2006 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE YOUR DRIVING, IF YOU TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON THEY COME BACK ON. I JUST SPENT A HOUR AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT TELL ME THE REAL ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM BUT WERE HAPPY TO SUGGEST REPLACING THE HEAD LIGHTS AT THE COST OF $500.00 A PIECE. THIS SEAMS UNREASONABLE TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY TO PROVIDE A SAFETY FEATURE. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 AND HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT GOING OFF AFTER 15 SECONDS FOR 6 MONTHS NOW. AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA OF AMERICA THEY DIDN'T AGREE WITH ME THAT THERE WAS ANY ISSUE, THEY EVEN WENT AS FAR AS TO TELL ME THAT I COULDN'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING THAT I READ ON MESSAGE BOARDS. I EXPRESSED MY DISPLEASURE WITH THE SITUATION AND COMPLAINED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, THEY OF COURSE DIDN'T AGREE. AFTER PAYING NEARLY 200 DOLLARS FOR A DIAGNOSIS I WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE A BAD COMPUTER AND THE COMPUTER HAS NOW CAUSED THE LIGHT TO BE FAULTY AS WELL AND BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR A MERE 500+ DOLLARS. UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA 500 JUST LAYING AROUND IN THIS CURRENT ECONOMY. THE CAR IS NOT IN WARRANTY AS IT HAS 90,000 MILES AND THIS PROBLEM STARTED RIGHT AFTER I HIT 70,000 MILES. WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE MILES FOR WARRANTY OF THE LIGHTS. WE'LL I'M OUT OF STATE AT THE MOMENT AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT IS GOING FAULTY. SO NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COOL $1,000.00 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS A TOTAL SAFETY HAZARD IN WHICH TOYOTA SHOULD DO A RECALL AND FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE. ALSO MY DVD NAV SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK EITHER AND HASN'T NOW FOR SOME 7 MONTHS. *TR

MY HEADLIGHTS ARE INTERMITTENTLY FAILING ON MY 2006 PRIUS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT (AS A PAIR) HEADLIGHTS AT ~20,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT ~48,000 MILES. AND NOW AT 55,000 MILES, THEY ARE REPLACING ANOTHER FRONT HEADLIGHT HID BULB. THERE WERE TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES THAT I REQUESTED THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECK THE LIGHTS AS I HAD BEEN TOLD BY A POLICE OFFICER THAT FRONT AND/OR BACK LIGHTS WERE OUT, BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID ALL OF THE LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING. MY LIGHTS APPEAR TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. I MAY HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WORKING FOR A WEEK OR A MONTH OR MORE, THEN ONE OF BOTH MAY GO OUT, AND THEN ONE OR BOTH MAY START FUNCTIONING AGAIN. IT'S COMPLETELY VARIABLE. I NEVER KNOW IF ONE OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL WORK AT ANY GIVEN TIME. IT'S FRUSTRATING AND SCARY- AS I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FUNDAMENTALLY RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND ENSURE THAT I HAVE FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHTS! APPROXIMATE DATES: JAN 2008 - POLICE OFFICER TOLD ME A LIGHT WAS OUT, DEALER COULD NOT REPRODUCE APRIL 2008 - BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPLACED SEPTEMBER 2009- BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPLACED FEBRUARY 2009- POLICE OFFICER TOLD ME LIGHTS WERE OUT (1 FRONT, 1 BACK) MARCH 2010- HEADLIGHT REPLACED *DT

THE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS OFF. USUALLY, TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS TELLING ME TO REPLACE THE BULB, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHEN THE LIGHT STILL WORKS FINE AFTER TURNING THEM OFF AND BACK ON. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. STOP CAR AND TURN OFF AND BACK ON AND LIGHTS WORK AGAIN. MANY TIMES ONLY ONE LIGHT IS WORKING UNTIL I RECYCLE THE SWITCH. THE LIGHTS HIDS AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED EXTREMELY LIMITED VISIBILITY. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BEFORE THEY BEGAN FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWENTY FIVE ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 08/04/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/06/09.*JB

