2008 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

VEHICLE STARTS, RUNS FOR LIMITED TIME -2-3 MINS. SHUTS OFF VEHICLE STARTS NO ELECTRICAL VISIBILITY ON DASH.. BLANK. VEHICLE STARTS WITH ELECTRICAL VISIBILITY, RUNS FOR 3-5 MILES, LOOSES ELECTRICAL VISIBILITY. UPDATED 12/4/2017*CN VEHICLE STARTS WITH ELECTRICAL VISIBILITY RUNS FOR 3-4 MILES .VEHICLE STOPS, SHUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WILL NOT START. REQUIRES JUMP START,,. AND RUNS ENOUGH TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER. VEHICLE WILL NOT START, REQUIRES JUMP START AND WILL NOT HOLD CHARGE. REQUIRES TOWING TO DEALER. MA 10/8

BOTH OF MY CARS HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND FOR NO REASON (THE BULBS AND BALLASTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ARE IN WORKING ORDER). I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT (INTERSTATE 70MPH) AND OCCASIONALLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL JUST TURN OFF. I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN IN A WRECK MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO THE FACT I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY LIGHTS GO OUT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN LOOKING THIS UP ONLINE, I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH MY YEAR/MAKE/MODEL THAT IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS AT 75,000 MILES. LAST NIGHT SPECIFICALLY I ALMOST GOT IN A WRECK GOING 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE OF IT. MANY TIMES I CAN TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND ONE OR BOTH WILL WORK AGAIN. *TR

1 - AFTER BEING PARKED THE CAR WILL GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, BUT WHEN YOU LET OFF OF THE BRAKE, IT WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL. 2 - IF LEFT RUNNING IN PARK, THE CAR WILL GO OUT OF PARK AND GO INTO NEUTRAL. THIS WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO ROLL, IF IT IS NOT ON EXACTLY FLAT LEVEL GROUND. 3 - WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL JUMP OUT OF DRIVE AND GO INTO NEUTRAL. 4 - IN ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS, YOU CAN HOLD THE SHIFTER LEVER IN THE DESIRED MODE AND THE CAR WILL DRIVE FINE. 5 - TALKED TO A TOYOTA REPAIR FACILITY AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS. DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE NET AND FOUND MANY OF THESE SAME INCIDENTS. 6 - THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, THAT APPARENTLY TOYOTA DON'T WANT TO ADMIT. *TR

GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT USE OF GEAR SHIFT CONTROL. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND WASN'T ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. KEPT GOING BACK TO NEUTRAL. PARK ALSO WASN'T WORKING. POWERED CAR OFF WHICH DID PUT IN PARK. RESTARTED AND DROVE HOME WITHOUT ISSUE. TRIED TO RECREATE AT HOME AND SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY HOLD GEAR SHIFT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE TO MOVE CAR INTO DRIVEWAY. HAVE LEFT CAR AT TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER TODAY FOR INSPECTION. DID NOT OCCUR WHEN TECH TRIED IT DAY AFTER INCIDENT AT 7AM. INITIAL INCIDENT OCCURRED ON HOT AFTERNOON AT 5PM WITH 100 DEGREE TEMPERATURES. HAVE READ ONLINE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS RELATED TO HOT TEMP. HAVE HAD CAR FOR 5 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. JUST CROSSED 50000 MILES AND AM COVERED UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL OCT. I HOPE IT CAN BE REPAIRED. AND HOPE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING AT FASTER SPEEDS. SO FAR ONLY HAPPENS WHEN PARKED AND RECENTLY STARTED. STARTER BATTERY WAS REPLACED AROUND 2 YEARS AGO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT BECAME LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO LOCK, CAUSING ME TO NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL - TURN OFF - DURING DRIVING (WITHOUT WARNING). FORTUNATELY, SO FAR ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT HAS FAILED AT ONCE. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT SO FAR THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ENOUGH PROBLEMS, APPARENTLY, TO JUSTIFY A SAFETY RECALL. SEEMS LIKE A VERY SERIOUS THING - AND IT IS JUST A MATTER OF GOOD FORTUNE ON TOYOTA'S PART THAT THERE HAVE NOT BEEN FATALITIES (TO MY KNOWLEDGE). *TR

THIS CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.......UPDATED 08/14/14 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A LEAKING ABS ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 10/7/14*CN UPDATED 3/25/2015 *JS

EITHER HEADLIGHT, OR BOTH, MAY SUDDENLY GO OUT. TURN OFF SWITCH THEN BACK ON AND LIGHT(S) RESTORED. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY (SAY SIX TIMES PER EVENING) AND HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. FREQUENTLY STOPPED BY POLICE.

