Tail Light Switch Problems of Toyota Prius - part 1

Our 2004 Prius has intermittent problems with headlights and tail lights failing. One of both headlights will all of a sudden go out. Turning them off and on usually causes them to come back on. My son was driving on a curvy, dark forested road when both lights went out. Could not see a thing. This is an extremely dangerous situation. We have also replaced tail light bulbs. They work, then fail again quickly.

See all problems of the 2004 Toyota Prius 🔎.

The headlights work intermittently and have needed bulb replacement 3 times so far. Also all the tail light and the tag lights went out at the same time recently and required bulb replacement. When driving we had no idea the lights were out and only found out when we were pulled over by police. This constitutes a very dangerous situation in my opinion. Also the hatchback handle sometimes fails to work due to the rubber cover deterioration.

See all problems of the 2007 Toyota Prius 🔎.

Vehicle's brake lamp bulbs stopped working (headlamps on/off no change except the upper bulb on the rear lights are illuminated w/headlamps/high beams on as they should be while the rest of the light is indifferent to brake pedal application, changing from park/drive etc). The bulbs were replaced but the issue persists, suspect it is something to do with the wiring harness. Please remedy because any electrical diagnostic is hundreds of dollars at the dealership and may not even be obligatory if a known issue & cost effective solution exist. Regardless of cost Toyota should offer any remedy that protects the safety of their consumers. I just don't want to have to pay a bunch of money to determine the problem was a loose screw. Anyway, faulty brake/tail lights increase the possibility of collision & endanger other drivers when a defect of this nature presents itself. Both right & left are affected, there is no visible warning the vehicle is slowing rather than driving, stopped, idling, or accelerating.

See all problems of the 2010 Toyota Prius 🔎.

When stationary or in motion rear tail light lenses leak around the perimeter causing tail lights to fill with water. The water inside them increases until lights short out.

See all problems of the 2013 Toyota Prius 🔎.

Rear tail lights defective wiring. Causing intermittent lighting. Almost rear ended by semi truck at night. Bulbs fine wiringing defect. Very common on internet.

Headlamps and tail lights subject to intermittent periods of failure to stay lit while driving. Not regular, nor consistent to one light and not the other. General unreliability of electrical road illumination system. Creates a high potential for dangerous accidents with oncoming vehicles failing to recognize my vehicle profile accurately when approaching on narrow roadways.

The tail lights intermittently go out when driving at night, while the brake lights are fine. It is related to a problem with poor quality tail light sockets on this model and year. Replacement bulbs do not address the problem. This seems to be a common problem, not unique to my vehicle only.

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. While driving at approximately 50 mph, the instrument panel, the headlights, and the tail lights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the headlights were replaced but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 75,642.

The passenger side headlight would intermittently go off. If I turned the lights off and then on again the lights would both come on but while driving the passenger side headlight would go off again. I drive 20 miles to work. When I would first start the car when leaving work to go home, both headlights would be on but by the time I would get home the passenger side would be out again. I brought the car to the dealer and they said it was the ballast that caused the problem and charged almost 1000. 00 to fix the problem. Fortunately I did not have to pay the full amount due to the fact I had and extended warranty. However, just 2 days after having this fixed the same thing is happening to the driver?s side headlight. I will be bringing the car to the dealer again. I have read online that this is happening to quite a few Prius owners, particularly with the 2006 model. It also seems from my research that it happens to 2005,2007 and 2008 models also. This seems to be a manufacturer defect and I find it a bit ridiculous that replacing headlights should cost so much money. It cost me 227. 00 to fix one headlight and 2 taillights due to ballast issues and it is more than likely going to cost another 200. 00. So all in all to repair headlights will cost me over 425. 00 and without the extended warranty would have cost near 2000. 00. If this is happening to so may cars there is obviously an issue which consumers should not have to pay for. My year Prius has had several recalls and obviously has its fair share of manufacturer problems. The affected parts involved were/are the ballast , headlights and tail lights thank you.

See all problems of the 2006 Toyota Prius 🔎.

Toyota Prius rear tail lights are reflecting sunlight in early morning and late afternoon as the turn signal and brake light cannot be seen, the silver clear lenses are turning into a prizium .