WE HAVE A TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 AFTER APPROXIMATELY 6 MOS THE LEFT HEADLIGHT STARTED TO TURN OFF WHILE LIGHTS WERE IN USE. SINCE THE AUTOMOBILE WAS UNDER WARRANTY I RETURN TO THE DEALER TO REPORT THE ON GOING PROBLEM. EACH TIME THEY TESTED IT WAS WORKING FINE, HOWEVER THIS NOT THE CASE IT KEEPS SHUTTING DOWN FOR NO REASON. I HAVE REPEATED COMPLAIN TO THE DEALER WITH EACH SERVICE AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I ANY RECOURSE TO HAVE TO IT REPAIRED?? OR ISSUE A RECALL I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS FAILED PREMATURELY ON A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. MANUFACTURE STATES WOULD LAST LIFE OF VEHICLE OR APPROX 190,000 MILES. DEALER HAS INDICATED IT WILL COST $900 TO REPLACE 2 BULBS (INCL LABOR TO REMOVE BUMPER). I HAVE READ THAT HUNDREDS OF OWNERS EXPERIENCED EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH 2006 PRIUS. OBVIOUS THAT THERE WAS A MATERIAL FAILURE ISSUE AND THE DEALER WILL NOT BUDGE TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE BULBS/CONTROLLERS. SAFETY ISSUE AS THE LIGHT GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY - WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HID (HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTS) THAT WOULD NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD OPERATE MOMENTARILY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, BUT THEN DIM AFTER A MATTER OF MINUTES. THE DEALER ESTIMATED THE REPAIR COST TO BE OVER $600. THE CONTACT ALSO FILED A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND IS AWAITING A DECISION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY TURN OFF. NOTHING APPEARS TO AGGRAVATE OR CAUSE THIS. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE PER DRIVE. ONLY WAY TO FIX IT, (WHEN I EVEN NOTICE IT) IS TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF AGAIN. *TR

LIKE MY WIFE I OWN ANOTHER 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH HAS HID HEADLAMPS THAT HAVE INTERMITTENT FAILURES. THIS PROBLEM HAS COME ON OVER THE LAST YEAR. USUALLY SWITCHING THE HEADLAMPS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN TURNS THE LAMPS BACK ON. HOWEVER TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED AT NIGHT AND HAVING YOUR HEADLAMPS SUDDENLY GO OUT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. READING ON THE INTERNET AND REALIZING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES MADE ME DECIDE IT MUST BE REPORTED TO YOU SO YOU CAN PUT PRESSURE ON TOYOTA TO RECALL AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET DUE TO THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY TEN MINUTES (ON AVERAGE) WHENEVER THE HEADLAMPS ARE ON. *TR

BOTH OF MY HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY GO OUT, BUT AT DIFFERENT TIMES SO FAR. WITHIN THE CITY IT IS HARD TO TELL BUT IS NOTICEABLE ON THE OPEN ROAD. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY BOTH DECIDE TO GO OUT AT ONCE. TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND BACK ON A FEW SECONDS LATER HAS SO FAR CAUSED BOTH TO BE ON, BUT FOR HOW LONG WHO KNOWS. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH HAS HID HEADLAMPS THAT HAVE INTERMITTENT FAILURES. THIS PROBLEM HAS COME ON OVER THE LAST YEAR. USUALLY SWITCHING THE HEADLAMPS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN TURNS THE LAMPS BACK ON. HOWEVER TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED AT NIGHT AND HAVING YOUR HEADLAMPS SUDDENLY GO OUT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. READING ON THE INTERNET AND REALIZING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES MADE ME DECIDE IT MUST BE REPORTED TO YOU SO YOU CAN PUT PRESSURE ON TOYOTA TO RECALL AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET DUE TO THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY TEN MINUTES (ON AVERAGE) WHENEVER THE HEADLAMPS ARE ON. *TR

