Toyota stung by possible Prius headlight defect?
2007 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
We'd wager that the last thing Toyota wants in the midst of the super-important launch of its new third-generation Prius is a negative stigma attached to the previous model. Unfortunately, that's exactly what the Japanese automaker may have on its hands as a number of owners of the 2005-2008 Toyota Prius with the HID headlight option are banding together on online forums, message boards and in possible class action lawsuits against the automaker in relation to failing headlamps.
According to Advertising Age, these HID headlight bulbs and their associated electronics can sometimes cost well over $1,000 to replace after they've gone faulty, and Toyota is unwilling to pick up the tab. At least one lawsuit has reportedly been filed last month by Girard Gibbs in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on behalf of a Putnam County, N.Y., Prius owner. The suit contends that the problem is a "dangerous but undisclosed safety defect" and alleges that "Toyota is concealing the problems from owners" despite having been "long been aware of Prius' HID headlight problem." It's possible that the suit will get class-action status.
The NHTSA has reportedly filed a preliminary investigation into the issue and contacted Toyota on May 13 regarding 338 complaints it has received so far from Prius owners about the HID headlamps. Spokesmen from Toyota have said the automaker is cooperating with the NHTSA investigation, which may or may not end up calling for an official recall.
Gallery: Review: 2007 Toyota Prius Touring
[Source: Advertising Age]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Vizel 1:39PM (7/01/2009)
It's just headlamps... not a major engine or transmission reliability problems... I don't think people will mind at all... as long as this doesn't repeat in the new on they just released. Although if you are driving on the mountain range highways and suddenly your HID goes out you ARE pretty screwed. =(...
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Torrent 1:45PM (7/01/2009)
Toyota's "Bumper-To-Bumper" warranty:
***does not include headlights, foglights, oil sludge buildup, tailgates, transmissions, engines, or rotting framerails.***
well doesnt that suck.
tuxchown 1:45PM (7/01/2009)
You mean like this?
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/01/toyota_sludge_settlement.html
John P. 1:54PM (7/01/2009)
"just headlamps"
yeah, people rarely need those anyway.
the4thheat 2:08PM (7/01/2009)
This whole thing is blown out of proportion. The retarded $1000 cost is mostly because the dealerships selling official toyota branded HID bulbs charge hundreds of dollars for them. So replacing two bulbs costs almost $1000.
You can just go to any auto parts store and get the same bulbs for about $100 each, they're just HID-D4R bulbs.
My headlight went out on my car and I didn't take it in to the dealership to ask how much they wanted to replace it. I'm sure if I had done that they'd have wanted a ridiculous amount to unscrew and pop out the old bulb and pop in a new $8 bulb.
And if the ballast or something similar breaks it most definitely would be covered under the warranty as long as the car is under warranty. The problem is that the actual bulbs are going bad and HID bulbs cost significantly more than regular bulbs. Previously the only cars that had HIDs also had owners that didn't mind spending $800 replace the bulbs but when economy car owners take it to the dealership they get sticker shock.
So these idiots need to stop taking it to the dealer. Did they expect bulbs to never wear out or something?
Jim 2:14PM (7/01/2009)
"It's just headlamps... not a major engine or transmission reliability problems... "
it doesn't really matter. In my experience, people in general don't get rid of their car because of a major mechanical breakdown (e.g. engine or trans grenaded,) it's when the car starts nickel-and-diming them to death. You know, "damn, I just paid $900 for struts and now I need an $800 A/C compressor?" and so on.
with rare exception, engines and transmissions last a long time. it's the rest of the car that falls apart.
Tool 2:42PM (7/01/2009)
I was wondering why the 3rd generation Prius did not have HID headlights as an option. To me that was going backward. It seems strange to me why Toyota can't get them to work properly. But more importantly, why they are dragging their feet on making it right.
Dana 3:47PM (7/01/2009)
One of the major points of HID bulbs is that they do not blow every few years like regular ones. If one goes in under 10 years then it means they are defective and yes, Toyota should be required to cover them.
MikeW 4:29PM (7/01/2009)
Toyota is probably jumping the gun with LED headlights.
HID are still superior.
chopperman83 6:56PM (8/25/2009)
Are you nuts..."It's just headlights"?
Ever have someone pull out in front of you at night BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE YOU WITHOUT YOUR HEADLIGHTS? Ever find yourself stranded on a deserted stretch of highway or the "wrong" part of town because you can't see to drive? Ever loose your headlights at night, on the interstate, at 70 MPH?
Believe me, this is a serious safety defect and we Prius owners aren't going to take Toyota's crap anymore. This is a problem that extends to standard headlights, too - not just the HID option.
An yes, Vizel, it IS a serious safety defect.
Rick 1:40PM (7/01/2009)
You don't think people will mind at all replacing $1000 headlights 1-2 years into ownership?!
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Vizel 1:45PM (7/01/2009)
well, as long as the warranty or recall covers them, yeah. I hope people aren't stupid enough to believe buying a toyota prius (which is yes, a 12K range vehicle with a hybrid engine) is going to give them a flawless, faultless vehicle.
Jsams4131 1:46PM (7/01/2009)
I don't think the headlights themselves cost so much but I'm wonder if basically the wiring harness is getting fried..or worse to the rest of the car.
Julius 1:50PM (7/01/2009)
@ Vizel...
"I hope people aren't stupid enough to believe buying a toyota prius (which is yes, a 12K range vehicle with a hybrid engine) is going to give them a flawless, faultless vehicle."
Well, it IS a Toyota, so I'm sure they expect a fault-free vehicle. At least that's what the Toyota ads claim.
tuxchown 1:57PM (7/01/2009)
"Vizel - well, as long as the warranty or recall covers them, yeah."
It says right above, "Toyota is unwilling to pick up the tab."
the4thheat 2:19PM (7/01/2009)
They're not really $1000-2000 headlights, the dealership just wants crazy amounts for the bulbs. You can just buy them yourself elsewhere for a lot cheaper-if you look around you can even get a pair for $100, and nicer bulbs go for $100 each.
It's still more money than halogen but only an idiot gets HIDs and thinks that the bulbs will never wear out. If you want a car with cheap replacement bulbs then stick with halogen, but if you want bright HIDs you gotta pay the price when it comes replacement time.
And it seems to be that at least some people did some stupid stuff to their cars and tried to run the entirely wrong bulbs. The Prius uses a newer 42V HID system, so if you tried to make it run the older higher voltage variety it's a quick way to kill the ballasts.
tuxchown 2:36PM (7/01/2009)
"the4thheat - It's still more money than halogen but only an idiot gets HIDs and thinks that the bulbs will never wear out."
I don't think these idiots think the bulbs will never wear out. They expect them to last ten times longer than a standard bulb, as they are supposed to.
Vizel 1:40PM (7/01/2009)
* at night
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Ricksta 1:44PM (7/01/2009)
Soccer moms unite!
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Lad 1:51PM (7/01/2009)
So include foglights as a backup, dud!
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