2006 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

ABOUT 6 MOS. AGO THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WOULD TURN OFF FOR NO REASON. IT WOULD COME BACK ON WHEN I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO BOTH LIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON PITCH BLACK ROADS FOR NO APPARENT REASON - THE LIGHTS JUST GO OUT. AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! I HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE CAR IN AND AM TOLD THAT BOTH LIGHTS ALONG WITH THEIR MOTORS AND COMPUTERS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $800 A PIECE! *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS STARTED FAILING INTERMITTENTLY AT 39,000 MILES. BOTH LIGHTS WILL SPONTANEOUSLY GO OUT (SOMETIMES AT THE SAME TIME, SOMETIMES ONE AT A TIME). TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON WILL MAKE THEM GO ON AGAIN FOR A WHILE. TALKED TO A DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER; HE STATED HE DOES NOT THINK IT'S THE BULBS BUT BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL TRY TO DIAGNOSE IT AND WILL CHARGE A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. ALSO, IT HAS TO BE MALFUNCTIONING AT THE TIME FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED A "CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE" REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASE #. SHE STATED SHE KNEW OF THE HID FAILURES, SHE STATES THAT IT IS NORMAL "WEAR & TEAR" BUT THAT TOYOTA WILL "HELP" ME WITH THE EXPENSE. SHE WOULD NOT SPECIFY WHAT THAT MEANS, EXCEPT THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR ALL OF THE REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME FOR A RENTAL CAR. WHAT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN A RELIABLE CAR IS NOW DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. IN FACT, THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN BOTH LIGHTS FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO APPLY ENOUGH BRAKING PRESSURE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, WHICH ALLOWED THE CONTACT TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO REMOVE THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES IS 23000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13153. UPDATED 4/7/2010 *CN UPDATED 05/06/10.*JB

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. IN MAY 2008, AROUND 45K, I NOTICED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE DIMMING AND AT TIMES TURNING OFF AT RANDOM INTERVALS. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO CORRECT THIS BY TURNING OFF MY HEADLIGHTS AND THEN TURNING THEM BACK ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BULBS AND SOME OTHER ITEMS. THIS LASTED FOR A WHILE AND THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. AGAIN, I REPLACED BOTH BULBS BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE BULBS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND TO REPLACE THEM ONE HAS TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE CAR, WHICH IS ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE. I RECENTLY SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY PRIUS OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. JUST LAST NIGHT, WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 270 IN GAITHERSBURG, MD, BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THERE ARE "NO" KNOWN PROBLEMS AND THAT TOYOTA HAS "NO" RECALLS OR BULLETINS ON THIS ISSUE. THIS IS QUITE TROUBLING CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. SOME HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND HAVE YET TO RESOLVE THIS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. *TR

IT BEGAN WITH THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE... THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T BELIEVE US SINCE WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN, IT WAS WORKING. WE STILL DEALT WITH THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON THAT BOTH LIGHTS WOULD THEN WORK FOR A PERIOD. IT'S A BIT DAUNTING TO DO THIS IN THE NIGHT WHEN IT IS DARK AND YOU ARE DRIVING AND HAVE TO TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS TO GET THEM TO WORK. AFTER THE POLICE ISSUED US A CITATION FOR THE LIGHT NOT WORKING, WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO 'DIAGNOSE' THE PROBLEM. $1000.00 DOLLARS LATER WE HAVE A NEW ECU AND A NEW DRIVERSIDE HEADLIGHT. THE VERY NEXT DAY, THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND IS DOING THE SAME THING. WE ARE BACK TO TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF TO GET THEM BOTH 'ON.' THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WE HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER 400 DOLLARS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG AND VERY DANGEROUS WITH THIS SITUATION. THIS IS A 2006 PRIUS AND THESE HEADLIGHTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LONG-LASTING. TOYOTA DOES NOT SEEM WILLING TO HELP OUT AND CUSTOMERS ARE PAYING THE PRICE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND DEAL WITH. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HD HEADLIGHTS. EITHER HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT ON WHAT SEEMS TO BE A RANDOM BASIS. DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME THE HEADLIGHT WAS ON - COULD BE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT GOES OUT OR A FEW HOURS. WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED THE HEADLIGHT WILL COME ON AGAIN FOR AN INDETERMINATE AMOUNT OF TIME. IT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. OTHERS WITH THE PROBLEM HAVE HAD VARIOUS REPAIRS - ALL VERY EXPENSIVE - WITH UNEVEN RESULTS. THE DEALERS DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE A DEFINITE FIX - JUST TO CHANGE PARTS TO SEE IF THAT HELPS. ALTHOUGH I WILL INDICATE AN APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE BELOW, IT IS NOT REALLY ACCURATE SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH MY CAR AT MULTIPLE RANDOM TIMES WITHIN THE PAST FOUR WEEKS. *TR

