Headlight complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 33% | 1,000 miles |
| 2025 | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2024 | 4 | 15% | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 4% | 0 miles |
| 2018 | 5 | 14% | 25,000 miles |
| 2017 | 2 | 2% | 2,000 miles |
| 2016 | 3 | 2% | 31,000 miles |
| 2015 | 7 | 4% | 75,000 miles |
| 2014 | 6 | 3% | 29,000 miles |
| 2013 | 12 | 3% | 55,000 miles |
| 2012 | 36 | 8% | 80,000 miles |
| 2011 | 49 | 9% | 69,000 miles |
| 2010 | 150 | 5% | 65,000 miles |
| 2009 | 111 | 22% | 80,000 miles |
| 2008 | 583 | 39% | 57,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1,061 | 53% | 50,000 miles |
| 2006 | 941 | 65% | 49,000 miles |
| 2005 | 346 | 33% | 101,000 miles |
| 2004 | 184 | 30% | 105,000 miles |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% | 68,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 2% | 104,000 miles |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Background: Nothing failed or malfunctioned. There is no incident. This reports describes a design defect that puts the driver at risk. The dealer has acknowledged that the cars performs this way and says it cannot be fixed. Toyota customer service says this is how the car operates and short of a recall will do nothing about it. Problem: When the headlights are turned on, the dash and screen become so dim that they are only visible at night. If it is necessary to turn the lights on during the day, the screen and dash are too dim to read. There needs to be some way to set the brightness such that it overrides the nighttime setting. Driving with the lights on all the time is considered safer (and it is the law if it is raining out). This defect means the driver has to choose between having the lights on and being able to consistently see the dash and screen.
My Prius suddenly malfunctions and goes berserk randomly. No other way to describe it. I've taken it into the dealer twice, and I'm not confident I'm driving a safe car. I've not done anything to the car and it has not been in an accident. It's unclear why it does it. When it has an episode it is not safe to drive, won't turn on and won't turn off. The alarm goes crazy. Nothing works, all the dash lights turn on. I have videos. This has happened about five times and I've been called back from the dealer to pick it up. I"m not confident it is safe to drive, and I don't think Toyota is taking my concerns seriously. The vehicle has about 7400 miles and is otherwise pristine. All service is up to date. It is a lease.
The automatic high beams will occasionally fail to operate and are stuck in low beams until about 2 minutes have passed, or until the automatic high beams switch is turned off to disable the system. This seems to be a software issue, as it seems to occur when an approaching vehicle passes by with bright lights. When this happens, all high beams are disabled for a couple of minutes, even if the high beam lever is switched to low beams and back to high.
Both taillamps holding moisture. Could cause electrical issues or fire. .. same year and model car have same reported issues and were fixed by manufacturer. This vehicle is the same but different level.
The headlights are either too bright or aimed poorly that it blinds oncoming traffic, who frequently flash their high beams at me. This occurs without any load in back and without me using the high beams. Can Toyota either adjust the bulbs or place a film on the headlights to prevent blinding oncoming traffic? Thank you!
Condensation building up in passenger side headlight. The car has only 31,200 miles. Not cracks visible from outside on headlight assembly. Condensation distorts the light beam and dimming the light intensity.
My vehicle has an ongoing issue with the headlights not being bright enough to drive at night with. I have replaced the headlights more than 5 times now over the course of a year, each time with different brands including Toyota OEM headlights. Each time, they are still not sufficiently bright enough to see with at night. This has led to 3 collisions with curbs and objects which caused damage to my vehicle, because I could not see the objects while having to drive at night. I have brought the issue up to Toyota and they said they would not do anything about it. I brought it in for service to Toyota and they tried to charge me $200 to even look at it, money which I do not have. I am forced to continue driving at night for work and fear I will get into a more serious crash or hit a pedestrian as the headlights aren't bright enough to see safely at night. …
The headlight bulbs keep going out. I have replaced the bulbs at least 2-3 times a year for the past few years. I have asked dealers about this and they tell me there is no recall or tsb. This is a hazard to night driving because of decreased illumination, especially in dark roads with not enough lighting. Please recall/fix this issue!!
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
Certain passenger vehicles May be equipped with an improperly designed brake light switch. A silicon oxide build-up occurs on the contacts inside the brake light switch, which can make it inoperable.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake light switch. The recall began during December 2004. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA investigations
Headlight failure
Odi opened this investigation after receiving reports that both headlights would go out, or extinguish while driving.the subject vehicles are equipped with high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps that operate on independent lamps and ECU's (electronic control units) for each headlight, meaning that each headlight runs independently of the other, and a failure in one lamp or ECU does not necessarily result in a…
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Prius years have headlight problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (1,061), 2006 (941), 2008 (583), 2005 (346) and 2004 (184) model years. Headlight complaints make up 53% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Toyota Prius headlight problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 04V-558 (switch, Nov 22, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Toyota Prius headlight problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles; 41% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the headlights (287 mentions), followed by the brake lights (5).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.