NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Toyota Prius. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
HEADLIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF. IF YOU TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON, IT WILL USUALLY COME BACK ON. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES ABOUT THIS IN LAST YEAR AND HALF. ONCE THEY BOTH WENT OUT ON A DARK HIGHWAY! THE BRAIN, LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND BULBS HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED, SOME MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PRIUS PROBLEM FROM WHAT I SEE ON THE WEB AND MECHANICS HAVE CONFIRMED IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE. *TR
HID HEADLIGHT ON 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS SAFETY ISSUE. PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT IN DEC 07' AT APPROX 34,000 MILES - DEALER REPLACED. DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT IN APR 08' AT APPROX 39,000 MILES - DEALER REPLACED. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT IN JUN 09' AT APPROX 64,000 MILES. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE INDICATING THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER CONTACTED FOR ASSISTANCE. TOLD THAT THEY HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, BUT THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED, BUT ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH DEALER ON GIVING ME SOME SORT OF GOODWILL GESTURE. THIS IS A VEHICLE DEFECT AS WELL AS A SAFETY ISSUE. CAR IS PRESENTLY UNUSABLE AFTER DARK BECAUSE OF ISSUE. *TR
ON MY 2006 PRIUS, THE HID HEADLIGHTS GO AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THIS PAST MONDAY NIGHT (6/1/09), MY RIGHT FONT HID LIGHT WENT OUT ON A 56 MILE TRIP IN THE ATLANTA METRO AREA .PREVIOUSLY, IN LATE THIS MARCH, THE DRIVERS SIDE BECAME INTERMITTENT AND WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $350 (REPLACED BULB & INVERTER) AT A NON-TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP. I CALLED TOYOTA CARE CENTER AND REGISTERED COMPLAINT AND IN 24 HRS. I RECEIVED A CALLBACK WITH APPROVAL TO REIMBURSE MY $350. EXPENSE AND TO COVER MY RIGHT LIGHT EXPENSE AT THE TOYOTA DEALER- THE PRICE OF REPLACEMENT LESS A $50. DEDUCTIBLE. WAS STOPPED BY POLICE WHILE DRIVING THROUGH ATLANTA ON JUNE 1ST AND REC'D A WARNING TICKET FOR AN OUTAGE ON THE HEADLIGHT. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS AND HAVE NOTICED THAT ON ONE OCCASION ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AS TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON A LITTLE LATER FIXED THE ISSUE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AT THIS TIME WITH THE PRIUS AND WANTED TO LODGE A SAFETY COMPLAINT AGAINST TOYOTA ON THE ISSUE. *TR
INTERMITTENT HEADLAMP FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. TURN LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND LIGHTS WORK. HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES BOTH SIDES REPLACED 1/2008 REPLACED BULB PASSENGER SIDE 6/1/2009 AND DRIVER SIDE 7/31/2009. *TR
BOTH HID HEAD LIGHTS ON PRIUS 2006 FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AFTER ONLY 40,000 MILES. TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN FAIL WITHOUT WARNING DURING NIGHT. IT IS JUST A MATER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THEY CAN BE TURNED ON AGAIN BY TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS, AND TURNING THEM ON. *TR
2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTTING OFF. IT STARTED IN JUNE OF 2009. JUST GOT TOYOTA TO FIX IT AT THERE COST. THEY REPLACED THE BULB AND SAID THAT (SHOULD) FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
2006 TOYOTA PRIUS DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP IS FAULTY--GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. (LIGHTBULB IS NOT BURNED OUT, AS LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON IF THE LIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON.) *TR
2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WHILE DRIVING. THE HID HEADLIGHTS IN OUR 2006 PRIUS WILL FAIL AT AN UNPREDICTABLE INTERVAL. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE INDIVIDUALLY, AND AT TIMES SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS CAN BE TEMPORARY REMEDIED BY CYCLING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO THE FULL OFF POSITION, THEN BACK ON. WHEN HEADLIGHT FAILURE OCCURS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. ON A TRIP FROM PETERSBURG, VA TO ALEXANDRIA, VA, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED NO LESS THAN 20 TIMES. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY VIOLATION BUT THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF THIS ISSUE MAY RESULT IN A TRAFFIC VIOLATION FINE. *TR
