2005 Toyota Prius Exterior Lighting Problems
- 315
- 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.
Among these 315 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- Headlights · 2 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 90 |
| 60–100k mi | 89 |
| 150–400k mi | 50 |
| 30–60k mi | 35 |
| 1–30k mi | 11 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exterior Lighting
My drivers side headlight flickers then goes out. I was able to get it on again by manually turning the switch on and off. Then it will happen again. I replaced the headlight ($175 for the part alone) in may of 2012. It is now march of 2014 and the same light began doing it again, flickering. I was able to get it to go on by manually switching it on. Now it is out again. *tr
ODI 10575412
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The hid headlights fail and turn-off without warning. This leads to dangerous driving conditions especially at night. This is related to a hid headlight leveling sensor failure. Toyota reports this issue in their "technical service bulletin" number el004-06, dated 28th april 2006. Toyota recognizes the problem in the oem part and is providing replacement only on failed parts under 36months, 36,000 miles warranty.…
ODI 10453200
Exterior Lighting
I have replaced my headlights 6 times in the past 2 years. The headlights go out with no warning. The first few times i thought it was possibly bad aftermarket bulbs but there is obviously a problem. This is a safety issue since there is no warning as to when they go out. *tr
ODI 10562475
Exterior Lighting
The hid headlight are unexpectedly shutting off. This is a clearly a safety issue. It does appear that the hid headlight equipped prius indeed contains a design defect. Toyota dealer is charging me $750 for the repair. The prius was bought in the usa and moved with us when we moved to canada in 2010. *tr
ODI 10448054
Exterior Lighting
The headlight operation became erratic. Sometimes one would work and sometimes the other one would be the only one to function. Sometimes neither headlight would come on. Repeated operation of the headlight switch eventually would get one or both headlights turned on. The light bulbs were replaced in 2012 and again in 2013. There was little or no change in performance. When i have asked my toyota dealer's service…
ODI 10587523
Exterior Lighting
Headlamps stay on for 5 minutes then one goes out completely and the other goes dim. Can't see unless i turn them off and then back on again... Then i get some light for another 5 minutes. I replaced the lamps which were very expensive, however, the lamps are not the problem. *tr
ODI 10457238
Exterior Lighting
Both headlights intermittently go off, they lit for a minute and then go off. I have been reading in forums this is a common problems toyota prius owners experience. They should make a recall, sometimes when i go to work at night i am out of lights and this is extremely dangerous since i use express ways a lot. *tr
ODI 10451528
Exterior Lighting
Starting over a year ago and occurring every time needed,the headlight on the passenger side sporadically goes out. It can happen zero to multiple times during a single use of the car, sometimes up to every minute and a half while driving. Turning the headlights off and back on again cause both headlights to come back on. As far as we know, this did not start happening until after a maintenance visit and was stopped…
ODI 10538086
Exterior Lighting
My car lights keeps going off while driving at night. *tr
ODI 10512338
Exterior Lighting
The hid headlights will occasionally go out. Over time i realized that by turning the lights off and on, the lights came back on. While driving at night, this event can happen as often as every couple minutes. Sometimes it may not occur for an hour. But there is no rhyme or reason as to the frequency of losing the light. Maybe 3 or 4 times over the last 2 years both headlights turned off at once. Had i been on an…
ODI 10559423
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The driver side headlight intermittently goes on and off without warning. This began over a year ago, but we cannot name the specific time. We initially thought it was just a light bulb, however, we learned that it can be reactivated by briefly turning the headlight switch off and on. This is a safety hazard if driving at night. It can happen several times during one trip or not at all. We have taken it to a few…
ODI 10499804
Exterior Lighting
I thought my headlights needed to be adjusted, so i took the car to have it done. The shop told me that the problem couldn't be fixed because it was the auto leveling sensor in the rear of the car. After a few more weeks of driving like that, a warning light came on the dash board and the display in the console. I ordered the part and had it replaced. It some what resolved the problem, but the lights still need…
ODI 10490308
Exterior Lighting
The left headlight went out and the operator turned the lightswitch off then back on and the left headlight restarted. This happened intermittently at no particular time interval up until september 29, 2012 when both headlights began to go out and the operator now has safety concerns. *tr
ODI 10478219
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the headlights intermittently failed. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the failure could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.
ODI 10489423
Exterior Lighting
Prior to this major problem, my driver's side headlight would go out intermittently and the come back on. On 11/19/2011, both headlights went off after being on for about 10 minutes. When i tried to put the high beams on all front end lights went out. I made it safely to my destination. The next day i check the headlights and they both worked fine. I checked the fuses and all were fine. I usually drive with my…
ODI 10436608
Exterior Lighting
Headlights goes off all the time while driving. I have been experiencing the problem with headlights for almost three years. *tr
ODI 10435242
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The headlamps repeatedly burn out, which repair people have said indicates an underlying electrical problem. I now have to replace one of the headlamps for the fourth time in just over a year. *tr
ODI 10492214
Exterior Lighting
Hid left side would go out then back on . Will work good for several weeks then intermittently will happen again. Presently its is working, last week friday was the last incident. *tr
ODI 10450780
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Unknown Or Other
Since about the fall of last year or so, we've been noticing that the headlights have been going off intermittently. The right went out and then came back on. Then another time the left went out and came back on. I've read about this occurring on many other prius' and that there was a class action suit? Anyway, i need to figure out how to get this fixed as it is a serious safety issue. *tr
ODI 10493535
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Headlamp would go out at random intervals. Always came on when first switched on but would go off while driving. Would reproducibly come back on when the switched was flipped to off and back on again. Would then go off again at later time. No way to tell whether operational while driving. *tr
ODI 10434033
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I was driving with my two children on the 405 north freeway just south of the 10 freeway at 9pm in my toyota prius 2005. I had issues with one of the headlights already. It would flicker and then turn off without warning. Last sunday, however, both headlights failed, including all interior lights, as i was speeding down on of the busiest freeways in the country at nighttime. It was pretty terrifying. *tr
ODI 10430228
Exterior Lighting
I believe there is a serious and undisclosed flaw in the toyota prius hid headlamp system. I have noticed the headlamps will extinguish individually and unexpected in an intermittent manner, causing a significant safety hazard to driver as well as other vehicles. I have contacted toyota about this, and although they have extended the warranty with this obviously flawed design, they refuse to take responsibility for…
ODI 10485987
Exterior Lighting
Passenger headlight keeps going off...when it goes off, i can turn the headlight switch off and then on again and the headlight comes bask on. As of 11.29.11 after many incidents, the headlight is now dimming more and more.
ODI 10438348
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
Headlights go out while driving. Driver headlight went out while driving 55mph. Pulled over & noted driver headlight out. Turned car off & then restarted & both headlights went on. Drove a couple miles & noted headlight out & this time it was the passenger headlight that was out. This has happened a few times in the year @ 1/2. We also had a problem in the past with the headlights being aimed too low in front of the…
ODI 10523642
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact was driving approximately 65 mph with the headlights activated and suddenly the driver's side headlight changed to an orange illumination and then became inoperative which resulted in the reduction in visibility. When the light switch was turned on and off repeatedly the driver's side headlights began to illuminate properly for a brief moment. The vehicle was not…
ODI 10424712
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2005 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.