2009 Toyota Prius Exterior Lighting Problems
- 103
- 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.
What owners report
- both headlights · 16 records
- side headlight · 13 records
- right headlight · 13 records
- passenger side · 13 records
- without warning · 13 records
- head light · 10 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 40 |
| 30–60k mi | 23 |
| 100–150k mi | 16 |
| 1–30k mi | 5 |
| 150–400k mi | 5 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exterior Lighting · Seats · Vehicle Speed Control
Toyota prius 2009 headlights were on and off finally the left side went off totally. The seal outside the headlight didn't prevent of water came into the system and damaged it . Also while driving the car accelerated and decelerated by itself . And while stopping the car jump. *tr
ODI 10694925
Exterior Lighting
Driver's side headlight will go out without warning. Later the light will go out again. The headlight has been replaced as well as the amplifier. The new light bulb was left on for 3 hours while car was parked but then when it was driven, the light went out again. *tr
ODI 10680069
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Driving on a dark road i went from high beams to low and the entire lighting system went out. I was quick so cycled the headlight switch, everything came back on but the passenger headlight. Tried replacing the light bulb, it still wont work. I paid extra for these h i d headlights. Now i'm told 1000 dollars to fix them. *tr
ODI 10649449
Exterior Lighting
Headlight will intermittantly go out. Turns back on when lights are turned off and on but keeps recurring with no warning. *tr
ODI 10653656
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
There has been no injuries or vehicle damage. I left off total repair cost because the repair shop has not finished solving the problem. In 2013 i started have having headlight problems and have it about three months since. I have replaced the headlight bulbs several times on both sides. One time the headlights would operate opposite( one side would be high beam only and the other would be low beam only and when…
ODI 10627709
Exterior Lighting
The hid headlights started to flicker and went off. Repeatedly happened. First the passenger side then the driver side. I had the hid headlights replaced two days ago. The passenger headlight was still dimmed, the driver's side seemed fine. Today, the driver's side went off again and won't turn back on. The passenger side is still working, but dimmed. *tr
ODI 10629521
Exterior Lighting
Passenger head light started flickering on and off, i pulled over turned car off then back on, head light came on but was dim. I don't do much night driving and this was very concerning. I still have this issue, and have now found on line that this should be a safety recall. Up to $400 to fix, just for a head light. You got to be kidding. As soon as the other head light starts acting up as well i won't be able to…
ODI 10651783
Exterior Lighting
Left front headlight began to flicker, then failed completely on highway while driving at night. Taken in for repair on 8/2/14. Was told that entire hid assembly unit and computer sub-assy had to be replace. *tr
ODI 10618676
Exterior Lighting
Right headlight does not stay on. Had the filament changed 2-3 times and still burns out. This is not safe. Cannot get a good answer as to why this keeps happening!!!
ODI 10762797
Exterior Lighting
While driving at night, both headlights, without warning went out. Immediately, i pulled to the side of the road and turned the headlight switch to off. Then, paused a moment before relighting them, unfortunately relighting them normally failed. So again, i worked with the switch, only to discover that these would relight if and on if i held the lights on using the 'dimmer mode' to bright the road. Unfortunately,…
ODI 10610654
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. The contact stated that while driving at 70 mph, the headlights failed without warning. The contact deactivated and activated the headlight switch and the headlights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vin was not available. The failure mileage was 114,000.
ODI 10664863
Exterior Lighting
Headlights either passenger or driver side will go out for no reason. Turning the lights off and on will relight both headlamps, but only for a short period of time. *tr
ODI 10606926
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
On multiple occasions prior to the most recent incident date listed, the previously mentioned 2009 toyota prius has had intermittent complete or partial headlight failure. On multiple occasions that seem to be random in nature either the drivers side or passenger side headlight will fail individual while the counterpart (opposite headlight) will continue to operate. Also, as random as one individual headlight…
ODI 10583646
Exterior Lighting
Left headlight started sporadically flickering in april 2014, then right headlight started flickering and going out in august 2014. Bought replacement bulbs, which worked for 3 months, now both headlights will intermittently go out while driving. Very dangerous to drive at night as they just suddenly go out with no notice. Have discussed with mechanic who informed me that it is a "ballast" problem with the 2009…
ODI 10851735
Exterior Lighting
I had just bought my car on february 19, 2014 and noticed a headlight out on the way home. I called the dealership and they said they would replace it. I took it in on february 26, 2014 but they didn't have a replacement bulb. They were going to call me when it came in. The driver's side headlight would randomly shut off. On march 10, [redacted] home just after dusk the car in front of me slammed on their brakes to…
ODI 10596473
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. The contact stated that the headlights would stop working sporadically. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the bulbs needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 94,000.
ODI 10575800
Exterior Lighting
The right headlight sporadically shuts off while driving. I have had this happen nearly every time i drive with my headlights on. I have been pulled over twice by a police officer because of this issue. I find that if i turn the headlights off and on again, the issue corrects itself, but then occurs again, sometimes during the same driving trip. Not only do i have to incorporate extra time during my night commutes…
ODI 10574512
Exterior Lighting
My right headlight started going off without warning, now both lights are going off without warning. Scary scary scary and dangerous. I have to turn the head lights on and off for them to come back on; it is dangerous when i have to drive at night. It makes if difficult to concentrate on the road, and it becomes hazardous and freighting. *tr
ODI 10564300
Exterior Lighting
Left headlight went out while driving. Then both headlights went out a minute later. Turned lights off and back on and they were ok for a minute. Then the left headlight went out again. This keeps on recurring . *tr
ODI 10554909
Exterior Lighting
Headlight goes out randomly and requires the headlights to be turned off then on. *tr
ODI 10663834
Exterior Lighting
My right headlight goes off without warning. I have to turn the head lights on and off for it to come back on; it is dangerous when i have to drive at night, and the headlight goes out,. This is a continuous problem, it make if difficult to concentrate on the road, and it becomes hazardous and freighting. It is also bothersome to others when i have to turn my lights on and off. *tr
ODI 10559213
Exterior Lighting
I noticed that the driver side headlight appeared to be out, so i checked it and it was. When i turned the lights off and back on the headlight came on for a period of time and went off. I had the headlamps changed with oem part and the lights worked for a day and now it is out again, which might be ballast or something else. I have read many complaints online for the 2006-2009 models have premature headlight…
ODI 10555767
Exterior Lighting
We are having an issue with the left headlight going out after about 15 minutes of driving. We've taken it into the shop multiple times and have not been able to get the issue fixed. We took this to the shop the latest time and they told us it is a known issue with the toyota prius hybrid. *tr
ODI 10548550
Exterior Lighting
I narrowly missed hitting a pedestrian in a crossing walk at 5am in the morning. The reason-both of my headlights had turned themselves off. I have had a problem with the right one going off and am able to turn it back on by turning the light s off, then back on. But now they both are turning off at different times and it is hard to tell until something like this happens.(it's hard to tell as this car has 2…
ODI 10546482
Exterior Lighting
Same basic complaint as in other similar 'safety complaints'; for about the last year, headlights go dim, flicker, one or the other will go out for no apparent reason, and more distressing and importantly, in the last couple months, they will both just turn off completely and at the same time while driving down the road at any speed. I have to turn the headlight switch off and on to 'reset' the lights and get them…
ODI 10547865
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2009 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.