2007 Toyota Prius Electrical System

TOTAL DASH BOARD FAILURE.....DESIGN IS COMPOSITE SO ALL INSTRUMENTS GO DARK EXCEPT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH IS THE LEAST OF A SAFETY ISSUE...INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOULD HAVE SEPARATE CIRCUITS SO SAFETY ISN'T DEPENDENT ON ANY SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE. *TR

WHEN I STARTED MY PRIUS AND THE DASH LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON (FUEL GAUGE, MILEAGE, SPEEDOMETER ETC). I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE BACKUP CAMERA PICTURE DID NOT APPEAR ON THE SCREEN. THE SCREEN WAS ON BUT CONTINUED TO SHOW THE CONSUMPTION SCREEN. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND HIT THE POWER BUTTON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN POWER OFF. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THEN PARK AND REVERSE THEN PARK SEVERAL TIMES HITTING THE POWER BUTTON AFTER EACH TRY AND THE CAR EVENTUALLY POWERED OFF. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND HEADED TO THE GOLF COURSE AND CALLED TOYOTA AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE SAME DAY. THE NEXT TIME I GOT IN THE CAR (ABOUT 4 HOURS LATER) THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND I DROVE HOME AND THE CAR POWERED OFF NORMALLY. I CANCELLED THE APPOINTMENT AT TOYOTA FOR NOW AND WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT SHE HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

IN 2010 (APPROXIMATELY), THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY OF MY PRIUS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT DISPLAY WHEN THE CAR WAS FIRST STARTED. THIS CONDITION MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW HOW FAST THE CAR IS GOING, HOW MUCH FUEL THERE IS, ETC. I VISITED DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND NO ONE CLAIMED TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THAT TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS VERY ISSUE IN 2009! (T-SB-0172-09). I'VE ALSO SINCE LEARNED (DUE TO MY OWN RESEARCH) THAT THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IS A FAULTY COMBINATION METER (AS PER THE TOYOTA SB). ONE INDEPENDENT GARAGE IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA HAS EVEN STARTED A BLOG ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEING SO MANY REPAIRS FOR THIS CONDITION! IT IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES IN MY CAR TODAY (I'VE JUST DISCOVERED THE POTENTIAL FIX OF REPLACING THE COMBINATION METER). IN ADDITION TO THE DASH DISPLAY NOT WORKING, OFTEN OTHER ISSUES, SUCH AS THE ENGINE NOT TURNING OFF, KEY NOT RELEASING FROM IGNITION, AND REAR HATCH NOT RELEASING ARE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA ADMITS IN ITS SB THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY COMPUTER DESIGN FROM ONE OF ITS SUPPLIERS BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE. NHTSA SHOULD FORCE TOYOTA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS THE PROBLEM HAPPENS NOT ONLY AT START-UP, BUT SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING. LOSING SPEEDOMETER VISIBILITY IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE; AS IS NOT BEING ABLE TO DISENGAGE POWER IN THE NORMAL FASHION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY (US 101 SOUTHBOUND IN MARIN COUNTY CAAT 8:30 AM), DRY WEATHER 60 DEG F. ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT BLACK (SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE AND OTHER INDICATOR LIGHTS ALL QUIT PROVIDING READINGS) AND THE ENERGY MONITOR SCREEN PANEL, WHILE STILL LIT, QUIT PROVIDING DATA (THE MILES SHOWN ON THIS PANEL WERE STUCK AT 107). THEREFORE, NO SPEEDOMETER READINGS WERE AVAILABLE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING THE PRIUS OFF WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION--DEPRESSED AND HELD POWER BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE AND AUTO IN "PARK". RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONING KEPT RUNNING, DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE ENERGY MONITOR STILL SHOWED BACKGROUND INFORMATION. OTHERWISE, PRIUS DROVE NORMALLY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED IN LAST TWO WEEKS. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, HOLDING POWER BUTTON DOWN FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, I FINALLY DID GET THE PRIUS TO SHUT OFF. AND, WHEN RESTARTED, THE DASHBOARD APPEARED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. NOT HAVING DASHBOARD INDICATORS WHILE DRIVING IS DISTURBING, BUT AUTO COULD BE OPERATED. NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN VEHICLE OFF IS MORE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL PRIUS WAS NOT SHUT DOWN (THE FAN CONTINUES RUNNING WHEN THE CAR SHUTS DOWN NORMALLY AND ELECTRIC MOTOR IS ALMOST SILENT)--MY INDICATION WAS THAT THE RADIO WAS STILL ON AND AIR CONDITIONING WAS STILL RUNNING. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN IN DRIVE, IT COULD HAVE TAKEN OFF AS ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS STILL ON (I TESTED WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS PECULIAR THAT RADIO WAS STILL ON). *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER HAD TO CALL AAA FOR EMERGENCY ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER TO THE RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE, HE WAS HANDED A REPAIR CHARGE OF OVER $ 5,300. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS INCORRECTLY JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE INCORRECT PROCEDURE IN ATTEMPTING TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE LEAD TO A MAIN FUSE FAILURE AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE INVERTER-CONVERTER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,500.

