general problems of the 2005 Toyota Prius - part 1

Headlamps randomly turn off while driving, but usually only one at a time. Last night (12/18/18), both lights went out at the same time and I was unable to see the road as it was poorly lit. When lamps do turn off while driving, turning them off and on a few times will usually get the it to come back on. This is definitely a hazard and a recall is absolutely required.

Combination meter intermittently not functioning. When turning the car on, sometimes the dash meter works, sometimes it's just black and continues the entire time the car is running. Then when trying to turn the car off, it will not turn off, which is a major safety concern. When this occurs, there are no dash lights at all to indicate fuel amount, odometer reading, door open signal, check engine, maintenance required and so on. The speed being driven is not showing either which is another major safety issue. Cruise control also does not function, the center touchscreen does not display hybrid motor information or mpg. The beeping when backing up does not function. Also the rear hatch will not open while car is running which is also a major safety issue in addition to all of the other functions not available. The odometer is not recording mileage during these times which makes it difficult to do proper maintenance that goes by mileage, such as oil changes.

The combination meter on my 2005 Toyota Prius is not working. So my instrument panel will go out or go dark and my car will keep running.

The head light on the drivers side randomly goes out. If I turn the light switch off and on it may come back on. New lamps have not fixed the problem. This problem has happened at night while driving on the interstate.

Head lights dims after 2 minutes of driving then few seconds later completely shots off.

Lights would go off while driving, at first 1 side or the other, acouple times both went off with the last time almost causing a collision and I had my kids in the car.

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the instrument panel failed to illuminate after the vehicle operated. The contact also stated that the reverse lights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the instrument panel unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 230,000.

Digital dashboard sometimes is completely blank for extended periods so that I can't see my speed, fuel levels, odometer, and other info. When I start up it happens and continues the whole time I am driving. It is causing other problems related to the hydrolic braking sometimes as well when this happens.

Head light are intermittent; same problem as 2006 and later recall.

My left head light goes out intermittently. The light goes back on when I turn the lights off and then on again. This seems to be a problem that Prius owners are regularly experiencing.

While driving a headlamp will extinguish and I can turn on/off quickly and will come back on. Sometimes this happens every coupel miles and can alternate between headlamps and sometimes both fail at the same time. Also if trying to drive on one, the other can fail also requiring a turn on/off reset.

Entering I-25 southbound on dark night and the head lamps went out. Turned the switch off and then on, they came back on and then went right off. Re-tryed the switch and they came back on. . Failed again about five miles further south on the I-25 highway. Turned them off and back on and they came back on and stayed until I got back home. The bulbs must be good for them to come back on. Possible bad switch or computer chip that controls the automatic circuitry. This was very scary because we had high speed traffic that couldn't see us because we had no lights visible. There was construction in the area which made it all the more tense note:the vehicle make name box above does not pull down.

For several months, the driver's side head light of my 2005 Toyota Prius would spontaneously blink out. Because it was blinking out and coming back on, I told the dealer I suspected some kind of wiring problem, but was assured that this was a common problem with the Prius head lamps. I was then told that we had the "special" hid lamps that cost $150 apiece, plus $75+ in labor because of how complicated they were to replace. When I asked how long it would take for this labor intensive $75+ repair, I was told 15 minutes (in other words, I would be charged $300/hour for labor). After being reassured again that replacing the head lamp would solve the problem, I agreed to move forward with the repair. Fast forward 2 weeks, and the driver's headlamp was once again blinking on and off. The dealership seemed completely unsurprised by the persistence of this problem, and agreed to a "courtesy recheck. " they then informed me that since the $225 head lamp repair they talked me into didn't solve the problem, the cause of the blinking was "definitely" the ecu (the computer that controls the head lamp), and it would cost ~$700 to replace this component. At no point did the dealer acknowledge that the hid lamps and associated ecus have been defective in hundreds of thousands of Prius cars, as I quickly learned online.

The drivers side head light keeps going off and on. At first all I had to do was turn it off then on but now it is turning off and staying off.

Front passenger headlamp goes out by itself. Will come back on if headlamp switch is turned off and on. Does not occur with hitting a bump in the road or depending upon weather. Very unpredictable. Once driver side headlamp did the same. Regularly the passenger headlamp fails!! also, rear passenger brake lamp works sometimes and doesn't work other times. Unpredictable.

My passengers side head light went out. It came back on when I turned the switch off and back on again. It has happened three more times since, two of which were this morning alone (12/28/2012).

Front right light flickers off/on occasionally. Toyota says I need to replace both bulbs at approximately $540 in total cost.

Right hid intermiitently goes on and off. Unable to see the right side of the road at night.

Headlamps stay on for 5 minutes then one goes out completely and the other goes dim. Can't see unless I turn them off and then back on again. . . Then I get some light for another 5 minutes. I replaced the lamps which were very expensive, however, the lamps are not the problem.

My car lights keeps going off while driving at night.

The headlamps repeatedly burn out, which repair people have said indicates an underlying electrical problem. I now have to replace one of the headlamps for the fourth time in just over a year.

Hid left side would go out then back on . Will work good for several weeks then intermittently will happen again. Presently its is working, last week Friday was the last incident.

