2006 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

JUST LIKE IT SEEMS THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS. I HAVE BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURES FOR MANY MONTHS. INITIALLY IT WAS ONLY IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOW IT ALSO OCCURS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OR EVEN MORE DANGEROUS ON BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS HAPPENING WITH MORE AND MORE FREQUENCY. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE PROBLEM, THEY FOUND NOTHING, JUST RECOMMENDED REPLACING A VERY EXPENSIVE BULB. I TOOK IT BACK A FEW MONTHS LATER AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND SOMETHING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE (NOT THE DRIVERS ALTHOUGH IT IS NOW HAPPENING ON BOTH). ONCE AGAIN THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE BULB. THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY CONFIDENCE THAT IT WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME WITH THIS MANY COMPLAINTS SPANNING THAT CONTINUE TO COME IN, SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. DOES THERE NEED TO BE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE SOMEONE TAKES ACTION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR IN BAD WEATHER, OR IN THE DARK BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE GOING TO GO OUT. YESTERDAY I DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY BEFORE THEY WENT OUT (THEY WOULD NOT COME BACK ON WHEN I TURNED THEM OFF THEN ON). *TR

TOYOTA HAS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH HEADLAMPS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY ON 2006 AND NEW PRIUSES RATHER THAN FIXING THE ISSUE, THEY'RE CHARGING CUSTOMERS UPWARDS OF A $1000 TO REPLACE (2) *DEFECTIVE* HEADLAMP BULBS. IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A MAJOR ISSUE, HOWEVER I ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER PRIUS OWNER ON THE FREEWAY, WHO WAS DRIVING BOTH LIGHTS OUT. AFTER EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT THING IN MY OWN PRIUS, IT'S A VERY SCARY SCENARIO. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/34584-HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM.HTML HTTP://FORUMS.MERCURYNEWS.COM/TOPIC/ROADSHOW-COST-TO-REPLACE-ON-AND-OFF-PRIUS-HEADLIGHTS-CAN-RUN-950-MDASH-OR-NOTHING PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW TOYOTA TO KEEP SCREWING CONSUMERS INTO PAYING FOR $1000 BULB REPLACEMENTS. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE GAMBLING WITH INTERMITTENT LAMPS DUE TO THE HIGH REPLACEMENT COST. *TR

JUST A FEW HUNDRED MILES SHY OF THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY (JUST ON THE HEADLIGHTS), MY LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. WHEN FLIPPING THE HIGH BEAMS ON DID NOT LIGHT THE OFFENDING BULB (I DID NOT AT THE TIME REALIZE THAT HID HEADLAMPS DO NOT HAVE SEPARATE HIGH AND LOW BEAM FILAMENTS, BUT SIMPLY CHANGE THE FOCUS OF THE ONE HID CAPSULE.), I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED INTO A PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT BULB (NON-HID). I DID THINK IT STRANGE THAT THE LIGHTS BOTH WENT BACK ON WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR, BUT I DECIDED THAT I SHOULD REPLACE IT ANYWAY. ON THE NEXT DAY, I REMOVED THE OFFENDING BULB (NOT AS DIFFICULT AS SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK) AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS SOME SORT OF RARE-EARTH DISCHARGE LAMP. BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF ILLUMINATION SYSTEM SHOULD BE VERY RELIABLE (THERE BEING NO FRAGILE FILAMENT TO FATIGUE AND BREAK), I FIGURED THAT I JUST HAD THE BAD FORTUNE TO RUN INTO A RARE CASE OF INFANT MORTALITY, OR JUST A DEFECTIVE BULB TO BEGIN WITH. ALTHOUGH THE BULB CAN BE RELIGHTED (BY SWITCHING HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON), IT MUST BE DISTRACTING TO OTHER DRIVERS, NOT TO MENTION: WHAT IF I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS TO RELIGHT ONE AND BOTH DECIDE NOT TO REIGNITE. WHAT THEN? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! FORTUNATELY, I GOT BOTH LIGHTS REPLACED (THE RIGHT SIDE WENT SHORTLY THEREAFTER) UNDER WARRANTY. (PLUS $80 LABOR) NOW, AT 82K MILES, HERE WE GO AGAIN. THIS TIME, I CALLED TOYOTA. I COULD GET ABSOLUTELY NO COMMITMENT OUT OF THE REPRESENTATIVE, BUT HE INSISTED THAT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP MUST DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BEFORE HE COULD MAKE A DECISION ON A "POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT." I TOOK THE CAR IN YESTERDAY, WITH THE HEADLIGHT OUT. THEY CLEANED THE CONTACTS AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. BEFORE I ARRIVED HOME, THE LIGHT WAS OUT, SO I DROVE RIGHT BACK. THEY LOOKED AND SAID: "YUP, IT'S OUT." SO I LEFT. NOW THE REP SAYS I SHOULD HAVE STAYED! *TR

