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.
Exterior Lighting
Headlight/electrical problem. One headlight out intermittently starting in mid-november. Both headlights went out on 12/27/2008. We pulled over and turned the lights off and when we turned them back on both re-lit. On 1/2/2009 we were pulled over by police and given a verbal safety warning that one headlight was out. Later that evening, after stopping the car for a short time both lights came back on. On 1/5/2009,…
ODI 10254202
Exterior Lighting
2006 toyota prius front driver side hid headlight turns off. If i turn the lights off and then back on, the headlight comes back on and functions perfectly. This happens at random occasions (day, night, smooth roads, dry, wet conditions), checked connection and all connections are fine. *tr
ODI 10253228
Exterior Lighting
Intermittent bilateral headlight failure of 2006 toyota prius. The car has less than 30,000 miles on it. When lights are turned off and on quickly the failing light will come back on again. However, this has only proved to be a temporary solution since both headlights will randomly turn off again at a later time. *tr
ODI 10252481
Exterior Lighting
My wife almost hit a trio of pedestrians who were walking in the road, and who were very poorly lit by the 2006 prius headlights. These headlights (low beams) are always extremely dim and in my opinion are unsafe to drive with at night. High beams seem to light the road adequately. This problem is not caused by intermittent operation of the headlights (a problem we've also dealt with), but is caused by the fact that…
ODI 10556848
Exterior Lighting
Our 2006 toyota prius (60,000 miles) has a defective front head light which flickers and goes out until i turn the light switch on and off, which then keeps it on for a short time. Repair cost has been estimated at $1000.00. I have been told that this is a common problem, but toyota has not recalled their prius yet. They do not warranty the replacement part. This can cause an extreme hazard to driving on un-lit…
ODI 10291397
Exterior Lighting
Standard headlight failure in a 2006 toyota prius. I've replaced 4 sets of bulbs since december 2008. The bulbs fail in normal operation, typically the low beam fails first, then the high beam. Generally both bulbs fail within a few hours of each other. I've had he car to the dealer twice for this problem. The first time, they could find no problem. The second time - today - they say the sylvania silverstar bulbs…
ODI 10281743
Exterior Lighting
Drivers side headlight goes out after being on 1st. After the headlights are on, the left(drivers side) headlight simply goes off. If i turn the headlights off again, they both come back on, and then again, the drivers side headlight goes back off. Prior to this issue, both headlights would go off, i would turn both headlights off, back on and they'd be fine for a little while, and the cycle of off and on, on and…
ODI 10263706
Exterior Lighting
Driving at night, the passenger side headlight sometimes goes out, sometimes works. I would say it works 25% of the time. This results in limited visibility when driving at night. At this point, nothing has been done to correct the failure because the headlights are very expensive and so far there has never been a total loss of visibility. *tr
ODI 10262608
Exterior Lighting
Nhtsa pe09019 - 2006 prius, have had 1 passenger and three driver's side hid bulbs fail within 6 months. *tr
ODI 10275416
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Hid bulb intermittently shuts off in my 2006 toyota prius. Toyota wants to replace bulb ($162.50 each). However, according to the blogs, this is a recurring problem with prius's and may be a "controller" problem, not a bulb issue. *tr
ODI 10252917
Exterior Lighting
2006 toyota prius. Passenger light (both low and high beams) intermittently goes out. Turning car off and back on often brings light back on. Toyota dealer has had other complaints and recommends replacing headlight (one headlight is nearly $400, with labor it is nearly $500). I've always been told to replace headlights in pairs which makes that $1000 repair when clearly the headlights are failing widely and i…
ODI 10251209
Exterior Lighting
I was stopped in 2006 prius by state trooper for headlight out on passenger side. Local dealer told me new hid lamps will cost $350 without installation. I ordered them and then found out that the lamps should last at least 10 years and that the problem affects most prius cars with hid headlights from 20,000 to around 50,000 miles and that toyota is well aware of the problem but has not issued a defect recall to…