PERIODIC AND UNPREDICTABLE FAILURE OF DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT. TURNING OFF AND ON CORRECTS THE PROBLEM, BUT THEN IT GOES OUT AGAIN. CAR IS JUST PAST 36 MONTHS, WITH 45,000 MILES. HAVE NOTED MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN DATABASE AND AM AWARE OF OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. *TR
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE ARRANGED TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED, BUT IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE INCREDIBLY COMMON. I ONLY HAVE 43,000 MILES ON MY CAR, SO THIS IS TOO SOON TO HAVE TO BE REPLACING HEADLIGHTS AT OVER $300 APIECE - PROBABLY OVER $800 WITH LABOR. HAVING HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OUT IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE, MY CAR SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE WALL CAUSING OVER $8,000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND HURTING MY NECK. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I GOT A LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS THE PROBLEM, SO I REMOVED THE MAT. HOWEVER, LAST WEEK WHILE I WAS PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AGAIN. I WAS GOING SLOW AND PUSHED ON THE BRAKE HARD AND WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE I HIT ANYTHING. THE CAR ACTUALLY FEELS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT IS ACCELERATING. ALSO, ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT THE PRIUS IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE I INFORMED THE TOYOTA DEALER AT 5727 S 27TH ST. MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN, THAT THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SKIDDING WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD. THE SKID LIGHT IN THE DASH ACTUALLY COMES ON. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM SO THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT IT. THIS IS AN ONGOING OCCURRENCE. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT YET FROM THIS PROBLEM BUT I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS ALSO SINCE I SEE THAT THEY ARE SAYING THAT ONLY THE 2010 PRIUSES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR IS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS . *TR
IN 2006 WE BOUGHT A TOYOTA PRIUS CAR $ 28000.ON 05/22/2009, MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIEND [XXX] HAD A CAR ACCIDENT. MY HUSBAND'S CAR WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHEN HE WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HIS FRIEND SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSAGE SEAT. THE BACKS OF THE CHAIRS OF THE DRIVER SEAT AND FRONT PASSAGE SEAT WERE MOVE AND BROKEN. MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIEND BOTH GOT HURT, AND MY HUSBAND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 6 DAYS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ON 05/22/2009, MY HUSBAND AND HIS [XXX] HAD A CAR ACCIDENT. MY HUSBAND'S CAR WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHEN HE WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HIS FRIEND SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSAGE SEAT. THE BACKS OF THE CHAIRS OF THE DRIVER SEAT AND FRONT PASSAGE SEAT WERE MOVE AND BROKEN.THE SEAT BACK SHAFT DAMAGE FAILURE. MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIEND BOTH GOT HURT, AND MY HUSBAND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 6 DAYS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
INTERMITTENT HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE, INITIALLY AFFECTING ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT. MOST RECENT INCIDENT AFFECTED BOTH HEADLIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. PROBLEM IS RESOLVED (TEMPORARILY) BY SWITCHING OFF HEADLIGHTS AND SWITCHING THEM BACK ON, INDICATING THAT THE BULBS AND FUSES ARE STILL FUNCTIONAL. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS WITH APPROX 26,000 MILES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY AFTER 10 OR 15 MINUTES. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF, AND THEN BACK ON, THE HEADLIGHT GOES BACK ON FOR ANOTHER 10 OR 15 MINUTES. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHEN THE LIGHT IS OUT OR NOT WITHOUT SEEING A REFLECTION IN THE BUMPER OF ANOTHER CAR. CONSEQUENCES ARE DRIVING WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS, OBVIOUSLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE BULB FOR $275. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THIS IS NOT COVERED. IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THEM BACK ON. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57800.
