Advice Needed

Susanne101 · Jan 29, 2011

ETP said: ↑

2006-2009 Prius owners, rejoice! You finally have a class-action lawsuit that you can get behind and it doesn't involve the name James Sikes. Toyota has finally been legally compelled to provide free warranty extensions and cash reimbursements for owners of 2006-2009 Prius models that suffer from premature failure of their HID headlights. This is an issue that has been posted on PriusChat since 2006, and up to this point Toyota has refused to offer any assistance other than giving "deals" on the repairs, knocking the price down from $300/bulb to $150. Sometimes they were even nice enough to offer "good will" gestures and pay for the repairs if you complained loudly enough.

Here are some details on the settlement and what they mean for you as an owner of a 2006-2009 Prius with the optional HID headlights.

The settlement will provide for:

A free warranty extension for HID headlight bulb and electronic control units (through the earlier of 5 years and 50,000 miles); and 

Cash reimbursements to many class members who paid for headlight repairs.

More details and FAQs are provided below, but here is the long and short of it: If you've ever had any troubles with your HID headlights in your 2006-2009 Prius, take it into the dealership and have it documented, especially if you are still within 5 years/50k miles of the original purchase. Unfortunately, Toyota has not been helpful to Prius owners regarding this widespread issue and has turned a blind eye to their owners for 5 years so you will need to be vigilant and not expect Toyota to keep your best interests at heart.

Class members are defined as:
All purchasers and/or lessees of any 2006, 2007, 2008, or 2009 model year Toyota Prius vehicle originally factory equipped with genuine high intensity discharge (â€œHIDâ€) headlights who reside in the United States.
Benefits:
(1) Warranty Extension
Beginning on February 9, 2011, Toyota will extend its New Vehicle Limited Warranty to cover repairs and replacements of HID bulbs and HID electronic control units (ECUs). This means class members can take their 2006-2009 Prius to any Toyota dealership for free repairs under warranty of those parts until 5 years or 50,000 miles pass from the carâ€™s original purchase or lease date. This warranty extension is subject to the terms in class membersâ€™ Ownerâ€™s Warranty Information booklet.
If your Prius will already be beyond 5 years or 50,000 miles by February 9, 2011, warranty coverage may be available in limited circumstances (see below).

(2) Cash Reimbursements
Class members who spent money on an HID bulb or HID electronic control unit (ECU) repair for their 2006-2009 Prius should save their receipts and be ready to file their claim when they receive the Settlement Notice in February.
HID Bulbs
Class members who spent money replacing HID bulbs will be eligible to submit a claim for reimbursement of their costs. For vehicles within 5 years and 50,000 miles of the original purchase or lease date at the time of repair, full reimbursement will be provided for valid claims. For vehicles outside either 5 years or 50,000 miles at the time of repair, reimbursements will be provided for claims on a case-by-case basis.
The deadline to mail in your claim will be May 10, 2011.
HID Electronic Control Units (ECUs)
Class members who spent money replacing an electronic control unit (ECU) before February 9, 2011, will be eligible to submit a claim for full reimbursement (including parts and labor). Instructions on how to submit a claim for reimbursement will be listed in the Settlement Notice which will be mailed to class members and posted here by mid-February.

The deadline to mail your claim will be May 10, 2011.

What to do now
NOW: Save your HID headlight repair receipts and related documents (including any estimates or diagnostics). Repair receipts will be required for submitting a claim. If you no longer have these documents, you should contact your mechanic to see if you can obtain copies.
To learn more about the settlement or to receive periodic email updates on the settlementâ€™s progress, please fill out the form on the right.
IN FEBRUARY: Review the Settlement Notice that will be mailed to class members and posted here. The Settlement Notice provides detailed information about the settlement, your rights, and how to claim reimbursements.
FAQs:

1. What is the HID Headlight Advisory?

According to the lawsuits, the HID headlights in the 2006-2009 Prius vehicles can begin to shut off without warning. The headlights may appear to be working when the car is first started and may even work again on the next trip.
It is important to monitor your headlights and to go a dealership or mechanic as soon as you notice one of your bulbs flicking or occasionally shutting off. By monitoring your headlights and taking prompt action once you notice the problem, you will significantly reduce the chance that both lights will go out at the same time.
Toyota began installing new HID bulbs in early 2008 that statistically appear to perform better, thus alleviating the frequency of the flickering and shut offs. However, Toyota has indicated that intermittent operation of HID headlights is a sign that the HID headlight bulbs are reaching the end of their useful life, so you should continue to monitor the headlights in the future.
2. Is there a deadline to mail claims for reimbursements?