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

THE LIFTGATE GLASS RELEASE SWITCH COVER HAS TURNED INTO A BLACK BLOB AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO THE TRUNK TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE AND ANY SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON BOARD. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY 2007-2008 PRIUS OWNERS. *TR

THE BLACK PART ON THE "TRUNK" WHICH YOU HAVE TO TOUCH TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK, STARTED MELTING THE FIRST SUMMER AFTER WE BOUGHT THE PRIUS. EVERY SUMMER SINCE IT DRIPS BLACK RUBBER, WHICH SMEARS ALL OVER YOUR HAND EVERY TIME YOU OPEN THE DOOR. IN THE WINTER, IT DOESN'T MELT, BUT THE TRUNK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OPEN, WHICH COULD CREATE A RISK OF DEATH, IF PASSENGERS WERE TRAPPED INSIDE A BURNING CAR AFTER A COLLISION. FROM WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET, TOYOTA IS DENYING THIS IS A MANUFACURING DEFECT, CLAIMING THAT PEOPLE ARE USING THE WRONG PRODUCTS TO CLEAN THEIR CARS. WHICH IS ILLOGICAL, AND WHOLLY INACCURATE IN THIS CASE, SINCE MY HUSBAND CERTAINLY NEVER WASHED THE CAR FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS HE HAD IT, UNTIL I GOT TIRED OF A DIRTY CAR AND HAD IT DETAILED. IT WAS MELTING LONG BEFORE THAT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKE, AND FIX IT. *TR

THE FIRST TIME BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT, WE WERE TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-95 NEAR RICHMOND, VA. PRIOR TO THIS, WE THOUGHT THE LIGHTS HAD DIMMED A COUPLE TIMES, BUT WHEN WE CHECKED THEM, THEY WERE FINE. THERE IS NO MISTAKE WHEN YOU LOOSE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WHILE ON HIGH BEAM, THERE ARE NO FOG LIGHTS, SO IT GETS VERY DARK. I THINK GOING TO LOW BEAM GAVE US SOME LIGHT (THE FOG LIGHTS) BUT DO NOT REMEMBER, I THEN TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON IMMEDIATELY, WHICH TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK ON. SINCE THAT FIRST INCIDENT OF THEM BOTH GOING OUT, WE HAVE SEEN BOTH THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ALONE, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ALONE, AND AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN TIMES BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. ALL BUT ONCE, TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK ON. THE LAST TIME BOTH WENT OUT, I HAD TO TURN THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE LIGHTS BACK ON. WITH A COST OF OVER $200 PER LIGHT, I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT AND SEE IF THAT LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. I FOUND IN THE USER'S MANUAL THAT LOW VOLTAGE COULD CAUSE THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LIGHTS TO GO OUT, SO I HAD AAA CHECK THE ENGINE BATTERY. THE TEST SHOWED THE BATTERY WAS GOOD, BUT IT ONLY HAD 364 COLD CRANKING AMPS SO I HAD A NEW BATTERY PUT IN. WE WERE TOLD BY TWO OTHER SOURCES THAT THE RIGHT BATTERY HAD 450 COLD CRANK AMPS SO I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT ACCOUNT FOR THE HID LIGHT PROBLEM. THAT WAS JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS STILL GONE OUT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE BULB AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. SO FAR, WE HAVE NOT HAD BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN. *TR

HEADLIGHTS ARE MALFUNCTIONING WHILE I AM DRIVING MAKING IT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS .. I LIVE IN A CANYON AND DRIVE ALOT AT NIGHT AND HAVE ALMOST HAD SOME EXTREAMLY DEADLY COLLISIONS DUE TO THIS ISSUE NOT ONLY THAT BUT HAVE SPENT A INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN COURT FEES AND FIX IT TICKETS

MY HUSBAND WAS T-BONED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BY A SUV GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND NOT ONE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THANKFULLY THE IMPACT WAS NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE INSTEAD OF DIRECTLY ON THE DOOR. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS IMPACTED AND MY HUSBAND HAD TO WAIT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PRY OPEN THE DOOR SO HE COULD GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT BEFORE. *TR..UPDATED 12/09/15 *BF UPDATED 8/31/2017*CN