TEMPERATURE-STRESS CRACKS IN WINDSHIELD OF 2006 PRIUS. SEEMS TO BE BROUGHT ON BY HEAT SNAP. *TR

INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHTS FOR WHICH I HAVE BEEN TICKETED. THE DEALERSHIP AGREES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS IN MY 2006 PRIUS AND AGREES TO PAY FOR THE PARTS (2 HEADLIGHT BULBS @~$370 EACH) BUT NOT FOR THE LABOR WHICH IS OVER $300 PLUS DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE HEADLIGHT WHICH CAME ON MY PRIUS WAS FOUND TO HAVE A PROBLEM AND BECAUSE OF THIS, IS NO LONGER BEING USED. BUT, FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET, I AM NOT THE ONLY 2006 PRIUS OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM AND MANY HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX THIS ISSUE WITHOUT SUCCESS. WHY MUST I PAY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED WHEN THE DEALERSHIP HAS AGREED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF HEADLAMP. I EVEN HAVE BEEN TICKETED FOR THIS PROBLEM...JUST ICING ON THE CAKE!!!! *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS - HID HEADLAMPS GO OUT AT RANDOM INTERVALS AND COME BACK ON WHEN TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THOUSANDS OF REPORTS ON WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM. UNSAFE AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS WHERE DEER ROAM THE HIGHWAYS. MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED FOR FREE BY TOYOTA REP AND DEALER AFTER SHOWING THEM THE MYCARSTATS.COM COMPLAINT REPORTS. TOYOTA ALSO REDUCED PRICE OF HID LAMPS BY ONE-HALF IN A LETTER RECEIVED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. MANY HAVE HAD TO PAY $400 TO $1200 FOR REPAIR AND REPLACEMENTS. PRIUS FRONT BUMPER HAS TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE HEADLAMP. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIMES IT IS ONLY ONE. SOMETIMES IT IS BOTH. *TR

HAD A MINOR FRONT END ACCIDENT WITH MY TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. LOST ALL BRAKES AND COULD NOT TURN OFF THE POWER AND STOP AFTER 10 MINUTES. I HAD TO DRIVE AROUND AN EMPTY SITE IN CIRCLES DURING THIS TIME. THIS WAS WITNESSED BY A POLICE OFFICER, THINKING I WAS CRAZY DRIVING IN CIRCLES. HAD THIS HAPPENED IN CITY BLOCKS, MANY INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. ANY SIMILAR COMPLAIN PREVIOUSLY? *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM... PASSENGER LIGHT COMES ON INITIALLY THEN FADES OUT AND TURNS OFF. RESETTING THE SWITCH TURNS THE LIGHT BACK ON ONLY TO REPEAT THE PROCESS!!! BOTTOMLINE, THE HEADLIGHT WILL NOT STAY ON! *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS INDIVIDUALLY GO OUT SPORADICALLY. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, AND TURNED BACK ON AGAIN, THE HEADLIGHTS WORK. USUALLY, ITS THE LEFT HEADLIGHT BUT HAS ALSO BEEN THE RIGHT. REPLACEMENT OF THE LEFT HEADLIGHT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TODAY, THE "ECU'S AND HID BULBS" WERE REPLACED. DON'T YET KNOW IF THIS CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE AND AM CONCERNED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. LOSING HEADLIGHTS IS DANGEROUS. *TR