ODI 10251183
Exterior Lighting
The front hid headlights on my 2006 prius periodically go off, with no explanation -- both the right and left side have failed on occasion, but never at the same time. If i turn the lights off and then back on again, the light comes back on. This has been occurring over a number of months, so today i had it analyzed and was told the hid computer for each of the lights is ok, but the light bulbs themselves needed to…
ODI 10250871
Exterior Lighting
Our 2006 toyota prius has a headlight that will randomly turn off while driving. It is very difficult to tell when a headlight turns off. If we do realize that the headlight has turned off, we can turn both headlights off while driving and then turn them back on. This "resets" the lights and they both come back on. Living in the country where roads are very windy and illuminated streets are uncommon, this is a…
ODI 10250836
Exterior Lighting
1. No special event led to failure. First failure occurred at about 35,400 miles (odometer). 2. Two headlights go out simultaneously while driving on an intermittent basis. Each headlight can also go out while driving independently of the other. 3. Powering off /on the car resolves the problem. Turning the headlights off and on again solves the problem. The repair shop (dealer) could not recreate the problem and so…
ODI 10257758
Exterior Lighting
2006 toyota prius hid headlights have repeatedly failed. Both headlights intermittently failed and were replaced by toyota 11/24/07. Now r hid headlight has failed again. Loss of headlights creates a major safety hazard. *tr
ODI 10250722
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
High intensity headlight problem on 2006 prius. Light goes off intermittently. Sometimes will come back on after flicking on and off a few times. Sometimes will not come on at all. Replaced passenger side at around 26,000 miles and driver's side a few months later. Covered by warranty those times. Now at 53,000 passenger side is out and dealer is charging $300.00 to replace headlight. Dealer stated that they have…
ODI 10250587
Exterior Lighting
After about 40,000 miles, the driver's side headlight in my 2006 toyota prius started blinking off (i.e., it would turn off, but then if i switched the lights on and off, it would be on again). *tr
ODI 10296748
Exterior Lighting
1. Normal operating conditions 2. Passenger or driver side headlamp goes out. Intermittently 3. Bulb replacement. *tr
ODI 10286897
Exterior Lighting
Passenger side headlight fades then goes out. Turning the switch off/on will turn the headlight on again - sometimes it will fade out again, sometimes it will stay on. Dealership switched the bulbs (passenger to driver sides) to see if it's a bulb problem or something else. Now the driver's side (same bulb) is displaying the same symptoms. Have not yet replaced the bulb due to the high cost. *tr
ODI 10259973
Exterior Lighting
I have a 2006 toyota prius that has an intermittent front left headlight. It goes on when i first start it and then it goes off a few minutes later. If you redo the headlight it goes on then shuts off again. It seems very dangerous and the dealer is saying it will cost over $200 to fix. *tr
ODI 10250380
Exterior Lighting
My 2006 toyota prius experiences intermittent, sporadic events in which the headlamps (both of them but not simultaneously) go out. There is nothing to predict which one will go out, at which time and this morning at 6:35 am the driver's side went out as well as the passenger side, leaving me driving in the pitch dark. I had the drivers side headlamp replaced after hours of a toyota tech not being able to find…
ODI 10250098
Exterior Lighting
Hid headlight has began failing after only 45,000 miles. If i turn off the car and turn it back on, the headlight comes back on. It is an intermittent issue. The dealer has told me that i need to have the bulb replace already and it is not covered under the toyota extended warranty. They want almost $500 to replace one hid bulb! There must be a problem with toyota's supply of hid bulbs! There is no way that people…
ODI 10250073
Exterior Lighting
Passenger side headlamp ceased working after several minutes of driving. The lamp returns to normal operation after the light switch is cycled off and then back on. This problem has recurred three times. *tr
ODI 10252370
Exterior Lighting
Right headlight turns off intermittently. Turning the switch off and on with turn the headlight back on. After a short period of time it will shut off again. *tr
ODI 10267768
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2006 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.