See all problems of the 2011 Toyota Prius 🔎.

The passenger headlight and taillight stopped working. We replaced the tail light bulb only for it to stop working two days later. We replaced the tail light bulb once a week for a month, and for now it continues to work. The headlight, however, continued not working for about two weeks, then began working again only for the driver side headlight to stop working. After turning the headlight switch off then back on both headlights began working. However, after 10 minutes both went out again. Ever since then, it is always a guess as to which headlight, if any, will work at dusk. Sometimes they will both work for about a week before quitting. I was given an odi# of 10453541.

Headligh and tail lights failed to work at start up, after a while the highbeams did work so car could be driving home. Later that evening everything worked fine at startup.

See all problems of the 2009 Toyota Prius 🔎.

Headlights failed. Lights went completely out (both sides) while on high beams while driving on a rural windy road. I could have been killed! I had to pull over when they went out and I was driving on a rural windy road with lots of deer. I called my husband and he had me turn on my fog lamps to get home. My lights then only worked on low beams, but then with in a few days the passenger low beam goes out after about 5-10 of opperation. Now both, on low beams are going otu after 5-10 minutes of operation - high beams do not work at all. Took to dealerhsip, told me it is the hid lights and would cost over $300 to change both. This is insane!!!!! your agency knows this is a safety problem and has decided to let big corp get away with robbing us. You are just as bad as Toyota for letting them knowingly get away with this and not even warning us owners about this happening. In addition, my rear drivers side tail light is now out and I was pulled over for a fix it ticket. Something is seriously wrong with the Prius and you are covering it up.

I recently noticed that the headlights on my 2007 Toyota Prius have been intermittently turning off while driving at night. I was first alerted to this situation when I received a ticket for driving at night with my lights out. I subsequently noticed that the passenger side light would go out and then more recently I noticed both lights turn off by themselves. In all instances turning the lights off and back on would re-set the lights to stay on (for a while). I also was alerted by other motorists that my tail lights were out - my daughter verified when we got home that the tail lights were off. The tail lights also came back on after turning the lights off and back on again. I took my car in for service and they charged me to replace the headlights & tail lights but did not indicate the cause of the problem. I am very concerned that my tail lights may still not be functioning at any given time and that one of my headlights is also out and both may go out at any time. In all previous cases of the lights going out there was no indication inside the car (warning light etc. . . ) that the lights were off. There is no way to know that the tail lights are out and depending on driving conditions it is not obvious that one, or even both, headlights are out.

I was driving at night on I-75n and another car pulled up beside me and gestured that something was wrong. We both pulled off the interstate and they told me that I had no tail lights and no license plate light. They were afraid that someone would ram me since I had no rear end running lights. I also noticed that my glove compartment light was out. I opened the hatch and then slammed it and the right tail light and license plate lights came back on. I proceed home under flashers in the right hand lane of the interstate. The next day I took it to the cobb county Toyota dealer and they said that all the bulbs were burned out. I asked how could all those lights go out at once and they said it happens. I authorized them to replace all the bulbs. They later contacted me and said that they did not have a replacement bulb for the glove compartment and I told them to forget about that and we could replace it later. The lights are working fine but strangely the glove compartment light started working after they replaced all the other rear lights and that light has faithfully worked to this day even though it was not replaced during the same service call to replaced the "burned out" tail lights and license plate light the brake lights, turn signal and flashers all worked on the evening of 12/20/10 during the time that the tail and license plate lights went out. Having had this happen at high speeds on a busy interstate at night was most upsetting and to have all these lights go out at once seems suspicious, particularly when the glove compartment light was declared as "burned out" by dealer, not replaced and now works perfectly.

See all problems of the 2005 Toyota Prius 🔎.

Had car since new in 2005. Bought an extended service agreement that was prepaid. The car had regular maintenance at manufacturers recommended intervals. The electrical system has been a source of frustration regarding all head and tail lights. The lights fail frequently,especially all rear lights with no warning. Many have been replaced. The headlights are a huge headache. To have the dealer replace the bulbs cost about $250-$300. If there is more than just a bulb replacement, the cost could go as high as $1000+. This is highway robbery.

