Problems with 2008 Toyota Prius EXTERIOR LIGHTING

My headlights went off while i was driving at night. i was out in the country, in the mountains on a curvy road, where there were no street lights. it was pitch dark and a very dangerous situation, to say the least. i'm lucky i didn't run off the road or get in a wreck. i'm 74 years old and my vision is not as good as it used to be and i had to drive 40 miles to my house, with just my fog lights. i called my local toyota dealer, to see if they knew what caused my headlights to go out and if there was a recall on the problem. they said it was probably a light bulb problem and there was no recall on the problem. they said it would cost me $120 just to assess the problem. i checked on the internet and found this to be a widespread problem for this car and replacing the light bulbs cost around $500 and it doesn't solve the problem. in many cases it reoccurs. so, i don't know what to do. why would i spend $500 on the problem, when it doesn't solve the problem?? i can't believe there's no recall on a problem of this nature, as it's a very dangerous defect!

While driving in the dark my passenger side headlight went out. then a few days later it switched to the driver side headlight going out. now while driving at night they will go off at least 10 times on my 9 mile freeway drive. it is not safe! *tr

Cluster went blank and vehicle would not power off, key fob stuck in ignition. toyota service recommended replacing combo meter but i am one month out of warranty. i was driving tried to park but car would not turn off, but would come to a stop in the parking lot. *tr

My headlights are flickering before going completely out. sometimes it's the left, sometimes the right. turning the light switch off, then on, seems to rectify the issue but only temporarily. a very small % of the time would both lights go off completely. again, turning light switch off, then on, fixes it temporarily. there is no exact timeframe in which the lights start to flicker. and sometimes i notice it happening when going over a bump, but that is not always the case.

My headlights intermittently go off and it will change which headlight (between my two white front headlight and gold headlights). it happens while i am driving. i can turn my headlights on and off and it sometimes fixes the problem. on one occasion all my headlights went off. *tr

Headlights go out unexpectedly.

Both headlights cut off at the same time while driving at night (55-65 mph) on an unlit winding road above a reservoir. managed to stop the car near the right side of the road without going off the edge and although the headlights did not come back on, we used the high beams to get us down the hill to our destination.

Hid lighting , headlights go off intermittently when driving . need to turn light switch on and off to turn back on. ongoing problem unexpected unable to predict

My wife, 2 children, and i were on a rod trip last night. about an hour into the trip, i noticed that i thought one of the headlights appeared to be flickering (but both had been fine art he beginning of the trip). we stopped about an hour later to rest, and i saw that the passenger headlight was out. we decided that the flickering must have been the headlight failing, and that we needed to get it repaired after getting to our destination. our real problem happened about 2 hours later when my wife was driving and suddenly both headlights went out while traveling 65mph and we were plunged into total darkness. fortunately, we were approaching an exit off ramp, and we were able to safely get off the freeway and to a gas station using the light of our hazard lights. after getting to the gas station, we were able to get both headlights back o by toggling the headlight control on and off. we decided the safe thing to dosas to get a hotel and resume our trip in daylight. the hotel was only a short distance down the road, one of our headlights began flickering again and went out again in the short time it took us to get there. toggling the control again got the lamp back on, but need to take our car to get serviced as soon as possible before driving it at night again. after experiencing this problem, i found several articles on line, including the following: http://www.toyotaproblems.com/trends/prius-headlights/ this seems to be a serious problem that is not isolated to our case or even just a few cassie's. i urge the nhtsa to reopen their investigation, as many drivers' and passengers' lives could be in danger because of this engineering defect.

Passenger side headlight will come on normally but then will dim and go out while in operation (parked or in motion). headlight will come on again briefly when headlights are turned off and then on again, but then dims and goes out. mechanic said bulbs are fine, that the problem is the computer.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the high intensity discharge (hid) indicator on the passenger side malfunctioned while driving various speeds. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle needed a new hid light. the dealer did not repair the vehicle. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 170,000.

Headlight go out while driving car . sometimes one light goes out and both have gone out at highway speed.

Driving at 35 miles per hour on a rural paved road both headlights failed simultaneously nearly causing myself and my son go off the road down an embankment while trying to get the lights to come back on at night. the hid headlights have been an issue in the past with a class action lawsuit being paid. i need to get this repaired and want toyota to cover the recall warranty work.

Right front headlight fades out after 9-10 minutes of driving. toyota dealer says it's due to some "overheating" issue and wants $600+ to replace!!

I was driving down the interstate at 11:30 going 70mph when both of my headlights shut off. i was able to flick the switch off and on again and they came back. in the last two weeks the drivers side light has intermittently been shutting off but this is the first time i've had an issue with both simultaneously.