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ALL THE DASH BOARD WARNING LIGHTS SET OFF AT THE SAME TIME DUE TO THE INVERTER PUMP FAILING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND AND A SUDDEN DECREASE IN POWER. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE INVERTER PUMP FAILING, WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HER MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT HID HEADLIGHT WENT OFF. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON ALLOWED THE LEFT HEADLIGHT TO COME BACK ON. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED OVER A SEVERAL WEEK PERIOD. HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION IS SUDDENLY CUT IN HALF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY RECALL ITEM TO ME. *TR

THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT RANDOMLY ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING! I HAVE LEARNED TO QUICKLY TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN RIGHT BACK ON. SOMETIMES THIS TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM, SOMETIMES FOR A SHORT WHILE, SOMETIMES LONGER. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND FIDDLE WITH THE LIGHT SWITCH UNTIL I, ONCE AGAIN, HAVE HEADLIGHTS! SINCE I USED TO LEAVE MY HEADLIGHTS ON ALL OF THE TIME, DAY OR NIGHT, I DID NOT REALIZE, AT FIRST, THAT I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM. I WOULD JUST THINK "WOW, IT'S REALLY DARK OUT HERE!" THE HEADLIGHT ICON ON THE DASHBOARD ALWAYS INDICATED THAT MY LIGHTS WERE ON, SO I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL I GOT HOME TO HAVE MY HUSBAND CHECK THE LIGHTS. SOMETIMES THEY WORKED PROPERLY SO IT TOOK US A LONG TIME TO FIGURE OUT THAT WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM. OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER GAVE US THE RUN AROUND AND ACTED AS IS THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT A HEADLIGHT PROBLEM, TOLD US TO COME RIGHT IN AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS FOR EITHER $8.00 OR $12.00 EACH WITH NO LABOR COST; AND THEN CHANGED AND SAID THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM FOR $526.00! I SAID, "NO, THANKS!" AND WENT TO SEE ANOTHER LOCAL SHOP WHICH SPECIALIZES IN TOYOTAS. THEY SUGGESTED THAT WE LOOK ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM. WHILE NO RECALLS ARE LISTED YET, I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS FROM TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS STATING EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING. PLEASE HELP ALL OF US! SUDDENLY HAVING NO HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING IN A POORLY LIT AREA IS CAUSING ME GRAVE (PUN INTENDED!) CONCERNS! I TRY NOT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT OR IN THE RAIN, BUT I AM NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO AVOID DOING SO. I AM VERY FRIGHTENED AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY HEADLIGHTS FIXED, BUT NOT AT HIGHWAY ROBBERY PRICES! HAVING HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER ONLY 6 YEARS SEEMS LIKE A VERY SHORT TIME TO ME, COMPARED TO THE OTHER CARS WE HAVE OWNED! *TR

THE RUBBER REAR HATCH DOOR RELEASE BUTTON ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS STARTED TO DEGRADE AND BECOME STICKY IN HOT SUMMER WEATHER. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT THE LATCH WAS STICKY AND GREASY BECAUSE DEALERSHIP SERVICE PEOPLE HAD OPENED THE CAR WITH GREASY HANDS, BUT THEN THE LATCH BUTTON COVER BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO PRESS A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHEN THE WEATHER TURNED COLD. THIS BECAME A REAL SAFETY HAZARD WHEN I LOADED THE CAR COMPLETELY FULL OF MY BELONGINGS ON A COLD NIGHT TO MOVE CROSS-COUNTRY THE NEXT MORNING, AND THE DOOR LATCH WAS SO STIFF AND BRITTLE FROM THE COLD THAT IT CRACKED AND BROKE, BUT THE HATCH WOULDN'T OPEN. MY CHAINS, SPARE TIRE, TOOLS, JUMPER CABLES, ETC. WERE ALL STUFFED BACK THERE, COMPLETELY UNREACHABLE FROM THE FRONT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS FULL (ONE OF THE ITEMS WAS A BED FRAME, WHICH PROBABLY COULD NOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT OPENING THE REAR HATCH). NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DIDN'T FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE STARTING A 2-DAY CROSS-COUNTRY DRIVE ON WINTER ROADS THE NEXT MORNING, WITHOUT ACCESS TO MY EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT. EVENTUALLY, THE LATCH BUTTON STARTED WORKING AGAIN, BUT IT REMAINS CRACKED, HARD IN THE COLD, AND GOOEY IN THE SUMMER. I AM HOPING TO REPLACE THIS PART AS SOON AS I AM ABLE TO SPEND THE $300'500 THAT THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS LATCH BUTTON IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND WAS TESTED FOR NEITHER COLD (<40F) NOR WARM (>80F) WEATHER.

