2004 Toyota Prius Exterior Lighting Problems
- 160
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
What owners report
- both headlights · 26 records
- side headlight · 26 records
- passenger side · 23 records
- them back · 14 records
- come back · 13 records
- left headlight · 12 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 52 |
| 60–100k mi | 45 |
| 150–400k mi | 32 |
| 30–60k mi | 8 |
| 1–30k mi | 7 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exterior Lighting
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota prius. While driving approximately 55 mph, the contact stated that the headlights shut off without warning. The vehicle was repaired by an authorized dealer. The manufacturer had not been notified. The current mileage was approximately 155,000. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
ODI 10368189
Exterior Lighting
Major problem with the vehicle's headlights. They intermittently turn themselves off without any warning. Tried replacing them per the manual instructions but the installed lamps are different than the manual, so replacing them is not an option. I consider this a major safety defect. These lamps are supposed to last the life of the car. Any headlamp that stops working without warning is a safety issue. I have never…
ODI 10342471
Exterior Lighting
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF HEADLIGHTS. *TR
ODI 10356279
Exterior Lighting
Intermittent headlight failure on my 2004 toyota prius. It first happened around 67,000 miles when both headlights went out at once (at night!). Flicking the switch did make them come back on. After that, the failure has been increasing, mainly with the passenger side headlight. Turning the switch no longer always works to turn the light back on. I can;t always tell that it is off if they are on for me to me seen…
ODI 10341288
Exterior Lighting
The headlights on our 2004 prius (80,000 miles) have gone on and off intermittently over the past few years. However, it was not until saturday night while we were on the freeway when both lights went out simultaneously. We were told by the dealer that this happens quite often and the a new bulb would fix the problem. At $800.00 to replace a defective part, i think this is excessive and unnecessary. *tr
ODI 10335048
Exterior Lighting
I got my 2004 prius in nov 2003. My drivers side headlight failed last year and i was charged at least $200 to replace last year. The same headlight failed about a month or so ago, and i do not have $200+ to get the bulb replaced. I've been unable to do this myself as have many other prius owners. *tr
ODI 10344466
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota prius. The contact stated that the headlights would shut off independently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was advised that the headlights would need to be replaced. In addition, the contact stated that the center console on the dashboard failed. The contact called the manufacturer and filed a complaint but no assistance was offered. The vehicle was…
ODI 10365754
Exterior Lighting
My 2004 toyota prius has hid headlights and they have become almost completely fogged over in spite of my best efforts to clean them. The problem seems to be the inside of the lamp, which can't be cleaned. Toyota wants $355 per headlight to replace the part + labor. This has become a safety issue and none of my other cars has had this problem. *tr
ODI 10320590
Exterior Lighting
High intensity discharge (hid) headlights "wink" off & on randomly, which causes a serious safety/visibility problem in the dark. I understand you opened an investigation on this issue a while ago but then closed it without a finding of a safety defect. Please reopen it again. There is a continuously growing body of reports of this issue with the toyota prius. Go to www.priuschat.com and search for the hid headlight…
ODI 10323523
Exterior Lighting
My complaint has to do with the high energy discharge (xenon) headlights on my 2004 toyota prius. Beginning sometime in february 2010 my wife and i began to notice that the drivers side headlight would shut down after the lights had been on for a few minutes. If the headlights were quickly turned off and then back on (say, while stopped at a traffic light), both headlights would work just fine for a while. I tried…
ODI 10342410
Exterior Lighting
I have a serious problem with my hid headlights not working and has caused me to not be able to drive the vehicle at night. The problem is that either the right or left headlight will stop working. If you stop and turn the headlights off & on the lights will function again. I live in a small town and have been stopped by the police 3 times. Toyota wants over $2000 to change the hid computer and bulbs which i simply…
ODI 10316429
Exterior Lighting
My hid headlamp for my 2004 prius is nearly impossible to change on my own and it costs $600 (!?) to change at the dealer. How is a $600 repair for a minor thing like a headlight not illegal from an auto safety standpoint? Do you know if there is a class action lawsuit about this issue?