The headlights have started to randomly turn off -- sometimes just one or the other, other times both turn off at the same time, requiring that i turn them on again manually. this has happened a few times in the past week on the interstate, along a rural stretch with a 70mph speed limit in maine.

Same issue as described here http://www.toyotaproblems.com/trends/prius-headlights/ this should be recalled. it is extremely dangerous to have headlights issues that were known to be there since factory manufacturing. i am puzzled a recall was never done. i first replaced the headlights last week. they are new! the headlights work but they turn off within a minute. if i turn headlights off and on, they turn on and go off within a minute again. this is very dangerous if it happens at night time and you drive fast on the freeway (i live in la, so i am always on the freeway). and it costed about $800 to repair.

My hid headlights are acting crazy. i start my car and pull out after about 10 mins my passenger headlight will just go out. i can turn my headlights off by the switch and back on and it will come back on. it scares me though that both might go out one night and not come back on. i was actually pulled over tonight by the police because of this issue with the headlights.

The right headlight goes off while i am riding. i took it to the dealer and they can't find anything wrong. when the light goes out and i turn the light switch off and then turn it back on. the light comes on. then it will go out again after driving for a while. i have been stopped by the police. i explained to the officer and he told me that i had to get it fixed or don't drive the car at night. i can't tell if the light is on or off while driving unless i come up behind another car and see the reflection. i always check the light when i start my trips and it is always on. i heard that one gentleman paid up to $2600.00 for repairs do to the same thing. he still has the problem. can some one please help me and other toyota owners. i can't afford to pay aa dealer to experiment with the car and i can't afford another car at this time. i'm 71 years old and retired on a fixed income.

One head light fades out during use. turning the head lights off and on again fixes the issue short term.

While driving the vehicle at night, the driver's side headlight goes off. the lights have to be turned on and off repeatedly to keep the headlight lit.

Both headlights come on when turned on, however after an undetermined amount of time (the time frame varies) the drivers side hid light turns off. i am able to temporarily correct the problem by turning the lights off and then back on. this, however, is a huge safety issue, as i am unable to see the roadway during the time the lights are off (i drive on county roads where there are no street lights). i have replaced the bulb, however that did not fix the problem.

While driving down a two lane highway at 55mph in a very remote and dark location, both headlights failed. i was able to avoid what would likely have been a fatal collision only because i was on a straight portion of the road at the time - had this happened a few seconds earlier, i'd have been taking a very sharp curve at speed and would likely have driven off the road before i could react. i was able to pull over and toggle the switch to reactivate the lights, but i was in an area so remote that calling for a road service was not possible, so i had to drive the vehicle another 35 miles to reach my home. i was told by the dealer that it was likely a "fluke" - but... both headlights failed, simultaneously, a second time, a few weeks later. toyota wants to replace the bulbs but will not guarantee that they will not fail, simultaneously, again. i've since learned that this has happened to many prius owners and that nhtsa investigation determined that this problem is "not serious" because simultaneous failure of both headlights is "rare" - but this very thing has happened twice in so many months to my vehicle. the problem is in fact so common that there was a class action lawsuit. it is not possible to safely or legally drive a vehicle that has potentially failing headlights (that the dealer will not guarantee can be fixed), leaving me with a basically useless car that i cannot in good conscience resell to another motorist. really, it is only a matter of time until this known issue results in a fatality.

One light randomly went off. then as we were driving (at night) both front and back lights went off, both high and low beams. only the flashers and fog lights worked. we called for a tow ($120) and as they were unloading the car at home, the lights came back on again. so it's not a bulb, not a fuse. i found out online that this is a known problem.

While driving, high intensity headlights are unreliable - each side randomly turns off. this is a dangerous issue.

I have had to replace 6 headlamps on this vehicle. the first two failures were covered under warranty but the problem persists. i now have had to replace 4 other lamps at a cost of about $330 for each lamp. toyota has not responded. there are many complaints from other prius owners having the same issue.

Front left light will randomly turn off. sometimes it occurs after making a turn. light will sometimes come back on if you turn them off, then turn them back on.

I've got a 2008 prius. one of the headlights 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. 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 time, sometimes it won't. sometimes on short trips it will go out, sometimes it won't. it is not an event i can make happen.

Driving down a highway at 10:30pm and my headlights just failed. both of them off! no warning, just black. i turned off the light switch and back on, they lite up again bright for about 2seconds then dimmed a little and 30 seconds later, off again. this continued for about then minutes; off, bright, dim, off, etc...then only one light stayed on for the remainder of my 20 mile drive home. thank goodness it was a relatively straight road and not very busy but there are no street lights or bill boards on this road so when the lights went out...it was very dark.

