Headlights $$$$$

Just another additional part added to Prime's "glass jaw."

Prime's "glass jaw" worse than expected | PriusChat

 

The expression "just because you can do something, doesn't mean should" comes to mind.

 

ya, that used to be reserved for german engineers. looks like toyota has caught the fever.

but unreliable/expensive prius lighting has been an ongoing issue for almost 20 years

 

Fwiw, he didn't mention the cost of the lights.
He was talking about the PP heat-pump and AC system.
For efficiency reasons, to heat the PP when it's in EV mode, Toyota used a heat-pump system.
Today, heat-pump systems can provide a reasonable amount of heat, at an efficient rate, for a reasonable cost down to ~-10F. Many of the good/top quality mini-split (AC) systems now do that.

Heat-pumps aren't new. They've been used in Europe for decades. Closer to home, in New England, many houses have basements. Most New England basements are unheated, and don't have a good dehumidifier solution (the self standing ones produce a lot of heat, and aren't very efficient). So, in the New England basements, it's becoming popular to use a mini-split with a heat-pump, to provide efficient heat and efficient dehumidification.
Btw, yes, I know heat-pumps are also used in other locations on the country. However, I live in New England, and I keep track of various area trends.


A description of the PP heat-pump/AC system.

The Worlds SECOND most complicated car HVAC system Explained
The Car Care Nut




SUV's make the sales and profits today. Hence, why the Rav4 Prime has the newest advanced Hybrid/EV/etc systems. Before, the new Hybrid/EV stuff was done on the Prius first. So, for the nextGen PP, expect to see the better Rav4 Prime heat-pump/AC system used. It's still expensive though.

 

Toyota, like other manufacturers have found the key to selling inexpensive to produce proprietary electronics and technologies to replace simple systems as a means to increase their profit margins at the expense of their consumers. They realized that the customers can be suckered and will pay.

Financing entities, insurance companies, and repair facilities realize that these expensive upgrades increase their profit margins, too, as well as OEM and aftermarket replacement parts manufacturers.


ll pass. It gives me more and more incentive to keep my simple 2012 Prius v level 2 with simple air conditioning and basic halogen headlights that can be converted to all LED's for $60 or so.

 

In all fairness, I really like the LED headlight on my PP. I know it is very expensive to replace. But this was my very first car equipped with an OEM LED headlight. And after driving the PP, I will never go back to a car with an old halogen headlight. I have replaced the standard halogen light bulbs on our Pathfinder with LED bulbs in the hope to increase the nighttime visibility, despite knowing it is illegal to do so. The swap certainly made it blighter than the standard halogen lamp that came with the car, but nowhere close to the OEM LED headlight of the PP. I no longer drive our Pathfinder at night. We are thinking of switching the car just so that we can have an OEM LED headlight at nighttime.

 

Yep we love our LED headlights in our 2017 and 2021 Priis. I heard Toyota has been using them in cars since 2014 and they don't burn out but do go bad if they get water in them. Comparing my wife's 2017 to my 2021 is only a slight difference, so they do stay bright. So if you ever hit something, inspect those headlights ASAP for cracks. MSRP for headlamp assemblies are $727.53 but discount Toyota parts on-line (like McGeorge) has them for $481.09.
They replaced one of mine, the front grill, motion sensors, hood, parts of my AC, a front/side panel, and windshied when I hit a deer last year and the cost was just under $11K....crazy!

 

Would be

Our first car, a brand-new '81 Civic, was just over $6K. It's sealed-beams were maybe $20 a pop.

Addendum: and the only car we ever had with real bumpers, hydraulically mounted.

 

LoL; I was in my nephew's car the other day and asked him if he turned-on his headlights - LoL. He needed to polish the plastic headlamp covers (they were yellow and pitted). All my cars are either LEDs or HIDs; so sitting in a car without them - seems like they're driving with only their DLR's on. I'm probably just going blind in my old age......

 

My 10 year old car with halogens converted to LEDs is just fine. My car has either been under a cover or under a sunshaded car port for all of it's life. If it wasn't and exposed to the elements including destructive UV rays, replacement lamps are cheap, either OEM or aftermarket.

Replacing OEM LED like those on the Prime would be cost prohibitive even if aftermarket knock-offs were available.

 

Yeah the cost to replace those LED's due to to UV damage: a bit of a sand-pounder...

 

Yeah, by the time you have the car paid off, they want you to go into indentured servitude again for seven more years.

It's worse, if the headlights need to be replaced, if the car does nit pass inspection. Those refinishing kits do the lenses no justice and don't last very long.

Even if you have comprehensive insurance, it will cost you about $500 for the deductible, if the light is stone damaged.

 

Haha. My insurance policy has no-deductible comprehensive. It costs, ~$5/month more than a policy with a $500 deductible on comprehensive. I guess if I don't use it in 5 years, then I would have paid ~$300 extra on insurance. But if I have one claim, I would be ahead ~$200. I don't plan to keep the car that long though.