ODI 10307476
Exterior Lighting
Both headlights went out on narrow winding roads at night. Almost crashed into tree. I turned the switch back off and than on and lights came back on. Since than, the right headlamp goes on and off at night and sometimes both go out. The dealer says it will cost over $1000 to fix. I have read many complaints. Am i entitled to some kind of help? My wife will take the car on occasion and it has happened to her. Is…
ODI 10450247
Exterior Lighting
Hid headlamps repeatedly flicker, then go out. Switching off lights and switching back on brings them back on for an intermittent period of time, then they go out again. I have had to replace both front headlamps at considerable expense. The most recent cost $436 for the lamp alone and $137 in labor. *tr
ODI 10306647
Electrical · Exterior Lighting
This is an update to the complaint i filed on 2008/10/14, odi 10253642 about prius hid headlight failure. Since that incident i have had the driver and passenger side bulbs replaced four times and swapped left-for-right for diagnosis twice. Even with those new bulbs, which my dublin, ca, toyota dealer swears are the newer, "good" bulbs, the headlights always have failed again within one to four weeks. Actually,…
ODI 10310172
Exterior Lighting
2004 toyota prius headlight problem - this is clearly a huge safety issue. When driving, my headlight (both) shut off intermittently. Sometimes, one. Sometimes the other. Sometimes both. No incident yet but surely this is a major safety issue. I came very close to an auto accident on 1/3/2010 due to this issue! I called the dealer to have the headlights replaced and they are wanting $870 dollars to replace the…
ODI 10298431
Exterior Lighting
Hid headlights on 2004 toyota prius go out intermittently while driving without any warning. Turning switch on/off will turn them back on. Both have gone out creating extremely dangerous situation.*cw
ODI 10303015
Exterior Lighting
Both 2004 toyota prius hid headlights go out, it began with the drivers then passengers going out individually, and by turning them off then on again would bring the lights back on for several minutes, now both go out and do not come back on even after cycling them. Toyota says its a replacement issue not a defect. Seems to me that all the chatter online and toyotas indifference is coming to a head. I shouldn't have…
ODI 10297670
Exterior Lighting
Hid headlight on 2004 toyota prius is intermittent. Goes off at random times when selected on. Comes back on by switching headlights off and back on. Headlight went off 7 times in a 30 mile trip. *tr
ODI 10296934
Exterior Lighting
Both hid headlights failed repeatedly on my vehicle. It took several attempts to restart the lights by turning them off and on. *tr
ODI 10295236
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Left and right headlights failed in november and december of 2009. Headlights were replaced. Left headlight has failed in 2011. I drive 10,000 per year. I do not do much driving with my headlights on. *tr
ODI 10455285
Exterior Lighting
I wrote this agency a few months ago regarding my 2004 toyota prius and the problems i was having with headlights alternating on/off. Turning the light switch on/off would turn it back on. Three or four months ago both lights started going out at the same time. Turning the light switch on/off intermittently 5-9 times makes them turn back on. So far i have had this happen to me 3 times within the last week traveling…
ODI 10292137
Exterior Lighting
2004 toyota prius - headlights go out intermittently for no apparent reason - need to turn headlights off and back on in order to have the headlight come back on. At first, this only happened in the left headlight, lately the right headlight has been having the problem, luckily it has never happened to both headlights at the same time. Would be particularly dangerous if this happened on a dark country road! *tr
ODI 10291946
Exterior Lighting
Last fall the left headlight was noticed to be out on my 2004 toyota prius by a neighbor when i came home one night in november, 2009. Made an appointment to get it fixed at my toyota dealer, but then it came on the next day. When i canceled the appointment with the dealer they mentioned to watch it, since the headlights were known to go on and off. We left within the next couple of days for a vacation drive from md…
ODI 10319457
Exterior Lighting
HEADLAMPS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
ODI 10289637
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2004 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.