general problems of the 2010 Toyota Prius - part 1

There is a long-standing problem with the instrument panel being very difficult to see when operating the vehicle on a very sunny day. It is very dim even when the "instrument panel light control" is adjusted, especially when wearing sunglasses. No response by dealer.

Hazard lights flashing, flashes faster at higher speeds. Hazard button useless. Mechanic not sure what is the problem; reset codes. Problem went away for a few days and then came back.

The dash lights on my 2010 Prius went all dark, lost all information on my dash. No lights on dash, no fuel gauge, no speedometer, nothing. This is very dangerous to suddenly have happened and I don't see a recall from Toyota to address this problem.

I inherited a 2010 Toyota Prius 3rd generation when my mother passed a few years ago. I've since had several unnecessary and costly problems with the car as well as dealership's outlook, treatment, and indifference to the danger that their customers face--as many already have. The following are situations that I'm experiencing now. First, I was recently leaving the pharmacy when all of my warning lights (abs, brake, traction ) suddenly came on and my brakes failed as I was heading home. I'm a single mother of a special needs child and I had to get home to her. I was approximately 1 mile from my home and I was nearly in 3 accidents that could've been catastrophic. Thankfully the road was dry, clear, and with little traffic. We have been homebound for weeks, without transportation for doctors, food, etc. Our vehicle is our only means of transportation, and we must get to doctor appointments, etc. Second, the car has inexplicably stalled twice. Third, I'm constantly having to replace lights, and have been pulled over by the police for lights not working. Finally, an airbag has been recalled and once I can afford it I'll get that fixed as well. I spoke with my local Toyota dealerships, and after explaining the problems, I was informed (several times as I was repeatedly transferred) that I had to pay an inspection fee that also changed with each person. Finally, I was told I had to leave my car there for days and that I was going to pay thousands of dollars to fix the car. I'm unable to pay that much money--and the amount kept changing as well. I have researched these problems and now understand the methodology and intimidation used on poor people such as myself. Toyota should be ashamed. Fix these problems that will endanger and possibly kill your customers for nothing more than their own incompetence and greed.

Was going 25 mph yesterday November 22, 2020 evening when 4 (brake, abs, traction & caution) lights came on dashboard. Pulled over the shoulder & turned ignition off. Restarted later & 4 lights still on. Following day, went to dealership & was told brake booster assembly need to be replaced due to internal fluid leak.

Both the low beam lights are of a problem with recall which Toyota expired the recall on 10/31/2019. I tried few times last 3 years to get it fixed with Toyota portland but they always said 1) don't have parts will call back once available 2) if you have issue we will fix it otherwise now now. Now that both were off and I had to use high beam, I took to Toyota beaverton, or. They said recall is expired. Why will recall expire if it is safety issue? I called Toyota customer support they said expired and you have pay fo yourself. The cost is not just bulbs but internal wiring kit which starts from $600. I am taking it to Toyota portland today as my student daughter needs the lights to drive. We are both in different states (CA and or). Csp info - "customer support porgram zhb certain 2010-2011 model Prius coverage for halogen low beam headlamp bulbs).

Previously had no issues with low-beam lights. Used in the morning- working fine. Came out after work and both low-beam lights would not turn on. High-beam lights work fine. Car was stationary and in park when lights were attempted to turn on. Tried turning light switch and car off/on multiple times without success. Had to drive home in the dark with high-beam lights.

Abs failed. Warning lights do not appear. Heard others have similar issue. Toyota will fix the abs only if the warning lights appear. Warning lights appear only when car is not on completely. Brakes went out with no warning at all. Brakes went out with no warning while driving. Light bulb leaks moisture has since purchase. Light bulbs blow frequently.

The headlights on my car would get very dim and would burnout within 4 to 6 months. As time has past the time between bulb replacement would get shorter and shorter. At this point when I plug replacement bulbs into my car the burnout instantly. Without low beam headlights I am required to drive with my high beams on at all times. The dealer and the manufacture know about the problem and there was a notification regarding this issue with the headlights, but I was not sent this notice. Had I been sent the notice from Toyota I would have brought my car into the dealership for them to inspect the light problem. From what I have learned from Toyota is that there was never a recall on this issue. Headlights on a car I would think would be considered a major safety feature and should not have an expiration date on such a repair issue. The program to fix the issue was called customer support program zhb which allowed the dealers to correct the problem. How would anyone know that there was a problem unless they get a notification.

We were driving on the highway at about 70 miles per hour when the reading lights and dashboard flashed on and then off in a matter of about 5 seconds. The dash showed a triangle indicator light with an exclamation point. The dash also seemed to reset and showed the display as is the car had just been turned on. This incident happened twice within a 4 hour period. Once on the highway and once on a back road going about 40 mph. The car did not stop either time, but it is still concerning.

I repeatedly must replace my low head-beam lights in my 2010 Prius. They have been going out at a rate of 2-4 times a year. I buy mid to high range quality bulbs and are very careful to keep the bulbs clean during installation. I notice there are many people with similar issues. How can we get this escalated to Toyota!.

I keep replacing the low beams. They do not last longer than 3 months before they burn out again. I'm buying high end replacement bulbs that should be lasting years. I've noticed that they burn out following my car pausing when I apply the gas from a stop but it only will go15-20 miles an hour then the car will surges forward and drives normal. Help there is something not designed correctly! please have Toyota fix this.