ON THIS DATE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE 5 NEAR LOS ANGELES MY PRIUS MADE A LOUD NOISE AND STARTED SHUTTING DOWN AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FAR LEFT LANE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND THE VSC ICON AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ICON BECAME VISIBLE, HOWEVER THE ODOMETER WAS BLANK AND I COULD NOT TELL WHAT SPEED I WAS TRAVELING, THE CAR WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. ONCE I MANAGED TO GET TO THE FAR RIGHT SHOULDER THE CAR MADE A STOP. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A BIG RIG WHICH HAD TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT SIDE IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING MY CAR. IT WASN'T UNTIL THEN THAT I NOTICED THE RED ENGINE LIGHT ICON DISPLAYED ON THE CONTROL PANEL NOT THE ODOMETER. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS WARNING LIGHT BUT AFTER LOOKING AT THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT CLEARLY STATED THAT ONCE THIS LIGHT APPEARS YOU NEED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OR IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THIS SIGN AND IT APPEARED AFTER THE FACT. THE CAR HAD NO ENGINE OIL, WHICH WAS RIDICULOUS SINCE I HAD NOT NOTICED ANY LEAKS AND I TAKE MY CAR IN EVERY 2 MONTHS TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER HAD NO EXPLANATION OTHER THAN IT DID NOT HAVE ANY LEAKS AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO VERIFY WHEN THE RED ENGINE OIL CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED ON 5/30/14, MY LAST VISIT TO THE DEALER WAS ON 4/12/14 AND AT THE TIME THEY DID NOT DETECT ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL LEAKING. THIS CLEARLY MAKES NO SENSE AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. TOYOTA OWNERS SHOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS AS THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED THE SENSOR SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME A WARNING PRIOR TO THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED MANY FATALITIES BEING IN A HEAVILY POPULATED HIGHWAY. *TR

THE DASHBOARD LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON AND I COULD NOT READ MILEAGE OR HOW FAST I WAS GOING. EVENTUALLY, CAR SHUTS DOWN IN MOTION. TOOK IT TO KEYES TOYOTA IN VAN NUYS, CA. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A DEFECT AND RECALL AND WOULD FIX IT AFTER A FEW DAYS THEY ARE TELLING ME I HAVE TO SPEND ABOUT $4000 TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE THERE ARE FUSES BURNT AND CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. *TR

RIGHT HEADLIGHT CONTINUES TO GO OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR NOW AND GOT PULLED OVER LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND GOT A WARNING TICKET FOR HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. WHEN SHE GOT HOME SHE NOTICED IT OUT. SHE STOPPED THE ENGINE THEN RESTARTED AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. HER FRIENDS HAVE TOLD HER SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS THAT SHE HAD A LIGHT OUT, BUT EVERY TIME SHE CHECKED IT WAS WORKING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN, I LOOKED IT UP ON INTERNET AND SEE THAT MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP US TOYOTA! *TR

ON MAY 25, 2014, I WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, AND THAT FOLLOWING A CLASS ACTION SUIT, TOYOTA AGREED TO REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR REPAIR OF THE FAULTY PARTS, BUT ONLY UP TO 5 YRS/50K MILES. MY PRIUS HAD UNDER 35,000 MILES BUT WAS 9 MONTHS OVER THE AGE WARRANTY. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CHARGED $739.19 TO REPLACE TOYOTA'S DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT BULB ALONG WITH THEIR DEFECTIVE MODULE, AND TOYOTA REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY RELIEF FOR THIS KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE AFTER THE VEHICLE BEYOND 5 YEARS. TOYOTA FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ISSUE, WHICH OF COURSE IS AN ISSUE OF SAFETY. *TR

THE LATCH HANDLE ON THE HATCHBACK HAS "MELTED" FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. THE HANDLE HAS BECOME GOOEY AND LEAVES A BLACK RESIDUE ON MY FINGERS EVERY TIME I OPEN THE HATCHBACK. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, THE HANDLE IS HARDER TO USE, MAKING IT MORE TRYING TO OPEN THE TRUNK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT REPLACING THE SHIFTER MAY RECTIFY THE FAILURE BUT WAS UNABLE TO GUARANTEE IT WOULD BE A PERMANENT FIX. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. REMAILED 08/20/14*LJ

