Toyota settles Prius headlight lawsuit, could pay "tens of millions" without admitting wrongdoing

Autoblog Staff — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota

Having trouble with the headlights of your second-gen (2006-2009) Toyota Prius? Apparently, you're not alone. In fact, 2,500 people complained in a class action lawsuit that the car's high intensity discharge (HID) headlights sometimes turned off without reason. Toyota has now agreed to a settlement of an undisclosed amount - potentially costing the company tens of millions of dollars - to get all of those headlights fixed.

The Los Angeles Times reports that eligible Prius owners will not only get money reimbursed to fix the lights, the headlight warranty will also be extended to five years/50,000 miles, up from three years/36,000 miles. Up to 320,000 Prius owners with HID lights could be affected. Starting in February, eligible owners will be notified by mail and they will have 90 days to register.

Even though this is probably an expensive settlement, by agreeing to it, Toyota does not need to go in front of a jury, risk a recall, and does not have to admit to any wrongdoing. The LAT learned that about half of the complaints regarding the 2006-2009 Prius in the NHTSA database were about "lighting, headlamps or visibility." Prius Chat has a detailed page on the issue, and recommends that even drivers who replaced an HID bulb after five years or 50,000 miles should submit a claim for reimbursement. Top tip, Danny!

[Sources: Los Angeles Times, Prius Chat]

Toyota settles Prius headlight lawsuit, could pay "tens of millions" without admitting wrongdoing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota stung by possible Prius headlight defect?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green, Recalls, Safety, Toyota, Carsumer Advocacy

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]

Toyota stung by possible Prius headlight defect? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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