The hid headlights on my 2008 toyota prius touring model have numerous critical safety problems. the headlights go out completely and randomly at any time while driving. i have been thrown into complete blackness on windy country roads. i have had several vehicles swerve to avoid me as i have swerved to avoid cars, trees, curbs, poles etc. furthermore, the lights are very dim causing further driving difficulty and danger with even worse performance in inclement weather. i have become very anxious and the lights going on and off distract and worry other drivers. it is so bad that i risk my life by driving the car at night.

While driving at night one or both of the front headlights will go out. sometimes they also go very dim. when either headlight goes out, i have to turn off the lights and turn them on again. i have almost gone off the road a few times on a windy stretch of road where the lights kept going off every few seconds. i've already gotten a ticket over this, when i was on a well-lit main road and didn't even know a light had gone out. i've been dealing with this for 9 months. everything i read says that buying the expensive new headlights again doesn't fix the problem. i try to avoid driving at night, but i can't always, and i shouldn't have to. nothing draws the attention of the cops like blinking your headlights on and off repeatedly while going down the road. we had a few really stormy days and my choices were to leave my headlights off, which was completely unsafe in that heavy of a tucson monsoon, or to drive knowing i'd only have one headlight on after a few minutes, and i wouldn't know which one, or to drive in a storm, calling attention to myself for only having one headlight, and inviting a second ticket.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving approximately 50 mph, the headlights failed without warning. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the headlights needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vin and failure mileage were unknown.

When driving home on highway just after dark, both headlights went out simultaneously without driver interaction. headlight switch was still on, untouched. visibility outward as well as other vehicles seeing me (black prius at night without lights) severely impaired, could easily have caused an accident. pulled over and turned headlight switch off, then back on; lights came on bright and immediately dimmed, apparently normal. checked online and found a number of similar (escalating) occurrences by others, without a recall yet by toyota. after pulling over and stopping

This is the intermittent headlight issue for 2008 toyota prius' a front headlight will go out, and if you turn off an on the lights, they both come back on. this first happened to me a few months back. the only suggestion to fix this is from toyota which is to take the car to a dealer and for $550 they take off the bumper (do some trick), and put in new bulbs. instead, i spent $180 for 2 new bulbs, and replaced them myself (without taking off the bumper and doing the trick), and it worked for 2 weeks before 1 or the other bulb intermittently goes off. at least they are brighter now, though this is 1) a safety issue as the lights act unpredictably, and 2) replacing headlights is on the order of changing a tire or windshield wipers. it's like changing a light bulb, no?! the real issue is the ballasts which as i understand it regulate the lights. these are not easy (for me) to fix. this only seems to happen on some cars, and i think that toyota should replace the ballasts when this comes up. all the back and forth has left me with not great headlights (going off randomly) for 2 months now while i've been trying to figure this out. i hardly see why i should pay $550 at a dealer, when i'm not even sure that will fix the issue. i have requested toyota (national) should fix the issue whatever it is (not have me keep going back for estimates and submitting them). thank you. *tr

One headlight turns off randomly. every now and again turning the lights off and on again will fix the problem for a short time.

While driving on the highway at night, the left headlight will go out. i turn the headlight switch off and back on and the left headlight comes on again. however, within a few minutes it goes out again. this happens repeatedly. one time both headlights went off at the same time. i'm reporting this because it is an issue that many prius driver's have had so seems to be a design problem. this issue has occurred many times and seems to be a permanent problem now.

This month, when leaving for a trip, i noticed the passenger side headlamp was out. i planned on replacing it when i returned. upon returning, the headlamp has mysteriously come back on. i researched intermittent headlamp problems with my car and found out many others have had the same issue. i'm now not sure if the problem is the headlamp or some circuit.

The headlights on my 2008 toyota prius are totally unreliable, have been replaced once, and now i find there was a class action lawsuit - and there should be one again. the dealer does not know what to do. they do not know if the bulbs or the headlight mechanism is flawed. the lights flicker, go out (both or each) unexpectedly, and while driving - this is terrifying. turns out it is a well known problem and nhtsa has not addressed it fully. most recent was at the dealer 12/17/2015, flickering, going out, and not properly going to brights. the bulbs cost $188/each. ridiculous.

Headlights randomly shut off, can sometimes be turned back on if headlights are turned off and then on, but they never stay on. very unsafe when driving at night. toyota should recall and fix this issue. *tr

Headlight went out on highway at 65 mph at night .was very dark and created a blind spot on the left side of the car. i now find that toyota knew about this and tells me to just turn the lights off and on and the headlight will come back on, thats fun at 60-70 mph. very dangerous.

