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2008 Toyota Prius lights complaints

Page 3 of 21: complaints 41 to 70 of 583, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 2008 Toyota Prius lights problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed May 26, 2018 · Lights · 81,105 miles · CA

Driver's side headlight goes off after driving a few minutes. Turning off the lights and turning them back on resets the headlight back on, for a short time, and then goes off again. This is a serious safety hazard and toyota should fess up to the design flaw and recall all the affected cars and fix the problem.

Filed May 6, 2018 · Lights · 126,000 miles · LA

Driver side headlight randomly shuts off while the vehicle is in motion. Have replaced the bulb and fuses, but the problem persists.

Filed Mar 23, 2018 · Brakes, Electrical · 141,160 miles · FL

My mother has a 2008 prius that has two serious issues that toyota has acknowledged and even offered to fix under what they call a support program. Sounds great right? Here's the problem. 1. She never received a letter notifying her of the problem and that it needed to be fixed (and only now that the issues have become her issues is she aware there was a recall and 2. Toyota set a time frame to fix these issues which she is now past. Again, sounds like they tried to do the right thing? The first issue is an internal leak causing her brake booster to malfunction (which is a toyota issue, not an age or wear and tear issue) and the second issue is that there are no lights on her dash board(combination meter) which means that for a prius, there is no way to tell your speed or gas levels. So take that in. She has a car, that has two major issues, one of which toyota fixed up until dec of 2017 and the other dec of 2016 and are caused by faulty parts and labor by toyota, and they will no longer fix these. The break issue cost $2400 and the dash $800. For an issue that is caused by toyota not the driver or wear and tear and is a serious safety issue. This is the kind of company toyota really is. Several years ago my mom received about 14 letters stating she needed to come in and replace her floor matts because they were part of a recall. Floor mats! She's received recall issues on her door lock among other things that she promptly had fixed. She took her car to the toyota dealership many times and no one ever mentioned these issues or "support programs". But breaks and dashboards aren't as important as floor mats or door locks. I would love for toyota to explain to me and everyone else, how something they acknowledge is a toyota issue, has an expiration date to get fixed by them.

Filed Mar 17, 2018 · Lights · 120,000 miles · AZ

My headlights are constantly going out usually the driver side but I'm replacing headlights every six months about. After the second time replacing the headlights I've been very careful only using at night. The lights at not last but a fraction of the time they should be last I g and I've been buying the best on the market insuing I get a quality product with the best visibility. I feel there's some faulty wiring or something causing a surge prompting the headlights to fail prematurely. I've seen several other complaints about headlights letting me know this is not a one off issue.

Filed Mar 7, 2018 · Electrical, Lights · 120,000 miles · FL

Headlight will unexpectedly turn off, despite working bulb. This happens without warning when driving. Both headlights will work fine for a while and then one will turn off, even though the headlight bulbs are ok. We bought the car used around 2014 and has happened about 4 times a year since then. No other problems with car.

Filed Feb 17, 2018 · Lights · 100,900 miles · CA

Both headlamps will intermittently shut off while driving. First started with the right side headlamp turning off then progressively both are now turning off while driving at night creating an unsafe driving situation.

Filed Feb 10, 2018 · Lights · AL

Headlight high beams and low beams sporadically stop functioning while driving. Toyota has known about this problem for years and failed to remediate problem or notify owners. Problem stems from a faulty ballast in headlight assembly.

Filed Feb 9, 2018 · Lights · 75,000 miles · NJ

The right headlight goes off while I am riding. I took it to the dealer and they can't find anything wrong. When the light goes out and I turn the light switch off and then turn it back on. The light comes on. Then it will go out again after driving for a while. I have been stopped by the police. I explained to the officer and he told me that I had to get it fixed or don't drive the car at night. I can't tell if the light is on or off while driving unless I come up behind another car and see the reflection. I always check the light when I start my trips and it is always on. I heard that one gentleman paid up to $2600.00 for repairs do to the same thing. He still has the problem. Can some one please help me and other toyota owners. I can't afford to pay aa dealer to experiment with the car and I can't afford another car at this time. I'm 71 years old and retired on a fixed income.

