Headlight Switch problems of the 2008 Toyota Prius - part 1

Headlights are defective. I have changed the relay switch, computer hid and headlights and they still are not working. I've also had to pay a ticket as a result.

The headlights will suddenly fail, either one at a time, or more recently both at the same time when night driving. I am able to flip the switch to turn one back on but now the passenger light will not come back on at all. I am driving at night when I notice this happening but it probably also happens in day light.

When driving at night, headlights will go out on their own, left, right, or both at same time. Have to turn light switch off and on till they come back on. Driving on road or highway. Smooth road. So now I can't drive after dark.

Headlights intermittently go out when driving at night. The vehicle is in motion on an interstate or even a 2 way highway. I am able to use light switch to turn off and turn on again, but will happen again while driving. Have not repaired as of yet, but have read about several issues of this sort with this model. Have stopped driving at night because of these issues. This has been getting worse every time I drive this vehicle. Started with 1 headlight, now it is both.

The headlights go dim and /or shut off as I am driving. This problem usually starts with the right headlight shutting off and sometimes both will go dim or shut off completely. Both lights work initially on startup and shine bright at first but immediately dim to a lower level and then as I drive they will dim or the right light will turn off or sometimes both turn off all together. They will come back on if I turn off and back on the headlight switch.

I had the dealer check driver side light, said it was good. After very recently purchasing my pre-owned Prius I did a night test drive. The driver side headlight would dim then go out. During a nighttime emergency, all the lights went out while traveling a back country road, I flipped the switch and they came back on, only to go off again while traveling the highway, flipped switch again to turn on again. Upon investigating the problem, I found this is an ongoing problem. Why is there no recall??????? this is extremely dangerous and scary!!!!!!!! this is happening every time headlights are on and in motion!!!!!!!! recall now!!!!!!!.

I have replaced my headlights twice and they still will go out. They switch from passenger to drivers side headlights going out. They go out while driving on the highway which is extremely dangerous. I have spent over $400 trying to fix this safety problem with no solution so far.

My 2008 Toyota Prius has hid headlamps. When the vehicle was still under warranty, aon of the headlamps went out, so I took it to Toyota, and they replaced the burned out headlamp and also replaced the other headlamp, saying that there was a problem with the headlamps, and the new headlamps should solve the problem. I had to replace another headlamp at about 80,000 miles, and the opposite side headlamp at about 90,000 miles. Since I replaced the last headlamp, the right one, it went out again, so I replaced it again. Now that same headlamp keeps going out, and then it goes back on, it doesn't appear to be heat related, as sometimes it is off when I first start the car and shortly thereafter, it comes on. If I flash the bright switch back and forth it makes no difference. It always seems to be the low beam. If I repeatedly flash the hi-low switch, eventually the low beam will go out, then if I turn the light switch off and on again, the low beam returns back on. I have replaced the lamp with one that I thought was burned out and the same thing happens. I have checked on line, and have read how people taking their Prius to the dealer are being charged from $300. 00 to $4000. 00 for changing various parts, and still are having the same problem. I have bee stopped by the police twice for having 1 headlight out, and I never know when it is going to be out. I have read of some people having the problem with both headlights, and know that it is an accident just waiting to happen. I have even tried to see if there was an option available to change the headlights from hid to halogen, but could not find any such option available. Since this seems to be a widespread problem, and an obvious safety issue, shouldn't Toyota step up and offer a solution? I would appreciate if this problem could be investigated. Thank you.

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!.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Was driving in the dark with my brights on and both headlights suddenly went off. Flipped the switch and they came back on. 4/5 minutes laters they went completely off again and I had to switch them in the dark. The bulbs are fine. The right headlight has been randomly going on and off again but wasn't a noticeable safety issue. Both lights going off randomly in the pitch dark almost caused me to crash.

Driving up provo canyon at 4:30am and suddenly both headlights completely turned off. I had to come to a complete stop because I had zero visibility. I now have to toggle the headlight switch off and on every couple of minutes in order for the headlights to remain on. There appears to be a short, but from what I have read about this problem, it is a common issue with the 2008 Toyota Prius. The repair costs can be very steep--$800-$1800 dollars to have both headlights replaced and that does not guarantee that the problem will be fixed. Toyota needs to recall the 2008 Prius model and fix the obvious safety related issue with this model! I could have been killed on that early morning drive and now I have to constantly be aware that my headlights will not stay on as they are supposed to do!! it is more than annoying--it is a very severe safety issue that needs to be addressed by the corporation!!.

Either headlight, or both, may suddenly go out. Turn off switch then back on and light(s) restored. Happens frequently (say six times per evening) and has been doing this for about two years. Frequently stopped by police.

