2008 Toyota Prius Exterior Lighting Problems
- 536
- 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 536 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- Headlights · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 191 |
| 60–100k mi | 132 |
| 1–30k mi | 71 |
| 100–150k mi | 61 |
| 150–400k mi | 25 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exterior Lighting
Headlights blink out singly or at the same time for over a year now. Increasingly both lights go out over last year. Car at 74000 miles now. Can be one or both so i doubt this is a bulb issue. *tr
ODI 10547983
Exterior Lighting
Passenger side headlight turned off. When light switch was toggled headlight turned on again. Over the course of a year the driver side headlight exhibited the same problem, sometimes both headlights have gone out (including on a secluded road at night) without warning. There is no warning light to indicate either bulb is malfunctioning. Currently passenger side light does not function at all, and now the driver…
ODI 10545080
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The right headlight on my 2008 prius went out while driving. I noticed the next morning that it was back on. I figured out that if i turn the light off then on again, it will come back on, for a while. I eventually had it replaced, to the tune of $120 parts and $40 labor. But after a couple of weeks it's doing it again. Not only that, but now the left headlight is doing the same thing. I'm very concerned about…
ODI 10487908
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the headlights failed and reilluminated independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the headlights needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure continued. The manufacturer was contacted and provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 91,000 and the current mileage was 92,000. The…
ODI 10471562
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting
On 09jul2012 4:00 p.m while driving my prius 2008 hybrid, heading home on i15n, the electric power on the vehicle shutdown without any previous warning, or alert. I immediately maneuvered the vehicle to the right shoulder of the highway. Immediately called aaa for a towing into toyota of escondido, located on 231 lincoln parkway, escondido, ca 92026 ph# [redacted]. Today 09/01/2012 - currently experiencing problems…
ODI 10473249
Exterior Lighting
I have a 2008 prius. I was driving in the evening on the freeway and noticed the reflection of my headlights in the bumper of the car ahead of me. My right headlight seemed to be off. I turned my lights off and on again quickly and they both went on again. This has happened repeatedly over the past two months. Sometimes they both stay on. Sometimes the right one fades. My spouse noticed that both lights were…
ODI 10472711
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My headlights will go out for no reason while i am driving or they will go dim while driving. I have been pulled over by the highway patrol on 2 different occassions because they though i was driving unsafely without 1 working headlight and each time i was able to turn the lights off and then turn them back on and both lights would then work. The highway patrol said that they are becomming aware of this problem…
ODI 10462974
Exterior Lighting
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the headlights failed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the light bulbs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 85,000. The vin was unavailable.
ODI 10500638
Exterior Lighting
While negotiating a curves, both high intensity headlights went out, leaving us in complete darkness. We couldn't tell if we needed to keep turning or straighten out. Finally figured out you can reset by turning them off & then back on. This has happened 3 times since. Additionally, the right headlight will flicker and/or go off. Have been stopped by numerous people, including the police. Dealership work/charges…
ODI 10478692
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. The contact started that the headlights failed to operate upon engaging. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred intermittently while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced both head lamps. The failure recurred the same day the repair was performed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the headlight and socket needed to…
ODI 10470737
Exterior Lighting · Headlights
2008 toyota prius. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle headlight issues. *smd the consumer stated around june 2012, he noticed the left front headlight would go out intermittently and come back on. He went to the local dealer and paid $ 203.60 to have the bulb replaced. Soon after, the new bulb exhibited the same problem and on september 29, 2012,the dealer replaced the bulb again at no charge. The problem…
ODI 10505085
Exterior Lighting
As i was driving, one of my headlights went out. I bought a replacement bulb, but the next time i turned my car on, the bulb was no longer out. After the first incident, i noticed the lights went out more and more frequently. Many times, both lights went out simultaneously. If i turn the light switch off then back on again, both light work. However, it is temporary and after about three minutes, one or both of the…
ODI 10499496