HID HEADLAMPS SELF-EXTINGUISH WHILE DRIVING, REQUIRING POWER SWITCH TO BE CYCLED ON AND OFF TO RESTART. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE REDUCED VISIBILITY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF DRIVING WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. HID HEADLAMPS ARE WELL UNDER THEIR DESIGN LIFE EXPECTANCY AND SHOULD NOT BE FAILING. REPLACEMENT IS EXPENSIVE AND TIME-CONSUMING AND ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS, THE FIX IS ONLY TEMPORARY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE ACTIVATION SWITCH ON AND OFF AND THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TWO FRONT HEADLIGHTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $600 PER LIGHT, PLUS LABOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,600. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/06/09. *JB

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHT GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND I ONLY CAN TELL IF I AM LOOKING AT THE REFLECTION IN THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS CUT IN-AND-OUT. WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS STAY ON. THEY CAN GO OUT AGAIN DURING DRIVING AT NIGHT -- IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS CUSTOMER SAFETY ISSUE NOW. *TR

I READ ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH MOMENTARY BRAKE PROBLEMS ON THE 2010 PRIUS ON BUMPY ROADS. HAVE YOU INVESTIGATED EARLIER MODEL YEARS? I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES. *TW

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM*CW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TURNED ON HER VEHICLE ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WERE OUT. NO DISPLAYS, NO NAVIGATION AND NO CAMERA. WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE TOYOTA HOTLINE AND WAS ADVISED THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER TOOK IT THE DEALER WHERE THEY KEPT IT ALL DAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT SHE WAS FILLING THE GAS TANK MORE OFTEN THAN USUAL. SHE DISCOVERED THERE WAS ANOTHER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION; THE BARS ON THE FUEL GAUGE WERE NOT MATCHING THE AMOUNT OF GAS THAT WAS BEING PUN INTO THE VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 03/30/10.*JB

BOTH OF MY HID HEADLIGHTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AFTER LESS THAN TWO YEARS (FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE, THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE). THE LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IF I FLICKED MY HEADLIGHT SWITCH, THEY CAME BACK ON. THE LONGER I WAITED, THE MORE FREQUENTLY THEY TURNED OFF, SO I'M FORCED TO REPLACE THEM.. THESE ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS (IN EXCESS OF 400 EACH). THERE IS APPARENTLY A PATTERN OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE / MODEL. *TR

INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKEN TO DEALER, CHARGED FOR REPAIR, PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ON MANY TOYOTA PRIUS CARS. NOW HAVE 80,00 MILES AND PROBLEM IS BACK. INTERNET SHOWS THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM? *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS BOTH HEAD LIGHT (BULBS) BURNED OUT, ONE THE FIRST YEAR AND NOW THE OTHER (2) TOTAL FIRST COST $300.00 THE SECOND ONE THE PRICE HAS DROPPED TO $150.00 THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. *TR

HID HEADLIGHT ON 2006 PRIUS GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND ON CAN MAKE IT GO ON AGAIN. DEALER IS NOT MOTIVATED TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS IS PRIMARILY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE A HEADLAMP THAT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO GO OUT. IF YOU CUT THE LIGHT OFF AND BACK ON IT WOULD WORK AGAIN. EVENTUALLY, THE DRIVER'S LAMP WOULD GO OFF AS WELL, WHICH HAPPENED AT NIGHT. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON WOULD GET THEM BOTH BACK WORKING. THE DEALER REPLACED A COMPUTER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY CHANGED THE BULBS ALSO. MY CAR NOW HAS 55,000 MILES AND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT IS DOING THE SAME THING. *TR