I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE HAD ONE ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY REPLACED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY AUTO. CURRENTLY, THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT IS ALSO GOING OUT. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT AS TOYOTA HAS DEEMED THE ISSUE IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY AND WOULD RESULT IN AN OUT-OF-POCKET COST OF OVER $400. THIS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE LIGHTS ONLY WORK ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THIS ISSUE IS A PERVASIVE ISSUE WITH THE 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THERE IS A 130 PAGE MESSAGE BOARD THREAD ABOUT THE ISSUE HERE: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/34584-HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM.HTML. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN INHERENT ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS FOR ALL OF THE OWNERS OF A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
HEADLIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS BAD. DEALERSHIP COST PROHIBITIVE SO I BOUGHT 4 REPLACEMENT BULBS. REPLACED BOTH BULBS MYSELF, FAIRLY EASY TO DO. PASSENGER SIDE BULB CONTINUED TO GO OFF EVERY NOW AND THEN. BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE BALAST. SAID LIGHTS OK. DROVE TO WORK NEXT MORNING, BULBS WORKED GREAT ON 19 JULY 09. STARTED TO DRIVE TO WORK ON THE MORNING OF 20 JULY 2009 AND PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT FAILED AND BLEW APART. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS IT'S THE BULB'S ALTHOUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE BULB IS JUST FINE. *TR
2006 PRIUS HID LIGHTS INTERMITTENT. WHILE DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD ON THE WAY TO WORK MY LIGHTS WENT OUT, I TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON MY LIGHT SWITCH TO GET THE LIGHTS TO GO BACK ON. LUCKILY THE ROAD AT THE TIME WAS STRAIGHT. IF NOT I COULD HAD EASILY DRIVEN OFF THE ROAD AND POSSIBLY TRAVELED INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER. *TR
MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS SEVERAL ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION, BRAKING, TURNING CAR OFF AND ON ALARM GOES OFF CONSTANTLY AND TERRIBLE GAS MILEAGE AROUND 30 MILES PER GALLON. *TR
1. DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. 2. WE COULD NOT GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE. NEITHER TAPPING THE BRAKE OR THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WOULD TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. WE HAD TO SLAM THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE. 3. WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT WE HAVE NOT USED THE CRUISE CONTROL SINCE. THE TOYOTA DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR
I OWN A 2006 PRIUS WHICH I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED IN A LEFT TURN BEHIND A FREIGHT TRUCK. AS I APPROACHED THE REAR OF THE TRUCK I APPLIED THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED IN THE NORMAL FASHION, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE -- IT CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NO CHANGE IN SPEED. IMMEDIATELY AWARE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, I QUICKLY AND METHODICALLY 1) VISUALLY CONFIRMED THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING OBSTRUCTING THE PEDAL, 2) CHECKED MY PERIPHERAL VISION TO CONFIRM THAT I WAS INDEED MOVING FORWARD RATHER THAN THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME MOVING BACKWARD AND 3) PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AT FULL FORCE AND HELD FIRM WHILE QUICKLY VISUALLY CHECKING THAT MY FEET WERE IN FACT ON THE BRAKE. I ALSO CHECKED THE DASHBOARD TO CONFIRM THAT THE CAR WAS ON AND IN A NORMAL "DRIVE" GEAR. AT LAST, IT WAS TOO LATE AND I SMASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, STILL WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE. THE TRUCK DRIVER EMERGED FROM THE CAB, A BIT SHAKEN BUT NOT HURT. HIS TRUCK WAS NOT HARMED AS I HIT A HEAVY METAL FRAME THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. THE HOOD OF MY CAR WAS DENTED AND SCRAPED. IN RESPONSE, I REMOVED THE CAR FROM TRAFFIC, CANCELLED THE MEETING I WAS ON THE WAY TO AND SLOWLY DROVE A VERY SHORT DISTANCE TO MY EMPLOYER'S PARKING LOT AND PARKED THE CAR. I CALLED THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER, EXPLAINED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AND, AT THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATION, CALLED THEIR TOWING SERVICE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT EXAMINED THE BRAKES AND "FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE 'AT THIS TIME.'" THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. AND, SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SITUATION, THEY ARE TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER AS I DO NOT FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. TURNING THE LIGHT OFF AND THEN BACK ON WOULD RELIGHT THE LIGHT. THE LIGHT FINALLY WENT OUT AND STAYED OUT. I HAD THE BULB REPLACED, WHICH HAS TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM. RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON LINE SHOWS THERE ARE MANY PRIUS OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE BEING CHARGED $1000 TO $2000 TO REPAIR. IF BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH HAS HAPPENED ON SOME PRIUS'S, THIS COULD CAUSE A DEADLY ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THIS WARRANTS AN ODI INVESTIGATION AND A TOYOTA RECALL TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR
I OWN AN 06 TOYOTA PRIUS AND AM EXPERIENCING WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID LIGHTS. MY HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THE DRIVER SIDE STAYS OUT ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME NOW. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON LINE I DISCOVERED THERE ARE MANY MANY TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE BEING CHARGED UPWARDS OF $2000.00 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS AND ARE BEING TOLD BY TOYOTA TECH'S THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THEY ARE RECEIVING AND TOYOTA OWNERS AND MY SELF INCLUDED ARE BEING TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIPS TO FILE FORMAL COMPLAINTS WITH TOYOTA AND CAUSE THEM TO RECALL THE ITEMS BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE MALFUNCTIONS OF THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE GROWING COMPLAINTS BY OWNERS WHO ARE FURIOUS HAVING TO PAY ON AVERAGE $1000.00 TO $2000.00 TO REPAIR HEADLIGHTS. *TR
INTERMITTENT FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHTS IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I ALREADY HAD MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT REPLACED BY TOYOTA DEALER UNDER A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT. WHEN LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME (MILEAGE AT 39K) NO ISSUE WAS FOUND. HEADLIGHT WENT OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THAT. WHEN LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER THE 2ND TIME THEY INDICATED THE ECU AND HID BULB NEEDED REPLACING FOR ABOUT $650. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY DUE TO MY MILEAGE BEING AT 45K AND THE WARRANTY ENDED AT 36K. THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS'S SO I BELIEVE THE REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA. *TR
RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I HAVE HAD IT REPLACED OR REPLACED IT MYSELF 7 TIMES IN THE PAST 3 YEARS WITH EXTENDED LIFE UNITS. IT HAS BEEN THE ONLY UNIT TO GO OUT IN MY VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS WITH THE SAME TAIL LIGHT OUT IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS. IN SIX OF THOSE INCIDENCES, I WAS TICKETED BY THE POLICE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY; HOWEVER, AFTER THE SWITCH WAS TURNED ON AND OFF THEY REMAINED ON. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $300 PER BULB TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND $200 IN LABOR.. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 03/01/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DEALER COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE CONSUMER IT WOULDN'T NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. UPDATED 06/15/10.*JB
2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT EXTINGUISHES INTERMITTENTLY SINCE ABOUT 40K MILES. DEALERS WANT UPWARD OF $700 TO REPLACE ONE LIGHT. AT PURCHASE THE HEADLIGHT WAS REPRESENTED TO LAST TWICE AS LONG AS STANDARD HEADLIGHTS. TOYOTA ENGINEERING MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR A LAYMAN TO REPLACE THE BULB. IF/WHEN THE OTHER HEADLIGHT DIES AT NIGHT IT COULD BE TRAGIC. *TR
2006 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE WHEN EXITING FREEWAY (101) ONTO OFF RAMP AT RENGSDORFF AVE., IN MOUNTAIN VIEW. ROADWAY WAS SLIGHTLY MOIST FROM LIGHT MORNING DRIZZLE AND ACCUMULATED OILS ON ROAD BUT OTHERWISE NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT ROAD CONDITIONS... EXITED FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH AND APPLIED BRAKES BUT BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AND CAR SKIDDED OFF THE OFF RAMP INTO A SWALE... CAR BECAME STUCK IN SWALE AND SUFFERED BODY DAMAGE TO LEFT SIDE OF CAR...A TOW TRUCK HAD TO BE CALLED TO DRAG IT OUT OF THE SWALE...THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO DEALER WHO DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND STONEWALLED ME...ALSO REPORTED BRAKE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS (CARLOS A. GARCIA) IN TORRANCE, CA AND HE WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF A BRAKE PROBLEM IN THE 2006 PRIUS. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR, RENTAL CAR, TOWING , ETC. WAS APPROXIMATELY $5,400.00. *TR
