Problems with 2010 Toyota Prius EXTERIOR LIGHTING

There is a chronic problem with the headlights on this car. they continually burn out, or, go out and than come back on when headlight is 'tapped' lightly. dealer and independent repair shop(s) have replaced numerous times and problem recurs. *tr

My headlight went out while driving. the dealer indicated the replacement cost would be between $300 and $400 for a single light bulb. the dealer indicated that i only use the lights when needed to prolong the life of that type of bulb. *tr

Panel light dimmer inoperable when parking/head lights are turned on (i.e., there is no display on instrument panel for current speed, fuel volume, fuel consumption, etc. when driving with head lights on). this similarly affects the audio/hvac display. *tr

The low beam headlights would not project far enough down the road. replaced bulb multiple times. *tr

I own a 2010 prius, purchased new in february 2010, one of the options i purchased with the car was hid headlights, which came already installed in the car. the right headlight went out in 9/2012 & the left in 10/2013. i knew right away that when the 1st light went out that the replacement was not an hid light which i had initially paid for & the car was still under warranty. now with the other bulb being replaced in oct 2013, again with a non hid bulb, we can no longer drive the car in the dark without using the bright light beams because we can not see the road in front of us as well as beyond. this is an accident waiting to happen. i also owned a 2006 prius with headlight problems. i never received the $365.00 settlement in 2011 for this problem, why? *tr

One or both headlights and front parking lights have had to be replaced four times now, starting in 2012. latest incident is july 2015.

The problem that is causing the head lights to burn out simultaneously needs to be resolved. it is a safety hazard for this to continue. purchased a toyota prius 2010 in december 2010. since that time, the head lights have been a problem. each time there is a problem, both head lights burn out simultaneously. the first time the head lights failed was august 7, 2012 when there were five of us in the car driving 15+ miles with about a third of the drive on many residential streets that were not well lit. the dealership in florida was called and it was explained that both headlights burned out at the same time and that it must be something other than the bulbs because headlights do not burn out together at the same time. the service representative quoted that the cost of the repair to replace the head lights was about $150. he did not ask if the car was under warranty and he did not acknowledge that it could be something in the electrical system. he did not suggest that the car be brought in to have them put it on diagnostic machines to verify where the problem may be.we opted to replace the bulbs ourselves. the second time both head lights burned out simultaneously was october 21, 2012 and we again, replaced the bulbs ourselves. the cost of the bulbs including tax is $54.36. this morning is the third time both lights have burned out at the same time again. the prius has 35,840 miles. this is not reasonable. we have already spent $108.72 to replace the bulbs twice. it is unreasonable. it is extremely unsafe not knowing when and where the head lights will burn out. we have teenage drivers and it is upsetting to know they are not in a safe vehicle. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. the contact stated that the low beam headlights failed and the contact had to utilize the high beams in order to drive at night. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. the technician replaced the low beam lights but the failure recurred. also, the contact mentioned that before the short in the low beams, the marker lights had to be replaced as well. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 35,000 and the current mileage was 70,000. updated 11/24/14*lj updated 05/06/2015 *js

Low beam headlight bulbs burn out much faster than they should. i have replaced both low beam bulbs at least 6 times in the last 2 years. typical bulbs should last well over a year, whereas mine only last 2-3 months. i do not drive with headlights on during the day. this happens with both low beams, but not simultaneously. as a result, i am installing new bulbs every other month. i never touch the bulbs (always wear disposable gloves) so this is not a result of finger oil reducing the bulb life. *tr

Upon starting my car early this morning, the headlights would only work on bright. when dimmed, they would not work at all. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. the contact stated that the low beams failed to illuminate properly. additionally, the low beams lights failed to function when driving. the contact had to apply the high beams when the failure randomly recurred. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the driver and passenger side low beams but the failure recurred three year after the repairs. the contact replaced three lights on the driver and two on the passenger side for the low beams but the failure persisted. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

Low beam bulbs constantly failing, have to replace every few months! sometimes both bulbs will fail at the same time, leaving you with only high beams. toyota issued a tsb in 10/12 about a fix involving modification to the wiring harness but says they will only repair this problem for cars under 36k miles or 36 months from date of purchase, which means many of the cars with this problem were already out of the warranty period when the tsb was issued. no headlights is a serious safety issue and this repair should be made available to any owner with this problem at no cost. it appears that the cost of having this tsb done is several hundred dollars.

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. the contact was driving approximately 45 mph with the headlights activated and suddenly without warning, the headlights failed to illuminate. the vehicle was maneuvered cautiously to the side of the road. the contact planned to take the vehicle to a dealer for diagnosis and repair. additionally, whenever the brakes were engaged while driving over a bump or uneven pavement, an unintended acceleration would occur. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 32,000.

The low beam headlights on this car have been burning out frequently (approximately every six months) since this first incident. in one incident in december, 2014, both lights burned out at the same time.