Headlights go completely out or the right headlight goes out...both situations are randomly occurring. i was driving on the beach line hwy. in florida, at night, on my way to the orlando airpirt, when my headlights went completely out. the beach lineis a 2 lane hwy. with no center barrier or median, no exterior lighting, and cars coming from the opposite direction going 60+ mph. needless to say, it was a "white knuckle" experience. i thought that there was only something wrong with my car, but when i recently researched thus problem, i became aware that it effects 2006-2009 prius's. why hasn't there been a forced recall on toyota to fix this serious safety issue? it needs to be addressed!

Ever since my fiance and i have had this car (late 2015, bought used with about 98,000 miles on it) there has been intermittent headlight failure! we thought we needed the headlights replaced and that would solve the problem. first of all, the specific headlight type for this vehicle (vin [xxx]) is very expensive. about $100 per bulb! secondly, they are so difficult to replace that my trusted, long-time auto shop had to remove the entire front bumper to replace them, costing me $300 in labor. that's a total of $500 for repairs, just for headlights! then, just a few months later, the intermittent headlight failure started again. it is happening now (sept 16, 2016) and is a threat to my safety. i have been pulled over twice by the police for having a "burned out headlight," but i switch the lights off and back on again and they work fine for another 20 minutes or so. this problem is absolutely a threat to the safety of drivers, passengers, and others on the road at night. headlight replacement itself is so outrageously expensive that it is absurdly unfair that unsuspecting vehicle owners should be responsible for the cost. toyota needs to recall these vehicles and pay for the repairs to the electrical system. i am afraid that if toyota does not take responsibility for this problem, they will eventually be sued by someone who is hurt in an accident caused by this problem. problem happens while the vehicle is stationary, in motion, on city streets and highways, while turning, while going straight forward, and reverse. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Bought the car in late october and the left front headlight has gone out twice.

My lights have been going off intermittently for a few months now. i went to the dealership for a 12 v battery issue and a couple of recall items, including the hybrid cooling recall issue and the dealer thought this might fix the issue but it has not. what happens is that at any given moment, each and every day/night, when i am driving one or the other headlight will go out. occasionally both will go out. the only way this is remedied is when i toggle the light switch off and on. sometimes it takes 2-3 toggles to get the problem to resolve, the suddenly and again, and again the one or the other lights go out. apparently this is an issue with toyota prius's of my year. this happens every time i drive and there is no rhyme or reason. i happens when i am driving. i have tested it to see if happen over bumps and it does not specifically--it just happens when i am driving and several times over. i am not a mechanic though you don't have to be one to see that this kind of issue is not the bulb, because when the bulbs are working they shine brightly. it has to be some other issue with the functioning of the lighting system. this happens on city streets, on highways and when stationary. it happens when i am going straight and turning. it happens and any and all speeds.

Left headlight goes out while setting still and while driving. on a ten mile trip the light will go out 6 - 10 times. turning the light off and back on makes the light to burn again. i have been stopped by the police for this. when i stop i ,turn the headlamps off, when they tell me why i was pulled over for i play dumb and they instruct me to turn on my lights and dim them or put on high beam. they are left scratching there head and i'm on my way. this happens every time the vehicle is driven at night. also happens setting still.

Headlights intermittently flash off with no warning. can not be repaired. sometimes both flip off at same time. one goes out (or both) appr. every 5-10 minutes of driving, or while car is stationary with lights on.

The headlights on my 2008 toyota prius turn off sporadically sometimes one sometimes both very dangerous at night because they both turned off so i need to get ahold of somebody and see what i need to do to get this problem solved my name is [xxx] and the phone number to reach me at is [xxx]. the lights turn off in all weather on country roads of the free way. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Known formally as high-intensity discharge (hid) lights, they either work intermittently ' making nighttime driving a lot more exciting ' or fail entirely......updated 12/03/15 *bf updated 11/17/17*js

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the passenger side headlight failed. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that moisture entered the headlight and affected the headlight concealment devices. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 50,000.

Headlights short out intermittently. both headlights have gone out, the left has gone out, the right has gone out. if i turn off the lights and flip them back on, they occassionally both come back on, or one comes back on or neither come back on. this is extremely dangerous at night. it has to be electrical. there's no way it's the bulbs, i've owned the car for a year and have blown through many bulbs already. this is getting expensive besides dangerous. this happens on bumpy roads, smooth roads, turning, going straight. i haven't found a certain thing that makes them turn off. this has been happening for a long time, but i can only choose one date below.