Filed Jan 29, 2018 · Lights · 130,000 miles · IL

Headlights intermittently go out when driving at night. The vehicle is in motion on an interstate or even a 2 way highway. I am able to use light switch to turn off and turn on again, but will happen again while driving. Have not repaired as of yet, but have read about several issues of this sort with this model. Have stopped driving at night because of these issues. This has been getting worse every time I drive this vehicle. Started with 1 headlight, now it is both.

Filed Jan 17, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 106,000 miles · CA

I have three major problems with my 2008 prius. #1 the engine intermittently, will not turn off when parking the car. #2 the dash lights also intermittently will not come on, affecting my ability to see how fast I am going on the highway or streets, it also prevents me from seeing how much gas is left in the tank. #3 the outside air and air conditioner, also will not work, intermittently.

Filed Dec 18, 2017 · Electrical, Lights · 80,000 miles · CA

The headlights go dim and /or shut off as I am driving. This problem usually starts with the right headlight shutting off and sometimes both will go dim or shut off completely. Both lights work initially on startup and shine bright at first but immediately dim to a lower level and then as I drive they will dim or the right light will turn off or sometimes both turn off all together. They will come back on if I turn off and back on the headlight switch.

Filed Dec 13, 2017 · Electrical, Lights · 75,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. While stationary and driving various speeds, all of the instrument panel indicators failed to illuminate. South dade toyota in homestead, florida was made aware of the failure and stated that it was a factory defect. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was 75,000.

Filed Nov 25, 2017 · Electrical, Lights · 163,000 miles · IL

Two problems 1. In cold or cooler weather, my dash does not display. After sometimes 1 hour, it will suddenly turn on. Also, when the dash does not display the car does not turn off, unless I hold the start button for a long time. Also the rear view camera does not work. Also my smart key does not start the car, unless inserted. 2. Sometimes my headlights and running lights do not work. It always happens in an alternating manner. If my front right head light is not working, then my rear left running light is not working or vice a versa. This problem also appears and goes away at random intervals. I have checked and there was a recall for the combination meter, but when I called toyota customer experience center, they told me that the recall expired. I was not informed of the recall and even when I searched on line, no recalls show up. What do I do? Can I still have toyota fix this problem? The lighting issue seems to be related to a faulty hid computer. Again, no recall shows up, can I get this fixed? I have been pulled over one time by police, and am afraid of driving at night because of this problem. This has been ongoing, intermittently, since last winter.

Filed Nov 15, 2017 · Lights · NC

For over a year now we have had major issues with our prius headlights going out while driving at night on freeway, local streets and sitting parked. You can turn the lights off and back on and the lights will work again. The lights at this point will go out about every other minute or two. This is a serious and dangerous problem that needs to be recalled by toyota.

Filed Nov 13, 2017 · Lights · 48,000 miles · CT

The passenger headlight turned off and refused to go on so I removed it and put it back. It worked for a month longer, then blew up. I just put in a brand new bulb which turns on, then immediately goes out. After checking online, this appears to be an ongoing issue which toyota hasn't addressed. I don't know what to do.

Filed Nov 7, 2017 · Lights · MD

Had a blown right side headlight. I had it replaced and now headlight comes on and turns off and sometimes stays off. Only one dose it.

Filed Oct 17, 2017 · Lights · 147,000 miles · PA

I had the dealer check driver side light, said it was good. After very recently purchasing my pre-owned prius I did a night test drive. The driver side headlight would dim then go out. During a nighttime emergency, all the lights went out while traveling a back country road, I flipped the switch and they came back on, only to go off again while traveling the highway, flipped switch again to turn on again. Upon investigating the problem, I found this is an ongoing problem. Why is there no recall??????? This is extremely dangerous and scary!!!!!!!! This is happening every time headlights are on and in motion!!!!!!!! Recall now!!!!!!!

Filed Oct 11, 2017 · Lights · 120,000 miles · TN

Replaced the headlight, after a few months the new headlight shuts itself off. Have to turn the headlights off and back on to get the headlight to come back on. This happens while driving and you never know when the light shuts it's self off.