Headlight and tail light on the passenger side of our 2007 Toyota Prius goes on and then off. We can't depend on the lights to stay on.

High density headlight on passenger side burned out quickly, after only 2+ years of driving. Dealer garage replaced at no cost - since it was still under the full extended warranty. High density headlight on driver side went out while driving. It went back on later that day, and has been intermittent since, but mostly not working. Just started researching replacement bulb prices when I found out how many people have been having this same issue. Passenger side tail light went out. Wiggling the bulb, socket and wiring got the light working again.

See all problems of the 2008 Toyota Prius 🔎.

There are intermittent problems with both headlights and both tail lights on my 2007 Toyota Prius. Bulbs have been replaced but the problem persists. My Prius includes the hid headlamp package. Headlights will appear to work when turned on initially, then one or both will fail while driving or stopped. Failure can be temporarily resolved by turning the lights off and back on. Time to failure is not consistent; failure may occur within 60 seconds or may not happen at all during an hour long drive. The tail lights appear to work randomly. I noticed the driver side tail light was not working, but later found it working and passenger side tail light was not working instead. This problem has resulted in one police traffic stop.

Led brake tail lights too bright. Blind driver behind vehicle at night.

The headlights and tail lights on my 2006 Toyota Prius have been unexpectedly shut off while driving over the past 4 months. It started with the drivers side only and then moved to both lights and now I've been told my tail light flickers also. I can correct the problem temporarily by turning the lights switch off and then on again, but if I make any turns they fail again. This past Saturday night (10/24/09) at 10 pm while on a winding country road I was veering right at about 35 miles per hour when my lights shut off completely and I heard a smack on the right side of my vehicle. I flipped my lights back on immediately and stopped at the same time. I got out of my vehicle and found a woman standing on the side of the road. She said she was fine, but my passenger side mirror hit her elbow/arm. She said she was not really injured and didn't want to call authorities or contact my insurance company. She asked why I turned my lights off when I rounded the corner. I told her I didn't, I had a short in my lighting system. She said I won't press charges, but you need to get those lights fixed.

Both headlight bulbs will go out when the vehicle is hot. It can be one at a time or simultaneously. Additionally both tail light bulbs stopped working approximately 1 week prior. When the rear bulbs were replaced the headlight problem seemed to worsen.

I have noticed for some time now allot of Toyota Prius cars driving in dark conditions with no headlights on. The tail lights are on but no headlights. This would suggest to me that there is a manual headlight switch or else different parameters for the head and tail lights. As for the reason, I believe to conserve power on the electric batteries. If the driver is in control of the headlights this control should be taken away. It is rare in this day and age for a manual headlamp switch even on the most basic cars, so I believe Toyota was fully aware of what they were doing and what the drivers were likely to do. But yet Toyota made sure they were legally covered with the tail lights. After all if the driver hits a car or pedestrian its the drivers fault but if Toyota Prius cars suddenly start getting rear ended, its Toyota's fault. If the headlamp is not in control of the driver why the difference in timing when they come on? I would suggest again to conserve power and make their cars go farther on electric power at the expense of public safety. I am writing this primarily from a pedestrian point of view because I am a runner and have had a couple of semi close calls because of the headlight issue and one closer call because they are so quiet.

I have a 2006 Prius with hid headlights. The car has approximately 60,000 miles on it and the headlights will go off intermittently. If one goes out, I can turn the lights off, then back on and they will both work. My concern is if they both go off at an inopportune time. Also, the driving tail lights react the same way. Sometimes they work, sometimes they do not. I have read this article as well. . . . Read more...

Right rear tail light keeps going out. I have had it replaced or replaced it myself 7 times in the past 3 years with extended life units. It has been the only unit to go out in my vehicle. I have also noticed other Toyota Prius with the same tail light out in the past year and a half to two years. In six of those incidences, I was ticketed by the police.