Yes. Class members who wish to be reimbursed for past headlight repairs must submit a claim form by May 10, 2011. All the information needed for submitting a claim will be posted here and mailed to class members by mid-February.
3. I think the HID bulbs are too expensive â€“ is any help available?

Beginning in December 2009, Toyota announced an HID Headlight Customer Support Program. Through the Program, Toyota announced it was lowering the price of the HID bulbs from the previous price of $300 per bulb to the new price of $150 per bulb. The letter announcing the Program also provided for limited reimbursements. Those who have already received reimbursements through the Program can submit a claim under this settlement but will not be â€œdoubleâ€ reimbursed for any repair expenses.

4. Can I claim reimbursements for multiple headlight repairs?

Yes.

5. Can I be reimbursed even if I went to an independent mechanic or if I didn't use Toyota parts?

Yes.

6. I replaced an HID bulb after 5 years or 50,000 miles. Can I still submit a claim for reimbursement?

Yes, you are likely eligible to submit a claim and we highly recommend that you do so.
First, class members who paid to replace an HID bulb outside of 5 years or 50,000 miles, but who have proof that the same bulb began having problems within 5 years and 50,000 miles, will be able to claim a full reimbursement. They should submit the proof along with their claim and repair receipt.
Second, class members who paid to replace an HID bulb outside of 5 years or 50,000 miles, but do not have that type of proof, should still submit a claim for reimbursement. These claims will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the following:

â€¢ the cost of the headlight repairs,
â€¢ the date and mileage of the headlight repairs,
â€¢ the date and mileage the headlight issues began,
â€¢ any previous headlight issues or repairs, and
â€¢ whether you use your headlights during the day or usually only at night.

On the Claim Form, which will be mailed and posted here by mid-February, there will be an opportunity to provide this information and anything else you think is important when you submit your claim. Class members will then be notified by mail of the amount, if any, of their reimbursement and their options for accepting or challenging the reimbursement amount.
Note: HID electronic control unit (ECU) repairs do not have the same 5 year / 50,000 mile limitation.

7. Can I take advantage of the extended warranty if my Prius is outside 5 years or 50,000 miles?

If your vehicle is outside the 5 years or 50,000 mile warranty period, but you can provide proof that the headlight problem began within 5 years and 50,000 miles, you will be entitled to warranty repairs. One example of proof would be to present a repair estimate done within the 5 year and 50,000 mile period.
8. What if my headlights have not gone out?

Although the headlights on some 2006-2009 Prius vehicles have not gone out, we encourage all class members to diligently monitor their headlights for flickering or turning off intermittently. Toyota has indicated that intermittent operation of HID headlights is a sign that the HID headlight bulbs are reaching the end of their useful life, so you should continue to monitor the headlights in the future.

9. Is my Prius covered by the settlement?

The settlement covers 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 model year Toyota Prius vehicles originally factory equipped with genuine high intensity discharge (HID) headlights in the United States.

10. Does this settlement cover only 2006-2009 Toyota Prius vehicles?

Yes. The court-approved settlement can only provide assistance for the types of vehicles that were at issue in this case. Only the 2006-2009 Prius vehicles were listed in the complaint. Owners of other models or model years will not be barred by the settlement from seeking their own relief from Toyota or through other means, but will not be eligible to make a claim under the agreement.

11. What if I donâ€™t receive Settlement Notice in the mail?

The Settlement Notice and Claim Form will both be posted here once they are mailed to class members.
[Source Girard Gibbs LLP via the PriusChat Forums]

Tagged: Prius, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, Class-Action, Headlights, HID, Lawsuit, Toyota

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At this point, the dealership did not have the paperwork from Toyota to replace the HID headlights. So, I just mailed the receipt to Toyota. I was aware of the class action suit. Thanks for posting it here as well. Our daughter just got her HID lights replaced in her Prius this week in California and the dealership took care of it for her for free and were going to submit it to Toyota for her when they get the paperwork and put the date on the repair the date they receive the paperwork.
Thanks

seilerts · Jan 29, 2011

It's not that hard, and not that expensive. $44 or less per bulb for 04-05, $54 or less for 06-09. Much good info here and elsewhere on straight-forward replacement.

