2005 Toyota Prius Headlights Problems
- 27
- 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
- failure mileage · 6 records
- headlights failed · 4 records
- without warning · 4 records
- current mileage · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 8 |
| 60–100k mi | 5 |
| 100–150k mi | 5 |
| 150–400k mi | 3 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
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 [redacted] and stated that the vin was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 181,308.
ODI 11024201
Headlights
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact stated that the headlights failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 204,000. Updated 10/24/14*lj updated 4/16/2015 *js
ODI 10632070
Headlights
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact stated that the headlights failed to activate. In addition, the headlights powered off independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
ODI 10638525
Headlights
While driving in the dark both of my head lamps failed again. I am having intermittent failure of one head lamp. The failure is usually in the left lamp, but occasionally the right as well. Both of head lamps failed again since this incident as well. The second incident occurred on thursday feb 16th 2012 at 610 pm. I have had this trouble before and reported it to safecar.gov. I bought the car used at auburn toyota…
ODI 10449789
Headlights
One headlight goes out - this happens several times a week. Changing the bulbs only solves the problem for a few months. This is a common complaint in second generation prius models. *js
ODI 10538289
Exterior Lighting · Headlights
While driving my 2005 toyota prius on an expressway at night the passenger side headlight went out. There was no lights on the expressway and i nearly hit a parked car on the side of the expressway. I pulled over at the next exit and checked the headlights. The passenger headlight was indeed out. I turned the car off and went into the restroom. When i came out and restarted the car the headlight was on. Five minutes…
ODI 10419598
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Headlights
The right, passenger headlight goes out and by turning the headlight switch off and back on, the headlight comes back on. It will go off again and i will have to perform the same procedure to get it to come on again. *kb this happens repeatedly during any given trip.
ODI 10441657
Electrical System · Headlights
2005 toyota prius with hid headlights which has self leveling feature. Have noticed for a while the headlights are shining low, can't see sufficiently ahead of car. Headlights can not be manually adjusted. Found online several reports indicating the control module that sends the leveling message to control the headlights which is mounted on the driver side rear axle fails when water enters the device and corrodes…
ODI 10433030
Headlights
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact stated the headlights would intermittently flicker on and off and there was limited illumination. The dealer performed a diagnostic on the vehicle and advised that the automatic flashing headlight leveler remained on and caused the headlights to intermittently fail. The contact stated that there was also an unknown light that remained illuminated on the…
ODI 10345355
Headlights
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact stated she had been having a recurring failure with the headlights where they would intermittently fail while driving at various speeds. The dealer advised that the manufacturer was aware of the failure in his model vehicle but did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure continued to recur intermittently. The failure mileage was 110,000…
ODI 10330070
Headlights
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. While driving at approximately 10 mph, the headlight leveling sensor message illuminated on the dashboard twice. The contact also stated that the headlights would intermittently aim downward, providing limited long distance illumination of the roadway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was awaiting a diagnosis of the failure. The vin was not available.…
ODI 10346825
Headlights
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. While driving, the headlights shut off. The failure also occurred intermittently while driving in reverse. The contact stated that since this is a common occurrence with the toyota prius that the repair cost of $1,000 came as a surprise to him. The dealer immediately quoted him that cost by phone when he advised them that the headlights were shutting off. There were no…
ODI 10292878
Headlights
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. While driving 70 mph at night the driver-side head-light failed. The driver was able to continue vehicle operation. The following day the passenger headlight became inoperative. The vehicle has not been repaired at this time for the malfunction. The failure and current mileages were 125,000. The vehicle identification number was unavailable.
ODI 10290274
Headlights
Hid headlight automatic leveling system failure causing headlights to go to fixed downward position. As a result, headlights don't safely illuminate the road. I have had no accidents as a result. *tr
ODI 10276224
Headlights
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. Intermittently the head-lamps fail without warnings. Usually the head lights resume normal operation after driving for several minutes. The manufacturer will only cover the cost of the parts not the labor. The current mileage was 45,000. The failure mileage was 40,000.
ODI 10291977
Headlights
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact stated that the headlights have been failing without warning over the last two months. While driving 65 mph, the two front headlights failed. He was able to safely maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. When he turned off and restarted the vehicle, the headlights illuminated again. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the hid bulbs…
ODI 10273526
Headlights
Left headlamp will not stay lit. Turning lights off and back on again re-lights it. Replacing bulb has not helped. Found on the internet that others are having the same problem. Feel that toyota should recall the vehicles to fix the problem. *tr
ODI 10290440
Electrical · Headlights
Normal driving my 2005 toyota prius, the driver's side headlight randomly turns off. I turn the lights off and then back on and the light, most of the time, will return for a minute or two. Hid bulb replacement was done and problem still exists. Hid bulbs are not cheap. I have been pulled over 3 times in the last 3 weeks. It seems like it will cost approximately $2500 to hopefully fix my headlight. Pretty extreme…
ODI 10252611
Headlights
My 2005 prius started to intermittently display a warning triangle sign on the dashboard. Finally it came on and stayed on. The dealer performed a diagnostic check and says there is something wrong with the headlight leveling system - a short or some such glitch. Cost to repair $700. I declined to repair since it was out of warranty. It appears that there are other prius problems with headlights. *tr
ODI 10236866
Headlights
My vehicle is a 2005 toyota prius with trim package #9, including high-intensity discharge (hid) headlamps - the only ones available in the only vehicle available to me, so these were not an optional purchase. I was confident in the expected long service life of hid bulbs but had one fail at 41,000 miles in a pattern very similar to others described online - intermittent difficulty getting one headlight to turn on,…
ODI 10218860
Headlights
The passenger side hid headlight on my 2005 toyota prius turns off spontaneously at random times. It will turn on again if i turn the lights off and on, but it will inevitably turn off after 1 to 10 minutes of driving. The car has never been in an accident and has 39,000 miles on it. The dealer-trained "master mechanic" ran a diagnostic test and claims that the "hid ecu" (hid electronic control unit, part number…
ODI 10216552
Headlights
Hid headlamps go out randomly and individually, but can be relit by cycling the headlight switch on and off. Dealer is replacing both hid lamp and controller assemblies on both sides; says replacing just lamp or controller will not permanently solve problem. Crash danger due to lamps going out without warning. *cn
ODI 10216404
Headlights
2005 toyota prius hid lamp burn out. Replace of lamp is approx. $400.00 each.
ODI 10202939
Headlights
Dt*: the contact stated the visibility of the headlights was limited. The low beam only extended a short range between 30-35 feet. The high beam only extended 50-75 feet. The dealership was aware of the problem.
ODI 10169596
Headlights
Dt*: the contact stated the high beam headlights illuminate the tree limbs 8 feet above the road, but not the road. The dealership determined the vehicle met manufacturer specifications and no repairs were necessary. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop and it was determined adjustments cannot be made to the headlights. Updated 2/24/2006 - *nm
ODI 10149704