The right headlight and sometimes both headlights go out randomly on our 2008 Toyota Prius. This is extremely frightening! I have learned to quickly turn the headlights off and then right back on. Sometimes this takes care of the problem, sometimes for a short while, sometimes longer. Sometimes I have to pull over and fiddle with the light switch until I, once again, have headlights! since I used to leave my headlights on all of the time, day or night, I did not realize, at first, that I was having a problem. I would just think "wow, it's really dark out here!" the headlight icon on the dashboard always indicated that my lights were on, so I thought everything was fine. I had to wait until I got home to have my husband check the lights. Sometimes they worked properly so it took us a long time to figure out that we have a big problem. Our local Toyota dealer gave us the run around and acted as is they knew nothing about a headlight problem, told us to come right in and they would replace the headlights for either $8. 00 or $12. 00 each with no labor cost; and then changed and said they would fix the problem for $526. 00! I said, "no, thanks!" and went to see another local shop which specializes in Toyotas. They suggested that we look on the internet to see if there were any recalls relating to this problem. While no recalls are listed yet, I found many complaints from Toyota Prius owners stating exactly the same problem we are having. Please help all of us! suddenly having no headlights while driving in a poorly lit area is causing me grave (pun intended!) concerns! I try not to drive at night or in the rain, but I am not always able to avoid doing so. I am very frightened and would like to have my headlights fixed, but not at highway robbery prices! having headlights go out after only 6 years seems like a very short time to me, compared to the other cars we have owned!.

When I was on the freeway, one of my headlights just went out. I had the same exact headlight replaced only one year ago. A few days later, both of my headlights had the same problem. They would flicker and then just go out while I am driving at high speeds. If I turn the light switch on and off while I am driving they sometimes come back on. Sometimes I have to pull over and restart the car for them to come back on. This issue is not safe! please help.

The exterior headlights continue to malfunction. They turn off randomly, and you much switch them on and off again to get them to continue to work. They at times malfunction at the same time, and the cost of the replacement bulb is astronomical at approx. $200 per bulb. Malfunction continues to happen, even after bulb replacement.

Both headlights intermittently fail and recover when switch is cycled. Cannot drive vehicle at night.

In July of 2013, while driving, the drivers side headlight went out. I bought a new headlight hid bulb and had it installed a few days later. In December of 2013 the light went out again. I was able to get it to work intermittently by toggling the on/off switch. The light would stay on for 1-2 minutes before going out again. I had the lightbulb removed and will have to purchase another bulb to be installed. Each bulb costs nearly $175. I have been quoted $120 by a Toyota dealer for labor.

Following the purchase of my 2008 Toyota Prius, we visited a friend who told us our passenger side headlight was out. When we turned off the lights and turned them back on it came on. We have had the dealer we purchased the car from and our mechanic try to find the problem but the lights still go out, sometimes passenger side, sometimes driver side, and a few times they have both gone out. When the switch is shut off and on they come back on. I'm afraid my lights may fail and be the cause of an accident. We, my husband and I, took the car to a Toyota dealer to fix the safety recalls on the vehicle and specifically asked them to check the headlights and described our problems to them. They failed to check our lights but gave us a checklist of other maintenance suggestions.

Starting in June 2013 our Prius headlights would intermittently and unpredictably go out. It's difficult to tell at times but mostly this occurred on the left headlight. In January 2014 the problem was occurring regularly rather than sporadically so I had both hid lights replaced at a cost of $389. 30. This seemed to temporarily resolve the problem but it has started again this time with both headlights turning off randomly. This is a definite safety hazard as it requires me to turn the light switch off then back on again to get the lights to turn back on. I have recently had to do this several times on a drive of 10' duration. I have read that this is a problem with many Prius vehicles with the hid lights.

I was driving the vehicle when the driver side headlight went out. The vehicle continued to drive fine, while on the freeway all the lights turned off. I was able to turn the switch off and then on again. When doing so the passenger side light turned back on. Approximately 7-10 minutes later the lights went out again. Again I flipped the switch off then on again and the lights turned back on. This happened about 3-4 times over a 32 minute drive. When I got home, I turned the lights on in my driveway and they were both working. As I backed out of the driveway the left head light went out again.

One or both headlights shut off intermittently while driving. Usually come back on when switch is turned off, then on. May happen repeatedly.

Headlights will go off spontaneously either separately or together. Sometimes will come back on by toggling the light switch. Can be either headlight when fails singly. Problem is variable but can happen when parked or while driving. Most recent episode both lights failed at 50 mph then after toggling the switch came back on.

Right hand headlight started turning off intermittently when starting the car or driving at no particular speed. Today the left hand light start remained off when starting the car. It turned on once I cycled the light switch. While driving in the dark experienced both lights intermittently turning off individually and simultaneously about ten times. After cycling the switch the lights would come back on.

On several occasions, I have been driving at night and noticed that both of my headlights have gone out. After flicking the on/off switch, the lights came back. I took the car in for new bulbs, believing this to be the cause. The mechanic replaced the hid bulb on the passenger side and when we turned on the lights, the passenger side failed within a few seconds. We tried turning the lights on and off several times and eventually, both lights stayed on. We put the old bulb back in and it worked again, although it failed again quickly and had to be turned back on by flicking the lights several times. My mechanic told me this indicates a problem with the headlight module(s). The previous owner of the car had the entire headlight system replaced within the first year or two of ownership because Toyota of downtown oakland offered to do it free of charge because, as they told her, "all of the headlight components were about to be recalled. " this is a major safety issue, and I have several Prius owner friends who are experiencing the same problem with their 2nd generation Priuses. I have not heard of any other car that needs new headlight modules regularly and believe this to be a factory defect.