I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2007 FOR $522.05. IT FAILED AGAIN ON MAY 8, 2009 AND WAS REPLACED TODAY FOR $274.28. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILED ON JANUARY 1, 2008 AND WAS REPLACED FOR $$187.50. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILED AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 16, 2009 AND WAS REPLACED FOR $272.64. THERE ARE NEARLY 500 NHTSA REGISTERED COMPLAINTS REGARDING SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2005-2008 HID HEADLIGHT EQUIPPED TOYOTA PRIUS AUTOMOBILES. THESE COMPLAINTS ALL DESCRIBE AN IDENTICAL DEFECT IN THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEMS OF THESE CARS: ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING THE AUTOMOBILE. CLEARLY, HAVING ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IN ADDITION TO THE ALMOST 500 REGISTERED NHTSA COMPLAINTS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF INTERNET FORUM POSTS DOCUMENTING THE TOYOTA PRIUS HID LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS ISSUE. THE NHTSA REGISTERED COMPLAINTS AND THE FORUM POSTS PROVIDE A WEALTH OF DATA DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM INCLUDING: ACCOUNTS OF SUDDENLY HAVING BOTH HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IN TRAFFIC, TOYOTA'S INABILITY TO PROVIDE A DEFINITIVE OVERALL FIX, TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT'S FAILED ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON INDIVIDUAL CARS, CONSUMERS PAYING FOR PARTS AND SERVICE THAT DO NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, CONSUMERS BEING FORCED TO CALL TOYOTA CORPORATE IN ORDER TO GET AT LEAST PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT ON THE UP TO $1,800 REPAIR COSTS, REPAIRS THAT LAST ONLY FEW THOUSAND MILES, ETC. *TR
2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HID INTERMITTENT FAILURE. DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 1 1/2 YEARS. *TR
I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE TOYOTA DEALER DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS BEGINNING TO FAIL. HE WARNED ME THAT IT WAS FLICKERING A BIT AFTER BEING TURNED ON, AND THAT THIS IS COMMONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THE BULB. I HAD NOTICED THE FLICKERING FOR MANY MONTHS, BUT WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE BULB WAS ACTUALLY GOING OUT COMPLETELY. THE HEADLIGHT IS NOW FAILING REGULARLY, AFTER JUST A FEW MOMENTS OF BEING ON. IT WILL COME BACK ON AGAIN IF TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. I FEAR THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR ME TO GET A MOVING VIOLATION FROM THE POLICE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO FIX THE FAILURE, AS THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT COVERED. THIS ISSUE FALLS UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: PE09019. *TR
MY TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEVELOPED HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS THAT CAN'T BE PERMANENTLY FIXED WITHOUT COSTLY WORK. THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR NO REASON. IT USUALLY CAN BE RECTIFIED BY TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON. HOWEVER, THIS HAS HAD SOME SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. IN ONE CASE AN ONCOMING CAR THOUGHT MY VEHICLE WAS A MOTORCYCLE NEARLY CLIPPING MY CAR. I WAS FURIOUS AND THE DRIVER STOPPED TO EXPLAIN. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW MY LEFT HEADLIGHT WAS OFF. IN ANOTHER CASE I WAS DISTRACTED BY THE LIGHT PROBLEM AND TURNING OFF AND ON THE LIGHTS THAT I NEARLY DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IT'S LEFT ME WITHOUT ANY SENSE OF SECURITY THAT MY LIGHTS ARE WORKING OR WHEN THEY MIGHT FAIL AGAIN. IT'S A SPORADIC PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS, USUALLY ONE AT A TIME. IN THE PAST MONTH IT'S OCCURRED AT LEAST ONCE EVERY NIGHT THAT ONE OR THE OTHER LIGHT HAS TURNED OFF. AT TIMES I DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S OFF. *TR
HEADLIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY - ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS (HID TYPE) WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON WILL FIX THE PROBLEM FOR SOME AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THE PROBLEM RECURS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT MUST TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF FOR THE HEADLIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AGAIN; HOWEVER, IT FAILS AGAIN WITHOUT NOTICE. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE ENGAGED BEFORE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS STILL DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO TAKE OFF. HE HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,700 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,720.