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. The contact stated that when driving at night hours the headlights would go out intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the bulbs and the light fixture needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired for the bulbs and one side for the light fixture. After having the repairs the bulbs failed approximately 3 months later.…
ODI 10486297
Exterior Lighting
Headlights go on and off at random while driving. Sometimes they wont come back on until i turn the switch off and back on. Sometimes only one light will go off and not come back on until i turn the switch off and back on several times. *tr
ODI 10458919
Exterior Lighting
The front headlights unexpectedly turn off. Sometimes one at a time, sometimes both. Always reset by turning lights off and then back on. *tr
ODI 10465523
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I was leaving a store parking lot when the driver in front of me stopped and told me my driver's side headlight was out. It was getting dark so i had to postpone my plans and go straight home. When i arrived home the headlights were both on, but then on parking in the garage i noticed the passenger side headlight was off. The next morning i drove to my mechanic and the headlights were both on when i left, but on…
ODI 10586359
Exterior Lighting
As i was driving from work at 2:00 a.m., the driver's side headlamp went dark. I'm on a two-lane road, not that heavily traveled when this happened. I was able to rotate the headlamp switch off then back on and the headlight was restored. For the balance of my 60 mile ride, this happened 2 more times. As time progressed the failures happened more often and closer together. Eventually, the lamp wouldn't stay on for…
ODI 10745556
Exterior Lighting
Someone pointed out that my right front headlight was out. However, when i got home and checked it, the headlight was on. It has continued to go off and on intermittently since then and is getting worse. I've learned from other websites that several owners of prius models from 2006 to 2009 have had the same problem. *tr
ODI 10488008
Exterior Lighting
We were pulled over by a policeman and was notified that our passenger side head light was out. We shut the lights off and then turned them back on , they stay on for a few seconds or minutes and then they turn off. We understand that is a real problem with the prius. We have had 3 priuses and this is the first time we had a problem. If you have to have a dealer put in your light it can be $300.00 to $500.00 . ( for…
ODI 10453244
Exterior Lighting
Head lights shut off while driving usually on passenger side i turn them off and back on and they work then it may or may not happen again some times it is on the drivers side as well getting worse taken it by dealer ship they say they don't know what's causing it yet this is a common problem with this car i believe it is a flaw in manufacturing and designee. *tr
ODI 10555820
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My prius headlights are very erratic and unsafe. While driving, one or the other and sometimes both go off. No bumps or other incidents have occurred. They just go off. By turning the lights off and then back on, they always correct themselves, until the next occurrence, which may be in minutes, or days. This condition is entirely intolerable and is not due to loose connections or bad bulbs or any other cause. It…
ODI 10457916
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Both headlights go out without warning, i can turn the headlights back on by turning switch off and then back on. In doing research i have found this is a common defect with the toyota prius years 2006-2009. Why isn't this a recall? When getting an estimate to fix is up to a $1,000. I feel like toyota needs to step up before someone is hurt or dead from an accident pertaining to this issue. *tr
ODI 10499322
Exterior Lighting
Water drops observed in both headlights most likely due to faulty seals in both headlights. Went to several dealerships and i was told by one that this is "normal". This is my niece's car and i have several other vehicles and none of them have ever had water condensation in any of my headlights! I have also called other toyota dealers and get a mixture of whether or not this is a covered item under the certified…
ODI 10459813
Exterior Lighting
Approximately february of 2012 my headlights began to randomly turn off. If i turned the headlights off, and then on again, they would turn back on. However, since this first occurrence, both headlights would turn off. One will no longer turn back on. I have replaced the bulb ($300) and this did not fix the problem. I was told from the toyota dealership that the headlight computer would need to be replaced ($1800).…
ODI 10501129
Exterior Lighting
I received a warning ticket for the driver's side headlight being out while using windshield wipers in rain. When i got home after less than 50 miles, both headlights were working. During the next 3 days both headlights were on every time i checked. On monday at about 5:30 pm the passenger side headlight was out. When checked several hours later only the driver side headlight was out. On tuesday i took the car to…
ODI 10446118
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2008 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.