I COMPLAINED TO MY SERVICE DEALER ABOUT A FRONT HEADLIGHT IN MY 2006 PRIUS THAT KEPT TURNING OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM IT WOULD REQUIRE A NEW PART TO BE INSTALLED AT A COST OF APPROX. $400.00. I INDICATED AT THE TIME THAT I WAS UNPREPARED FINANCIALLY TO PAY 400.00 TO FIX THE ISSUE. IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH QUITE A FEW PRIUS MODELS. IN FACT CURRENTLY I CONSIDER THIS PROBLEM TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS VERY OFTEN MY LEFT, RIGHT AND SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT AS I HAVE FOUND MYSELF DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS SHUTTING OFF AT THE SAME TIME. THE WORK-AROUND FOR THIS SAFETY HAZARD IS CURRENTLY TO TURN OFF AND TURN BACK ON THE HEADLIGHTS BUT AS YOU CAN SEE THIS IS NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION. I LOVE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS CAR EXCEPT FOR THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND FEEL THAT AS A CONSUMER I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE A CAR IN WHICH I AM CONFIDENT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOME FAULT IN THE DESIGN OR PERFORMANCE OF THE HEADLIGHTS MECHANISM AND TOYOTA SHOULD PERFORM A RECALL ON THIS, OR AT LEAST PAY FOR THE NECESSARY FIXES TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. *TR

FRONT HEAD LAMP ON PRIUS CUTS OUT INTERMITTANTLY. IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE WITHOUT MAJOR LABOR (INCLUDING REMOVING BUMPER). APPROXIMATE COST 450.00 TO 500.00. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT WORKS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW DOES NOT WORK. *TR

THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE AUTOMAKER WILL DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY CAN REPLICATE THE ISSUE. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE HEADLIGHTS, WHICH COST AROUND $400 TO REPLACE. THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA'S ONLY SOLUTION IS TO DRIVE IN WITH THE HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING. THAT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A TERRIBLE SOLUTION. *TR

INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF. BY TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF, THE LIGHTS CAN BE TURNED BACK ON. THE PROBLEM IS DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE AND PROVE TO TOYOTA SERVICE TECHNICIANS. *TR

ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL STOP WORKING. TURNING LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON WILL RESTORE WORKING LIGHTS. PROBLEM OCCURS FREQUENTLY (MULTI TIMES IN A DAY) AND DEALER CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL TURN ON WHEN I SWITCH THEM ON, THEN WILL GO OUT A FEW MINUTES INTO MY TRIP, AND WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN IT COMES BACK ON. I HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS, ALTHOUGH IT IS MORE COMMON WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT. THIS OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE. BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ, THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *TR

I'VE GOT A PACKAGE 6 2006 PRIUS WITH MULTI-REFLECTOR HALOGAN AUTO-OFF HEADLAMPS. THE HID LAMPS ON THIS MODEL PRIUS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FAILING WITHIN THREE YEARS. SEE HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/34584-HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM.HTML. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS KEEPS GOING OUT. I CAN'T REALLY TELL WHEN OR HOW IT GOES OUT SINCE I CAN'T SEE IT. I'LL NOTICE IT WHEN I SEE THE REFLECTION IN THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR. WHEN I TURN THEM ALL THE WAY OFF AND BACK ON THE LIGHT COMES BACK. SOMETIMES ON LONG TRIPS IT WILL STAY ON THE WHOLE TIME, SOMETIMES IT WON'T. SOMETIMES ON SHORT TRIPS IT WILL GO OUT, SOMETIMES IT WON'T. IT IS NOT AN EVENT I CAN MAKE HAPPEN. VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER POSTED DESCRIPTIONS. *TR

HEADLIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. HEADLIGHTS WORK AGAIN AFTER LIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED ALL THE WAY OFF AND ON AGAIN. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR BASED ON INTERNET POSTINGS. *TR

WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICEMAN IN AUGUST 2008 FOR HAVING A HEADLIGHT OUT. THE HEADLIGHT HAD BEEN WORKING EARLIER THAT DAY. BY THE TIME WE ARRIVED HOME, THE HEADLIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FOR EIGHTEEN MONTHS AND NOW HAPPENS WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY, THEREFORE I AM ATTEMPTING TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN I TURN OFF THE LIGHT AND THEN TURN IT ON AGAIN, IT WORKS FOR A MOMENT OR A WHILE. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, WITH 41,000 MILES. MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILED 2 DAYS AGO, CAR WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER, THEY CHANGED A $260.00 "COMPUTER" THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHT, WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, MY COST $55.00. ON MY WAY HOME BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED, RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER, HID LIGHT BULB WAS CHANGED TODAY, MY COST $320.00. NOW THE LEFT HEADLIGHT IS ALSO FAILING INTERMITTENTLY, WHICH SEEMS ODD AND VERY COINCIDENTAL. TOYOTA IS UNABLE TO TELL ME, IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES, THOUGH THE INTERNET SEEMS TO HAVE INFO ON THE SAME SITUATION WITH OTHER OWNERS. $600-$1,000 SEEMS EXCESSIVE TO REPAIR THE HEADLIGHTS THAT SEEM TO BE A MODEL PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY AFFECTING 2006 MODEL PRIUS. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THESE ITEMS? *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. *TR