1. NORMAL DRIVING 2. HEADLIGHTS (MOSTLY PASSENGER SIDE) GO OUT BUT WILL COME BACK ON WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. ONCE BACK ON THEY STAY ON FOR VARYING LENGTHS OF TIME (AS SHORT AS A FEW SECONDS AND AS LONG AS A FEW HOURS - MOST TIMES IT IS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME). THE BURNED OUT HEADLIGHT WARNING LIGHT NEVER COMES ON (AS THE LIGHTS ARE NOT BURNED OUT). THIS HAPPENS IN DAYLIGHT OR NIGHT (IT IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT NIGHT). THIS HAS GONE ON FOR MANY MONTHS. 3. I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECKED MULTIPLE TIMES, THE DEALER (MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY) HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HAS TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE BEFORE I FIRST VERIFIED IT IN MAY. FOR NEARLY THE ENTIRE TIME I HAD THE CAR I NOTED SUDDEN CHANGES TO THE LIGHT PATTERNS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. SINCE THE BURNED OUT BULB WARNING NEVER CAME ON I WAS SLOW TO CHECK FOR A HEADLIGHT THAT WAS OUT. ONCE I DID NOTE THAT MY HEADLIGHT WAS OUT I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, BUT IT WAS BACK ON. HOWEVER THE HEADLIGHTS DO GO OUT AGAIN AND AGAIN. *TR

HID RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. AFTER TURNING OFF AND BACK ON THE LIGHT WORKS FOR SOME TIME. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AFTER WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. TOYOTA DEALER SAID IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT THAT THERE IS NO RECALL AND WANTS $400.00 TO REPLACE ONE BULB. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, IT IS CLEAR THAT MOST OF THE AFFECTED CARS WERE MANUFACTURED IN 2006. A BAD BATCH OF BULBS/LAMPS IS SUSPECTED. I AM ORDERING BULBS FROM ANOTHER MANUFACTURER AND HAVING THEM REPLACED AT A AUTO REPAIR SHOP. *TR

DRIVER'S-SIDE HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING, USUALLY WITHIN 5-15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS OCCURS DURING BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. SINCE APPROXIMATELY MAY 2008, FRIENDS AND FAMILY DRIVING IN FRONT OF ME DURING GROUP TRIPS WOULD PERIODICALLY MENTION THAT ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OFF. I WOULD LATER CHECK THE HEADLIGHTS AND FIND BOTH OPERATIONAL. EVENTUALLY, I STARTED TO NOTICE, THROUGH LOOKING AT THE REFLECTION IN OTHER CARS, THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD INDEED BE OFF. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF VERY QUICKLY AND TURNING THEM BACK ON AGAIN WOULD USUALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AS TIME WENT ON, THE OCCURRENCE BECAME MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. NOW, MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF SUDDENLY, EVERY TIME I DRIVE, WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF TURNING ON. FLICKING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON DOES TURN BOTH LIGHTS BACK ON, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNS AGAIN WITHIN 5-15 MINUTES. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS ONLINE OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS EVENTUALLY FAILING, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY WORRISOME. *TR UPDATED 04/16/09.*JB

THE HID (HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE) HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS ARE FAILING. TURNING THEM ON AND OFF WILL USUALLY RESULT IN THEM LIGHTING UP, BUT THEY WILL GO OUT AGAIN. I UNDERSTAND THIS TO BE COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. IT STARTED AT APPROX 40,000 MILES WITH THE DRIVER-SIDE, AND THIS SPRING THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO STARTED TO GO OUT. THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 53,000 MILES. *TR