MY TOYOTA PRIUS HAS HID HEADLIGHTS. BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY STOP WORKING. AT TIMES HOWEVER, BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE LIGHTS WILL TYPICALLY COME BACK ON IF I TOGGLE THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON. I'VE READ THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST TOYOTA FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. I CONTACTED A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY RECOMMENDED I REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS, AT CONSIDERABLE COST. BUT IN MY RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS WITH MANY PEOPLE EVEN AFTER THEIR HID BULBS WERE REPLACED. WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS BAFFLES ME. I'M WONDERING WHO HAD TO DIE BEFORE IT BECOMES A NATIONAL ISSUE. *TR

SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING A NEW 2008 PRIUS I HAVE HAD ISSUES W/ 1 HEADLIGHT GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. IF I PULL OVER, SHUT THE CAR OFF & RESTART IT, THE LIGHT USUALLY COMES BACK ON. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE LIGHT BACK ON.THE PROBLEM HAS ESCALATED TO BOTH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS DRIVING ALONE ON A DARK CURVY ROAD AT 10PM GOING 35 & SUDDENLY BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF! I COULDN'T SEE A THING & WAS NOW DRIVING IN THE PITCH DARK ON A CURVY ROAD! I PULLED OVER AS QUICKLY AS I COULD & ACTUALLY HIT A MAILBOX BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. IF SOMEONE WAS WALKING THEIR DOG I WOULD HAVE RUN OVER THEM WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER.AFTER CONTINUOUSLY TURNING THE CAR ON & OFF, TURNING THE LIGHTS ON & OFF, TURNING THE HIGH BEAMS ON & OFF, I FINALLY GOT THE LIGHTS TO GO BACK ON. WHILE DRIVING THE REST OF THE WAY HOME,1 HEADLIGHT WENT OUT.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.NOT ONLY ARE YOU LEFT DRIVING IN THE DARK & NO ONE ELSE OR OTHER CARS CAN SEE YOU BUT IT CAUSES PANIC AS IT IS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED & HOW A DRIVER REACTS WHEN THIS HAPPENS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT (IF NOT HAVING HEADLIGHTS DOESN'T DO IT). A NEW DRIVER OR OLDER PERSON DRIVING WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WOULD CERTAINLY CAUSE THEM TO PANIC. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY POLICE FOR HAVING A LIGHT OUT. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD; TOYOTA REPLACED THE BULB UNDER WARRANTY; THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AS THE LIGHTS HAVE CONTINUED TO GO OUT. HAVING 1 LIGHT OUT IS BAD BUT HAVING BOTH GO OUT WHILE DRIVING IS ASKING FOR AN ACCIDENT & FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED. IF I CAN BE TICKETED FOR HAVING A LIGHT OUT BECAUSE THE CAR IS CONSIDERED UNSAFE THAN A SAFETY RECALL S/B ISSUED. THESE CARS ARE GETTING OLDER; PLEASE RE-OPEN THIS INVESTIGATION SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER GM IGNITION ISSUE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE DIED & WE FIND OUT THE PROBLEM WAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS. *TR

RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WOULD GO OFF ON IT'S OWN. LIGHT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER ABOUT A YEAR AGO. NOW BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT!!!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO BY A DUMP TRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE IN THE LINE FOR A CAR WASH, I RELEASED THE BRAKE TO MOVE FORWARD. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE TO STOP, THE PRIUS ACCELERATED CAUSING ME TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE. MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR INCIDENT WITH THE SAME PRIUS SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WHILE IN A PARKING LOT. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE AT A VERY SLOW SPEED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD CAUSING HER TO ALSO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE TIRES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN HAVING THE TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED, THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, A BAD ALIGNMENT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE TIRES TO BECOME DEFECTIVE. *JB

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED . DRIVERS RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILS MOSTLY, BUT LEFT HEADLIGHT FAILS ABOUT 33% OF THE TIME. I HAVE LOST BOTH HEADLIGHTS AFTER A WHILE AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT! WE HAVE HAD TO STOP DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ON PAST 5 MINS. I HAVE LOOKED INTO THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND AT 60000 MILES I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE SETTLEMENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I HOPE TOYOTA FINDS A REAL FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, OR THE 1000+ DOLLAR FIX WILL BE FOR NOTHING. AT THIS POINT I HAVE LOST FAITH IN TOYOTA AND I HOPE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED PROPERLY. *TR