HID LIGHTS TURN OFF INDEPENDENT OF VIBRATION, HEAT, DURATION OF TIME ON. OCCASIONALLY BOTH TURN OFF AT THE SAME TIME. TURNING BRIGHTS HAS NO AFFECT. TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON FIXES THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, COMPUTER, AND BULBS AND THEN BEGAN TO RE-OCCUR AFTER 10,000 MILES. *TR

I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY '06 (94K MILES) FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. IT WAS ALWAYS THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT WILL WORK JUST FINE WHEN I START THE CAR. IF I MAKE A STOP (TO GET GAS, ETC.) AND THEN TURN THE CAR BACK ON, THE LIGHT WILL WORK FOR A FEW MILES, THEN IT JUST CUTS OUT. YESTERDAY (1/21/09) MORNING WHEN I LEFT THE HOUSE, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING. I STOPPED AND GOT GAS. WHEN I LEFT THE GAS STATION, THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. AT SOME POINT ABOUT 10 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, I REALIZED I HAD NO HEADLIGHTS!! I WAS ON I-66 AT 5AM (IN THE DARK) WITH NO HEADLIGHTS!!! LUCKILY I HAD FOG LIGHTS B/C I STILL HAD ANOTHER 25 MILES TO GO TO GET TO WORK. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE DEALERSHIP LATER IN THE MORNING AND THEY REPLACED MY BULBS ($318 FOR THE PAIR............AND $147.15 FOR LABOR). I AM NOT HAPPY TO SAY THE LEAST. MY HUSBAND FOUND A WEBSITE (PRIUSCHAT.COM) AND SHOWED IT TO ME. I FIND IT QUITE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT MY MOM HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER PRIUS. SHE FOUGHT IT AND TOYOTA PAID FOR THE BULBS AND THE LABOR COSTS. MY BOSS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER '06 PRIUS, TOO................AND TOYOTA PAID FOR IT. *TR

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WOULD PERIODICALLY GO OUT. HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT THE COST OF $250.00 NOT COVERED UNDER FULL WARRANTY. TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWNS AND THE SPEED INCREASED TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, BUT FAILED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WHERE SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FLOORMAT WAS PINNED DOWN TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1,600. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 04-14-09 *BF UPDATED 04/15/09.*JB

RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILURE AND ALSO INTERMITTENTLY FLICKERS OFF AND ON. IT OCCURS COMPLETELY AT RANDOM. NEW PART HAS BEEN ORDERED, BUT HASN'T ARRIVE YET AND OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR

2006 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS ARE FAILING, THEY JUST GO DIM AND THEN TURN OFF. TURNING THEM OFF AND ON WILL CAUSE THEM TO RUN FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, BUT EVENTUALLY THEY FAIL AGAIN. *TR

HID HEADLIGHT FAILURES BOTH SIDES WITH INTERMITTENT OUTAGES. *TR

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.

2006 PRIUS HID HEADLAMPS GO OUT BUT CAN BE RECOVERED BY TURNING SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON. SOMETIME JUST 1 LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND OTHER TIMES BOTH WILL GO COMPLETELY OFF. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT TIME, YOU WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. HAVE TAKEN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER 3 TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED BULBS AND SWITCH BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, HEADLIGHTS STILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT. *TR

INTERMITTENT LOSE OF HEADLIGHTS THAT CAN BE EITHER THE DRIVER'S OR THE PASSENGER'S LAMP. SYSTEM CAN BE RESTORED BY RECYCLING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. *TR