YESTERDAY (APRIL 27, 2008), I PUT MY PRIUS IN PARK AND STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR, THE CAR WAS PUT INTO REVERSE AND I WAS HIT BY MY OWN CAR. AT THE SAME TIME AS PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK, MY SHIRT SLEEVE CAUGHT THE SHIFTER KNOB AND PLACED THE CAR INTO REVERSE (MY ONLY THOUGHT AT TO HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN). THIS IS A RACE CONDITION THAT I TESTED OUT SEVERAL TIMES. THE SHIFTER KNOB (DRIVE, REVERSE, NEUTRAL) HAS PRECEDENCE OVER THE PARK BUTTON. THEREFORE IF THE SHIFTER AND PARK ARE USED AT THE SAME TIME, THE SHIFTER KNOB WINS EVERY TIME. I WOULD THINK THAT THE PARK BUTTON WOULD HAVE PRECEDENCE AND MAYBE LOCK OUT THE SHIFTER FOR 1SEC OR SO TO AVOID THIS. I AM VERY LUCKY, THAT I WAS NOT RUN OVER AND INJURED/KILLED, THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS A BRUISED ARM AND A SORE BACK (I WAS HIT BY THE DOOR). IS THERE A WAY TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE IN THE CAR TO MAKE THE PARK LOCK OUT THE SHIFTER FOR A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TIME AND REMOVE THE RACE CONDITION WITH THE PARK AND SHIFTER? *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE HID HEADLIGHT GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I GOT PULLED OVER FOR MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT BEING OUT AND BY THE TIME HE GOT MY WARNING WRITTEN, IT WAS WORKING AGAIN. I TURNED MY LIGHTS ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES.. THIS SEEMED TO GET THEM WORKING AGAIN. I'VE PULLED UP ON CARS AT RED LIGHTS TO SEE MY LIGHT FLICKERING AT TIMES. I ONLY HAVE 55K ON MY CAR, HID LAMPS ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK 10 TIMES LONGER THAN HALOGEN...THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I'VE READ STORIES OF SOME WHO SIMPLY REPLACED THE BULB, TO OTHERS WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THIS IS DISCUSSED EXTENSIVELY AT PRIUSCHAT.COM. *TR

HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. SWITCHING OFF AND BACK ON TEMPORARILY RESOLVES THE ISSUE. *TR

POWER TRAIN OVER-ENGAGEMENT: WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW ENOUGH TO MAKE A 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN, AFTER LETTING OFF ACCELERATOR BEFORE APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE POWER TRAIN CONTINUED TO ENGAGE, EVEN DURING BRAKING, FOR A FEW SECONDS CAUSING EXTRA INERTIA ENTERING CORNER WITH DEFINITE LOSS OF TRACTION.* *THERE IS NO WARNING, VERY DISCONCERTING, CAUSING MILD TO SEVERE ANXIETY. * THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 50 TIMES IN LAST 7 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. *HAPPENS IN MANY STOPPING CONDITIONS: SLOW, FAST (USUALLY UNDER 30MPH) *IRRESPECTIVE OF STRAIGHT OR CHANGING DIRECTION *IF OTHER VEHICLE HAD BEEN PRESENT, A COLLISION WOULD HAVE BEEN EMINENT. *IN ICY CONDITION VEHICLE COULD HAVE ENDED OFF ROAD.