IMHO, the difference between halogen and HID is like the difference between VHS on a tube TV vs. Blu-Ray on LCD with surround sound...

Susanne101 · Jan 29, 2011

Patrick Wong said: ↑

I would have expected the engine coolant pump replacement to be covered under the 5 year, 60K mile powertrain warranty. Good to see you were not charged for that. I would not have expected that pump to fail at 19K miles. BTW there are a total of four coolant pumps: engine coolant pump, heater core coolant pump (which circulates coolant when the gasoline engine is turned off), coolant heat recovery system pump (which makes the funny noise when you first start up and turn off the car), and the inverter/transaxle coolant pump.

It is to be expected that the 12V battery would fail especially with such light usage, 6K miles per year. If you wish to make your next battery last longer, you either need to drive at least 2x the miles you are currently driving, or else invest in a battery charger (and fully charge the battery overnight, 2x per month) or a battery tender (which requires regular usage.)

Synthetic oil is not controversial, and there's nothing wrong with your choice. However if you are concerned about your auto maintenance costs you can save some money by using regular oil instead. I use brand-name full synthetic oil, whatever happens to be on sale at Walmart.
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Where would I buy the correct charger for this battery?

Patrick Wong · Jan 29, 2011

Susanne101 said: ↑

... I will drive more often and buy a battery charger as well. I prefer synthetic oils to keep the engine as clean as possible. Will the synthetic oil weight be okay for summer??? A 5W30?
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5W30 synthetic is perfect in the summer.

Susanne101 said: ↑

Where would I buy the correct charger for this battery?
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I suggest that you purchase an automatic battery charger that has 2A and 10A charging positions and contains an ammeter so that you can see the actual charging current. The Prius 12V battery is supposed to be charged with no more than ~4A of current. You'll probably find that using the 10A setting, the actual charging current will start at around 4A and drop down pretty quickly. If you run the charger overnight 2x per month that should keep your new battery happy.

Since Prius owners are supposed to be "green", I would not encourage you to drive the car more just for the sake of the 12V battery, once you have access to a charger.

GuamKelly · Jan 31, 2011

Susanne101 said: ↑

Where would I buy the correct charger for this battery?

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You could try this one - which you can pre-set for 4 amps (the max recommended by Toyota).

6/12 Volt Electronic Battery Charger and Maintainer With LCD Display

I LOVE Harbor Freight. Or, of course, you could try Wal-Mart or any big parts store. You don't need anything that says "OK for Toyota Prius" on the label, as there's no such thing, just one that won't charge at too high a rate.

You might also consider, next time you need a battery, going with this one, which will be far more tolerant of your low mileage, non-daily driving profile

Toyota Prius 12 Volt Auxiliary Battery with install kit for 2004 - 10

GuamKelly · Jan 31, 2011

Oh, by the way (No one mentioned yet that) you do NOT want to hook up ANYTHING electrical to your Prius with the polarity reversed (meaning the red "positive" wire is inadvertently connected to the black "negative" battery terminal). LOTS of expensive damage can ensue! Hook up your tender, double check that polarity is correct, check AGAIN that polarity is correct, and only when absolutely certain it is correctly connected should you turn on / plug in the battery tender.

Also, on second thought, here is a better one -- the one in my previous post does not have auto shutoff.

10/2/55 Battery Charger/Engine Starter

Mendel Leisk · Jan 31, 2011

I've been using a CTEK MULTI US 3300:

CTEK MULTI US 3300 | CTEK Battery Chargers

For periodic conditioning charging. Very compact, comes with a stow-all bag, supposedly "intelligent".

wildbottom · Feb 8, 2011

Well strange they had to change both HID since the HID is suppose to last the life of the car. They should have told you how much each cost/labor first. They should give you the still working bulb back for spare.

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