Headlight problem

Has anyone had this problem with the headlights on a 2008 or has Toyota fixed it?

 

I took my Prius in for routine maint. and asked them to look into my headlight issue- all they did was drive it 6 miles and said the headlights work fine! GRR

 

I called the same number on July 14th, logged the same HID headlight problem, and was issued a case number. They called me back on July 15th to tell me they were researching the problem, would contact my dealership and see what could be done. I heard nothing since then, so I called Toyota 800# this morning to check on the status of my case. They said the case manager assigned to my case would be in later today and would call me back.

 

I have had this problem also, 2006 Prius package #8. I just called the 80-331-4331 number and opened a case. I have not taken in to a dealer yet, but was calling to ask them if they had any known issues for this problem, they said they did not.

I am going to take it to the local dealer here soon, they are going to forward over my case# to the dealer and have them call me to set up something.

I have just hit 35,000 miles on my car, so I am just under warranty. I am going to push the dealer to make notes about this fact and that if it is on going after they do their fix, to get them to say they will cover future repairs/fixes to this issues under warranty, even if I am over the 36,000 miles. I will also make sure it is noted in my case # in case I have the issue going forward.

I am going to give them a chance to fix it and see what happens. I will post back with any updates I have. I have read the service bulletin as well T-SB-0030-08 Rev1 and don't think it totally applies to this issue, but it may be their way of addressing it in a round about way so as not to have to issue a recall.

Phil

 

I think everyone should go to this web site that is having this issue and submit a complaint:

IVOQ - File a Complaint

This was already posted in this thread, post #11 on my page 2. I just filed my compliant, the more people that do the better case we will have. You will need your VIN number, so make sure you have that available.

Phil

 

4300K is the same color as stock... thats also what I chose. As many like "effects" and will go with 6000K or higher entering the blue spectrum... I like mine as much like the sun as I can get it.... that way colors at night are more true to life and I believe it allows the brain to interpret what it sees quicker since thats whats its used to.

Bulbs actually give off more lumens as you go "down" in Kelvin.... even though they look brighter as you go higher, but its a trick... or an illusion... many of the really bright lights.... like Lightening, or a welding arc give off the higher kelvin... so the brain thinks it looks brighter.... but when it comes to actually hitting an object in the distance and still having enough light to make it back and still be bright to the eyes, this comes from pure lumens, which the lower Kelvin tend to help more.

The higher kelvin "appear" brighter when looking straight into them, but put them side by side and look at an object 300 yards away and the lower Kelvin will serve better to see.

 

If you have an intermittent problem, why not take a digital photo that shows one headlight on and the other off. That should be sufficient proof for the tech to believe that you have a real issue...

 

Two days ago, I noticed that my driver's side headlight was out. I just happened to be behind a dark truck, and saw the reflection of the light, who knows how long this has been going on. Right now, I have 36,543 miles on the car, but I DID purchase the extended warranty ...I hope I'm covered. I'm going to call the dealer today to see if they can at least document my problem because the light was working today.

 

Joyce, if you get satisfaction from your extended warranty.. please post the details.

 

I just called about the extended warranty, and it does NOT cover light bulbs!!! Since it does not cover the bulb, it does not cover service involving the bulb. So I'm 543 miles over the warranty and my $1,000 extended warranty does not cover this problem.

I called 1-800-331-4331 and spoke to Deborah. She took all the information, and gave me a reference number. I should hear from someone within one day.

Right now, my light is still working...

 

Thats the whole problem with this loophole.... true it should not cover routine maintenance, but it should cover premature failure of things that normally only go out from routine maintenance!!!

What if your tires wore out in 5 thousand miles from poor vulcanized rubber????? would that be a "maintenance" problem thats not covered, or a defective product that is?

SOMEONE should cover this problem!.. and its totally ridiculous to charge so much to do such an easy job!

The whole thing gives me a bitter taste in my mouth about Toyota not dealing with this globally.