Headlamp would go out at random intervals. Always came on when first switched on but would go off while driving. Would reproducibly come back on when the switched was flipped to off and back on again. Would then go off again at later time. No way to tell whether operational while driving.

I believe there is a serious and undisclosed flaw in the Toyota Prius hid headlamp system. I have noticed the headlamps will extinguish individually and unexpected in an intermittent manner, causing a significant safety hazard to driver as well as other vehicles. I have contacted Toyota about this, and although they have extended the warranty with this obviously flawed design, they refuse to take responsibility for the design and repair the systems. I have owned several other vehicles with hid headlamps, never have they become intermittent, which is indicative of a design flaw or a serious materials problem with the igniter system for the hid headlamps. I believe that Toyota should be held responsible and recall the hid headlamp systems and take the necessary corrective action.

The right headlamp works intermittently and has been for some time and lately the left is joining in. I have asked about this numerous times over the past couple of years when in the dealership for other services. It isn't a problem any time I have been in their presence; but they noted it in my file. Likewise, as I cross my fingers yearly, they have both been working during inspection. Thought I was crazy until I see tons of complaints on the internet as well as info that you had an investigation but closed it saying this isn't a safety issue. Just want it to go on record with you as well because if something happens, you and Toyota will be sued. This is obviously a problem with upwards of 2k people (that you know of) and see no safety issue in something as important as lighting? cars do not pass inspection with inadequate lighting and require replacement; but, you see no validity in a lighting issue that the consumer is unable to solve by replacement of the lighting unit?? just like the government, makes no sense!.

Driver's side headlamp turns off intermittently. No pattern identified. No solution except cycling headlamp switch sometimes works, sometimes not. This began after headlamp was replaced after it began dimming noticeably and producing light of a pinkish color. No further repairs attempted because can't reproduce problem reliably e. G. When in repair shop.

2005 Toyota Prius experienced headlamp failure at 90,000 miles. Since both headlamps failed at the same time, and n both regular and high-beam modes, the problem seems to be with the electrical circuit for the headlamps. Dealer quotes $1200 to fix. Seems like a rip-off.

2005 Prius. Lights go off without warning. When lights are turned off and then on again they come back on.

I have a 2005 Toyota Prius and the lights go off while I am driving. If I turn off the lights completely they will come back on. The dealer does not know what to do in fixing it. The lights go off in the middle of driving at night. This is a safety hazard that needs to be addressed. This incident happens day to day. I have been stopped by the police several times not knowing that the lights have gone out. There needs to be a recall to investigate the electrical system.

2005 Prius driver's hid lightbulb failed with less than 80,,000 miles. Cost to replace bulb quoted at $400 plus $300 for labor.

Normal use of high intensity discharge headlamp/bulbs lights are flickering. Wire harness mentioned by dealership, cost to replace is prohibitive. Bulbs should not be 'flickering' if the capsule simply needs to be replaced. This problem is common among this model year Prius as well as before and after 2005.

Driving at night and the head lamps on Toyota Prius malfunctioned; not aware that they were off. I was on a dark winding road, heavy rain showers. Was alerted by another motorist that my lights were off. Got out of car, tapped the dome, one came on. . . I was able to drive home. Happened unexpectedly, no warning. Very concern with my safety. They could have been an accident. Checked with other Prius owners. Found out, it's a widespread issue with the Prius. Toyota is aware of the problem and needs to address it before someone gets seriously hurt or killed. Overall the car is fine but this headlamp issue needs to be addressed from a safety perspective. There are no deaths /injury in my case but prevention is the key. Thank you.

1. Noticed that the left headlamp is having intermittent difficulty staying on this past week. 2. Once the headlamps are turned on, the left headlamp starts to dim and the light appears to have a pink tint. After a few minutes (3 7) the left headlamp goes completely out. Turning the lights off and then on again starts the cycle all over again. I have been pulled over because the light was out. Having to drive with only 1 functional headlamp is a safety concern. 3. The Toyota dealership wants $375. 79 for one hid light bulb. Mileage is 67575 I cannot afford the light bulb nor the hundreds of dollars required for the labor costs to replace it.

3/1/2010 hid bulb out on the Toyota Prius 2005, told that it would cost $450 to replace the bulb. I can't believe that I spend so much money on this car, to be told that something so simple was costing so much. When I used to do this my self. I also complain about my car accelerating and was told that my car was not on the list. That I would have to wait for the notification to bring it in for the rug replacement. I called to complain about acceleration on my car and was told that I was wrong. I have been driver since my teens (over 30 yrs now) and should know when there is something wrong with my car, I am the one driving it. This incident about the car accelerating happen a few times during last summer and the fall season I never noted the dates down.

Front passenger (right) side main headlamp goes out, it will relight when light switch is turned off, then back on. Date of first occurrence is unknown. This happens when at idle or any speed. Sometimes the light will stay on for 30 minutes or more, but most of the time the light will go out every 4 minutes. I have to drive and look at the reflection of my car on the side of another car to see if my light is one or not. When I reset the light, people think I am flashing them to pull over. I have been pulled over for the light out and I was able to demonstrate to the peace officer that I can reset the light by turning it off and on, he told me to take care of it, yet there are no answers or a firm fix. Toyota should recall gen 2 Prius as this is a defect.