OUR TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 IS EXPERIENCING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT, AND SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO "WINK-OUT" DESPITE THE DEALER HAVING VERIFIED THAT THE CONNECTIONS ARE SOLID AND THE BULBS ARE IN FUNCTIONING ORDER. SIMPLY TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON "FIXES" THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RESURFACES THE NEXT TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

PURCHASED NEW TOYOTA PRIUS AUG. 2006; WITHIN ONE YEAR RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, BUT DIDN'T BURN OUT COMPLETELY, BUT WOULD GO ON AND OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES. TOOK IN AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (BULB COSTS OVER $300!). AUGUST 2008, SAME THING, RIGHT HEADLIGHT WOULD SPORADICALLY WORK. TOOK INTO DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO RESEARCH IF A SHORT CIRCUIT. THEY SAID NO, JUST BAD BULB. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BULBS ARE DELICATE AND THIS CAN HAPPEN IF GOING OVER BUMP IN THE ROAD. THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY THE $300. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE LEFT BULB NOW SPORADICALLY WORKS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE A $300 BULB ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR. AFTER READING ON PRIUSCHAT.COM, OTHER PRIUS OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME COMPLAINTS. THERE MUST BE A DEFECT FOR 3 BULBS TO GO OUT WITHIN 2 YEARS AND AGAIN, THEY DON'T BURN OUT COMPLETELY. WHEN YOU FIRST TURN THE LIGHTS ON, THE BULB COMES ON, BUT WHILE DRIVING, IT JUST GOES OUT. WHEN YOU TURN YOUR LIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN, THE BULB COMES ON AGAIN, BUT WON'T STAY LIT. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE BY THE POLICE BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR

THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH HID LIGHTS AND THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM BUT SUGGESTED PERHAPS REPLACING THE BULB ($345) MIGHT HELP OR WAITING UNTIL IT BECOMES MORE FREQUENT. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 PRIUS HID LIGHTS. TOYOTA SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE IDENTIFIED THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT COULD BE CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF VARIOUS COMPONENTS AND RANDOM REPLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS IN THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT WOULD BE NEEDLESSLY EXPENSIVE. AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING OR SUPPLIER PROBLEM TOYOTA SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY AND ISSUE A RECALL AS LIGHTING IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS HAD HEADLIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES REPLACED DUE TO INTERMITTENT OPERATION WHICH CAN BE TEMPORARILY RECOVERED BY TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN BACK ON. ALL TOYOTA WANTS TO DO IS REPLACE BULBS WHEN THE BULB OBVIOUSLY IS NOT THE PROBLEM. I AM SURE THEY ARE BEING DISINGENUOUS WITH CUSTOMERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO POSTPONE THE INEVITABLE. IT IS WAY PAST TIME FOR A RECALL - PLEASE! *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS INTENDED TO LAST LIFE OF VEHICLE. PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY FAILING AFTER 25000 MILES... INITIAL INDICATION WAS LIGHT WAS NOTICEABLY DIMMER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT. AFTER A FEW WEEKS LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME DRIVING, CYCLING POWER TO HEADLIGHTS CAUSES LIGHT TO COME BACK ON, ALTHOUGH PERIOD OF OPERATION IS BECOMING SHORTER AND SHORTER. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER WHO SPENT APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR TROUBLE SHOOTING BEFORE ASKING FOR COME TO RETURN FOR LONGER TROUBLESHOOTING PERIOD. *TR

ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED FUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE FAILURE, SUGGESTED THAT EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER, AND THEREFORE DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. NOW, AT 35,000 MILES, I AM HAVING INCIDENTS OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AS IT'S UNPREDICTABLE. I SUDDENLY FIND MYSELF DRIVING IN THE DARK WITH ONLY MY PARKING LIGHTS ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND ASKED AGAIN FOR THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR THAT THEY AGAIN HAD FOUND NOTHING WRONG - THE HEADLIGHTS WERE "PERFORMING" AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUPPOSEDLY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM FURTHER (EVEN THOUGH I LEFT MY CAR FOR THE DAY AND LEFT MY CELL PHONE FOR THEM TO CONTACT ME). I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS, AS I HAVE NOW FOUND NUMEROUS INTERNET POSTING DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM - HEADLIGHTS THAT FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AT VERY LOW MILEAGE WITH NO WARNING. *TR

EITHER HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT AT TIMES. AM ABLE TO RESTART HEADLIGHT BY TURNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK TO ON. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. RECENTLY I DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WHERE THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT KEPT GOING OUT RANDOMLY. I WOULD HAVE TO SHUTOFF ALL LIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO COME BACK ON. NOT ONLY IS IT TOTALLY UNSAFE TO BE TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS (DRIVING OR NOT AT NIGHT) BUT IT IMPAIRS YOUR VISION WHEN ONLY ONE OF THE TWO HEADLIGHTS IS WORKING. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND AFTER $56 IN LABOR, $330 IN A HID BULB, AND TAX, MY PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN FIXED. THEY DON'T KNOW AS IT COULD BE THE BALLAST. HOWEVER AFTER TALKING TO A SCUBA BUDDY WHO IS ALSO A MASTER TOYOTA MECHANIC HE TOLD ME THAT ITS ALMOST ALWAYS THE BULB AND THEY ARE MORE THEN LIKELY DEFECTIVE AND THAT IN HIS OPINION THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