THE BACK DOOR OPENER (HATCH BACK) COMPLETELY MELTED STARTING IN JULY. THE BACK TARRY SUBSTANCE GETS ON MY HANDS WHEN I'M TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR.. IN ADDITION, I CANNOT CONSISTENTLY OPEN THE BACK HATCH - ANOTHER DOOR NEEDS TO BE OPEN FOR THE BACK HATCH TO OPEN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UPPER COATING OF THE REAR HATCH MELTED AND THE HATCH WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR THE DOOR HATCH MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE ELECTRIC SWITCH REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE BECAUSE THE REAR HATCH COULD NOT OPEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 11/16/11*LJ UPDATED 11/30/11

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES EXPERIENCE OF DIFFICULTIES WITH A LOW BATTERY, RESULTING IN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTING-UP WITH RED FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS; BRAKES, ABS AND VSC, SOUNDING OF A BUZZING INDICATOR AND THE CAR SHUTTING OFF *TGW A DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED MULTIPLE LOW VOLTAGE CODES FOR THE AUXILIARY BATTERY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE AUXILIARY BATTERY WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE INITIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKES AND TO POWER THE COMPUTER TO START THE VEHICLE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, PROCEEDING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHILE COMING FROM A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED; THE PEDAL WAS NON RESPONSIVE. THE CONSUMER TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME OPERABLE. IN ADDITION, ON A SEPARATE OCCASION TRAVELING AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND HE ADVISED HER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR DETECT ANY DIAGNOSTIC CODES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE CURRENT WAS 15,500. UPDATED 08/03/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. WHEN SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. SHE TRIED SHIFTING INTO DRIVE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THERE WAS STILL NO RESPONSE. UPDATED 09/02/10*JB

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF FOR NO REASON. WE HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 58K MILES ON IT. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, WE'VE NOTICED THE HEAD LAMPS GOING OFF AND COMING BACK ON. THIS IS HAPPENING ON BOTH SIDES INTERMITTENTLY. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE DARK THE OTHER MORNING AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT ONCE. SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT AND TURN THEM BACK ON TO RESTORE HER ROAD VISION. THEY STAYED ON FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN THE LEFT ONE WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE CAR IS NOW AT COURTESY TOYOTA IN BRANDON, FL AND I'M BEING TOLD THE "BALLASTS" AND THE HEAD LIGHT BULBS NEED REPLACING. THIS REPAIR IS COSTING US OVER 400.00. TOYOTA CLAIMS IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND THERE ARE NO EXISTING RECALLS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHOUT WARNING ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON INCLUDING THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. TOYOTA STATED THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN ORDER TO PERFORM AN INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38000.