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT SHUTS OFF INTERMITTENTLY BUT STAYS OFF UNTIL THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. THE HID BULB WAS REPLACED ABOUT 6K MILES AGO. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 41000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS QUICKLY. *TR
SEVERAL BATTERY CELLS MALFUNCTIONED IN THE BATTERY. BATTERY WAS UNDER WARRANTY, GOT A FREE NEW BATTERY. NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE BATTERY FAILURE. *TR
HEADLIGHT (HID STYLE) FLICKERS AND/OR GOES OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. LIGHTS COME BACK ON AFTER CYCLING THEM OFF AND ON AGAIN. BUT THE PROBLEM STILL REPEATS ITSELF UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR
WE OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) FRONT HEADLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING. IF YOU TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, IT COMES BACK ON AS IF NOTHING IS WRONG. IT WILL THEN BLINK OUT AGAIN AT A LATER TIME WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PRODUCT DEFECT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL IF THE LIGHT IS ON OR OFF UNLESS SOMEONE TELLS YOU. WE HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT TICKETED YET BECAUSE WE CAN MAKE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECALL OR FIX THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD, THEY CHARGE$500 TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS, WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE MECHANICAL DEFECT. MANY MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS/DRIVERS HAVE VOICED THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR
HEADLIGHTS (BOTH, BUT SO FAR JUST ONE AT A TIME) TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CAN'T TELL WHEN IT HAPPENS. NOTICE IT IN A REFLECTION FROM THE CAR IN FRONT. CAN TURN LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN TO MAKE THEM WORK. JUST NEVER KNOW FOR HOW LONG. *TR
2ND HEADLIGHT PROBLEM TO REPORT. 1. NORMAL DRIVING. 2. RIGHT HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO LEFT HEADLIGHT PROBLEM REPORTED EARLIER.. HAVE NOTICES SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE OFF AT THE SAME TIME. I DO NOT DRIVE AFTER DARK VERY MUCH AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, PROBLEM BECOMES APPARENT WHEN PULLING INTO GARAGE OR WHEN NOTICING REFLECTIONS . 3. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OF AND ON AGAIN INITIATES A RESTART. PROBLEM RECURRENCE IS RANDOM. *TR
WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE THAT ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT. WHEN I CHECKED, IT WAS FINE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY SAID HEADLIGHT WAS OUT AND THAT IT WOULD BE INTERMITTENT. COST IS $421 FOR A BULB! *TR
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT(HID) STARTED GOING OFF AND WOULD COME BACK ON AFTER SWITCH WAS SWITCHED OFF AND BACK ON. FAILED AT NIGHT WHEN WIFE WAS DRIVING BUT SHE COULDN'T TELL IT WAS OUT. I ASKED DEALER ABOUT IT AND THEY JUST SUGGESTED THAT THE BULB BE REPLACED AT 500 DOLLARS PER BULB. SHOULD REPLACE BOTH BULBS AT SAME TIME. TOTAL 1000 DOLLARS FOR HEADLIGHT BULBS. I BOUGHT A BULB FROM DEALER AND REPLACED IT MYSELF. IT WORKS FOR NOW. BUT???? *TR
1. ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS TURNS OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING. 2. THIS OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. 3. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. THE BULB WAS REPLACED, AND THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE LAST INCIDENT WAS 04/21/09. *TR
BOUGHT '06 PRIUS 6/06. HAD TO HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS (HID) REPLACED IN NOV. 07 AFTER 57K MILES DUE TO THEM INTERMITTENTLY "GOING OUT" WHICH GOT WORSE WITH TIME. CURRENTLY (APR. 2009) AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REPLACEMENT BULBS. *TR
TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS. LEFT SIDE WENT OUT AT 35,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRENTY. RIGHT SIDE WENT OUT AT 38,000 AND WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY, REPLACEMENT COST WAS $700. *TR