2010 Toyota Prius Exterior Lighting Problems
- 134
- 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 134 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 3 indicate fire
What owners report
- high beams · 29 records
- beam headlights · 25 records
- both headlights · 25 records
- every months · 16 records
- beam lights · 14 records
- drive home · 14 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 33 |
| 60–100k mi | 32 |
| 100–150k mi | 24 |
| 1–30k mi | 23 |
| 150–400k mi | 7 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exterior Lighting
Passenger low beam headlight went out first then a few months later the driver low beam headlight went out and has now gone out for the 3rd time. Had to use high beams all the way home cause i could hardly see anything with low beams. Have been pulled over a few times by the cops for this problem. Pulled over 2 times in just one night because of this problem. *tr
ODI 10689730
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Driving home at night going approximately 40 mph both low beam head lights went out at the same time. Turned on the high beam and they worked ok. Bought new bulbs the next day and installed but did not resolve the problem. *tr
ODI 10650551
Exterior Lighting
I do not have the need to do much night driving. Last saturday, while returning from a family visit, night had approached. The dim lights were next to worthless. The cars approaching me from behind lit my path. I had visited toyota a few weeks back and they advised me the headlight bulb was loose. I tightened it, but that night, the illumination of the headlights was lacking. I returned to toyota today and they tell…
ODI 10651521
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
2010 toyota iv prius: returning home at night in a dark, rural country area of pennsylvania. Windy, two-lane road with frequent opposing traffic. Left front headlight goes out making it very difficult to see with remaining headlight. Switched to high beams which worked ok until opposing traffic appeared and had to switch back to low beam (singular). A dangerous situation with opposing headlights in your eyes and not…
ODI 10648702
Exterior Lighting
I purchased the car new in 2010. About a year ago, the headlight bulbs started burning out repeatedly, as well as the marker bulbs and the license plate bulbs. The last incident was chilling. I returned from a trip, got off the plane, picked up my car at airport parking, turned on the headlights and they were both out. I had to drive 45 miles home at 10 pm either without headlights or with my brights on. It was…
ODI 10760104
Exterior Lighting
Low beam headlights both went out at the same time while driving down the road. The driver's side has since been replaced twice over the last 6 months and is now out again and the passenger side has been replaced twice. *tr
ODI 10691745
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I was leaving a parking space and exiting the parking area when both headlights went off leaving me in the dark. I pulled over and turned them on and off several times but nothing happened. I had the running lights, the turn signals, the high beams but no low beams. I drove home with my high beams on. I went today and replaced both bulbs then tried the lights again. Nothing. I took the bulbs back and exchanged them…
ODI 10593957
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
One of the headlights (low beam) stopped working sometimes in 2013, then it came back. Over the course of 2013-2014, the front right light went out and i had the light bulb replaced. Then it died again. I replaced both bulbs based on the aftermarket recommendation but the lights are not bright enough. The front left parking light also died twice. Something is screwy with the electrical for the lights. *tr
ODI 10676871
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
(40) fleet 2010 toyota prius. Consumer writes in regards to vehicles headlights malfunction. *smd the consumer stated he had to routinely replace 7-8 headlamps per week on the fleet of 40 vehicles. The dealer informed the consumer the frequent burnout of the bulbs was likely due to wither security officers not properly caring for the vehicle or the vehicles being used more frequently for personal use. Also, the…
ODI 10585924
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The low beam bulb lamp came loose from its housing - melting the socket, and while still "working" did not provide proper illumination for night driving and perhaps posed a fire hazard. Upon taking to the dealer, they replaced the entire unit (for $720.08) and have ordered a retrofit bracket (it is on back order) that they will installed to prevent re-occurrence. Seems there is a problem - they know it - but the…
ODI 10584771
Exterior Lighting
The driver's side headlight went out in late march 2014. It was replaced by the dealer on march 29. On april 12, both headlights went out while driving in the dark. On april 13, the smaller lights above the headlights were also out. They continue to not work. The lights in the rear of the car are functioning. *tt
ODI 10582991