We have owned this vehicle since it has been new and have replaced the driver's side front headlight annually. this time it went out just 4 weeks after a local mechanic replaced the bulb. when i took it to toyota and complained of the problem and asked about a warranty fix i was told that the prior bulb had been installed incorrectly and now the entire headlight should be replaced for $500. this is the same problem we have always had. *tr

My car is constantly blowing light bulbs. it started after only one year with headlights. both tag lights and several front marker lights have blown. there has to be an electronics problem. *tr

This was approximately the date when my first headlight blew. the other headlight blew within a couple months. i went for three years changing headlights every six months or so. twice, both headlights blew and i had to unsafely drive home (70 miles) with my brights on. i took my car to the dealer and was told that this model and year had a wiring harness "bullet" and the cost to replace it was on me. at the time, that was almost $400, which i did not have. this issue has cause me to replace one (sometimes both) headlights every six months (if i'm lucky to go that long). it has also caused the headlight housing to overheat and has made the inside of the housing "fuzzy." this, in turn, makes it nearly impossible to see in the dark with just my dim lights on so driving at night is dangerous. toyota needs to make this a recall because it is dangerous. both headlights going out at one time because of a faulty wiring harness creates a dangerous situation. having to drive with my brights on creates a dangerous situation for oncoming traffic. driving at night with my dims on is like driving with no lights on at all.

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. the contact stated that the vehicle's low beam headlights would fail approximately every two months. the contact had to replace the low beam lights approximately 20 times since 2010. the contact called the jeyes toyota dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle's low beam head lamps failed and the low beam lighting harness needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

The headlights shine in a pie shape at night. they should shine straight across. if you make a right turn where there are no street lights, and we have a lot of those around, you can not see if you are going to hit a person or the ditch. i go in the left lane to avoid an accident as long as there is no on coming traffic. this is the first care of many that had this problem. *tr

The low beams on this vehicle fail on a regular basis. initially moving the wiring harness where it connects to the light will cause the low beam to come back on, but then will fail again without notice. after doing this several time over an undetermined period of time (undetermined because it can happen at any time) moving the harness fails to resolve the problem and the light bulb needs to be replaced (i'm assuming moving the harness to get the bulb to relight eventually causes the bulb to fail). i purchased two new low beam bulbs approximately one month ago and am now returning to the store this morning this morning to purchase another set of bulbs, which will then lead to moving the writing harness to get the bulbs to relight, which will then once again lead to early failure of the new bulbs. *tr

Headlight bulbs keep burning out every few months, since we bought the car i have been changing bulbs every 2 to 3 months. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the low beam head lights failed and could not be re-illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the light bulbs needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred five times. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 40,000. updated 10/29/13*cn the consumer stated both of the low beams went out simultaneously. also, when the wires were wiggled the lights would come on. the dealer suggested to turn to the vehicle off, and then turn it back it on. the consumer believed there was an electrical or computer problem.

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. the contact stated that the plastic cover on the front passenger's side headlight would become foggy, obstructing the contact's visibility of the roadway when driving during the night. in addition, there was rust on the passenger's side front fender. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician advised the contact that there were no failures found with the vehicle. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 20,000 and the current mileage was 83,000.

Headlamps on 2010 toyota prius provide poor distance coverage for low beam headlights. as a result i hit a mattress in the roadway even though i was driving between 50 & 55 mph on a strait freeway section (i-15 at bundy canyon in riverside, california). even though i was fully alert, the headlamps only provide about 30 feet of forward coverage which is inadequate to do anything than to swerve at the last moment to hit objects as significant as a mattress. this vehicle in my opinion does not meet california vehicle code section 22407(b). *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle was hit from the rear by another vehicle. after the vehicle was hit, it accelerated to a high speed. the contact engaged the brakes but the vehicle continued to accelerate; the contact attempted to turn off the ignition but that did not stop the vehicle. the vehicle changed directions and crossed over a grassy area and crossed over three lanes of traffic and crashed into a concrete median. the contact stated that all the lights failed. the two passengers were injured. a police report was filed. the vehicle was destroyed. the vin was unavailable. the current and failure mileages were unknown.

The headlight beams do not disperse and project far enough down the road to see clearly at night requiring the use of high beams regularly. after contacting toyota on-line, they recommended returning to the dealer, who checked the lights and indicated that they meet manufacturer specifications. *tr