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES FOUR OR FIVE TIMES A DAY FOUR DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK. ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE MORE OFTEN AS I DON'T NOTICE IT IN THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. THEY ONLY COME BACK ON WHEN THEY ARE TURNED COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN BACK ON WHICH IS NOT VERY SAFE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC. NOW THEY'VE STARTED "FLICKERING", TOO. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER 2008 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED,BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THE I NEED TO RETURN WHEN I COULD LEAVE THE VEHICLE ( WITH THE HOLIDAYS WAS NOT ABLE TO RETURN IN DEC.) THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND ON THE LATEST VISIT TO THE DEALER 1/12/2009, I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A "CONTACT PROBLEM "AND THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMED UP THE PROBLEM WOULD STOP. AFTER DISAGREEING WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CONTACT TOYOTA TO SEE IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM THEY HAD ENCOUNTERED BEFORE. TOYOTA'S SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULBS AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $600.00 BUT THIS WAS NOT GUARANTEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS "FIX" WAS REFUSED DUE TO THE LACK OF ASSURANCE THAT IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER DOING A SMALL AMOUNT OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THERE APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS ON THE TOYOTA PRIUS. THERE APPEARS TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM THAT THE LOCAL DEALER IS WILLING TO DISCUSS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY JERKED OUT OF HIS HANDS AND TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE SINCE LAST YEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COMPUTER CONTROLS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THE COMPUTER WAS SENDING THE WRONG OR FALSE SIGNALS. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 2/17/09 *CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE TORQUE SENSORS.UPDATED 02/19/09. *JB

HID HEADLAMP(S) FAILURE OF MY 2006 PRIUS. ONE (1) LAMP CAN BE INTERMITTENT (OFF & ON) WITHOUT DRIVER BEING AWARE OF IT, BUT WHEN BOTH OF THEM GO OUT YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY IN THE DARK AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. TOTAL OUTAGE ONLY HAPPENED ONE (1) TIME, THEN THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULBS. THE CAR HAD 45,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. *TR

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AT RANDOM TIMES MOSTLY THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE BUT IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER SIDE ALSO. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THEY COME BACK ON IF I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN BACK ON. AFTER DRIVING FOR A SHORT TIME THEY START GOING OFF AGAIN OR SOMETIMES IT WILL STAY ON UNTIL I DON'T NEED THEM. THE NEXT TIME I USE THE HEADLIGHTS THEY WORK FINE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN IT STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN. OF COURSE IT'S NIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE USED AND WITH ONE OF THE OTHER OF THE LIGHTS OUT THIS CAUSES A VISIBILITY PROBLEM AND CAN'T SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY. I HAVE RECEIVED A WARNING/EQUIPMENT REPAIR ORDER FROM MY LOCAL POLICE AND THE DEALER CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS CHECKED THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES AND CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. *TR

LIKE ALL THE OTHER NOTICES FROM 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS, BETWEEN 55,000 AND 60,000 MILES, THE HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN AN INTERMITTENT TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON AFTER TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF QUICKLY (A SAFETY ISSUE IN ITSELF!). STARTED WITH THE DRIVE SIDE LIGHT, THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE BEGAN, WHICH MADE ME FEARFUL OF LOSING MY HEADLIGHTS TOTALLY WHILE DRIVING. WAS TOLD THAT THE "BALAST/COMPUTER" OVERHEATS & SHUTS DOWN. GOOD SOLUTION TO PREVENT A FIRE, I GUESS, BUT NOT GOOD FOR DRIVING SAFETY. REPLACEMENT QUOTE WAS $600 EACH -- DEALER DID GIVE ME A 15% DISCOUNT, SO ENDED UP COSTING $510 EACH ($1,020.00 TOTAL!). CALLED TOYOTA OF AMERICA AND THEY ARE INVESTIGATING, BUT, BASED UPON ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS AND MY OWN EXPERIENCE, THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY TOYOTA. I LOVE MY PRIUS RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE, BUT TOYOTA REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS NOW. *TR

PRIUS 2006 WITH HEADLAMP PROBLEMS THAT APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL AND NOT JUST THE BULBS. ONE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT THEN IF I SWITCH OFF THE LIGHTS BOTH WILL COME ON. IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME LIGHT THAT GOES OUT. WHEN I TURN ON MY LIGHTS IT DRAWS ON THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE DASH LIGHTS AND THEY DIM. I WILL BE DRIVING WITH LIGHTS ON AND ALL THE LIGHTS WILL GO OFF UNTIL I SWITCH THE LIGHTS ON ONCE AGAIN. THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THIS IS THE LED HEADLIGHTS WHICH ARE 400 EA. AND $90. INSTALLATION. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND I KNOW IT IS NOT JUST THE LAMPS THEREFORE THEY WILL THEN PROCEED TO CHARGE ME FOR WHAT EVER ELSE THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE SUCH AS THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THIS SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. I PAID THE EXTRA MONEY FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS NOT COVERED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH THIS PROBLEM AS I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND DO NOT TRUST THE DEALER TO CONTINUE TO CHARGE ME FOR THIS ISSUE. AFTER READING THE CHAT ROOMS WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, THIS IS A DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THEY HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2004 OR 2005. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. *TR