DRIVING NORMALLY, MY HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. RECYCLING THE POWER ON THE LIGHTS CORRECTS THE ISSUE BUT AFTER CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE LIGHT WILL AGAIN GO OUT. THE LIGHT GOES OUT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 5 MINUTES. WITHOUT DEPENDABLY FUNCTIONING LIGHTS, DRIVING VISION IS IMPAIRED AT NIGHT AND I HAVE BEEN ISSUED A FIX-IT TICKET. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE LIGHT BULB WILL COST $300+. I WILL FIX THE PROBLEM MYSELF WITH A REPLACEMENT PHILIPS D4R HID BULB HOWEVER, SEVERAL REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE GIVE ME REASON TO BELIEVE THAT A RECALL IS NECESSARY. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS FAIL AFTER A VARIABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. FAILURE VARIES FROM JUST ONE LIGHT (BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SHOW SYMPTOM) TO BOTH LIGHTS FAILING AT THE SAME TIME. CURRENT SOLUTION IS TO TURN LIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF AND TURN THEM BACK ON. THIS SOLVES THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY ALTHOUGH THE LIGHT(S) WILL EVENTUALLY GO OUT AGAIN. SO FAR I HAVE NOT CRASHED INTO ANYTHING ONCE MY HEADLIGHT(S) FAIL BUT THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A CONCERN I NOW HAVE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. CURRENT REPAIR RECOMMENDATION IS TO REPLACE BOTH BULBS AND ECUS FOR ~$1000. THE CAR IS JUST OVER 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NOTICED PRIUS HEAD LAMP WENT OUT AS WE WERE DRIVING. AFTER STOPPING SOMEWHERE AND RESTARTING THE CAR THE HEADLIGHT CAME BACK ON. HIGH BEAMS WORKED FINE. REPLACED THE BULB EVEN THOUGH HIGHBEAM SHOULD BE AFFECTED AND LIGHT SHOULD NOT COME BACK ON IF BULB IS BLOWN. ASKED DEALER TO LOOK AT THE HEADLIGHT. THEY TOLD US IT WAS A COMMON COMPUTER PROBLEM AND THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM QUITE A LOT, AND IT IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. DUE TO LIMITED FUNDS WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM YET. THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIX IT IN ORDER TO DRIVE IN THE DARK. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY GOING OUT FOR OVER TWO YEARS NOW. TURNING THE LIGHT ON TO HIGH OR LOW BEAM DOES NOT CHANGE THE STATUS OF THE LIGHT AT ALL, BUT USUALLY IT COMES ON AGAIN WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK ON. WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAS DONE IT TWICE. I WAS FIRST AWARE OF THE LEFT HEADLIGHT PROBLEM DURING THE SPRING OF 2008 LIKELY AT THAT TIME WITH ABOUT 25,000 ? 27,000 MILES. I DO NOT LEAVE THE HEADLIGHTS ON DURING DAYTIME DRIVING SO THERE HAS NOT BEEN HIGH USAGE THE DEALERSHIP ACTS LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, AND IT MIGHT BE A LIGHT GOING BAD WHICH WILL COST $300 PER LIGHT BULB PLUS INSTALLATION. BUT IT HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR OVER TWO YEARS OFF AND ON A LONG TIME FOR A BAD LIGHTBULB TO LAST. TOTALLY FRUSTRATED AFTER I ONCE AGAIN GAVE THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD A DIFFERENT SERVICE REP COME OUT AND TELL ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH MY HEADLIGHTS, I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND I SEE REPEATED REFERENCES TO EXACTLY THE SAME HEADLIGHT ISSUES BY OTHER 2006 PRIES OWNERS. NOW THAT I SEE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST MY PRIES, BUT MANY PRIUSES I AM DOUBLY CONCERNED. IT IS NOT AN EVENT I AM ABLE TO REPRODUCE. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM IF THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING AND CAN?T REPRODUCE IT. I SAID I WOULD GLADLY BRING THE CAR IN AT ANY TIME AT NIGHT WHEN IT WAS DOING IT SO THEY COULD DIAGNOSE IT, BUT THEY CAN'T ACCOMMODATE ME WHEN THE PROBLEM ARISES AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE CLOSED NOR CAN THEY SUGGEST ANY PLACE TO TAKE THE CAR TO HAVE IT TESTED AT THAT TIME. HAVING TWO WORKING HEADLIGHTS IS A LEGAL SAFETY ISSUE OR THE POLICE WOULD NOT STOP AND TICKET OR WARM CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIND A FIX FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID-STYLE HEADLIGHTS. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, A HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT SPONTANEOUSLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES, AND USUALLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT IS AFFECTED. THE HEADLIGHT COMES BACK ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED OCCASIONAL FLICKERING OF THE INTENSITY OF A HEADLIGHT. THIS PROBLEM CREATES A SAFETY RISK. *TR

I WAS PULLED OVER LAST NIGHT BY OUR LOCAL POLICE AND RECEIVED A CITATION FOR A HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. THE OFFICER INFORMED ME THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT AND WHEN I TRIED MY HIGHBEAMS, THEY TOO WERE NOT WORKING. THE OFFICER CONTINUED TO INFORM ME THAT I HAD 72 HOURS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE CITATION WOULD BE WIPED CLEAN. SO THE FOLLOWING MORNING I PROCEEDED TO FIX THE HEADLIGHT WHEN TO MY SURPRISE THE HEADLIGHT WAS WORKING JUST FINE WHEN I POWERED THE CAR UP. I WANTED TO FIND ANY RECALLS ON THIS MATTER BUT IT SEEMS THAT ALL THERE ARE IS COMPLAINTS. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ON OCCASION WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. SOMETIMES IT IS 2 OR 3 A NIGHT, SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. *TR

HEAD LIGHT TURN OFF DURING DRIVING. THIS IS NOW HAPPEN FREQUENTLY. *TR

HID HEADLAMP FAILURE AT 45,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 74,000 MILES. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT BURN OUT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, PACKAGE #8, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THEY CAN EITHER GO OUT ONE AT A TIME OR BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THIS STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON THE CARD. I AM CURRENTLY AT APROX. 35,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I CAN GET THE LIGHT(S) TO COME BACK ON BY TURNING THEM FULLY OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. THIS WILL USUALLY KEEP THE LIGHTS ON FOR THE REST OF MY TRIP, SHORT OR LONG, IN MOST CASES. BUT THERE ARE TIMES THAT THEY LIGHTS WILL GO OUT AGAIN AND I WILL NEED TO TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON TO GET THEM TO WORK AGAIN. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER YET, I AM IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING THE TIME TO DO THIS. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE MORE THAN AN ISOLATE PROBLEM RELATED TO ONLY MY VEHICLE. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND LIGHTS WILL WORK AGAIN WHEN TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. THEN THEY WILL GO OUT AGAIN FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WORK WHEN TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. *TR

I DRIVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN 2006. IT HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT. STARTING AT ABOUT 27,000 MILES, THE HID HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN SEEMS TO RE-IGNITE THE BULB UNTIL THE NEXT FAILURE. THIS CREATES A REAL SAFETY CONCERN AND THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER WARRANTY STATING THAT THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THIS ISSUE. THERE A NUMEROUS POSTS ON MESSAGE BOARDS SUCH AS PRIUSCHAT.COM (HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/34584-HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM.HTML) THAT SUGGEST THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE, BUT ACTUALLY A DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING FLAW. WITHOUT RELIABLE HEADLIGHTS, I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS AROUND ME. I HAVE A CALL IN TO TOYOTA AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. PERHAPS A RECALL IS IN ORDER, OR AT LEAST A SERVICE BULLETIN SO THAT DEALER SERVICE CENTERS DON'T REFUSE TO PERFORM NECESSARY MAINTENANCE. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT'S THE RIGHT ONE AND SOMETIMES IT'S THE LEFT ONE. I'M AFRAID THAT SOMETIME IT WILL BE BOTH. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT BUT SINCE IT IS AN INCONSISTENT PROBLEM, IT IS NOT ALWAYS NOT WORKING WHEN I TAKE THE CAR IN SO THEY HAVE A HARD TIME DIAGNOSING IT AND REFUSE TO CHANGE OUT THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. THEY ALMOST LOOK AT ME IN DISBELIEF AS IF THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. YET, I SEE MANY OTHER PRIUS' DRIVING AROUND WITH ONE HEADLIGHT ON SO I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE IN THERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO IT AND DO THE RIGHT THING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST AND THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED. SUDDENLY, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE HEADLIGHT FUNCTIONED AFTER ENGAGING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE SERVICE REPAIR WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES SO HARD THAT THEY WERE LEFT SMOKING TO STOP THE CAR. TOWED IT TO MARK MILLER TOYOTA. THEY RAN TESTS, AND CLAIM THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE WERE APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME, IMPLYING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS HUMAN CAUSED. WE DISAGREE. HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 YEARS PLUS. NO TICKETS IN DECADES. THE IDEA THAT WE WERE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR WHILE BRAKING HARD IS LUDICROUS. THE COMPUTER REGISTERED THAT THE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE PEDAL, BUT THE COMPUTER APPLIED THE PRESSURE. WE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS OCCURRING ON AT LEAST TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO INDICATION FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT ONE IS NOT WORKING. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED THREE TIMES, AND THE ONLY THING THAT WAS FIXED WAS A REAR TAILLIGHT BULB. THE NON-WORKING HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN POINTED OUT TO ME BY SECURITY GUARDS IN THE PARKING GARAGE, AND LAST WEEK I WAS PULLED-OVER BY A NEW JERSEY STATE PATROL OFFICER BECAUSE ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THEM ON AGAIN IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF, AND THEN RESTART IT. IT HAS NOW BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF, PASSENGERS, AND OTHER DRIVERS. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN THAT IF I NOTICE THEM NOT WORKING, BRING THE CAR IN WITH THE LIGHTS STILL OUT, AND THEN THEY CAN TRY TO TRACK DOWN THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES I HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT, OR NOTICED THE OUTAGES HAVE BEEN AS I DROVE INTO MY OFFICE OR LATER AT NIGHT WHEN THE DEALER IS CLOSED, OR OUT OF TOWN ON THE TURNPIKE. THIS SOLUTION IS MERELY AN AVOIDANCE BY THE DEALER TO REPLACE A KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HID LIGHTS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY. TO DATE, PERHAPS 20 OR MORE TIMES EACH, ALMOST ALWAYS SEPARATELY, BUT SIMULTANEOUSLY ONCE. FREQUENCY OF FAILURE INCREASING WITH TIME. TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND ON RESOLVES THE ISSUE TEMPORARILY. *TR

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF LIGHTS. CAR HAD 20,000 MILES ON IT WHEN HEADLIGHT STARTING FAILING INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR THE OTHER SIDE STARTED FAILING INTERMITTENTLY. I AND OTHERS ON YAHOO PRIUS GROUP HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AS AT TIMES THEY BOTH GO OFF. AFTER TURNING THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON THEY BURN BUT YOU NEVER KNOW IF ONE OR BOTH WILL GO OFF. TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE SECOND GENERATION PRIUS BUT HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO RECALL OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. WE ARE ALL LEFT ON OUR OWN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE DASHBOARD ON A BRIGHT DAY. CANNOT DETERMINE SPEED-- THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS- AFFECTS STOPPING DISTANCE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE HID HEADLIGHT FLICKERS THEN GOES OUT. IF YOU TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON IT RE-IGNITES. *TR

OBNE OR BOTH HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF AT RANDOM AND THEN WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON BOTH ARE AGAIN WORKING NORMALLY. THEN BEGAN TO OCCUR SLIGHTLY AFTER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY LIMIT IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIIUS BUT WELL INSIDE THE 36 MONTH LIMIT. DEALER HAS REPLACED BOTH ECU UNITS BUT NOW WANTS ALMOST $800 TO REPLACE BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS AS THEY ARE NON WARRANTY ITEMS ALTHOUGH HE CANNOT SAY THAT THEY ARE IN FACT THE ISSUE. HAVE SEEN MANY INSTANCES OF THIS IDENTICAL ISSUE ON THE SAME MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE REPORTED AT THE SIMILAR MILEAGE LEVEL IN VARIOUS OWNER GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND INTERNET LISTINGS. *TR

AT NIGHT, THE HID HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF. SOMETIMES ITS THE LEFT LIGHT, OR THE RIGHT LIGHT, OR BOTH LIGHTS WILL JUST GO OUT. IN ORDER FOR ME TO SEE AGAIN, I HAVE TO TURN MY HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THIS WILL TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON. THEN THEY WILL GO OUT AGAIN. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN BOTH THE LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

HEADLIGHT STARTED TO FAIL AROUND 50,000 MILES; RIGHT WOULD TURN OFF. NOT TO LONG AFTER LEFT WOULD TURN OFF BUT RIGHT REMAIN ON. TURNING LIGHTS OFF, THEN BACK ON WOULD TURN LIGHT BACK ON. WAS NOT HAPPENING ENOUGH FOR DEALERSHIP TO TRACK. AROUND 60,000 MILE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. BOTH LIGHTS WOULD ALSO DIM AND SOMETIMES TURN COMPLETELY OFF; TURNING LIGHT SWITCH OFF, THEN BACK ON MADE LIGHTS RETURN ON. SOMETIMES IF LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND YOU ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON BRIGHTS, BRIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. DEALER SUGGESTED IT WAS EITHER A HEADLIGHT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR A 'HEADLIGHT CONTROL' BUT NEEDED TO CHECK IT FURTHER. 70,000 LIGHTS TURNING OFF FREQUENTLY; LEFT AND RIGHT, SOMETIMES SAME TIME, SOMETIMES INDIVIDUALLY. HEADLIGHT CONTROL REPLACED BY DEALER. CONTINUES TO DO SAME THING; NOT RESOLVED. HAVE NOT TAKEN BACK TO DEALER YET. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP GOES OFF WHEN VEHICLE RUNNING & BEING DRIVEN. WHEN THE HEADLAMP SWITCH IS BRIEFLY TURNED OFF, THEN BACK ON, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP COMES ON AGAIN, BUT ALWAYS GOES BACK OFF AFTER A FEW SECONDS OR UP TO A MINUTE OR TWO. THIS CYCLE OF TURNING OFF & ON CAN BE REPEATED INDEFINITELY. THE PROBLEM STARTED SPONTANEOUSLY. NOTHING HAS YET BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM; A PHONE CALL TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS MET WITH UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHAT MAY BE WRONG, AND I HAVE YET TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE. *TR

MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS FAILS AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF OPERATION. IT WILL BE OPERATIVE AGAIN WHEN I TURN THE CAR BACK ON, ONLY TO GO OUT AGAIN. I HAVE READ IN MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE THE BULB, WHICH ALSO MUST BE REPLACED. THE BULB IS OVER $300! THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED APPROXIMATELY $650-- SO THE TOTAL COST IS NEARLY $1,000! *TR

MY VEHICLE, 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE HID LIGHTS HAVE BEEN SHUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. IT STARTS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT FIRST, THEN AFTER A FEW MILES OR MINUTES THE PASSENGER LIGHT SHUTS OFF ALSO. ONCE I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER LIGHT RESUMES TO NORMAL. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER FOR THE FIRST TIME (9/24/07), THE DEALER TRIED TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I TOOK MY CAR AGAIN BACK TO THE DEALER (2/25/08) SINCE THE HID HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING IS NOW BECOMING UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT BOTH BULBS ARE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED BUT I HAVE READ ENOUGH OF THESE CASES ONLINE THAT REPLACING THE BULBS DOES NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, (HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/34584-HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM.HTML). I HAVE ALSO SEEN OTHER PRIUS ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM LIKE OURS, IN FACT, MY WIFE'S SISTER BOUGHT AN 07 PRIUS AND IT ALSO SHOWED THE SAME PROBLEM. PICTURES OF THE HID LIGHTS WHEN INTERMITTENTLY OFF IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON TO GET THEM TO WORK. REPAIR PERFORMED 02/23/2008 WAS TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT ECU ASSEMBLY. *TR

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2006 PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED, SOMETIMES AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER REPLACED BOTH. NOW, LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER REPLACEMENT, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS DOING THE SAME THING. INCIDENT DATE REFERS TO THE LATEST FAILURE. *TR