They should come out and say they will covered failure of lights to work within a reasonable time frame or mileage of brand new purchase.

What the heck is a bumper to bumper warranty anyway?

 

Joyce, I also called that number and spoke to Deborah yesterday, seems she was the only one working the phones!!

 

Update: I didn't hear anything on the 23rd, so I just called the 800 number again today, was told that the case manager assigned to my case has been researching the problem. They e-mailed him, and he just called me and said that they will reimburse me for the parts, but I have to pay for the labor. I don't know yet what that will be.

 

i've seen it as high as $400/bulb + $300 labor.
as low as $300/bulb + $100 labor.
that's for each side...

 

Add me to the list. 2006 with 46,000 miles (reading the thread that mileage seems to come up often). I took delivery in Jan 2006. My problem is mainly on the drivers side, but I've had once case of both lights. As with the others, cycling the switch temporarily fixes things.

Glad I knew of this forum and did a search.

gary

 

My case manager, Greg Simmons at Toyota, told me yesterday that they would reimburse me for the HID bulb. I called my dealer, Crown Toyota in Decatur, and they worked me in this morning. Start to finish, it took them 30 minutes. $320.69 for the bulb, $97.00 labor. I have always had great service at Crown, and thanks to Bob, Tom, Robin and Barb for all their help.

I just faxed the paid invoice in to Greg, so hopefully I'll get a check soon.

In the future when I buy a car, I will definitely pay attention to what kind of headlights the car has, and probably avoid HID's. The cost/benefit ratio doesn't work for me.

 

I am interested to hear from anyone that only replaced the bulb and the problem reappeared indicating in that case the problem was with the ballast.

Has anyone out there confirmed problems outside the bulb itself?

 

Few quick points:
- My 06 Prius (jan Delivery) had the D4R bulbs & D4R mated ECU's. This may be significant since I ordered in Aug05 and my car sat on the lot most all of December 05...ie I am very very early 06.
- The 4300 kelvin bulbs windstream refers to are closest to stock and will represent best chance of color being close if only replacing one. Its almost certain that if you replace one bulb it'll be a bit off from the original if the original has a lot of hours on it.
- I have 115,000 miles and Toyota was completely useless for the first time ever. While they were polite, they refused to help me determine the ECU vintage on my car so I could be sure to order the right bulb D2R or D4R. The service bulletin lead me to think there might be mismatches.
- I was able to replace the bulbs by patiently working from the top without removing the bumper etc. I did have to move the wiper/washer fluid and the fuse cover.
- I ordered the 4300 bulbs per windstream's notes. All the 4300K's are $99 but I best offered $70 and it was accepted. $10 for shipping so at the end...$40 per bulb, $0 for labor...squillions for hassle, forced learning, aggrivation etc.

Many thanks to this site especially windstring on purchasing, michou for explicitly telling how to do it without removing the bumper covers, bruceha for the extra note on installation (I did have to move the wiperwasher), and to galaxee for linking the bulletin, sunshine for ID'ing it in the first place. I'm gonna take my wife out to dinner with the first $100 of the $900 I saved and I have two new headlites to find my way home from dinner with....jfo

 

LOL!... way to go!...... I don't know if these bulbs are better quality or worse than the original phillips, but at these prices.... a gamble is an easy bet..... at the other prices.. its not!

 

I heard from "Lisa" tonight (from Toyota), who said that "Georgina" will be taking care of my case, but she's currently on vacation.

Lisa offered to call my local service manager to see if they could do a diagnostic, about $50 (she thought). I said that they could do it, but I should NOT have to pay anything.

She called the dealer, and left a message for him since they were closed. She seemed unaware of any problems from others with their lights.

I will say that her communication with me has been great so far.

I did tell her that I am just over the warranty (36,543 when I noticed it), and she said that she will do everything she can to "work with me". I did let her know that the service manager told me that 36,000 miles is 36,000 miles and anything over that is out of warranty!

By the way, last month we gave that dealer a $500 deposit for a 2009 Prius.

Joyce