Headlight problem

[Atoyotaprius]

Thanks Timotheos.

[Atoyotaprius]

Well, there are now nearly 500 Toyota Prius HID headlight related complaints on the NHTSA website. But the NHTSA has still not opened an investigation nor have they started the recall process. Please take a moment to mail, email or call the NHTSA Deputy Administrator and request that he open an investigation into the defective Prius HID headlights. Please feel free to copy and edit the letter below.

NHTSA Contact information: Contact Info | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) | U.S. Department of Transportation

Ronald Medford, Acting NHTSA Deputy Administrator
NHTSA Headquarters
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
West Building
Washington, DC 20590

Toll-Free: 1-888-327-4236

Email: https://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/email.cfm

An open letter to Ronald Medford, Acting NHTSA Deputy Administrator

Dear Mr. Medford,

There are nearly 500 NHTSA registered complaints regarding sudden loss of headlights on the 2005-2008 HID headlight equipped Toyota Prius automobiles. These complaints all describe an identical defect in the headlight systems of these cars: one or both headlights will unexpectedly shut off while driving the automobile. Clearly, having one or both headlights unexpectedly shut off while driving, especially at night, is a serious safety issue. In addition to the almost 500 registered NHTSA complaints there are hundreds of internet forum posts documenting the Toyota Prius HID loss of headlights issue. The NHTSA registered complaints and the forum posts provide a wealth of data describing the problem including: accounts of suddenly having both headlights shut off while driving at night in traffic, Toyota’s inability to provide a definitive overall fix, Toyota service department’s failed attempts to correct the problem on individual cars, consumers paying for parts and service that do not correct the problem, consumers being forced to call Toyota corporate in order to get at least partial reimbursement on the up to $1,800 repair costs, repairs that last only few thousand miles, etc.

The combined information provided by the NHTSA complaints and the forum posts clearly indicate that the Toyota Prius HID headlights are either defective in design, contain defective parts, or suffer from defective workmanship. Yet, in spite of this overwhelming evidence of a HID equipped Toyota Prius safety defect, as of early April 2009, it does not appear that the NHTSA has opened an investigation.

Mr. Medford, is the NHTSA a proactive or a reactive organization? Will the NHTSA open an investigation now or wait until after someone suffers serious injury or death in an accident caused by these defective headlights? I’m requesting that your organization not wait. Act now and open an investigation into the sudden loss of headlights on the 2005-2008 HID headlight equipped Toyota Prius.

Thank you.

[yorkeyng]

I have a 2006 with 57,000 miles; needless to say, the warranty is out. I began experiencing the headlight problem soon after I bought the car but it wasn't consistent enough to bring it to the attention of the dealer (since I doubted I could replicate it on demand). Of course, after the warranty ran out, it started happening all the time, always with the right light. I contacted Toyota via their website and, despite being out of warranty, they agreed to replace the light if I paid for labor. Just got back from the dealer yesterday (if you're in the Bay Area, it was Downtown Toyota in Oakland) and they decided to replace BOTH lights. Total cost: $42. (The guy said the lights would have cost $180, EACH.)

Anyway, my point is, just because your warranty it out doesn't mean you're out of luck! Contact Toyota, explain the issue (they're well aware of the headlight problem), and hopefully they'll replace yours too! Bring up this post if necessary (I linked this thread to the email I sent them) for proof that they've done this before.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by MacDude

Ah shoot. My car has 50K miles on it (in two years)

I guess I have to do the DIY approach. :\

[seasidetraveler]

May I ask where and how you wrote to them on the website? I would like to get mine resolved if it really is that inexpensive!!

Originally Posted by yorkeyng

I have a 2006 with 57,000 miles; needless to say, the warranty is out. I began experiencing the headlight problem soon after I bought the car but it wasn't consistent enough to bring it to the attention of the dealer (since I doubted I could replicate it on demand). Of course, after the warranty ran out, it started happening all the time, always with the right light. I contacted Toyota via their website and, despite being out of warranty, they agreed to replace the light if I paid for labor. Just got back from the dealer yesterday (if you're in the Bay Area, it was Downtown Toyota in Oakland) and they decided to replace BOTH lights. Total cost: $42. (The guy said the lights would have cost $180, EACH.)

Anyway, my point is, just because your warranty it out doesn't mean you're out of luck! Contact Toyota, explain the issue (they're well aware of the headlight problem), and hopefully they'll replace yours too! Bring up this post if necessary (I linked this thread to the email I sent them) for proof that they've done this before.

Good luck!

[yorkeyng]

I just went to toyota.com and clicked on the CONTACT US link on the bottom of the page. They got back to me right away via email and then followed up with phone calls from a representative that had been assigned to my case. All-in-all the process took about 2 weeks to resolve so it's a quick process. This is what I wrote them:

__________________________________________

Hi! I have a 2006 Prius package 6 with the HID headlights. I have been experiencing an issue with the right headlight ever since I purchased the vehicle--it would randomly go out, which I would notice in the reflection from the vehicle ahead. If I turn the lights off and back on, the light returns, however, it may or may not go back out. I read on priuschat.com that many others, particularly 2006 owners, have this problem also, and that Toyota is aware of it. Since my vehicle is now out of warranty, I was wondering if it was possible to still get this fixed since it's a safety issue. It appears that you did so for one of the priuschat posters so I was hoping you'd do the same for me, thanks!

Here's the link to the post I'm referring to:

http://priuschat.com/forums/care-mai...tml#post587328

THANK YOU!!!

__________________________________________

Hope that helps! Let me know if you need more info.

Originally Posted by seasidetraveler

May I ask where and how you wrote to them on the website? I would like to get mine resolved if it really is that inexpensive!!

[Atoyotaprius]

All -

The NHTSA has opened an official investigation into the Prius HID Headlight failure issue. The NHTSA Action Number is PE09019. You can look it up on the NHTSA website at this link: ODI - Office of Defects Investigation

Here's the current information from the NHTSA website:

NHTSA Recall Campaign Number: PE09019
Make: TOYOTA
Model: PRIUS
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
Year: 2006-2007
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS

Date Investigation Opened: April 17, 2009
Date Investigation Closed: Open

Summary:
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM PRIUS OWNERS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THE REPORTS ALSO STATE THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED (112 REPORTS) RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION WHILE DRIVING. REPORTS ALSO INDICATE THAT FAILURE OCCURS WITH NO WARNING.

Hopefully the NHTSA will follow though and initiate a recall.

[KTPhil]

Pleae correct the Action number in the body of your post. It is missing a zero, causing the search on the NHTSA page to fail.

[KTPhil]

Also, the 2005 model year should be a part of the recall. I have an early 2005, bought in late 2004, and both lights failed, requiring total system replacement on both sides. Do not believe the story that this problem started in 2006.

The complaint should be modified to include 2005. If you also have a 2005 that has had the problem, file a complaint, or a large number of owners will be left out of the expected recall.

[Atoyotaprius]

Thanks KTPhil - I added the missing zero.

[Bsacavag]

Has anyone just said the heck with it and convert the HID headlights to halogen? I have this ongoing "lights out" and can't stand paying thousands for a "maybe" fix. What would be involved with switching back to halogens? I know it would take a new headlight assembly as the bases of the bulbs are different but those aftermarket assemblies go for $150 each. Then just switching out the wiring but that's where I'm stuck and hoping someone may have tried this and could let me know.