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
We have had intermittent problems with the hid headlights on our 2006 toyota prius for years. One light will just go out intermittently. Usually, just turning the lights off and then back on will cause the headlight that is out to come back on. This is a well known problem with this model and has been well documented all over the internet. In july of 2008, we finally decided to fix the driver's side headlight after…
ODI 10432696
Exterior Lighting
For many months, left (usually) or right headlight goes off while driving without warning. Turning the light switch off and then back on causes the faulty light to come back on. Sometimes it will stay on for hours, sometimes for less than a minute before i have to repeat the switch off/on maneuver. Dealer says its the bulb ($362). How can it be the bulb if it goes back on when the switch is toggled? From what i see…
ODI 10233699
Exterior Lighting
I have a 2006 toyota prius with hid headlights. The right lamp started shutting down without warning when the car was about 18 months old and 16,000 miles. Then in a few weeks, the left lamp started doing the same. Through out a typical week, the right lamp shut down about once very 3 times i drove it. The left lamp would shut down about once every 5 to 6 times i drove it. Both lamps could shut down in any single…
ODI 10283088
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The left and right headlights sometimes go out independently of one another. Other times they both go out. Of course, this is not good while driving in darkness. Flipping headlight switch to off and back on fixes the problem, but sometimes it's only a temporary fix and i have to do it again a few minutes later, and other times both lights remain on. For unexplained reasons, the problem is occurring more frequently…
ODI 10275304
Exterior Lighting
1) intermittent failure of the headlights (hid). Typically, passenger headlight will go out but now affecting driver's side headlight too. Sometimes, they will start working when the lights are turned-off and then on. It has been diagnosed as both problems with the ecu and the hid bulbs. 2) intermittent electrical failure affecting ability to put the car in park. I receive a message warning me that the "p" park…
ODI 10272610
Exterior Lighting
2006 toyota prius hid headlight (driver's side) fails intermittently. The light will go out intermittently, but will come back on i the switch is turned off and on again. This problem began several months ago, and is getting progressively worse (more frequent). I was advised by the dealer that i would have to leave the car with them so they can "watch it until it fails", which is impractical since i need the vehicle…
ODI 10264959
Exterior Lighting
Around 40k miles headlights would shut off. First occurrence happened on major freeway at night. Immediately pulled over and turned off car. When starting car back up, headlights turned on. This problem occurs at least every other day. Big safety issue considering headlights can go off at night while operating vehicle. *tr
ODI 10264922
Exterior Lighting
After 3-5 minutes of running the headlights, the driver's side just turns off. I can turn the car & headlights off & when i turn them back on again, it works just fine. The dealer cannot replicate the problem. Although they have seen the same complaint from another owner. They recommend replacing the hid headlights for $385 plus labor. After searching the internet, it appears this is a known problem with the pruis…
ODI 10243498
Exterior Lighting
2006 toyota prius hid headlight failure. Started with left headlight, 2 years ownership, 1st owner, new in march 2006. Left headlight flickered off, but turned back on when the lights were reset. Problem became worse over time and now both headlights constantly flicker out. Lights will come back on when turned off, then back on. Do not remain on for long. Taken to the toyota dealership twice, dealer claims no…
ODI 10290502
Exterior Lighting
Headlights go out intermittently, usually when the car goes over a bump in the road. Turning the headlights off and back on, usually corrects the problem until the next bump. Have taken the car to two different toyota dealerships. First one said that because the car is out of warranty, toyota is not willing to cover the cost, said to be $1800.00 to replace both headlight assemblies. Second toyota dealer also said…
ODI 10235687
Exterior Lighting
Driver hid headlamp works then does not work. You can turn off the light and back on and it will work. Then sometimes behind a car or in a reflection i will see the headlamp working or not working. People on priuschat.com are mentioning this is a common problem on a 2006 prius. If this is a defect then i should not have to pay $500 or more per headlight to fix. I am going to the dealer on wednesday. *tr
ODI 10232054
Exterior Lighting
