2005 Toyota Prius headlight problems

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while replacing the instrument cluster, the contact discovered that the turn signals were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that an unknown part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,500.

NHTSA complaint #11698502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the left turn signal was activated, however, the left turn signal failed to function as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the four-way flashers failed to function as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a computer failure. The contact was informed that an unknown part needed to be replaced, or an unknown software update was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 143,500.

NHTSA complaint #11698556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEAD LIGHT ARE INTERMITTENT; SAME PROBLEM AS 2006 AND LATER RECALL

NHTSA complaint #11384908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 PRIUS CONTINUE TO GO OUT. WE REPLACE THE BULBS BUT EVEN WITH BRAND NEW BULBS WILL BE DRIVING AND AFTER ABOUT 60 SECONDS OF HEADLIGHTS BEING ON THE LIGHT WILL TURN OFF. SOMETIMES ONLY ONE TURNS OFF BUT OFTEN BOLT TURN OFF AND WE'RE IN COMPLETE DARKNESS DRIVING ON THE ROAD. WE HAVE TO TOGGLE THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY TURN ON AGAIN, WHICH LEAVES US DRIVING IN COMPLETE DARKNESS AND IT'S A BIG SAFETY HAZARD! AGAIN, BRAND NEW BULBS HAVE THIS ISSUE, TOO. GETTING THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT AND COMPUTER BEHIND IT REPLACED IS VERY EXPENSIVE. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AND GETTING WORSE FOR OVER A YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #11289902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT STARTED GOING OFF AUTOMATICALLY AFTER A WHILE OF TURNING ON. IF I TURN IT OFF AND ON AGAIN, IT LIGHTS UP AND THEN FIRST DIMS AND THEN TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN. THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING AS THE DRIVERS WILL NEVER KNOW WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT. THIS IS NOT A RANDOM INCIDENT; IT IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS OF GEN 2 PRIUS (04-09) THAT I FOUND ONLINE. I AM ATTACHING A DOCUMENT THAT LISTS SOME ONLINE FORUMS WHERE OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. TOYOTA SETTLED A LAWSUIT FOR 06-09 PRIUS, YET THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE HEADLIGHT ISSUE OF GEN 2 PRIUS.

NHTSA complaint #11279317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT, FOLLOWED BY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT. BOTH WILL RETURN ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF THEN ON AGAIN, ONLY TO OCCUR AGAIN WITHIN 10 MINUTES. BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHIN THE LAST 10 DAYS.

NHTSA complaint #11171766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLAMPS RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING, BUT USUALLY ONLY ONE AT A TIME. LAST NIGHT (12/18/18), BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME AND I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AS IT WAS POORLY LIT. WHEN LAMPS DO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING, TURNING THEM OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES WILL USUALLY GET THE IT TO COME BACK ON. THIS IS DEFINITELY A HAZARD AND A RECALL IS ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED.

NHTSA complaint #11162491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

COMBINATION METER INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON, SOMETIMES THE DASH METER WORKS, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST BLACK AND CONTINUES THE ENTIRE TIME THE CAR IS RUNNING. THEN WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OFF, IT WILL NOT TURN OFF, WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE ARE NO DASH LIGHTS AT ALL TO INDICATE FUEL AMOUNT, ODOMETER READING, DOOR OPEN SIGNAL, CHECK ENGINE, MAINTENANCE REQUIRED AND SO ON. THE SPEED BEING DRIVEN IS NOT SHOWING EITHER WHICH IS ANOTHER MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. CRUISE CONTROL ALSO DOES NOT FUNCTION, THE CENTER TOUCHSCREEN DOES NOT DISPLAY HYBRID MOTOR INFORMATION OR MPG. THE BEEPING WHEN BACKING UP DOES NOT FUNCTION. ALSO THE REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN WHILE CAR IS RUNNING WHICH IS ALSO A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE OTHER FUNCTIONS NOT AVAILABLE. THE ODOMETER IS NOT RECORDING MILEAGE DURING THESE TIMES WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DO PROPER MAINTENANCE THAT GOES BY MILEAGE, SUCH AS OIL CHANGES.