Filed Oct 6, 2017 · Lights · 55,000 miles · WA

Right front light began failing sometimes recently, apparent at night, occasional. Left front light quit for awhile yesterday, then relit and worked for awhile. Both are unreliable and replacement is complicated, expensive, and does not work often it appears. We will try replacement of bulbs, it is unreliable and headlights are required at night to work, always! Pure scam it seems, by toyota and us governance, both for sale, so sad. Let us buyers beware.

Filed Oct 4, 2017 · Lights · 178,000 miles · AK

The drivers side headlight will go out while driving the car. This happens without warning and with no apparent resaon. Toyota fixed the problem under warranty in 2009, however the problem is still happening. This is a true safety defect with this car!! Toyota knows about it but has not offered to fixed the problem beyond their warranty extension of five years and 60k miles. I must say it's quite uncomfortable to be driving at night on ther highway and other un-lit roads and have one of your headlights go out. This safety defect is expensive to fix. $800.00 to $2400.00. Depending on how may defective parts need to be replaced!! I contacted the local toyota dealer and the national toyota customer service center. I opened a case with them (171-0041862). However toyota did not offere to fix the safety defect on my car.

Filed Sep 28, 2017 · Lights · 145,000 miles · MN

The headlights flicker all the time - then both will automatically, randomly turn off during night driving...extremely dangerous

Filed Sep 18, 2017 · Electrical, Lights · 100,000 miles · MD

The hid headlights go out while driving every couple of months and need to be replaced. This is a known issue to toyota who has made no attempt to fix it. Consumers are being told by dealers that they need a new hid computer at their expense ($1800). It is dangerous to be driving at night and have your headlights go out! The only "fix" besides spending a ton of money on the new computer is to replace the bulbs every 3 months, which is crazy.

Filed Sep 14, 2017 · Lights · 108,000 miles · SC

I have replaced my headlights twice and they still will go out. They switch from passenger to drivers side headlights going out. They go out while driving on the highway which is extremely dangerous. I have spent over $400 trying to fix this safety problem with no solution so far.

Filed Aug 8, 2017 · Lights · 72,000 miles · MA

I had a headlight failure a few weeks ago. It came back on after a few days. Now the other one is out! This is dangerous.

Filed Jul 29, 2017 · Lights · IA

Each headlite goes out everytime youdrive now both headlites go out been doing it sometime dealer says 3200.00 to fix really the car only worth 4,000

Filed Jul 5, 2017 · Lights · 106,000 miles · NM

The passenger light keeps failing when it is on at night when I am driving. It has started to happen more and more. It is definitely dangerous. I have already been pulled over once for the headlight being out.

Filed Jun 3, 2017 · Lights · AR

I bought my 2008 toyota prius from by boss in june 2016. When I bought the car the passenger headlight was out, so I bought a new one and had it replaced. For the past few months I have noticed that the driver side headlight goes out just out of the blue, it comes on when I turn the lights on and it may stay on for an entire trip or it may just stay on for a few minutes. I can turn the lights off and back on and it will come on and like I said, it may stay on the entire trip or just for a few minutes. I haven't noticed any specific thing that makes it go off such as road condition, weather, it will even go off while sitting in the driveway. I have had it checked for loose connections, wire damage and none was to be found. I have read that this has been an issue for several people that have the prius. This has caused me to be pulled over and fortunately the officer understood, once I showed him that it comes on and I explained that I can't determine when or if it will go out, and he gave me a warning. This is also very dangerous with limiting lighting for visibility while driving at night.

Filed May 23, 2017 · Lights · 1,500 miles · WY

Car in motion, right headlight goes out. City police pull me over. I turn the lights off then back on. The light works until next time it goes out. My wife driving same car and police pull her over for left headlight out. She turned lights off then on and the light works again. Car in motion both times and all other times. Streets & highways.

Filed May 22, 2017 · Lights · 80 miles · MD

The headlights both flicker and go out even after replacing with brand new bulbs. This is extremely unsafe as the headlamps may turn off during adverse weather or dark conditions. I have wasted a lot of money replacing head light bulbs when the problem seems to be with the computers in the headlamp fixtures. This seems to be a very common problem with this make and model and it is a very costly repair for something that never should have happened in the first place.

Filed May 13, 2017 · Electrical, Lights · 150,000 miles · CA

Pasdanger headlight goes on and off without cause and at will

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