2007 Prius problems - headlights and tail lights unexpectedly and randomly shut off. I can get the tail lights to come back on by mildly smacking the side panel near the light. I've checked the bulb connections and they are clean and tight with no exposed or loose wires. The only way to get the headlights to come back on is to turn off the headlights and turn them back on. Toyota dealer says they can\'t repeat the problem. My wife and I are going to take video on the next occurrence. We have subsequently been paying attention to other Prius on the road. Quite a few are driving with one or both tail lights out! I also note that there are many complaints about this problem on-line. This is a safety defect. Toyota needs to take responsibility and stop messing around with owners!.

Tail light and both headlights went out within a few weeks of each other. Folsom lake Toyota charged by $450. 00 to replace the first bulb that I purchased 4 weeks later from napa auto parts for $93. 00. Folsom lake Toyota claims they ran a diagnostic and that there are no electrical problems four weeks before second headlight and license plate bulb went out.

Hid headlights turn off intermittently. Problem first occurred in early 2009 and a Toyota dealer replaced both headlights (one had stopped working and dealer stated the other had issues). Problem reoccurred late 2011, with either light sometimes not working, but then re-lighting by itself. Usually, turning the headlights off and back on manually will resolve the issue for a time. Also, both of the tail lights will sometimes stop working. Usually, if I take the cover off from the inside and turn the light socket (where it snaps into the plastic molding) the light will turn back on. Unfortunately, I can't tell how often I am driving with one or both tail lights not functioning, as I don't look at the back of the car often. I have found them non-functioning 3 times in the last 3 months, and each time the bulb was fine and began working when I turned the socket back and forth.

My hid headlamps cut in and out. My tail lights cut in and out. I've got a Toyota extended care warranty. I've already had several tail lights replaced by the dealer. This is a safety issue and a defect. Toyota should have a recall because of the defective lighting systems in their hid equipped cars.

Head lights & tail lights turn off intermittently in 2006 Prius. Procedure: start car turn on headlights wait one or both lights go off turn off lights turn on lights lights are back on. Repeat above. . .

-the contact owns a 2005 Toyota pruis. The contact stated that the tail and headlights intermittently fail. A reduction of visibility due to head-lamp failure increases the risk of vehicle crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the technicians were unable to identify the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The failure and current mileages were 189,000.

I bought a 2007 Toyota Prius on August 1, 2007. I didn't have any issues with my car until August of 2008 when I started having issues with my headlights and tail lights (they would go off and then when I turned the lights off and flipped back on, they would come back on again). Twice while driving at night, all of my lights went out (headlights, tail lights and dash board lights)! I brought car into dealer and they didn't know what was wrong but replaced the headlights (to the tune of $1200 a piece). I didn't have trouble with my headlights after than until this year (August of 2009). My passenger headlight is going out and then flipping back on for a bit (although the bulb seems dull) when I turn lights off and then back on again. The problem is they won't stay on and it seems insane to pay $2400 a year for what obviously seems to be a vehicle defect; not to mention the safety issue of only having 1 headlight that works or tail light and dashboard lights going out while driving at night!.

I purchased my Prius new. I have had a chronic & constant issue with my head lights & tail lights not working properly. I have had this issue checked by mechanics and have been told this is a "Toyota electrical issue". There is no problem with the bulbs or components that can be found by mechanics. This is a dangerous problem, and occurs randomly without notice. My head lights or tail lights just "go out". . . Any time, anywhere! I have spoken with other Toyota Prius owners (other years too), and they have the same problems.

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the bulbs blow out each month in the headlights and tail lights. The bulbs were replaced three times each. The current mileage was 91,000 and failure mileage was 3,000.

My 2007 Toyota Prius was purchased new, and within a year, I began experiencing intermittent problems with my hid headlights. My driver side headlight would flicker, then go out -- only to turn back on if I completely turned the lights off & back on again. Toyota replaced that one after I complained that I had only had my car a year, and these bulbs were supposed to be "long-lasting. " now, my passenger side headlight is doing the exact same thing. This time, Toyota said that they would not pay to replace the second headlight, and it would cost almost $500 -- for one light! one month later, after the 2nd headlight began working intermittently, now my driver side tail light has stopped working as well. I have never had so many lights go out on a car that I have driven ever -- especially one that is just now 2 years old!! I am extremely frustrated, and feel that my electrical system on the auto is completely unreliable and unsafe.