NHTSA complaint #11160849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHT FAILURE.....WHILE DRIVING. I START OUT WITH MY LIGHTS ON, AND RANDOMLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ONE HEADLIGHT, OR THE OTHER, WILL GO OUT, OR BOTH WILL GO OUT. I REPLACED THE BULBS, HAVE HAD MECHANICS GO OVER THE CAR......BEFORE I JOINED A PRIUS CHAT AND LEARNED THIS IS A "KNOWN ISSUE".....BUT STILL NO RECALL? I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER BY VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS! ..........BELOW IT ASKS FOR A DATE ON THE INCIDENT...IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #11132073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, IT TAKES TURNING THEM ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES TO TURN THEM BACK ON. IT IS RANDOM, SOMETIMES PASSENGER SIDE, SOMETIMES DRIVERS SIDE, SOMETIMES BOTH. TOYOTA SETTLED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WITH 2006 - 2009 PRIUS, MINE IS 2005, BUT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL TRIES TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON, LEAVING ME WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS AS I'M DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL EARLY IN THE MORNING IN THE DARK, GOING 65MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY. CURRENTLY SAVING TO GET FIXED(CAR WAS A GIFT). I CALLED TOYOTA FOR AN ESTIMATE ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $85 FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM, WHICH CLEARLY THEY ARE AWARE OF AND SOMEHOW SKIRTED OUT OF A RECALL OR ANY LIABILITY FOR ALL MODELS.

NHTSA complaint #11105301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. USUALLY THEY WORK FINE, BUT EVERY SO OFTEN SINCE MY FRIEND FIRST TOLD ME MY LIGHTS WERE OUT LAST WEEK, THEY DON'T TURN ON WHETHER THE CAR IS RUNNING OR NOT. IT CAN HAPPEN TO ONE OR BOTH LIGHTS AT A TIME, AND IS UNPREDICTABLE, MAKING ME AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC'S TODAY, BUT THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING AND HE COULDN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE BULBS ARE FINE, AS LONG AS THEY ARE ABLE TO TURN ON, AND THE MECHANIC AGREED THE BULBS DO NOT NEED REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #11094151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. IMMEDIATELY WILL COME BACK ON WHEN SWITCHED OFF AND THEN ON..

NHTSA complaint #11092820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE COMBINATION METER ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS IS NOT WORKING. SO MY INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL GO OUT OR GO DARK AND MY CAR WILL KEEP RUNNING

NHTSA complaint #11080917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE HEAD LIGHT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE RANDOMLY GOES OUT. IF I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON IT MAY COME BACK ON. NEW LAMPS HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE.

NHTSA complaint #11072910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE HID HEADLIGHTS WORK UPON START UP THEN SHUT OFF AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS. REPLACING THE BULB DOES NOT FIX IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE HEADLIGHTS DONT STAY LIT DURING NIGHTTIME HOURS.

NHTSA complaint #11071627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT, AND IT WILL COME ON AGAIN IF YOU TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND TURN THEM BACK ON AGAIN. THIS WILL HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES IN AN EVENING, AND IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN.

NHTSA complaint #11071604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT AND I HAVE TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON TO MAKE THEM WORK. THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. IT HAPPENS STANDING STILL AND DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #11046179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHT GOES OUT REPEATEDLY. HEADLIGHT WORKS AGAIN AFTER HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF THEN ON AGAIN. STARTED WITH THE SAME ONE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. NOW THE OTHER. SOMETIMES BOTH GO OUT, INCLUDING AT NIGHT. EACH TIME THE HEADLIGHTS MUST BE TURNED OFF THEN ON AGAIN AND THEY WORK FOR A WHILE LONGER. LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN STATIONARY AND WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #11044017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE PRONE TO TURNING TO OFF RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES ONE SIDE, OTHER TIMES BOTH SIDES. AFTER TURNING THEM ON/OFF AT THE STEERING COLUMN THEY WILL COME BACK ON FOR A WHILE THEN THE ISSUE STARTS OVER. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH THE VEHICLE EITHER MOVING OR IN THE STATIONARY MODE. NO HEADLIGHTS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. SO FAR, TOYOTA REFUSES TO HONOR A FIX!