My prius 2006 driver side headlight is malfunctioning. I took it to toyota dealer to check it out and they said the headlight 'leveler' sensor was defective - which i didn't replace because it was out of warranty. Two weeks later (june 2008), i got in a car accident (side-swiped). It was the other driver's fault (uninsured). However, since it was dark, the police suspected the defective headlight may have caused the…
Crash reported
ODI 10249132
Exterior Lighting
Hid drivers side headlamp turns on when switched on but after a few minutes it flickers and turns off. The headlamp must be turned off and back on to re-light the whole time the car is being driven. This defective light is clearly more dim in color as well.*tr
ODI 10249073
Exterior Lighting
Since 2008 both headlights would randomly go out usually one at a time but sometimes both. By turning them off and back on would get them working again. The frequency kept increasing till 2013 when i called toyota corp. # and told them the problem. They said to have the bulbs replaced at my own expense because i was out of warranty . 142000 miles. I called toyota dealer to have this done and got a price of $550.00.…
ODI 10565867
Exterior Lighting
The hid head lights on my prius burned out quickly, and very expensive and difficult to replace the bulb, and then burn out again! I am currently driving around dangerously with just one head light. *tr
ODI 10278885
Exterior Lighting
Toyota prius 2006 model has issue with hid headlight sensor. *tr
ODI 10275080
Exterior Lighting
Intermittent hid light failure on 2006 toyota prius. One side will go out and will come back on after i turn off the lights. *tr
ODI 10247954
Exterior Lighting
The headlights on my 2006 prius will go off for no apparent reason. Most of the time this involves only one headlight, but i have had both go off. If i turn off the lights and turn them back on the lights come back on. I've read several complaints on the internet on this problem. Clearly a safety concern. *tr
ODI 10294491
Exterior Lighting
My hid headlights will "flicker" and then one would go out. I can get the headlight back on by simply turning the lights off and back on. This problem was rarely intermittent around 25k miles and started getting worse as i approached 40k miles. I reported the issue to the toyota dealer on every visit and they could not locate any issues with the headlamps. I can't get in my car without having to shut off the hids…
ODI 10241109
Exterior Lighting
Our 2006 toyota prius with hid headlights intermittently and suddenly turn off, mostly on the driver side, but can happen on the passenger side. It is sometimes difficult to know when a bulb goes out, so this is clearly a safety issue since oncoming traffic can misjudge my car's position with only one headlight, not to mention reduced visibility for my car. When i went to the city toyota dealership in daly city, ca…
ODI 10322433
Exterior Lighting
The driver's side hid headlight in my 2006 prius has been malfunctioning for nearly two years now. When i drive, the left headlamp will turn off and stop working after a short while, and if i turn the lights off and then back on again, it works again for a while. I've had it fixed twice now. The first time, it worked normally for a while, but it started failing again after a few months. The second time it was fixed,…
ODI 10308950
Exterior Lighting
The passenger side headlamp on my 2006 prius will unexpectedly turn off. If i quickly turn the lights off and on again, then it will usually fix the problem but not all of the time. This headlamp failure happens about 80% of the time that i use my headlamps. The dealer wants $1700 to fix the problem which they say has an unknown cause. The cost is excessive for me at this point. *tr
ODI 10280823
Exterior Lighting
There are over 800 nhtsa registered complaints regarding the 2005-2008 toyota prius intermittent hid headlight defect. Yet, the nhtsa has not opened an investigation. Will someone or some family need to suffer through a deadly accident before an investigation is opened? *tr
ODI 10264325
Exterior Lighting
Intermittent failure of hid headlights on 2006 prius beginning around 30k miles. Temporarily fixed by switching lights off and on. Unable to replicate for dealership. Occurs at least once each drive in car, any mileage. Other owners have had same problems. Cost of repairs at dealership have ranged from $380 per lamp. In one case a dealer charged a prius owner $2600 to repair the problem. This is an unsafe…
ODI 10264148
Exterior Lighting
Driver's side headlamp unexpectedly turns off while driving. On one occasion both headlights turned off while driving at night. Turning the headlight switch off and then on again will cause the headlights to come back on. Having both headlights unexpectedly turn off while driving at night is clearly a safety issue. There are hundreds of on-line complaints and posts detailing this issue. The toyota dealer says this…
ODI 10260401
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2006 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.