I AM FILING A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH REGARD TO THE HEADLIGHTS. I AM EXPERIENCING THE HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA THAT IT WOULD COST ME ALMOST $500.00 TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS BUT HAVE SINCE READ THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OTHER PRIUS OWNERS WITH APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MODEL YEAR AND MILEAGE. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TOYOTA TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE IT FIXED. *TR

HEAD LIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE- INTERMITTENT OPERATION. HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OFF DURING DRIVING, COME BACK ON LATER. OCCASIONALLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OFF. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF DRIVERSIDE LIGHT. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR/WIRING PASSENGERSIDE HEADLIGHT. WITH NEW DRIVERSIDE HEADLIGHT CAR WORKED FINE FOR 8 MONTHS. THEN DRIVERSIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED WITH ABOVE PROBLEM. OLD HEADLIGHT IS STILL AVAILABLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO I NOTICED THAT ONE OR SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. WE LIVE ON A STREET WITHOUT STREETLAMPS AND I HAD SOME SCARY MOMENTS SEVERAL TIMES WHEN BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT. WHEN I TOLD MY DEALER ABOUT IT, THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING WHEN THEY EXAMINED THEM. FINALLY, I GOT A LETTER FROM TOYOTA (ATTACHED), WHICH SAID THEY WOULD LOWER THE REPLACEMENT PRICE OF THE HEADLIGHTS (BUT NOT WARNING OF THE PROBLEMS I HAD BEEN HAVING). I HAD MY DEALER REPAIR THE LIGHTS AT A COST OF $559.25. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IF I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA, THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ME. A CASE MANAGER AT TOYOTA SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE PARTS (ABOUT $300). I HAVE NOW READ OF HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH MY MODEL CAR WHO HAVE HAD IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR A DANGEROUS PROBLEM LIKE THIS, OR AT LEAST NOTIFY THE DEALERS SO WHEN OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THE PROBLEM IT IS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

MY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT FOR NO REASON. WHILE I'M DRIVING, ONE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT. I WILL TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY ARE WORKING AGAIN. SOMETIMES THEY WORK ALL DAY, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. SOMETIMES IT'S THE DRIVERS SIDE AND SOMETIMES IT'S THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER TELLS ME THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF AROUND $1000.00!! MUCH MORE IF THE CIRCUIT BOARD IS REPLACED. *TR

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ONE, AND MANY TIMES BOTH, HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT. IF I TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON THEY WORK AGAIN SO IT IS NOT THE BULB. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BACK RURAL ROADS WHERE I LIVE AND ON THE FREEWAY. IT IS VERY DISTURBING AND DANGEROUS TO ALL OF A SUDDEN DRIVING IN THE DARK. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION UNTIL THE NEWS STORIES CAME OUT. I DROVE OVER RAILROAD TRACKS AND WAS GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LIGHT RIGHT AFTER THE TRACKS. THE LIGHT INDICATING ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS CAME ON AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE THE TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT AND THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE BRAKES TAKING HOLD. IT STARTLED ME, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR - THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HIT ROUGH ROAD AND TRIED TO BRAKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. MY REACTION WAS TO AVOID THAT SCENARIO BY ADJUSTING MY DRIVING, BUT NOW I'M WONDERING IF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ISN'T JUST LIMITED TO THE 2010 PRIUS. I HAVEN'T TRIED TO REPEAT THAT SEQUENCE, BUT I DO THINK OTHER PRIUS MODELS SHOULD BE TESTED. I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE ABS CABLE REPLACED BECAUSE THE CABLE WAS DAMAGED. THE REPAIR SHOP THOUGHT THE DAMAGE MAY HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF DRIVING OFF-ROAD, BUT I'VE NEVER DRIVEN THE CAR OFF-ROAD. ONLY ON PAVEMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE ABS CABLE OR NOT. I STILL HAVE THE DAMAGED CABLE. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. THEY GO BACK ON WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES. IT SEEMS TO BE TOTALLY RANDOM. I WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE LAST NIGHT BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS OUT, BUT IT WENT ON WHEN I TURNED THE SWITCH ON AND OFF SO THE POLICEMAN DID NOT TICKET ME. THE DEALER IS LOOKING TO CHARGE ME $450 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT. *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL, BUT WILL RE-START IF I TURN OFF, THEN ON, THE SWITCH. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT NIGHT, WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TOYOTA DOES HAVE A TSB OUT ON THIS ISSUE, AND DID REPLACE BOTH BULBS UNDER WARRANTY AT 30K MILES, BUT FREQUENTLY THIS DOES NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO COMPLAINTS ON MYCARSTATS. *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA PRIUS 2006. ITS HEADLIGHT BULBS ARE NOT WORKING. LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY ARE OFF AND OTHER DRIVERS BLINK US ON THE ROAD TO WARN. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IS TELLING US THAT WE NEED NEW HEADLIGHT BULBS. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH TOYOTA. TOYOTA DENIED COVERAGE FROM MY BULB REPLACEMENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY PRIUS OWNERS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THE DEFECTIVE BULBS AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THIS IS A DANGEROUS NEGLECT BY TOYOTA AND CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURIES AND DAMAGES TO ITS CUSTOMERS. *TR

