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
The lights just turn off by themselves. One will go out, then the other. Many times both will go out at he same time it is really scary. The lights have been replaced and it still happens. *tr
ODI 10561059
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
This morning when i started my car the dash panel lights would not come on. I drove seven miles to top off the gas(i could not tell how much i had because of the dash being off.)i then could not shut the car off. I drove for about a half hour and my dash lights just came on. When i got to my destination i was able to shut the car off and the dash lights are fine now. This happened once before about six months ago. I…
ODI 10494606
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Recently purchased used 2008 prius. When driving at night i noticed that the headlights shut off intermittently. They go back on by turning lights off and on. This happened three times when driving for 10 minutes on a dark road. Very dangerous! *tr
ODI 10493449
Exterior Lighting
Headlights will go off spontaneously either separately or together. Sometimes will come back on by toggling the light switch. Can be either headlight when fails singly. Problem is variable but can happen when parked or while driving. Most recent episode both lights failed at 50 mph then after toggling the switch came back on. *tr
ODI 10493131
Exterior Lighting
Right hand headlight started turning off intermittently when starting the car or driving at no particular speed. Today the left hand light start remained off when starting the car. It turned on once i cycled the light switch. While driving in the dark experienced both lights intermittently turning off individually and simultaneously about ten times. After cycling the switch the lights would come back on. *tr
ODI 10492307
Exterior Lighting
My headlights are constantly going out usually the driver side but i'm replacing headlights every six months about. After the second time replacing the headlights i've been very careful only using at night. The lights at not last but a fraction of the time they should be last i g and i've been buying the best on the market insuing i get a quality product with the best visibility. I feel there's some faulty wiring or…
ODI 11079895
Exterior Lighting
Started to have issues with right headlight on 2008 prius starting in 2013 but was not aware of the class action lawsuit. Finally replaced the bulb 10/14 and spent $200 out of pocket to replace bulbs. I'm frustrated because the same headlight went out just nine months later!
ODI 10811663
Exterior Lighting
I've got a package 6 2008 prius. The passenger side headlight keeps going out. I can't really tell when or how it goes out since i can't see it. I'll notice it when i see the reflection in the back of another car or is someone tells me. If i turn the bright lights on and off it has no effect, but when i turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. Sometimes on long trips it will stay on the whole…
ODI 10488757
Exterior Lighting
Intermittenly either headlamp may go out. Turning off and on the headlamps turns the dead lamp back on. *tr
ODI 10490371
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The front headlights intermittently shut off. Sometimes it's the left and or right headlight separately and sometimes they shut off together. If i toggle the lights on and off, they may or may not turn back on. It was very dangerous driving at night on the highway. *tr
ODI 10483325
Exterior Lighting
On several occasions, i have been driving at night and noticed that both of my headlights have gone out. After flicking the on/off switch, the lights came back. I took the car in for new bulbs, believing this to be the cause. The mechanic replaced the hid bulb on the passenger side and when we turned on the lights, the passenger side failed within a few seconds. We tried turning the lights on and off several times…
ODI 10490766
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
While driving at any speed, the hid headlights intermittently cut off. This usually happens one at a time, and mostly on the passengers side. I am unable to tell when they go off until either i get pulled over and warned which has happened once already or i pull up and see reflection off back of another car. The lights will work for short periods then off again then on again. This appears to be a known issue with…
ODI 10482444
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
When the headlights are first turned on, both work. In a few minutes the driver's side hid light dims and then goes out. This happens repeatedly. If i turn the lights off and then turn them on again, the same thing happens, both are lit, the driver's side dims and then goes out again in a few minutes. *tr
ODI 10485364
Exterior Lighting
I leave my headlights on all of the time. Sometimes when i am driving my prius the left headlight will go out. If i turn the headlights off and then back on the light will come back on again. Sometimes restarting the car will make the headlight come on. Also the headlight sometimes is off when the car is started. Same thing, turn headlights off and then on or restart the car and the headlight comes back on. I…
ODI 10651323
Exterior Lighting
Both headlights went out. This was my first experience about 1 year ago. For the past several months, one or both headlights will go out at least a couple of times each morning during my one hour commute. Recovery is to turn the headlight switch off and then on quickly. Fortunately, my car has fog lamps which i now keep on continuously to avoid being completely in the dark. I have checked online reports and…
ODI 10550110
Exterior Lighting
The non hid headlights on my car intermittently turn off. I've had both headlights go out twice while i was driving after dark - i have no idea how many times it might happen during the day. I've had at one headlight go out as well once, perhaps twice. I've switched the lights off and then back on again and that fixes the problem...until it happens again. I'm very hesitant now to drive this car after dark for fear…
ODI 10486466
Exterior Lighting
My front passenger headlight goes out constantly when driving. I have taken it to two mechanics who cannot find anything wrong with the bulb itself and have told me it's a problem with the hids wiring. I have seen hundreds of complaints online from other prius owners having the identical issue and they are urging for a recall. I am also urging for a recall. There was a class-action lawsuit in regards to this…
ODI 10508847
Exterior Lighting
Headlights go off. Sometimes just one, other times both. *tr
ODI 10477101
Exterior Lighting
I was driving to work on highway 327 north of highway us 20 and traveling along at 45 mph and all of a sudden both headlights went out. It was dark. I slowed down immediately and turn the headlights off and on again and they came on. I have noticed that at times one headlight turns off or the other. People have told me that i have headlight out and i might get a ticket, but when i check them and one is out i just…
ODI 10490693
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
2008 toyota prius. The right hid headlight turns off intermittently without warning. When i turn off the lights and turn them back on, the headlight lights up again but sometimes turns off a few minutes later. I paid over $500 to replace both lights, but the problem is still occurring. I contacted the dealer and they said they can't help me, other than to replace the entire headlight system, presumably at a cost of…
ODI 10484064
Exterior Lighting
Headlights go off suddenly. Sometimes one or the other, some times both. *tr
ODI 10661190
Exterior Lighting
One evening in early september i was driving on a surface street when my passenger headlight went out. I turned off my lights and turned them back on and the passenger headlight came back on. A few days later i was driving on the highway when both ( driver and passenger) headlights went out without warning. I was able to pull over to the side of road; almost causing an accident.i verified the lights were in the on…
ODI 10488943
Exterior Lighting
One headlight went out. Was able to get it back on by turning both headlights off and then back on. Since the first time i have had either the right or left headlight just randomly go out and have to turn off my headlights while driving and back on to reset it. On numerous occasions(maybe about 5 or 6) i have had both headlights go out at the same time and been in complete darkness. Just last week it happened to my…
ODI 10498170
Exterior Lighting
Both headlights abruptly turned off while traveling home at nights going approx. 50 mph. Turned lights off and then back on and both headlights came back on. This is the third time this has happened. Each time it's both the headlights. *tr
ODI 10472669
Exterior Lighting
The headlights of my prius suddenly went out at night. They came back on after i turned the light switch off and then back on again. This happens 10 or more times an hour for the last several months. Almost collided with a bike rider because they suddenly turned off and i couldn't see the person crossing the street. *tr
ODI 10508691
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2008 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.