NHTSA complaint #11033271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO WORK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-331-4331 AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,308.

NHTSA complaint #11024201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CONTINUALLY REPLACED (ONCE EVERY 6 MONTHS FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OR MORE), AND REPLACEMENTS OF AUTHORIZED PARTS KEEP FAILING, CONSISTENT WITH ISSUES PRESENTED IN THIS FORUM: HTTPS://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM.34584/. I HAVE CHECKED AND RECHECKED WITH DEALERSHIP BUT THEY ONLY OFFER $500+ REPLACEMENT AND NO RECALLS OR FIXES FOR THE GENERAL ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11013716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY. TURN SWITCH OFF AND ON AND COMES ON AGAIN. HAVE HAD BULB REPLACED X2 AND NOW TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THAT TOYOTA HAS A BULLETIN ABOUT IT. NOTE TO THE TUNE OF $500 TO FIX. IN RESEARCHING THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. IT'S A HAZARD AT NIGHT OR IN RAIN OR INCLEMENT WEATHER AND EVIDENTLY SOMETHING TOYOTA HAS HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT ENOUGH TO PUT OUT A BULLETIN. VEHICLE IN MOTION, HIGHWAY MILES. I BELIEVE SOME SORT OF SHORT BUT CERTAINLY NOT MECHANIC. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE JANUARY 2017. TWO NEW BULBS PLUS LABOR AND NOW TOLD WIRING MECHANISM. HELP. IF TOYOTA KNOWS A PROBLEM, ADDRESS IT IN A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #11011293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEAD LIGHTS DIMS AFTER 2 MINUTES OF DRIVING THEN FEW SECONDS LATER COMPLETELY SHOTS OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10995065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF WHILE DRIVING, AT FIRST 1 SIDE OR THE OTHER, ACOUPLE TIMES BOTH WENT OFF WITH THE LAST TIME ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION AND I HAD MY KIDS IN THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10969374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AFTER THE VEHICLE OPERATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REVERSE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

NHTSA complaint #10968317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERMITTENT HID/XENON HEADLIGHT OPERATION. MUST CYCLE POWER USING HEADLIGHT ON/OFF SWITCH TO REIGNITE HEADLIGHT. HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY DURING COLD STARTS IN THE MORNING AS WELL AS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.

NHTSA complaint #10959480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT 3 TIMES IN A 3 YEAR PERIOD. EACH TIME THE BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED AT SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE ($300 AT THE DEALERSHIP), BUT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN AFTER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS 11/2014. SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE THE CAR AT NIGHT DUE TO THE OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IT PRESENTS. WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT CONTINUE TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THESE BULBS WHEN THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE SYSTEM. BASED ON THE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR REPORTS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE, I KNOW MY STORY IS NOT UNIQUE. I REQUEST THAT A RECALL BE ISSUED FOR THE AFFECTED MODEL YEARS, WHICH INCLUDES 2005!

NHTSA complaint #10958636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT DOESN'T STAY ON. IT WILL GO ON FOR A MINUTE THEN TURN OFF. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON, IT STARTS BACK UP AGAIN, THEN GOES OUT AGAIN. I REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL AND IT STILL CONTINUES. IT DOES THIS IF I'M DRIVING OR NOT.

NHTSA complaint #10946230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES OFF WHILE DRIVING & THEN BACK ON. I PAID A LOCAL MECHANIC TO CHECK IT OUT; HE COULDN'T FIND ANY LOOSE CONNECTIONS, ETC. BUT DID ADVISE ME OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON THE 06 - 09 MODEL YRS. I'VE CONTACTED BOTH A LOCAL DEALERSHIP & TOYOTA CORP. WHO BOTH REFUSE TO FIX IT AT NO COST TO ME (SEE ATTACHED RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA CORP.

NHTSA complaint #10939804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.