A YEAR AGO, MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS' RIGHT HEADLAMP WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. TOYOTA REPLACED THE BULB AND BULB COMPUTER AT A COST OF JUST UNDER $1000.00. THAT TIME WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD APPROX. 30K MILES ON THE CAR. NOW, IN FEB. 2008, I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT HEADLAMP. SINCE THERE IS NO LONGER WARRANTY COVERAGE, I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS. THEY ADMITTED THAT THE OLDER BULBS WERE NO GOOD AND AGREED TO REPLACE THE BULB BUT NOT PAY FOR THE LABOR. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY THE $280.00 LABOR COST. THERE IS NOW 45K MILES ON THE CAR. *TR

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE OF MY 2006 PRIUS. PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY DEALERSHIP AS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. DEALERSHIP REMOVED AND REPLACED HEADLIGHTS AND COMPUTERS. THE TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIR BY FRONTIER TOYOTA WAS $1,323.86. I REQUESTED 100% REIMBURSEMENT WITH TOYOTA. TOYOTA AGREED TO PAY FOR PARTS ONLY. TOYOTA IS AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE PRIUS BUT DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE SAFETY ISSUE AND COST IS EXORBITANT. *TR

FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT STOPPED WORKING AT NIGHT ON A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. IT NEVER WORKED AGAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2006 PRIUS. HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT A COST OF $325 AT DEALERSHIP! THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

HID LEFT HEADLAMP BLINKING WENT TO DEALER THEY REPLACED 300.00 BULB, HAD TO FIGHT FOR WARRANTY (25,000 MILES). THE VERY NEXT NIGHT THE RIGHT SIDE WENT OUT. GOT A WARNING FROM THE POLICE. THEY REPLACED THAT ONE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 46,000 THEY ARE DOING IT AGAIN. 600.00 PLUS LABOR! OUT OF WARRANTY NOW. ALSO THE SELF LEVELING FEATURE POINTS THE LIGHTS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THESE THINGS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

I HAVE 2006 PRIUS. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS INTERMITTENT. I HAVE NOTICED THIS FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW. IT HAS 35,000 MILES. HAVE BEEN READING THIS IS QUITE COMMON IN 2006 PRIUS YET TOYOTA HAS NOT OFFERED RECALL. OBVIOUSLY DRIVING WITH A HEADLIGHT OUT IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT A LEGAL ISSUE AS WELL. *TR

