believe them, it seems obvious there is a problem with these hid lights.
Left front headlight on 2008 toyota prius keeps going off.
Both headlights on our 2008 prius began flickering on and off, and ultimately would flicker off at night leaving us with no lights. If we turned the lights off and then on again, the lights would work for a few minutes then turn off again. The car was only two years old. When we took the car to the dealership, we were told we would need to replace both bulbs at a cost to us of over 600 dollars.
I had a headlight go out. Before I could get it fixed I noticed that it would come on when I turned the lights on and then fade out. Subsequently, the other headlight went out while driving down the road, at night. I turned off the headlight switch and then turned it back on and the one light came back on. I took it to the dealer and they replaced one bulb. It lasted a week and then driving at night the lights went out again. I again turned the lgithts off and on and the came back on. I have researched this problem online. Http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=2h&oq=&ie=utf-8&rlz=1t4ggik_enus283us283&q=prius+headlight+problems. This is a clear safety issue that needs to be addressed. Who is to say that someone hasn't been killed already. Are there any unexplained prius accidents running off the road for no reason?
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. On october 28, 2009 both headlights failed. He turned the vehicle off for a few minutes, and then the head-lights turned back on. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. He will contact the manufacturer. The current and the failure mileages were 60,000. The VIN was not available.
My right headlight goes off and sometimes it will come back on with me turning off the on the headlight. My wife today had the light turn off and the maintenance light came on. I tried to turn off then on but the light stayed off. I am going to have the vehicle towed 55 miles to the toyota dealer in redding ca. Upon reading the prius chat site I have found out that this is a common problem with prius's with hid lights. This I feel is a factory problem and should not cost me anything to fix. Thanks dennis swope
The hid bulb on the passenger side of my 2008 toyota prius with only 40k miles on it, goes out intermittently. If I turn my switch off and then back on, the bulb will come back on, for a little while. The dealership wants $300 to replace the bulb. The hazard of possibly losing the driver side light before I can get the passenger side repaired is of great concern. This is a continuing, constant problem.
I work in the field of law enforcement. I got off duty and was getting ready to leave when another officer notified me that my drivers side headlamp was not operable. As a peace officer I can testify that I've had numerous contacts with the owners of late model prius' pertaining to headlamps and tail lamps being inoperable. This is a serious safety issue and toyota needs to recall the vehicles and make the necessary repairs. I can say that the local toyota dealer fixed the issue immediately when I took it in for repairs. I told them I was not going to pay the $300.00 plus to fix the issue considering it's a common problem with the late model vehicles. The dealer is very reputable and fixed the vehicle without charge. Now I'm concerned about the other head lamp and having it replaced before it goes out.
The hd headlights on my 2008 toyota prius go off at times. Last night I was driving and both headlights went off, I tried the brights but they didn't work either. I pulled over to a gas station and turned of the car and restarted it. This time only one light came on and the brights worked only on one side. This happened in august too but then the lights came on again and there wasn't a problem. However in the past 3 days the problem has resurfaced. The bulbs are not burnt. I live in the mountains so it was very scary when the lights suddenly went off on the winding mountain road.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. While driving 45 MPH at night the driver-side headlight failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the headlights' computer chip was replaced. After the repair both exterior head lamps failed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and both computer chips were replaced. The failure mileage was 24,000. The current mileage was 25,000. The vehicle identification number was unavailble. Updated 10/29/09. *lj both headlights failed and were replaced. Updated 10/29/09
I have a hid headlight on a 2008 prius that appears to flicker and then goes out. The problem seems to be intermittent and was brought to my attention by a policeman. When I start the car at home the headlight comes on brightly. A few miles down the road the problem starts. Repair cost is very expensive.
I have a 2008 toyota prius with high intensity discharge headlamps, and more often than not they both go out randomly, I have to turn them off then on again to get them to work as many as 5 times an hour of driving (commuter), this problem really started to be an issue back in march when the left headlamp consistently kept going out. Now I brought it in for service and toyota will cover it this time but although my car is 1 year and 11 months old I have almost reached the 36,000 mile limitation. After which this repair will cost me approximately $1000.00. I do have toyota extra care warranty for 8 years or 125,000 miles and the will not cover such issues even if they are due to defects. I am concerned that if this becomes a consistent problem it may cause an accident. I commute daily approximately 50 miles and I always return from work at night. I will get the old set of lamps back from the dealer for analysis if needed. I really think that this concern should be of utmost importance because it has the potential to cause serious injury if it is not corrected.
Safety issues with toyota 2008 prius headlight system. After living with poor headlight illumination and other headlight issues for about 19 months, I am registering what I consider to be significant safety issues. Headlights: 1. Not bright enough. 2. Cannot be aimed to give distance illumination 3. Blink off driving at night I have made numerous, mostly unresolved, trips to the dealer where we bought the car new. 1. It took two trips to the dealer, to resolve problems with the automatic system for raising and lowering the headlights. I was told the assembly has no shielding or seals to protect it from physical or corrosion damage 2. After alignment adjustments, the headlights continued to be aimed too low. With low beam they are so low that a pedestrian, bicycle, animal, more than about 30 feet away is very difficult to see at night. The high beam setting is somewhat better. We have had several close encounters with deer standing on the road and seeing them barely in time to avoid them. On several occasions I have not seen bicycles or people walking on the edge of the road in the dark again, avoiding them at the last second. The high beam the headlights are not bright enough to cause anyone to flash back at me when they approach from the opposite direction. I have the (expensive) high intensity lights. They have investigated auxiliary headlights for me but have nothing to offer, suggesting I go to an aftermarket person to install additional lights. (I am reluctant to do this, for reasons of complexity, and potential legality.) 3. I have made three additional round trips to the dealer for the problem of headlights (high and/or low beam) that turn off for no reason after driving a short period of time. Luckily it is just one'.usually but not always the right side. One 'computer' has been replaced. The dealer's service shop personnel indicate all these are problems they have seen previously and are characteristic of the car.
Toyota 2008 prius hid headlights randomly turn off (one at a time, usually not together) while driving at dawn, night or dusk. No repairs done at this time until toyota or the vendor who supplies toyota hid headlights, computer chip, electronics, software, sensors, etc. Evaluate why this is happening. The workaround is drive to the side of the road and stop, and to unsafely turn the light switch off, then back on. It is unfair to the consumers to pay for replacement components, labor when the manufacturer(s) does not understand why this is happening (based on talking to service rep in july 2009, no service bulletins from toyota, at airport toyota in vandalia, oh).
Passenger-side hid headlamp failed on my 2008 toyota prius at ~36,400 mileage. Took it to dealer 2 days later and they said problem could be lamp or computer and that both were expensive ($300), but since lamp was on they could not investigate the problem. I took car back and once again light dimmed then flickered off while driving. I did some reading and found that this hid failure is a well-known defect on second generation prius. Current mileage is 36,900 so not under warranty. Placed call to manufacturer to find out if there is any remedy for this defect and they will get back to me w/in 24 hours. I will have to get a replacement since it is unsafe to drive at night in semi-rural area with on-again/off-again headlights. This is a safety issue and I hope we don't have to wait for a fatality, like with the floormats, to get some action.
I have a 2008 prius with about 40,000 miles on it, the headlamps are turning off randomly. I quickly flip the switch off, then back on and they remain on for about 2 minutes, then fail again. Very dangerous when on country roads. I keep the fog lights on as back up. Just got back from dealer and they told me $400 to replace. Ouch! I decided to take the risk and keep on driving due to the extremely high cost and no decent guarantee after the install.
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