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My 2010 prius has had an ongoing problem with the main headlamps blowing, becoming inoperative and effectively leaving me with diminished visibility. This has happened approximately every 3 months since march 2014. Either one or both headlamps will blow. This is due to a known problem with this model and is covered under a toyota/nhtsa service bulletin (tsp-0204-12). In my case, i purchased the car used, from a…
ODI 10676486
Exterior Lighting
Both headlights (low beams) failed simultaneously, resulting in the owner having to sleep in the car overnight until sunrise. There have been 17+ similar reports onhttp://www.arfc.org/complaints/2010/toyota/prius/exterior_lighting/problem.aspx. *tr
ODI 10572676
Exterior Lighting
My daughter was driving hone from work and got on the freeway early monday morning approximately 1:05 am and suddenly the headlights went out. She tried turning them back on and off and on again but still no lights, so she had to drive home in the dark with no head lights. She was almost hit by other drivers because they could not see her. It was a scary ordeal for her and my headlights are still not working. I just…
ODI 10567506
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
I purchased a certified used 2010 toyota prius from the east coasts number one certified used toyota dealer. I was presented with papers showing all the checks performed with a certified used toyota and that the vehicle i was purchasing had pass all the inspections. I test drove the vehicle during the day and did not use the headlights. Once i was home (over 3 hours away) i used the headlights for the first time in…
ODI 10678716
Exterior Lighting
The headlights burn out on a regular basis. Shortly after replacing the bulb it will burn out again (usually within a week). At times both sides burn out at the same time without warning causing a safety hazard. This is a known problem for toyota prius products. We have contacted the company who states this problem was resolved with the 09 model year and refuse to admit or assist with repairs of the known electrical…
ODI 10617830
Exterior Lighting
After leaving a skating event with 4 kids in my car at approximately 8:30 pm, i noticed that i had no headlights which had worked 2 1/2 hours prior. Both lights went out at the same time. All other lights worked, including high beams which i used to continue driving that evening. I called the local toyota dealer who informed me that "this was a common problem in the 2010 prius. I made the appointment to take my car…
ODI 10560428
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. The contact stated that the low beam headlights failed and had to be replaced every few months. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000 and the current mileage was 100,000. Updated 6/17/14*cn
ODI 10583534
Exterior Lighting
The headlights went out suddenly while driving. My husband changed the bulbs but that didn't help. All fuses are good. I read online that it is the relay and that many other prius owner's have been having the same problem. *tr
ODI 10552614
Exterior Lighting
Last night, at 10 pm, on getting back to into my car to drive to my house 7 miles away, both the headlights did not work. The high beam lights were working, but the regular headlights did not. As a result, i was driving in dark on a single lane highway, and it was a very scary experience. *tr
ODI 10534044
Exterior Lighting
While on vacation on aug 3, 2013, we were driving in the smoky mountains in gatlinburg, tn, via the scenic loop down from cades cove. I was driving and my husband, our 13 year old son (only child) and his 13 yr. Old buddy (my friend's only child) were the passengers. The route was a steep mountainside with typical winding mountain roads, pitch dark at ~8:30 pm. Suddenly, both headlights went out, together, at the…
ODI 10533672
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
When flashing the low beams/high beams on/off i routinely blow the low beam bulbs. Not both at the same time but eventually both will blow. I understand from reading forums that this is a known problem however toyota will not address it unless you are under the 36k warranty. This should be a mandatory recall.
ODI 10717031
Exterior Lighting
Both headlights failed to go on. Both functioned the day before. High beam lights still functioned. Extremely dangerous drive home. *tr
ODI 10508217
Exterior Lighting
Repetitive and frequent low beam bulb failures. Replacement bulbs lasting only 3 to 6 months before needing to be replaced again. Always drive with the headlights on low beam during the day.
ODI 10808584
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My commute is 62 miles, one way. Tonight i realized my low beam headlights were not working. My high beams work. I drove the 62 miles with my high beams on. The fuses were fine. It is odd that both low beam lights were out at the same time but the high beams were fine. I searched online some and there were numerous similar problems with the prius low beam lights. *tr
ODI 10486271
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2010 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.