WHEN I TRIED TO SHIFT MY CAR INTO GEAR, IT AUTOMATICALLY WENT TO NEUTRAL . THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN WARM WEATHER. I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE HOLDING THE LEVER IN THE APPROPRIATE POSITION. THIS IS BOTH CUMBERSOME AS WELL AS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I DID CALL MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS NEVER CALLED BACK. SINCE THIS OCCURS SPORADICALLY , I JUST LET IT GO. IT HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY, MAY 6, 2015, WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT IN REVERSE. IT JUMPED TO NEUTRAL & GOT CLOSE TO ROLLING OFF A DROP OFF IN A PARKING LOT. I HELD THE LEVER IN REVERSE, & LUCKILY PREVENTED MY CAR FROM GOING OFF A CLIFF. FRIGHTENING! *TR

AFTER A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT 149,706 MILES, MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, ABOUT 1 QUART EVERY 1,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW (I BOUGHT IT NEW IN JANUARY 2008) AND HAVE HAD NEARLY ALL THE REQUIRED SERVICE DONE BY A REGISTERED, LICENSED MECHANIC IN MIDDLETOWN, CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS WHERE I LIVE. I DISCOVERED THE EXCESSIVE OIL USE WHEN I NEXT HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT ABOUT 155,000 MILES.

WE HAVE HAD TWO CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OF CONTINENTAL PRO CONTACT TIRES (195/55-16) - ONE ON 12/11/2012 (RIGHT FRONT) AND ONE ON 04/24/2014 (LEFT FRONT). BOTH TIRES HAD BEEN IN SERVICE LESS THAN 5,000 MILES, WERE CORRECTLY INFLATED AND IN NO WAY MISUSED. NO ROAD OBSTACLE HAS HIT - THE TIRES SIMPLY DISINTEGRATED AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT INDICATION. BOTH LOOK AS THOUGH A TIGER SAW HAD BEEN USED TO CUT AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE WHERE THE SIDEWALL TURNS TO MEET THE TREAD. *TR

MY 2008 PRIUS WON'T STAY IN GEARS OCCASIONALLY GEAR JUMPED BACK FROM D TO N MODE. FORTUNATELY, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN I DROVE 70 MILES PER HOUR. I WENT TO TOYOTA CENTER AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SHIFT LEVER. I DON'T KNOW WHY I SHOULD PAY FOR IT, IT IS A DEFECT OF THIS CAR, NOT BECAUSE HOW I DRIVE THIS CAR. PLUS, I DON'T HAVE THIS MONEY, SO I DIDN'T REPAIR FOR IT. I NEED TO REPORT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL 2008 PRIUS, TO MAKE SURE OUR (CUSTOMER) SAFETY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE HID LEFT HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY WENT OUT. WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK, I HAD TO TURN OFF MY HEADLIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON. WHEN I DID THIS, BOTH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THIS ISSUE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF AN HOUR. *TR

THE REAR HATCH RELEASE BUTTON/COVER HAS DISINTEGRATED INTO A MUSH OF BLACK GOOEY MATERIAL THAT TURNS MY HANDS BLACK. I HAVE READ THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE BUT THAT THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECALL. IT DOESN'T SEEM REASONABLE THAT A 6 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE. CLEARLY IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART TO BEGIN WITH. *TR

I AM A MECHANICAL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER LICENSED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I WAS WITH AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH. UPON TRYING TO LIFT THE TAIL GATE THE INDIVIDUAL HEARD THE CLICK AND THE SLIGHT RELEASE OF THE LOCK FOR THE TAIL GATE. THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE SWITCHES COVER. UPON TRYING TO LIFT THE HATCH THEY FELT THEIR FINGERS "APPEAR" TO SINK INTO THE SWITCH. AFRAID OF SHOCK OR SUFFERING PHYSICAL ARM THE INDIVIDUAL ATTEMPTED TO PULL HAND AWAY FROM HATCH LATCH. DUE TO THE ADHESIVE NATURE OF THE DEGRADED SWITCH COVER THE FINGERS COULD NOT BE REMOVED IN THE NATURAL EXPECTED MOTION. THE ALTER MOTION RESULTED IN THE BREAKING OF THE LATCH SWITCH COVER AND THE INDIVIDUALS HAND BEING LAUNCHED IN A DIRECTION THAT FORTUNATELY ONLY RESULTED IN A SHOULDER SPRAIN. THIS LEFT THE VEHICLE BACK HATCH WITH A BROKEN COVER AND PREVENT THE USER FROM USING THE BACK HATCH UNTIL THE COVER AND SWITCH WERE /REPAIRED OR REPLACED. IT APPEARS THE RUBBER/GASKET/COVER FOR THE BACK HATCH LATCH SWITCH DEGRADES OVERTIME DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS. IN THE HEAT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THE COVER BEGAN TO MELT AND DRIP OFF THE COVER/SWITCH. THE MATERIAL BECAME TACKY/STICKY ENOUGH TO BECOME ADHESIVE ENOUGH THAT SIGNIFICATION [IMPLYING THAT FORCE WOULD BE ENOUGH TO CAUSE SELF INJURY FOR SOMEONE THAT WAS NOT EXPECTING THE SITUATION TO DEVELOP AS SUCH.] FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO SEPARATE FINGERS FROM THE SWITCH (SEVERAL FT/LBS OF FORCE). *TR

