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
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact stated that the passenger side headlights were turning an abnormal pink color. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that there was no way of knowing when the headlights were going to fail. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 51,695.
ODI 10379413
Exterior Lighting
While driving, the low and hi beam headlamps repeatedly turn completely off. It seems to occur randomly every single day, sometimes alternating between either headlamp going out and sometimes both headlamps turning off at the same time. At night this is quite concerning. Once the headlamps turn off, i must quickly turn off the and on the headlight switch until the lights come back on. If only one headlamp is off, it…
ODI 10373672
Exterior Lighting
12/20/2010 left head light replaced not working. 8/30/2011 right headlight replaced not working. 10/30/12 left headlight not working. When start car light would turn on flicker then go out, replaced headlight at time (second replacement) worked for several months then went to flicker mode then off when car lights turned on. Left headlight still not working, light goes on when car started but flicks off in 30…
ODI 10562272
Exterior Lighting
I was driving at night on i-75n and another car pulled up beside me and gestured that something was wrong. We both pulled off the interstate and they told me that i had no tail lights and no license plate light. They were afraid that someone would ram me since i had no rear end running lights. I also noticed that my glove compartment light was out. I opened the hatch and then slammed it and the right tail light and…
ODI 10375453
Exterior Lighting
Had car since new in 2005. Bought an extended service agreement that was prepaid. The car had regular maintenance at manufacturers recommended intervals. The electrical system has been a source of frustration regarding all head and tail lights. The lights fail frequently,especially all rear lights with no warning. Many have been replaced. The headlights are a huge headache. To have the dealer replace the bulbs cost…
ODI 10377114
Exterior Lighting
The brake light went out on the driver side. Luckily i was pulled over by a police officer who was courteous to let me know the rear driver-side brake light was out. I believe this a hazard that toyota has failed to correct because the led brake light bulbs are not repairable/replaceable, an since the led had failed and the driver-side taillight assembly is now useless and non-functional. I went to the toyota dealer…
ODI 10499628
Exterior Lighting
Either or both high-intensity headlights turn off while driving without driver input. This is the exact same problem described in the class action settlement for 2006-2009 prius vehicles. According to the lawsuit, the headlights prematurely fail by flickering or turning off intermittently, often requiring costly repairs. Although toyota has denied these claims, girard gibbs llp is pleased to announce that the…
ODI 10382149
Exterior Lighting
Intermittent headlight problem passenger headlight turns off intermittently while driving when i turn the lights all the way off then back on again the light will work again for a while. I have been stopped by police twice so far. *tr
ODI 10384419
Exterior Lighting
Driver's side headlamp turns off intermittently. No pattern identified. No solution except cycling headlamp switch sometimes works, sometimes not. This began after headlamp was replaced after it began dimming noticeably and producing light of a pinkish color. No further repairs attempted because can't reproduce problem reliably e.g. When in repair shop. *tr
ODI 10369146
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
We are have a problem with our 2005 toyota prius. The headlights (one or both) goes out without warning. The is a known safety problem with headlights on the prius. Toyota will not issue a recall because they have not been directed to by the government. *tr
ODI 10369618
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
2005 toyota prius, repeated headlight failure. I have been issued three police summonses for headlight failure and have only owned this vehicle for two years. I replaced both headlights three weeks ago and the passenger headlight is out again. *tr
ODI 10362410
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My 2005 prius' right headlight (hid) turns off. After turning the lights off and back on, it lights up again. It's very strange because if the bulb was dead, it wouldn't come back on. Just recently, someone made me aware of the issue. But, who knows how long it has been going on. There is no pattern or unique incident that causes the bulb to turn off and on. It happens multiple times on trip between 2-4 miles…
ODI 10361492
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
We purchased a toyota 2005 prius in august of this year. It had 92,000 miles on it but was in exceptional condition. Just this week october 15 the passenger side headlight started blinking and one day later went out. *tr
ODI 10360851
Exterior Lighting
Toyota prius headlights- the replacement cost for one bulb is ridiculously high- about $199 plus labor ($110). The new lightbulb overheats after two minutes and turns off. If i turn the lights on and off again the bulb will come back on--for two minutes at a time. This is incredibly dangerous. I hear a new bulb is coming out to remedy the problem, but since mine was "used" i cannot return it for an exchange when the…
ODI 10367163
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact stated that the headlights failed and would not illuminate. The contact became aware of the headlight failure when she was pulled over by a police officer. The headlight switch had to be moved to on and off position several times for the headlights to illuminate. One headlight was replaced, however the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer was not made…
ODI 10482055
Exterior Lighting
Driver's side hid headlight on my 2005 prius goes out intermittently. If i turn the headlights off and then back on, the bulb stays lit for a little while, until it happens again. From what i'm reading on the internet, this is a common problem that toyota is aware of but will not resolve. This is a safety issue - it's difficult to see with only one functional headlight. I paid good money to get the upgraded…
ODI 10373377
Exterior Lighting
2005 toyota prius: headlights turn off intermittently. Happens each time vehicle is driven, even on very short drives. It is necessary to turn headlights off, and on to get lamps to work again. Occasionally, both lamps go out at the same time. Very dangerous! I have children, and am fearful of driving with them in this vehicle at night because of this issue. I have told my toyota dealership about this issue, and was…
ODI 10356140
Exterior Lighting
2005 toyota prius experienced headlamp failure at 90,000 miles. Since both headlamps failed at the same time, and n both regular and high-beam modes, the problem seems to be with the electrical circuit for the headlamps. Dealer quotes $1200 to fix. Seems like a rip-off. *tr
ODI 10352214
Exterior Lighting
The headlights on our 2005 toyota prius turn off while we are driving. Sometimes it is the right headlight, sometimes the left, and once in awhile both turn off. If i turn off the lights and then turn them back on they both work, for a while. The problem is intermittent; there is no predicting when the lights will malfunction. Sometimes it's while driving and then sometimes while stuck in traffic. *tr
ODI 10355427
Exterior Lighting · Interior Lighting
At about 104k miles the hid headlights, along with the dash dashboard lights, went out while my daughter was driving on a country road at night. The sudden darkness resulted in a collision with a guard rail while braking. After putting the car in park, turning off the power button and restarting the car everything came back on. While we were shaken up, no one was hurt. The car sustained $2k damage to the body, but…
Crash reported
ODI 10349278
Exterior Lighting
2005 prius. Lights go off without warning. When lights are turned off and then on again they come back on. *tr
ODI 10348319
Exterior Lighting
The passenger front headlight goes out. Toyota has replaced various parts 4 times and it still doesn't work. *tr
ODI 10345411
Exterior Lighting
Starting in late winter, early spring of 2010, we noticed intermittent occasional failure of one or the other of our hid headlamps on our 2005 toyota prius (which we were told by the toyota salesman were lifetime headlights). This situation could be immediately rectified by quickly turning off and on again the headlight switch at the steering wheel stalk. Then, on july 24, 2010, while on a remote and steep winding…
ODI 10392168
Exterior Lighting
I drive a 2005 toyota prius and the headlights have started going off intermittently without warning. When i start the car (light switch is always in the on position), sometimes both lights are on, sometimes one, sometimes none. While driving the car, the lights will suddenly go out, usually one or the other, but there have been times where both went out. I have researched the problem and there doesn't appear to be…
ODI 10350169
Exterior Lighting
The front headlights will randomly flicker out, usually one at a time but sometimes both at the same time. One can get it back on by toggling the headlight switch on and off, but extremely dangerous when on an interstate at night. A ton of owners are having this same problem, but apparently there is as of yet no recall. You can switch out the expensive bulb, but that also apparently doesn't fix the problem. *tr
ODI 10615240
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2005 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.