PURCHASED 2006 PRIUS IN JAN 09 IMMEDIATELY HAD THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP GO OUT AND THEN FIX ITSELF. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PROBLEM OF FLICKERING SINCE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR A YEAR. AT NIGHT THIS IS SCARY ESPECIALLY ON MOUNTAIN ROADS WHERE THERE IS NO LIGHT FROM STREET LIGHTS. I AM NO LONGER DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR AT NIGHT UNTIL TOYOTA ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM. DEALER WANTS $489.38 TO REPLACE THEM BOTH WILL NOT REPLACE ONE ALONE. THE NEWS HAS REPORTED THAT THOUSANDS HAVE A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE EVENTHOUGH I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH DOES NOT COVER THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THE COST OF $489.38 IS WAY TOO HIGH FOR A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 32,397 MILES ON IT AND MUCH TO EXPENSIVE FOR A SENIOR CITIZEN WHO IS ON A LIMITED INCOME. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. IF WE SHUT OFF OUR HEADLIGHTS AND THEN BACK ON, IT WILL RE-LIGHT FOR AN INDETERMINATE AMOUNT OF TIME AND THEN THE PROBLEM REPEATS ITSELF. I'VE BEEN STOPPED TWICE BY THE POLICE AND GIVEN WARNINGS. I'BE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES NOW TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE FIRST TIME, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE SECOND TIME, THEY COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN, BUT BY BANGING THE FRONT OF THE HOOD COULD GET THE HEADLIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND SUGGESTED I JUST LIVE WITH THE ISSUE, AS REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT WOULD BE "EXPENSIVE" (NO AMOUNT MENTIONED). TODAY I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR ITS REGULAR MAINTENANCE WORK, AS THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD SUGGESTED IT WAS TIME. THE DEALERSHIP IS IRA TOYOTA OF MANCHESTER NH 03101. THEIR # IS: 603-624-1800. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN THEY CHANGED THE BULB THEY CHARGED $157.82 FOR THE LIGHTBULB AND ANOTHER $180 FOR LABOR TO REPLACE IT. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH COSTS TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT. I WENT ON THE WWW TONIGHT TO SEE IF MY SITUATION WAS UNUSUAL AND FOUND THAT MANY CONSUMERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2006 PRIUS. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU....HERE I AM. THE WEBSITE WITH THE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS COMMON INCIDENT IS: WWW.HYBRIDCARS.COM/FORUM/REPLACING-HEADLIGHT-BULB--T910 PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. THANK YOU.

TOYOTA 2006 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT. HID HEADLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. IT COMES WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON THEN GOES OUT SUDDENLY. TURNS LIGHTS OFF AND ON CAUSE THE LIGHT TO BURN AGAIN. AS TIME GOES BY HAVE TO DO THIS MORE FREQUENTLY. THE LEFT LIGHT PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BY REPLACING THE BULB (EXPENSIVE). NOW THE RIGHT LIGHT IS BEGINNING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND SEE THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE PERSON IS EXPERIENCING IT WITH THEIR SECOND SET OF BULBS. I FEEL TOYOTA HAS AN ISSUE AS THE BULBS SHOULD LAST 10 YEARS. *TR

2006 PRIUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. IF YOU FLIP THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON, THE LIGHTS ARE TEMPORARILY RESTORED. BOTH HEADLIGHT DO THE SAME THING. LIGHTS FLICKER THEN GO OUT; SOME TIME BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

I PURCHASED A USED 2006 PRIUS WITH 16,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 44,000 MILES AND I BEGAN TO NOTICE MY HID HEADLIGHTS DIMMING, FIRST ONE THEN THE OTHER. IT HAS NOW PROGRESSED TO THE WHERE THEY TURN OFF COMPLETELY. TOYOTA DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE A SURE WAY OF DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, LEADING TO UPWARDS OF $2,600.00 TO TROUBLESHOOT. THIS IS A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT TO PAY FOR HEADLIGHTS AND SEEMS, ACCORDING TO THE CHATS, TO BE A PERVASIVE PROBLEM. THIS NOW OCCURS EVER TIME I TURN ON THE LIGHTS. WITHIN 15 MINUTES THEY GO OUT. IF I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF THEY COME BACK ON FOR A BIT, THEN GO OUT AGAIN. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT GOES OUT EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. AT FIRST IT IS INTERMITTENT, AND DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN FAILURE OCCURS. OVER TIME THE PERIOD FOR FAILURE GETS SHORTER. DEALER SAYS IT IS MY PROBLEM. COST OF CONTINUAL REPAIR IS OVER $300. PER LIGHT. ALSO, FUEL GAUGE SAY ADD FUEL WHEN TANK PARTIALLY EMPTY. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND GOES OFF. IT RESTARTS IF I TURN ON AND OFF THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR