2006 Toyota Prius Exterior Lighting Problems
- 816
- 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 816 stored complaint records:
- 5 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- Headlights · 3 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 399 |
| 60–100k mi | 172 |
| 1–30k mi | 112 |
| 100–150k mi | 46 |
| 150–400k mi | 17 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Prius 2006 with headlamp problems that appears to be electrical and not just the bulbs. One headlight will go out then if i switch off the lights both will come on. It is not always the same light that goes out. When i turn on my lights it draws on the brightness of the dash lights and they dim. I will be driving with lights on and all the lights will go off until i switch the lights on once again. The dealer has…
ODI 10254461
Exterior Lighting
My headlights go out for no reason. While i'm driving, one headlight will go out. I will turn them off and back on and they are working again. Sometimes they work all day, sometimes they don't. Sometimes it's the drivers side and sometimes it's the passenger side. The dealer tells me the headlight assemblies have to be replaced at a cost of around $1000.00!! Much more if the circuit board is replaced. *tr
ODI 10254366
Exterior Lighting
When driving at night one, and many times both, headlights have gone out. If i turn them off and then back on they work again so it is not the bulb. This has happened on back rural roads where i live and on the freeway. It is very disturbing and dangerous to all of a sudden driving in the dark. It has happened at least once a week for the past 6 months. *tr
ODI 10267140
Exterior Lighting
The headlights intermittently go out. They go back on when you turn them on and off a few times. It seems to be totally random. I was pulled over by the police last night because the light was out, but it went on when i turned the switch on and off so the policeman did not ticket me. The dealer is looking to charge me $450 to replace the headlight. *tr
ODI 10254893
Equipment · Exterior Lighting
Headlights intermittently go out on both the passenger and driver side of my 2006 prius. Problem was identified by dealership as manufacturer defect. Dealership removed and replaced headlights and computers. The total cost for the repair by frontier toyota was $1,323.86. I requested 100% reimbursement with toyota. Toyota agreed to pay for parts only. Toyota is aware that this is a common issue with the prius but…
ODI 10264502
Exterior Lighting
A year ago, my 2006 toyota prius' right headlamp would go out intermittently. Toyota replaced the bulb and bulb computer at a cost of just under $1000.00. That time was covered under warranty. I had approx. 30k miles on the car. Now, in feb. 2008, i'm having the same problem with the left headlamp. Since there is no longer warranty coverage, i complained to toyota headquarters. They admitted that the older bulbs…
ODI 10257738
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I have a toyota prius 2006. Its headlight bulbs are not working. Lights go on and off. Sometimes we don't even know if they are off and other drivers blink us on the road to warn. Toyota dealership is telling us that we need new headlight bulbs. I have extended warranty through toyota. Toyota denied coverage from my bulb replacement. This problem has been reported by many prius owners. Toyota needs to recall the…
ODI 10256446
Exterior Lighting
The hid headlights on my 2006 toyota prius intermittently fail, but will re-start if i turn off, then on, the switch. This has happened at night, which is an extremely dangerous situation. Toyota does have a tsb out on this issue, and did replace both bulbs under warranty at 30k miles, but frequently this does not resolve the problem, according to complaints on mycarstats. *tr
ODI 10255099
Exterior Lighting
Hid left headlamp blinking went to dealer they replaced 300.00 bulb, had to fight for warranty (25,000 miles). The very next night the right side went out. Got a warning from the police. They replaced that one under warranty. Now at 46,000 they are doing it again. 600.00 plus labor! Out of warranty now. Also the self leveling feature points the lights all over the place. These things are a safety hazard. *tr
ODI 10258118
Exterior Lighting
Front left headlight stopped working at night on a 2006 toyota prius. It never worked again. This is a safety issue. I understand this is a common problem on the 2006 prius. Have to have it replaced at a cost of $325 at dealership! There should be a recall. *tr
ODI 10253962
Exterior Lighting
Purchased 2006 prius in jan 09 immediately had the driver side headlamp go out and then fix itself. This has been a continuing problem of flickering since i have been driving it for a year. At night this is scary especially on mountain roads where there is no light from street lights. I am no longer driving in the rain or at night until toyota addresses this problem. Dealer wants $489.38 to replace them both will…
ODI 10306551
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I have 2006 prius. The passenger side headlight is intermittent. I have noticed this for about 2 months now. It has 35,000 miles. Have been reading this is quite common in 2006 prius yet toyota has not offered recall. Obviously driving with a headlight out is not only a safety issue but a legal issue as well. *tr
ODI 10262225
Exterior Lighting
Toyota 2006 prius hid headlight. Hid headlight works intermittently. It comes when lights are turned on then goes out suddenly. Turns lights off and on cause the light to burn again. As time goes by have to do this more frequently. The left light problem was solved by replacing the bulb (expensive). Now the right light is beginning to have the same problem. I looked on the internet and see that many other people…
ODI 10257285
Exterior Lighting
I own a 2006 toyota prius. For the last 6 months the driver side front headlight intermittently goes out. If we shut off our headlights and then back on, it will re-light for an indeterminate amount of time and then the problem repeats itself. I've been stopped twice by the police and given warnings. I'be taken it to the dealership three times now to have it fixed. The first time, they said they couldn't find…
ODI 10253624
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I have been having problems with my headlights going out for several years now. This is the same problem described by other drivers when the lights go out and can be reset by turning them off and back on again. For the first few years, the only bulb to go out was the right side. The bulb appears to have no bearing on the problem. I have put in new bulbs and had the same problem. I even tried switching the…
ODI 10484886
Exterior Lighting
In 2006 i purchased a 2006 toyota prius package 6 which includes hid (high intensity discharge) headlamps. Starting approx. 1 year ago, i noticed a headlamp out while i was driving. When i took it to the dealer i was told it would cost $400+ to repair 1 headlamp. After doing some research on the internet, i found many complaints about prius hid headlamps. I also found out that if you turn the light switch off and…
ODI 10310324
Exterior Lighting
On my 2006 toyota prius left headlight intermittently keeps going out. When i turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. *tr
ODI 10307816
Exterior Lighting
2006 toyota prius. Beginning at approximately 45,000 miles right front hid headlight would go out without notice. By turning off the headlights and turning back on, it the headlight would relight. Started intermittently, then constantly until replacement 11/3/09 ($200). One week later, the left front headlight began doing the same thing. I drive on dark, rural roads with deer and other wildlife. This defect is…
ODI 10291654
Exterior Lighting
My 2006 toyota prius with hid lights has a serious safety issue in that at any point while i am driving, one or both of the headlights will flicker, dim, and eventually turn off. The only way that i can get the headlights back on is to turn the headlight switch all the way off, then turn it back on again, causing my car to be without headlights for at least two seconds each time i must do this. At times, it is…
ODI 10282711
Exterior Lighting
Both headlights on my 2006 prius go off intermittently. When i turn the headlight switch on and off they come back on (until they fail again). This has been happening for over 6 months but was infrequent at first. Now the failures occur almost every time i drive the vehicle. I understand that many prius owners have the same problem. Some have been charged as much as $500 per headlight to repair. This is not an…
ODI 10275836
Exterior Lighting
I am having the issue reported in nhtsa action number: pe09019. Issue with 2006 toyota prius exterior lighting: headlights. Sometimes one of my headlights is off or is dim/flickering. Turning the headlights off and back on fixes the problem most of the time. I rarely use my high beams, but around christmas 2008 i was using my high beams and was either turning them off or on and all my headlights went out. I also had…
ODI 10273307
Exterior Lighting
2006 toyota prius driver side headlight flickers and goes off. It restarts if i turn on and off the headlights. *tr
ODI 10267548
Exterior Lighting · Fuel System, Gasoline
Passenger side hid headlight goes out every 3-4 months. At first it is intermittent, and difficult to say when failure occurs. Over time the period for failure gets shorter. Dealer says it is my problem. Cost of continual repair is over $300. Per light. Also, fuel gauge say add fuel when tank partially empty. *tr
ODI 10262689
Exterior Lighting
I purchased a used 2006 prius with 16,000 miles. I now have 44,000 miles and i began to notice my hid headlights dimming, first one then the other. It has now progressed to the where they turn off completely. Toyota does not seem to have a sure way of diagnosing the problem, leading to upwards of $2,600.00 to troubleshoot. This is a ridiculous amount to pay for headlights and seems, according to the chats, to be a…
ODI 10257032
Exterior Lighting
No injuries yet, but with headlights continuing to go out, it is only a matter of time. I just hope it isn't me or my kids. Http://www.hybridcars.com/forums/replacing-headlight-bulb-t910.html. *tr
ODI 10285504
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2006 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.