HEADLIGHT GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY (NO ACCIDENT CAUSED IT ... IT JUST HAPPENS). *TR

ACCIDENT REPAIR FRONT RIGHT. APPROX 2 WKS AFTER REPAIR I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WASN'T WORKING. HI BEAM WORKS. FOUND OTHER DISGRUNTLED OWNERS ON PRIUSCHAT.COM. REPLACEMENT OF LIGHT IS $350.00 AND IS UNDER WARRANTY FOR 33,000 MILES - I HAD ABOUT 38,000 AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER THE LIGHT IS OK AND A CONNECTION IS BAD OR WHETHER THE ACCIDENT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FAILURE OF THE LIGHT. I THINK THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALTHOUGH SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD TOLD ME MY HEADLIGHT WAS OUT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, IT SEEMED TO BE FUNCTIONING WHEN I CHECKED IT. THEN, ONCE I SAW THAT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OFF WHEN I WAS BEHIND A SHINY VEHICLE. I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF & THEN ON & IT IMMEDIATELY ILLUMINATED. I NOTICED FROM TIME TO TIME THAT I HAD THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT ALWAYS CORRECTED BY TURNING OFF & BACK ON. SINCE I LEAVE MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON ALL THE TIME, I THOUGHT MAYBE EVERY TIME I STARTED THE CAR I NEEDED TO TURN THEM OFF & THEN BACK ON. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETECT THAT I AM HAVING THIS PROBLEM UNLESS I HIT A DARK PATCH OF ROAD OR GET BEHIND A SHINY VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT. THEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC TWICE, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GROW OVER TIME. SATURDAY, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP & THAT'S WHERE MY CAR IS TODAY. SUNDAY EVENING I GOOGLED PRIUS & UP POPPED 'HEADLIGHTS.' I WAS VERY SURPRISED! I BEGAN TO READ & EVERY STORY WAS MY STORY. THE REPAIR CAN BE VERY VERY VERY EXPENSIVE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DRIVER OFTEN HAS NO CLUE OF THE PROBLEM. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT CAUSE A WRECK OR GET A TICKET BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS BLINK ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES THE LEFT SOMETIMES THE RIGHT AND SOMETIMES BOTH. THE FAILURE OCCURS ALMOST DAILY AND SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. WHEN THE LIGHTS TURN OFF USUALLY TURNING THEM OFF AND BACK ON WILL MAKE THEM WORK AGAIN. BROUGHT MY CAR TO TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE HEADLIGHT UNIT AND CASING ON BOTH SIDES (COST $350 EACH PLUS LABOR. TOTAL COST ABOUT $800) I FOUND THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT SEALED UNITS AS I WAS TOLD AND HAVE NOT HAD THEM REPLACED YET. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF. IT IS TEMPORARILY FIXED BY MANUALLY TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON BUT THIS WILL ONLY LAST FOR 2 MINUTES BEFORE IT TURNS OFF AGAIN. IT STARTED WITH THE DRIVER SIDE FIRST AND NOW BOTH LIGHTS ARE AFFECTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE CAUSED HER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE BEHIND THE CONTACT WITNESSED THAT HER BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. RANDOMLY AND WITH OUT WARNING THE HID HEAD LIGHTS ON MY PRIUS TURN OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 25 TIMES AND I HAVE ALMOST CRASHED SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I HAVE TO REACH AND TURN OFF MY LIGHTS WITH THE SWITCH AND TURN THEM BACK ON. THEN THEY STAY ON FROM 2 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS. THIS IS A HUGE DANGER TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PRIUS OWNERS THAT HAVE DOCUMENTED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS. PLEASE LOOK AT THIS LINK HTTP://WWW.HYBRIDCARS.COM/FORUMS/REPLACING-HEADLIGHT-BULB-T910.HTML#COMMENT-46741. YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 PRIUS ONE HEAD LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND THEN THE OTHER AND I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS. SOME TIMES ITS THE DRIVERS SIDE SOME TIMES THE PASSENGER SIDE AND SOMETIMES BOTH. BUT ON THE FREEWAY IT'S SCARY WHEN THEY BOTH GO OUT! *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2006 PRIUS FROM STAFFORD TOYOTA, STAFFORD, VA IN AUG. 2006. JUST SHORT OF A YEAR, WE STARTED HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT THAT WE JUST THOUGHT TO BE A LOOSE BULB AND WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD IT WOULD POP BACK ON AND MY HUSBAND BEING OUT OF TOWN ALOT WITH HIS JOB, NEVER TOOK IT IN. THEN A YEAR AND A HALF INTO OWNING THE CAR THE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL YOU RECYCLED BY TURNING OFF AND BACK ON THE SWITCH, WHICH IS UN-NERVING SINCE OTHER MOTORISTS DON'T HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHY YOU ARE DOING IT. THEN AT 43,000 MILES THE PASSENGER HEADLAMP BEGAN DOING THE SAME AND BY 52000K MILES WE HAD LOSS OF BOTH HEADLAMPS FOR PERIODS OF TIME TO WHERE THE PROBLEM BECAME TO BLATANT. WE THEN BEGAN LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM AND FOUND ONLINE THAT OTHER'S WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND CALLED CORPORATE DIRECTLY AFTER HEARING MANY PEOPLE WERE TOOK BY THEIR DEALERS FOR SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, WHICH NEVER FIXES THE PROBLEM. CORPORATE HAS AGREED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT, BUT CANNOT TELL ME MY RECOURSE AFTER TODAYS REPAIR AND I AM AFRAID WE HAVE A LEMON AND WONDER WHAT CAN BE DONE. WILL THEY ALSO PAY FOR A TICKET THAT MAY BE ISSUED WHEN IT STARTS TO HAPPEN AGAIN? THE PARTS TAKEN OFF WERE KEPT BY THE DEALER, AND WE HAVE FAXED THE REPLACEMENT REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO THE CORPORATE LEVEL FOR IMMEDIATE REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AT NIGHT, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHT GO OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING FROM TIME TO TIME, INCIDENT HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR

THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS TO THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM AND THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE ISSUE. WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING, THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THEY COME ON FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS HAPPENS WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS. SOMETIMES AT THE SAME TIME AND SOMETIMES ONLY ONE WILL TURN OFF. I HAVE RESEARCHED SEVERAL WEBSITES FOR PRIUS OWNERS AND THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY COMMON. AS YOU CANNOT PASS VEHICLE INSPECTION WITH DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS AND YOU CAN BE PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE FOR HAVING LIGHTS OUT, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS ISSUE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER REPORTED TO THE DEALER THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 35,543 MILES ON IT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES OFF. I WILL BE BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER TODAY. *TR

HEADLIGHT FAILURE. *TR

OWNER OF A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS PURCHASED APRIL 29, 2006. WE HAVE NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE REVVING UP WHILE DRIVING. WE'RE DRIVING 45-55 MPH AND LASTED ONLY A FEW SECONDS. WE COULD FEEL A POWER SURGE IN THE ACCELERATION BUT BEFORE WE COULD ACTUALLY ANALYZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING THE EVENT WAS OVER. OCCURRING APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES. ON JULY 21, HOWEVER, IT OCCURRED AGAIN, LASTING MUCH LONGER. I WAS TRAVELING ON A ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THEN SLOWED TO 35MPH FOR A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE. I WAITED FOR A TIME TO PASS, THEN CHANGED LANES AND ACCELERATED TO PASS. EXACTLY AFTER, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS THE ACCELERATION INCREASED WITH A BIG SURGE OF POWER, ENGINE REVVING. I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE CAR, FIRST TAPPING THE BRAKES THEN FULL BRAKING BUT THE ACCELERATION WAS GREATER AND MY BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE ACCELERATION. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I WAS COMING UP ONTO A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGN BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT ENOUGH WITH THE BRAKE TO GET AROUND THE CORNER. I RAISED MY FEET OFF THE FLOOR, KEEPING BOTH HANDS TIGHTLY CLUTCHED ON STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL IT REACHED 62 MPH, THEN IT SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. I THEN HAD CONTROL OF THE CAR AGAIN. WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT. WE HAVE A 8 YEAR OR 80,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND ENDED UP CHARGING ME $80. THIS PROBLEM DOES EXIST. AND SCARED ME. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. TODAY I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, ONE THAT ENDED UP IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. SEE HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS04/2008/06/PRIUS_RECONSIDERED I HOPE THAT YOU WILL INVESTIGATE AND MAKE TOYOTA FIND THE PROBLEM BEFORE ANYBODY GETS KILLED. THE TOYOTA PEOPLE COULD NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN AGAIN, AND ASCERTAINED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *TR

I AM A RURAL MAIL CARRIER WITH WELL OVER 350,000 MILES DRIVEN ON MY ROUTE WITHOUT INCIDENT. I DRIVE IN ALL ROAD CONDITIONS ON GRAVEL AND PAVED ROADS. I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 PRIUS ON A WET BUT NOT MUDDY GRAVEL ROAD AT ABOUT 38 MPH. THE BACK END BEGAN TO SLIDE A LITTLE. I LET UP ON THE GAS WITH NO RESPONSE. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO RESPONSE. I WENT INTO A DEEP DITCH FILLED WITH 3 FT TALL GRASS. I STEERED TO DRIVE THE CENTER OF THE DITCH AND CONTINUED WITH THE BRAKE FULLY DEPRESSED FOR ABOUT 15-20 FT, RIPPING THE TALL GRASS OUT BY THE ROOT AS I WENT. THE CAR TRAVELED OVER A DRIVEWAY APPROACH, STILL AT 35 MPH, STRIKING THE APPROACH WITH THE LEFT FRONT CORNER WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BEND THE FRAME AND DO OTHER SERIOUS DAMAGE, BUT WITH NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I CONTINUED OVER THE APPROACH AND DOWN THE DITCH, STILL AT 35 MPH, FOR ANOTHER 30 OR MORE FEET. I WAS PRESSING AND HOLDING THE BRAKE AND LIFTING THE GAS PEDAL WITH MY TOE. THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK AND THE ENGINE'S RPMS WERE LOW. ONLY WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL DID IT SLOW TO STOP. IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THIS DITCH AS THE TRACTION CONTROL KEPT LURCHING AND STALLING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR OUT AND HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR OVER $4000 IN REPAIRS. THIS WAS IN MID-2008 AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY CORRECTIONS MADE OR WERE EVEN KNOWN AT THAT TIME. THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING SITUATION. THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY ACTION I TOOK. I HAD NO CONTROL WHAT SO EVER. THE CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVEN.. *TR

DRIVER OF A 2001 CADILLAC SEVILLE FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF THE ABOVE LISTED 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS RESULTING IN A FRONT-END COLLISION IN-BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACTED VEHICLE OEM (TOYOTA); WHO REFUSED TO SUPPORT OR INVESTIGATE THE ACCIDENT AND PROVIDE ANY AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ASSESSMENT (VIA EDR DOWNLOAD). DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS LIMITED TO THE FRONT-END, AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR