My personal warning for PRIUS owners

[agnes!]

Heads-up for anyone who has a 2006-2009 Toyota Prius. Your headlights will go out. Often (at least about once every 20,000 miles or so). The best part is the cost. About $300 to replace.

EACH.

I have a 2006. The headlights starting acting wonky (intermittently going off kind of wonky) a little over a year ago. The car at that time only had maybe 20,000 miles on it. This week I noticed that the driver's-side headlight was doing the same thing AGAIN. Now this headlight had been replaced in 2008 remember? That replacement was supposed to fix the issue.

I love my Prius and I generally really like the Service Department that I go to but Toyota corporate is doing Prius-owners *wrong*. They should issue a recall. I don't even think it's the headlamps themselves at this point, I think it's a system-issue. Btw I Googled "Prius headlamps" and found tons of people complaining about the headlamps I'm dealing with right now. Sounds like a case for being a "lemon-law" issue.

So be forewarned. My Prius is now starting in on its THIRD set of headlamps and it only has 40,000 miles on it.

agnes!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Aren't they covered by the Mfr. warranty? Toyota probably won't issue a recall since it's not really a "safety" issue (as in a physical hazard to the driver).

When I had my Dodge Neon, the car was known to have a problem with the head gasket. The part was never recalled, but replaced under warranty when needed.

 

[bumbershoot]

I asked hubby, who used to run the repair shop at a Saturn dealership....


"So it is not lemon law but it is something that they can write to the manufacturer about to see if they will give some concessions. I would also suggest that she check with her dealership to see if they are any recall/campaigns for the headlamps. Finally I would have her complain to the better business bureau."


I then mentioned that lemon laws are different, and that your car might still be young enough to qualify for the non-safety-related aspects of lemon laws...

I also wondered to him if it's electrical, since the lights aren't just going out, but are being weird...since I've had VWs I know about electrical problems, LOL (and borderline lemons!).

"It could be electrical in nature, like a frequency issue when the lights hit a certain usage hour. This is probably something like a resister issue. But the lights are made as an assembly and that is probably why they need to be replaced.

Yes if enough people officially complain, the manufacturer will start to worry about publication of the issue and will issue a recall (if it is a fixable).

Also it could be lemon law but since it has been happening maybe 2 to 3 time in 2 to 3 years, she is out of the constraint, but she could always try. It is different for many states.

Headlamps, if the issue is wonky enough, can be considered a safety issue."

 

[LoraJ]

Have you asked about this on Priuschat.com to see if others are having the same issue?

I just got the 2010 Prius, I will be getting the 8 year warranty.

Are you over 3 years/36,000 miles?

 

[agnes!]

In answer to some up-thread posts...

My car has barely 40,000 miles and I am already starting on my 3rd set of lamps, at least on the driver's side. The passengers' side headlamps haven't gone out again...*yet*. The original lamps failed last year with less than 20,000 miles, and this set has begun failing with (again) around 20,000 miles or so.

I've done a little bit of research on these headlamps. In June he NHTSA has opened an enquiry (or whatever it's called), they've received over 300 official complaints from Prius owners. There are apparently even pending class-action lawsuits. The 2006-2008 Prius models (or even 2009 depending on where you read) are known to have this issue with these HID headlamps. Some experts say that is a capacitor or ballast issue (like what helps run fluorescent tubes) and not an issue per se with the lamps themselves. There is no official federal recall from the Office of Defects Investigations of the NHTSA, neither is there a recall from Toyota.

I'm no expert but I kind of think that having one or both of your headlamps wink out on you after dark is a safety issue of the highest order.

The 2010 Prius has completely re-designed headlamps, Toyota probably learned what not to do with their 3rd-generation Prius. Anybody who buys a 2010 probably won't have this issue.

Thanks for mentioning Priuschat, I'll have to take a look at it. I'm sure I'll find some fellow sufferers. I mean, NO-ONE expects to have replace their car's headlamps every 20,000 miles or so and certainly no-one expects to pay $670 (or more ) for that 'privilege'.

 

[agnes!]

There is a 60-Page thread about headlamp problems with the 2nd Generation Prius.

agnes!

 

[casndan]

Yikes! This isn't a problem that I've experienced yet, DH and I both drive a 2008 Prius and my mom has a 2007 Prius, even though our cars are newer, they both have well over 20K (hence the reason we bought the cars). I'd say that is a HUGE safety issue though.

 

[agnes!]

I don't think this issue exists to the same magnitude with the 2008s as with the 2006s. Just from reading around the Internet, the 2006s seem to worse even though the 2007 & 2008 model-years are also supposed to be affected. When the original-equipment headlamps failed last year I was told that replacing them would 'fix' the issue and that the headlamps were defective. I still think that the issue is with the entire Prius headlamp-system, perhaps with the wiring or the capacitor being the actual problem.

This morning I filed an official safety complaint with the ODI (Office of Defects Investigation) of the NHTSA (National HIghway Safety Administration). (It was easy!) I left a message with the Distributorship-level Customer Service Supervisor yesterday. Today I called her again and she said that the Service Manager at the dealership was supposed to call me yesterday.

She was *not* happy to hear that he had not done so.

agnes!

 

[debbi801]

DH has a 2004 Prius, part of the original 2nd generation with the HID headlights. He has over 60K miles on the car and has never had a headlight issue. He still has the original headlights.

 

[agnes!]

DH has a 2004 Prius, part of the original 2nd generation with the HID headlights. He has over 60K miles on the car and has never had a headlight issue. He still has the original headlights.

Yeah, certain model-years don't seem to be affected much at all, like the 2004s & 2005s & the 2009s. Obviously *something* drastically changed with the 2006 through 2008 models, but especially the 2006s, maybe the design of the lighting system, maybe a new component supplier, but something. From what I've read, in general HID headlamps are supposed to last longer than conventional bulbs, similar to compact-fluorescents lasting much longer then standard household bulbs.

It is disingenuous of Toyota corporate to continue to insist that nothing's wrong with these particular model-year Prius headlamp lighting-systems. I'm not unreasonable, I expect that the tires have to be replaced every so often, that maintenance has to be done on a timed-basis. But as a consumer I have an expectation that certain major automobile components will last for a reasonable length of time, that I won't be stuck replacing these components at least every 20,000 miles.

agnes!

 

[agnes!]

A little bit of an update...

Received my complaint-filing form from the NHTSA .I'm going to look it over and get it in the mail in the next day or two.

Got a phone call last week (finally) from the Service Manager at the local Toyota dealership (had to call the Distributor Service Supervisor a couple of times though). The Dealership guy said that the service guy was mistaken and that they/Toyota should have covered some of the expenses as a good-will* gesture, so Toyota is supposed to cover at least some of the cost but he would have to wait to find out exactly how much... I was supposed to hear back within a day or two of that call - now it's been at least 4 or 5 since I talked to him. Oh, and he only had my cell number and supposedly it was written down wrong...*whatever*. We've been taking our cars to that dealership for several years...maybe he could have confirmed the number in his *records*?!?

So, I'm sure I'm going to have to wait a couple more days and then I'm going to have to call the dealership. Joy.

Frankly, I shouldn't have to pay a thing.

agnes!
* - Yeah, I'd say it's at least good-will for your customers to have dependable/functioning headlamps on their Toyota vehicles...good-will that they'd be survive night-driving and be able to buy another one of your cars.

 

[clutter]

The 2006-2008 Prius models (or even 2009 depending on where you read) are known to have this issue with these HID headlamps.

Remember, not all models of the Prius have HID. I'm on my thrird 2nd gen Prius, first two had over 40k and 50k at trade in, and I've never had a problem. However, I got the package that did not includ the HID lights.

 

[maddmike]

Toyota covers up more problems with their vehicles than anyone and the media gives them a pass on just about everything. For instance when Toyota was caught not issuing recalls in 2006 or a class action settlement that came in 2007 involving approximately 4 million engines. How many times did this make the front page news or the national media?

 

[agnes!]

Remember, not all models of the Prius have HID. I'm on my thrird 2nd gen Prius, first two had over 40k and 50k at trade in, and I've never had a problem. However, I got the package that did not includ the HID lights.

Unfortunately, I did...and paid more for the privilege when I bought the car.

agnes!