ON DECEMBER 26, 2009, WHEN OUR CAR WAS PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF OUR GARAGE, MY HUSBAND NOTICED THE CAR DID NOT HAVE THE USUAL BEEPING WHEN BACKING UP. LESS THAN A BLOCK FROM OUR HOME, HE NOTICED THE DISPLAY PANEL WITH THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, SHIFT INDICATOR, ETC. WAS BLACK. THE DIMMER SWITCH WOULD NOT BRING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BACK ON. HOWEVER, THE DISPLAY IN THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE CONTROL, MPG, ETC. WAS WORKING. HE TURNED AROUND AND RETURNED HOME. WHEN HOME HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF. AFTER MANY TRIES, WE WERE EVENTUALLY ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF BY HOLDING DOWN THE POWER BUTTON FOR AN EXTENDED TIME--MUCH LONGER THAN USUALLY NEEDED. WHEN WE RESTARTED THE CAR, EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ON DECEMBER 28, 2009 I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND IT WAS UNLIKELY THEY WOULD FIND WHAT WENT WRONG WHEN THE CAR WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD NOT TO TURN OFF THE CAR WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONED. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR WHEN I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER AND WHEN IT WAS OBVIOUS THE ELECTRONICS WAS NOT PERFORMING PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD I COULD HAVE THE CAR TOWED IF NECESSARY. I ASKED TO HAVE MY INCIDENT INCLUDED IN OUR FILE. ON FEBRUARY 4 AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE RECALLS, I DECIDED TO CALL OUR DEALER TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD A RECORD OF OUR INCIDENT. I WAS TOLD THE INCIDENT WAS NOT ON RECORD. I WAS TOLD THAT IF I HAD A PROBLEM, I SHOULD BRING THE CAR IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT. I ASKED THAT FOR NOW, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE OUR INCIDENT DOCUMENTED IN OUR FILE. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO PUT THE INFORMATION IN OUR FILE. I SUGGESTED THEY JUST SAY THE CUSTOMER REPORTED THE INCIDENT AND THEY COULD NOT VERIFY IT. AGAIN, HE SAID HE WOULD NOT DO THAT. IF I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, I SHOULD BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT. HOW CAN THEY FIND A FIX WHEN THEY WILL NOT DOCUMENT PROBLEMS? *TW

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION. THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AS A RESULT OF A DEAD BATTERY. THE ENGINE FUNCTIONED AFTER A JUMP-STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WITH AN ESTIMATION OF FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES. A SPECIALIST DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS A LEMON. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, BUT TESTED GOOD, THE TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY WAS INOPERABLE DUE TO A LOOSE CONNECTION AT THE REAR OF THE MULTI DISPLAY/ HATCH AREA. A SHORT WIRE WAS FOUND. THE BATTERY DIED FIVE MORE TIMES DUE TO A SHORT. THE HEADLIGHT BULBS HAD TO BE REPLACED, DUE TO THEM GOING OUT AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR. THE HID MODULE HAD AN INTERMITTENT SHORT. *JB

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, FOR TWO YEARS WHEN THE CAR IS NOT GARAGED THE ELECTRONICS ACTS UP BY NOT DISPLAYING ANYTHING! NO DISPLAYS WILL ILLUMINATE. IF YOU DRIVE IT A WHILE, THE NEXT TIME YOU TURN IT OFF IT MIGHT CORRECT ITSELF. THIS OCCURRED SPORADICALLY THE MAIN FACTOR WAS I WASN'T AT HOME TO HAVE IT GARAGED. NOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IS BESIDES JUST THE DISPLAY, IT ALSO WILL NOT SHUT OFF! I HAD TO LEAVE IT RUNNING AND GO TO WORK, MY HUSBAND CAME AND KEPT PRESSING THE POWER BUTTON UNTIL IT WOULD RESPOND. I HAVE TALKED TO ANOTHER 2007 PRIUS OWNER AND THIS HAS HAPPEN TO THEM ALSO. NOW I HEAR THAT THE CAUSE OF TOYOTA WOES MAYBE THE MAIN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHAT THE TOYOTA DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACE TO STOP MY PROBLEM! *TR

EXPERIENCED BLACK OUT ON FREEWAY, LIGHTS BOTH SHUT OFF. AT TIMES DRIVER SIDE WILL TURN ON OFF, FOLLOWED BY THE PASSENGER SIDE, YOU HAVE TO FLICKER ON THE LIGHTS TO TURN THEM ON AGAIN. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA. *TR

MY 07 PRIUS WHICH I RARELY DRIVE AT NIGHT IS SUFFERING FROM SPONTANEOUS OUTAGE OF THE HID HEADLAMPS WITH LESS THAN 65000 MILES ON IT. WORSE, I AM TOLD THE 100,000 MILE PLATINUM WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR, WHICH MIGHT COST ME UP TO $1000 FOR BOTH LAMPS. THIS IS ABSURD. THIS IS A HIDDEN DEFECT, AND CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE HEADLIGHTS DIM INTERMITTENTLY, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED NOT COMING ON AT ALL, WHEN I WOULD TURN THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON IT WOULD COME ON, NOW IT IS OUT COMPLETELY. *TR