My low beam hi-intensity lights continue to burn out every six months or so. A single headlamp does not offer sufficient illumination of the roadway and I feel unsafe driving at highway speeds. The last time it burned out I was traveling down an interstate highway at 65 mph.

Low beam headlamp bulbs fail repeatedly in less than 6 months. This happens regardless of bulb brand or model. I have had these professionally installed at multiple shops. Happens on both sides, but the latest is on driver side.

My 2010 Toyota Prius began having chronic problems with exterior light going out, starting in may 2016 and persisting until now (November 2016). We have replace the bulbs repeatedly just to have them go out again. I consider this a very dangerous problem, and makes this vehicle unreliable. Dealership denies a system failure and suggests to replace bulbs with expensive ones. This does not remedy the pr oblem.

On April 14, both my low-beam stopped working. Unfortunately I was forced to drive home in the dark, on a winding canyon road alternating between no light and high-beams. I took my car the next morning to Toyota of n. Hollywood for repair. I assumed it would be a fuse or loose wire. I thought it highly unlikely that both lights would go out at the exact same time. My service manager informed me this was not uncommon. He quoted me $110 for parts and labor. Reluctantly I gave the "go-ahead" for the replacement (what choice did I really have???). About an hour after leaving my car for the replacment, I received a call from the service mgr. Informing me that the housing on for the left light was "melted" and it would need to also be replaced at a cost of $350. I asked if this was covered under warrenty (2010 car with 40300 miles) and was told no. I said that this sounds like a design flaw, as surely the when the housing was created, the heating element and output of the standard light bulb would be taken into consideration in the desgn. My service mgr. Informed me that it was not uncommon as it happens to tacoma's quite frequently. Again, I reluctantly gave the green light for the repair, and requested that I be given all parts upon when I picked up my car. After getting off the phone, I realized through an online search that 1) there was a recall in place for 2004-2009 Prius for lighting issues; and 2) there was a recall for tacoma's for the melting issue. Clearly this is still a issue. I found another person on this very site who shared the very same problem he had four days before me. The recall for the Prius must be extended. Looking online, there are hundreds of complaints going beyond the scope of the years included in the original recall. This little repair cost over $540 dollars. Shameful on Toyota.

Low beams continually blowing. This time together. I am told this may be a costly fix. Very dangerous.

Over the last 3 years, my dim bulbs have been blowing frequently. I usually don't notice this until I drive at night, which I try to avoid. Last weekend, it happened again. They had been replace about 3 months ago. Bright lights work fine but no dims. I have never had this problem with other cars. It is really more aggravating now that my son has moved far away and I have to search for someone to replace them. I recently read online that this is a problem with Prius cars. Why no recall?.

Low beam headlamps contiually fail. I've had to replace lights no less that 8 times since 2012! not only an expense, but poses a significant hazard. I was told recently the the cause is a known defect in the wiring harness which has since been corrected. However, on 2 occasions the local Toyota dealer told me that the "system" I fine and that I have to be more careful in replacing the bulbs. The car can be parked, or active. There is now warning or specific milage. Seems random. Most recent occurrence 01/24/2016.

The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the low beam headlamp bulbs were dim. The headlamp bulbs were replaced, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

I have had to replace my low beams at least eight times over the last two years. The time between them burning out gets shorter every time. I have tried different brands and quality of bulbs, and I always replace them in pairs. My last two pairs are so dim that I cannot even see the road. I have been pulled over twice for these headlamps, and now I try to avoid nighttime driving, but it is not always possible. After some research I see that this is a common issue and known to Toyota. I do not have the funds for this expensive wiring fix and I do not understand why this important safety issue does not warrant a recall.

I replaced both headlamps after having the passenger side low beam go out about two weeks ago. This morning on my way to work, in the dark, I had that same lamp go out again. I turned around to head back home when the driver side lamp went out as well. I was only a few blocks from home at least but this is could have been incredibly dangerous.

Burning oil issue. Front head light short circuit or burned out. Leather seat separated twice.

Both low beams went out at same time at night. High beams operational. Bulbs had been replaced a month ago. A quick search finds many instances of this happening. It shouldn't be the bulbs. Makes for very dangerous driving.

The dash display mph and mileage totally went black. Looked it up on the internet and seems like it is a common problem for the 2010 Toyota Prius. Sounds like Toyota use to cover this before this year model, but not now, even though it is still happening. They may have done their dash alittle different, but it is still having the same problem.

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.

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-occurance. Seems there is a problem - they know it - but the public bares the cost and possible safety issues associated with the problem. They are not taking any proactive action to install a retrofit bracket to prevent the working lamp on the opposite side of the car from dislodging and causing a similar problem.

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 Toyota dealer with the Toyota certified car warranty, but this failure of the wiring harness is apparently not covered. Judging by the percentage of complaints in the safercar. Gov database for this model, this is a common problem and my experience has been typical. In the most recent incident, it was raining heavily and I ended up driving 150 miles with a blown headlamp, unsafe for me and unsafe for those whom I shared the road with.

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.

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.

Tl- the contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the low beams shorted and the high beams were applied in order to continue 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. Pam.

Tl- the contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the lighting was poor with the illumination for the low beams. The failure progress to the point that while driving, the low beams failed to work with no warning. The contact had to apply the high beams when the failure randomly recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the left and right low beams. The failure recurred within two years later and the contact replaced three lights on the left and two on the right side for the low beams due to the failure. The lighting failure continued to happen. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. Dyd.

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.

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.

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.