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
Right headlight flickers and intermittently turns off and on. About a week ago both headlights turned off while driving. This has happened 2x in the past week and half. Luckily we turn them off then on and they have come back on each time. We have had the right headlight fixed several other times also. I just heard about the issues that other people have had which is why i am just now pursuing this.
ODI 10823897
Exterior Lighting
The headlights intermittently, and without warning, go out. This happens every time the lights are turned on. By quickly turning the lights off and then back on, they have thus-far turned back on. They will remain on for up to ten minutes. The turning off happens whether the car is moving ot not.
ODI 10806426
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Driving at night i noticed my headlights dimming. I turned on my high beams and my headlights went out completely and i was in the dark. I turned the headlights off and then back on again and they came back on at full light. I pulled to the side of the road and had my passenger check the headlights outside. The right front light was out and the drivers side was on. This had happened one time previously. I took my…
ODI 10744753
Exterior Lighting
Very dangerous situation...was driving home from the mountins down a windy road and both headlights on my toyota prius failed. Brought car into toyota of manhatten next day and had to have both headlights replaced for $530.$300 for the light bulbs and 230 for labor. Learned online that this is a common failure for 2008 prius, and that there was a class action lawsuit that was settled too early and does not cover…
ODI 10747256
Exterior Lighting
I've been told a few times i had a headlight out but half the time when i check it, it would be working. It's not just the headlight it's also the parking and front side marker light on the same side. These lights are expensive and should last a lot longer than 90k miles. Seeing how it works intermittently and more than one i don't want to waste money to replace it. If it's going to happen again like most complaints…
ODI 10733288
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. While driving at approximately 55 mph, the headlights failed without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the concealment devices accumulated moisture, which contributed to the failure. The lights were replaced but the failure recurred. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
ODI 10732700
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Headlights flicker, dim, and eventually go out altogether while driving. I have replaced the 12v battery and it still occurs. Concerned for safety of myself and my family.
ODI 10761833
Exterior Lighting
Front left headlight suddenly goes out while driving or stationary but will come back on once i turn headlights off then on again. Happens constantly - at least 2-3 times per hour while i'm driving. I have to constant turn my lights off then on again to get the headlight to come back on. Nothing is wrong with the bulb - it is not burned out or dim - the whole headlight just turns off. This problem has been on-going…
ODI 10839060
Exterior Lighting
My headlights go out without warning while i amdriving down the road. The have gotten worse and go out more frequently and sometimes stay off. I have replaced the lights several times and am still having problems. I need help because i have almost gotten tickets behind this problem. My thing is toyota knows abot this and refuse to have a recall on this issue.
ODI 10945212
Exterior Lighting
I was driving my toyota 2008 prius in the pitch black at 70-75 mph in the badlands state park. The headlights turned off spontaneously. I had to make an emergency stop. No headlights!! They eventually turned back on.
ODI 10724442
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the head lights suddenly failed to illuminate intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 104,000. The vin was unavailable.
ODI 10746521
Exterior Lighting
Driver side head light turns on, then flickers and then goes out . I have been stopped twice. Replaced relay ($75.00) no differance . .this happens when starting the car before even putting in gear
ODI 10808957
Exterior Lighting
Right headlight goes out after a few minutes. Have changed ballast and bulb twice, the problem recurred almost immediately both times.
ODI 10787500
Exterior Lighting
I bought a used toyota prius 2008 .right side headlight keeps turning off at night. *tr
ODI 10712335
Exterior Lighting
I was traveling on a major highway and all my lights went out. Pitch black. Luckily, there were very few cars on the road. I was able to pull to the side and put my flashers on and use their intermittent flashing to slowly find my way home (about 8 more miles). This could have caused fatalities - my own and others who may have crashed into me. This was a terrible situation and from what i have just researched, it…
ODI 10703644
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The left headlight keeps turning itself off when driving or not. When bumped next to the headlight cover it comes back on. The bulb and connector are fine. This is a safety hazard, that if the right one starts doing the same thin at night, it would put me into a dangerous and life threatening situation. I think toyota should have a recall on this problem. *tr
ODI 10702986
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Drivers side headlight will dim then go out out after a few seconds of operation. If the lights are turned off and then on again the headlight will work for a few more seconds then dim and go out. The bulb has been changed but that did not resolve the problem. Updated 12/21/2015 *js
ODI 10731316
Exterior Lighting
About two years ago, one of my headlights began to cut out without warning. Now, starting 2 months ago, both of my headlights stop working at the same time without warning, i have had 2 near-misses because of this issue, toyota, my car manufacturer, refuses to do anything to fix this highly dangerous issue, even though over 200,000 prius owners have reported the problem. Who knows how many other owners out there who…
ODI 10787223
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. While stationary and driving various speeds, all of the instrument panel indicators failed to illuminate. South dade toyota in homestead, florida was made aware of the failure and stated that it was a factory defect. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The contact was referred to nhtsa. The failure mileage was 75,000.
ODI 11054519
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Initially the passenger side headlight began to flicker. Then it went out. When i turned the lights off and on again it came back on. Since then completely randomly one light or the other, but more commonly the passneger side will flicker and dim, and then later go out. Turning the lights off and back on will usually restore the light but more than half the time only to a dimmed or flickering condition. Sometimes…
ODI 10761128
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT RELIABLE. *JS
ODI 10669156
Exterior Lighting
The driver's side headlamp has been going off intermittently for many years. Now, both lights go out and i am driving with the fog lights only? Very dangerous! If toyota knows about this, there should be a recall and fix! *tr
ODI 10663675
Exterior Lighting
Was driving in the dark with my brights on and both headlights suddenly went off. Flipped the switch and they came back on. 4/5 minutes later they went completely off again and i had to switch them in the dark. The bulbs are fine. The right headlight has been randomly going on and off again but wasn't a noticeable safety issue. Both lights going off randomly in the pitch dark almost caused me to crash. *tr
ODI 10654665
Exterior Lighting
Head lights go out. While driving at night lights went out. Very unsafe. *tr
ODI 10662410
Exterior Lighting
The headlamps go dark at random times while driving at night. This occurs on the highway or city street and more often shortly after beginning the drive rather than later in the trip. On numerous occasions one or both headlamps will shut off. I am able to restore the lights by switching the headlamps off and then on again. This has been a problem for two years since the car had 45,000 miles until now with 65,000…
ODI 10939540
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2008 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.