I have had repeated issues with the low beam headlights since purchasing my 2010 toyota prius. the low beam headlight bulbs burn out and have to be replaced every 2-6 months. replacement bulbs have included bulbs purchased from toyota and auto parts stores varying in price level and lumens. i have had two instances where both headlights simultaneously malfunctioned would not illuminate. the first was when i had my car turned off for several hours and when i started the car the lights would not illuminate. i turned the car off and checked the headlight bulb connections. i had to drive home approximately 5 miles using the high beams. i took my car to oxmoor toyota, the dealership where i purchased the car new, and the service department determined that my car was functioning normally. they replaced both low beam headlight bulbs with toyota bulbs. the second time that both low beam headlights failed the car was parked but running with the low beam headlights illuminated. the headlights were switched off but the car remained running. when i switched the lights on, the low beam headlights would not illuminate. i turned car off and checked the low beam headlight bulb connections. the high beam lights, turn signals, backup lights, and brake lights functioned normally. i drove home approximately 20 miles with the high beams. once home, i verified that the fuse was not burned out. two months later the front driver's side low beam headlight would not illuminate. i decided it was time to return to the dealership where i brought my car to see if toyota had found a solution to this issue. the service manager said that they only issue was the burned out low beam headlight bulb. *tr

My toyota prius headlights go off frequently while driving. i must turn them off and on to have them come back on. it used to be one or the other at a time, however now both lights will go off at once. i was driving in very dark conditions when it happened last time and the road was pitch black. the fact that it was late at night is the only way i knew both lights were out. if i am driving at dusk or dawn, it is a major safety concern because it would be difficult to tell that my lights are off while i'm driving, but very difficult for others to see me coming down the road. it only takes a few seconds for an accident to happen. the toyota dealership acknowledged that it is a known issue and initially said that the replacement would be covered. then came back and said they have not been recalled so it would be out of my pocket. i was also told that i could just continue to turn the lights on and off when it happens because the life of the bulbs should not be up yet. that is not a good solution to me because i don't always know when one or both lights goes out and when it might be difficult for other drivers to see me. i feel that this is a known hazard that should be rectified by recalling/replacing these bulbs. *tr

Driving home from dinner, my driver's side headlight went out again. i turned off my headlights, then back on and both lights came back on. there is definitely something wrong with the electrical system supporting the lighting. this is a safety hazard and it now has me nervous every time i get on the road that both lights could go out at any time pre-dawn, dusk or night. it is likely making prius owners focus too much on watching for signs their headlights are still on instead of concentrating on their driving. *tr

The led headlights on the prius v only carries about 30 feet on low beam, so that only 30 mph is allowable at night driving with traffic. however, that is not the speed that anyone will drive. thus, on low beams everyone outdrives their lights. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. the contact took the vehicle to an authorized dealer to have the recall repair performed; however, the turn signals began activating on their own after the repair was made. the warning indicator illuminated which indicated that the vehicle was in danger or the front wheels were going to spin out of control. there was also a very loud buzzing indicator that startled the contact while he was driving. the dealer was informed about the failure and advised the contact not to drive the vehicle. the contact has not spoken with the manufacturer . the vehicle has not been repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 400 and the current mileage was 435. updated 04/21/10

The brake lights on my 2010 toyota prius do not illuminate under light braking. there is a very discernible "gap" after depressing the brake pedal before the brake lights illuminate. under light braking, the brake lights will not warn the driver of the car behind me that i am actually braking. this results in people tailgating me, and sometimes sounding their horn signal at me, while i am slowing down. once the pedal is depressed far enough -- under moderate to severe braking -- the brake lights will eventually illuminate. this has been confirmed by several co-workers and friends who also own this model of prius. all of our cars have the same issue with the brake light switch. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. the contact stated that the low beam headlights would not project far enough down the road, causing him to have to drive with the high beams on. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the headlights were lined up but the failure continued. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the vehicle had not been repaired. the current mileage was approximately 4,000. the failure mileage was approximately 100.

Low beam headlights on prius 2010 are very dim particularly for driving on dark country roads and they only project out a short way especially when going up a hill took to dealer who said they were ajusted correctly seems like a safety hazard high beam headlights are fine *cn

As many previous owners described, i am also having problems with the brakes at low speed since the beginning of owning this vehicle (october 2009). dealer couldn't replicate the problem. although the car went through the recall for the break system is still having the same issue ever since. the other issue with the brakes happens after rain. it makes a screeching noise without performance being effected. it goes away usually within a half an hour. this has been an ongoing thing too for few years by now. the other issue i had as well as others is dimming of lights that has been occurring since last year. we needed to switch the lightbulbs more frequently than seems normal. didn't even think it was out of the ordinary until i read the comments here about it. the other problem i started to have is with a stereo display system and the voice activation for the bluetooth. the display had some weird lines on it after a very cold or a very hot day (radio was working fine just the display was not working properly). eventually goes back to normal but this started happening the last year or so. the same time also had a problem with the voice activation unit which turned on unexpectedly and turned back on in 10 seconds after each time i turned it off. this was happening for a good 30 min at that time. this only occurred twice but both times was after a hot day last summer. this year so far haven't happened yet.

Is anyone looking into the headlight problem with the 2010 prius model v. i made a complaint to toyota and nothing resulted. the low beams only extend about 40 feet, so that you can only safely travel about 30 mph with low beams or outrun your vision. there is a "curtain" effect. obviously, one has to travel faster than 30 mph. *tr