WE HAVE REPEATEDLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH ALL OF THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ON THE DASH NOT WORKING ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS COLD. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS WE HAVE NO SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE OR GEAR INDICATOR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN WHEN IT IS COLD OR RAINING BUT THERE IS NO PREDICTOR OTHER THAN A COLD TEMPERATURE. IT HAS OFTEN HAPPENED AT NIGHT, AND WE HAVE HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR DARK. T HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALER 5 TIMES FOR REPAIRS AND STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE ARE VERY UNHAPPY WITH OUR TOYOTA AND WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 47K MILES. IT LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR BARELY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A LITTLE WHILE, IT RESTARTED. THE WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED THERE WAS NO GAS BUT THE TANK WAS FULL. THE SCREEN ALSO SHOWED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE DEALER SAYS THE CAR CHECKS OUT. *TR

MY HEAD LIGHTS IN MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS TURN OFF FOR NO REASON. SOMETIMES IT IS JUST THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT BUT MORE RECENTLY IT IS BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE ORIGINAL LIGHTS WERE FAULTY AND THAT THERE IS A NEW BULB (2ND GENERATION) THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY WANT $587 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT THEY ADMITTED THAT WAS FAULTY. I HAVE HAD IT INTO REPAIR SHOPS THAT TELL ME THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM ITS THE COMPUTER AND THE DEALER TELLS ME ITS NOT THE COMPUTER. THIS STARTED IN EARLY 2008. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ACROSS COUNTRY BOSTON TO SEATTLE IN JUNE, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT ON MY 2007 PRIUS FLICKERED AND WENT OUT. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS WORKING OK, BUT THE FOLLOWING DAY I NOTICED IT WENT OUT AGAIN, DURING THE DAY. I STOPPED IN DULUTH TO GET AN OIL CHANGE, (KOLAR TODAYOTA INVOICE 210740) AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE HEADLIGHTS. THEY REPORTED "HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING AT THE TIME." THEREAFTER THE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. CYCLING THE POWER WOULD SOMETIMES BRING IT BACK ON. WHEN I GOT BACK TO SEATTLE, I TOOK THE CAR IN AND HAD THE HEADLIGHT REPLACED AT A COST OF $288 (TOYOTA OF BELIEVE INVOICE OCS561092) AT 48,260 MILES. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE LEFT HEADLIGHT STARTED ACTING UP IN THE SAME MANNER, AND I WAS RECENTLY PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE FOR DRIVING WITH ONE HEADLIGHT OUT. *TR

I OWNED A 2007 PRIUS AND LATELY IT HAS THESE PROBLEMS. THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING MORE OFTEN THAN THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT. ON SEVERAL OCCASION, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ON IT'S OWN DURING DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN LEAD TO DEATH IF DRIVERS WERE NEARS HAZARDOUS ROAD SUCH AS CALIFORNIA HWY 1 WHERE DRIVERS CAN FALL OFF THE CLIFF ON TURNS WITH SUDDEN HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. TO RESET THE LIGHTS BY TURN OFF AND ON AGAIN BUT THE PROBLEM REPEAT WITH ONE LIGHT GOES OUT EVERY 5 MINUTES WHILE DRIVING. I THINK TOYOTA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GOT SERIOUS INJURY FROM THIS CLEARLY A FLAW IN DESIGN. STEVE *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A FAMILIAR ROAD WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. MY CAR IS A 2007 PRIUS. IN TALKING TO A REPAIRMAN AT THE SHOP I DISCOVERED THAT HIGH INTENSITY (AND HIGH HEAT) BULBS WOULD STOP WORKING WITHOUT ANY WARNING IF THE BULBS BECAME TOO HOT. IF THEY WERE TURNED OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS THEY WOULD COOL OFF AND WORK AGAIN. AS A RESULT I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN THE BULBS ARE GOING TO GO OFF. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH BOTH BULBS APPEARED TO BE WORKING, THE FACT THAT THEY HAD BOTH STOPPED WORKING INDICATED THAT THEY MUST HAVE AN INTERNAL SHORT AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE SAME TYPE OF BULB, WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AT A COST OF $807.00. THE ONLY REASON I AM ALIVE TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT IS BECAUSE I WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF A FAMILIAR ROAD, AND THERE WERE OTHER CARS AROUND. I TURNED MY LIGHTS FOR 30 SECONDS AND THEN TURNED THEM BACK ON. AT LEAST ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON SO I COULD CONTINUE HOME. I REQUESTED HEADLIGHTS THAT WOULD NOT GO OFF AND ON WITHOUT WARNING HOWEVER SO FAR TOYOTA HAS ONLY OFFERED TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS WITH THE SAME UNRELIABLE HEADLIGHTS. *TR