CAR LOSES BRAKING ABLITIES WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN OR SLIPPERY TERRAIN. THE ABS INITIATES BUT THEN STOPS. THE ABS LIGHT CAN BE SEEN ON THE DASH (NORMAL). THIS ACTION IS VERY FRIGHTENING. THE STOPPING DISTANCES HAVE LEFT ROOM FOR ERROR, SO NO ACCIDENTS YET.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM CONTROL AND THE HEATING AND COOLING UNIT FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM SHUT OFF CAUSING THE HEATING AND COOLING UNIT TO FAIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TWO TIMES WITHIN A MONTH. IN ONE CASE, I WAS TURNING LEFT TO TAKE A RAMP WITH A VERY LOW SPEED AROUND 5 MPH. EVEN THOUGH SOME PARTS OF THE ROAD WAS ICY, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T SLIP. IT WAS EXACTLY A SEVERAL SUDDEN PUSHES, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ONLY. I WAS SO SCARED BECAUSE I COULDN'T CONTROL THE CAR FOR FEW SECONDS, AND I THOUGHT I TOTALLY LOST THE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I TRIED TO STEER THE CAR SAFELY AND TURN ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHT. CHECKED THE BRAKE AGAIN, IT WAS WORKING AFTER THAT. THE SECOND TIME, HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS COMING OUT OF SCHOOL PARKING AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPEED AT ALL. AGAIN AROUND 5 MPH. SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN RESIDENTIAL AREA. WHEN YOU GET OUT OF THE PARKING, YOU CAN ONLY TURN RIGHT, THEN THERE IS AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGN ALMOST 50 FEET AWAY. ON THE DAY OF INCIDENT, I TRIED TO STOP BEHIND THE STOP SIGN WITH NO SPEED AT ALL, BUT SUDDENLY THE CAR GOT THE SAME CONTINUOUS AND SUDDEN PUSHES. IT WAS ACCELERATED UNINTENDED. MY FOOT WAS COMPLETELY ON THE BRAKE, BUT I LOST THE CONTROL AGAIN, AND I WAS SO LUCKY THAT DAY THAT THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND THE INTERSECTION, I TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE LEFT, TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHT, AND TRIED TO PUSH THE BRAKE AGAIN AND AGAIN. AFTER FEW SECONDS, I FOUND IT WORKING. I CALLED THE TOYOTA THE SAME DAY, AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SCHEDULING ME FOR INSPECTION. AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH THE SURFACE WAS SLICK WITH ICE, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE SPEED, AND IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ABS IS WORKING. I EXACTLY KNOW HOW ABS WORKS, SPECIALLY WHEN IT IS SNOWY OR ICY. THIS IS VERY SCARY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS. *TR

THIS ISN'T A "SAFETY" ISSUE SO I HOPE THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO FILE THIS. THE TRUNK LATCH ON THE TOYOTA PRIUS DISINTEGRATES. I BELIEVE THE MATERIAL, DESIGN IS POOR. IT WILL COST $487 TO REPLACE THIS. *TR

THERE IS A LEAK INSIDE THE 12V BATTERY COMPARTMENT THAT HOUSES THE BATTERY AND THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROLLER. THE CAR'S HATCH LEAKS WATER IN FROM RAIN AND CAR WASHES AND IT COLLECTS AROUND THE 12V BATTERY. IN THIS PRIUS, THIS AREA HAS THE BATTERY, ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROLLER, AND FURTHER BACK IS THE HV BATTERY. THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY WATER THAT CAN LEAK INTO THIS AREA WITH THE ELECTRONICS. THERE ARE MANY GOOGLE THREADS REGARDING OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH WATER LEAKING INSIDE THE CAR'S BACK AREA. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE THE BATTERY AND BRAKE BOOSTER IS IN THIS EXACT AREA WHERE IT CAN AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR WHEN DRIVEN. *TR

THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE ITEM IN QUESTION IS A RUBBER PAD, ABOUT 1" X 3", LOCATED FACING DOWN ON A HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TRUNK LID, JUST ABOVE THE LICENSE PLATE. IT COVERS A MOMENTARY CONTACT SWITCH. WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE SWITCH, THROUGH THIS RUBBERY PAD, THE COMPUTER CHECKS TO SEE IF THERE'S A KEY IN THE VICINITY. IF THERE IS, THE AUTOMATIC LATCH FOR THE TRUNK IS ACTIVATED AND THE TRUNK OPENS. THE RUBBER PAD DETERIORATION INTERFERES WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE LATCH AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PROACTIVELY IN SPITE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE MATERIALS THEY HAVE USED. *JS

THE HID HEADLAMPS ON THIS VEHICLE WERE PART OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT SEVERAL YEARS AGO ALLEGING THE LAMPS FAILED PREMATURELY. TOYOTA SETTLED THE SUIT BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 5 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. I WAS FORCED TO HAVE BOTH HEADLAMPS REPLACED RIGHT AT 50,000 AS ONE HAD GONE OUT AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE OTHER STARTED GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. IT CREATED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AT THE TIME. ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2014 I HAD ANOTHER HEADLAMP GO OUT WHILE ON A DARK STRETCH OF RURAL HIGHWAY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET HOME, BUT WAS FORCED TO HAVE THE LAMP REPLACED AT SIGNIFICANT COST ($247.38) THE NEXT DAY. THIS HEADLAMP LASTED APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ITEM WHICH I FEEL IS CREATING A VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. WHILE I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN A DARK AREA AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE THAT MADE THE ISSUE QUITE OBVIOUS, DRIVERS IN A MORE URBAN ENVIRONMENT WOULD HAVE EASILY NEVER NOTICED. EVEN FOR THOSE WHO DID NOTICE MOST DRIVERS WOULD BE UNAWARE OF THE PROCLIVITY FOR THESE LAMPS TO FAIL AND THE IMMINENT DANGER THEY ARE IN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A SINGLE LAMP WITH THESE PARTICULAR LAMPS. UNFORTUNATELY HEADLAMPS HAVE BEEN SUCH A RELIABLE PART THAT MOST DRIVERS WILL FEEL IT'S A ONCE IN A BLUE MOON EVENT AND THERE IS NO URGENCY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. IT APPEARS THAT WHILE THEY SAID AS PART OF THE SUIT SETTLEMENT THAT THEY HAD RESOLVED THE ISSUE WITH THE LAMPS FAILING PREMATURELY THEY QUITE CLEARLY HAVE NOT. THEY ARE MOST DEFINITELY PUTTING DRIVERS IN DANGER. IT IS MY HOPE THAT NHTSA WILL LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS BOTH FLICKER AND GO OUT EVEN AFTER REPLACING WITH BRAND NEW BULBS. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AS THE HEADLAMPS MAY TURN OFF DURING ADVERSE WEATHER OR DARK CONDITIONS. I HAVE WASTED A LOT OF MONEY REPLACING HEAD LIGHT BULBS WHEN THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE COMPUTERS IN THE HEADLAMP FIXTURES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND IT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR FOR SOMETHING THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS JUST WENT OUT. I HAD THE SAME EXACT HEADLIGHT REPLACED ONLY ONE YEAR AGO. A FEW DAYS LATER, BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY WOULD FLICKER AND THEN JUST GO OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. IF I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING THEY SOMETIMES COME BACK ON. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR FOR THEM TO COME BACK ON. THIS ISSUE IS NOT SAFE! PLEASE HELP. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF SUDDENLY. MOST OF THE TIME IT IS THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT AND SOME TIME RIGHT HEAD LIGHT.THE HEAD LIGHT COMES BACK ON AFTER TURNING OFF AND ON. IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIGHT WENT OUT AT NIGHT. MECHANIC FIND NO PROBLEM. HWEVER, THE HEAD LIGHT CUTS OFF SUDDENLY. *TR