headlight replacement

I encourage everyone who is experiencing the HID headlamp problem to file a safety complaint with the NHTSA. It only takes a few moments. It is the best way to force a recall.

Here is the link to the NHTSA on-line complaint form:

IVOQ - File a Complaint

www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq




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For those of who are working with Toyota Corporate or your dealer to get Toyota to cover the HID headlight repair cost the attached file may help... Especially if you are being told that Toyota is unaware of any HID related problem.


The attached file is a download of the 481 Toyota Prius HID headlight complaints as of March 2, 2009 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Website (Home | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) | U.S. Department of Transportation).

 

Good Job digging up that info.... thats pretty good ammo to walk in with... especially if its all printed!

 

Are you sure you have a headlight problem. It could be a problem with your eyes, judging from the font.

Tom

 

After a few rounds with my local service center, who could not understand why I could not identify which HID was causing the problem - apparently that one or the other, or sometimes both would simple stop emitting light, but would then work if I switched the lights off, and then on again (not a happy situation at night, in the rain), and after discussing this with Toyota Customer Services and filing a complaint with the NHTSA, numerous phone calls and a couple of emails to my local service manager, I got a call today.
I am scheduled to go in tomorrow to have both HID capsules replaced. No charge, as Toyota now recognizes that there is a problem with the HID lamps.
:rockon: That's the service I expect from Toyota.

 

Jimtak -

Is your car still within the 3 year / 36K mile warranty period? If not, how many miles are on the car?

 

Got the new HID's yesterday, almost two years from DOP, 43,000 miles. But, had begun talks on this issue with service center at 35,000 miles.
Service Manager said he was told that the new HID's are much better. Whatever that means.
:rockon:

 

I wonder when "new" starts?
Aren't even the latest models showing up with this problem?

All it takes is enough time to get a few hours under your belt.
http://priuschat.com/forums/search/search-id/1057237/

 

If you are experiencing the Toyota Prius HID headlight defect failure you may be looking at a repair cost of up to $1,800. Here's a recommended approach for getting Toyota to take responsibility for the defect and to minimize your out-of-pocket expense:

1) Take your car to your dealer's service department and tell them that the HID headlight(s) are unexpectedly shutting off. Let the service writer know that you are aware that this is a common problem with HID equipped Prius (seems to be mostly 2005-2008). You should mention that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has registered over 480 Prius HID headlight safety complaints. You can review the complaints by downloading the attached NHTSA database file or visiting the NHTSA database at: www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints/index.cfm. You can also mention Toyota's Technical Service Bulletin: T-SB-0030-08 "HID Headlight System - Diagnostic Tips". If your car is still within the 3 year / 36K mile warranty period then Toyota should cover the repair cost 100%. If your service writer tells you that the repair is not covered (he may say that the bulbs are not covered under the warranty or point out that your car is beyond the 3 year / 36K mile warranty period) then ask if the service manager would contact Toyota corporate and seek Toyota's approval to cover the cost under Toyota's customer goodwill or loyalty program. If your dealer refuses to fix the HID defect free of charge then get a repair quote and move on to step 2.

2) Call the Toyota "Customer Experience Center" (This is Toyota's corporate customer service) at 1-800-331-4331. State that you have a safety defect with the headlights on your Prius. Say that you would like to report the problem to Toyota and open a case asking that Toyota repair the defect at no cost to you. The customer experience center representatives are extremely polite and will offer to open a case. They will supply you with a case number. They may take your information immediately or they may have someone call you back. You may want to call the 800 number and ask for Teresa at extension 73837. Teresa is very knowledgeable and helpful. She will know exactly what you are talking about when you mention the Prius headlight issue. You should be polite but firm. This is a serious safety problem and you know that it is a common problem on HID equipped Prius. They may start out by offering to cover 20% to 50% of the repair cost. Be firm and insist on 100% coverage.

3) File a formal safety complaint with the NHTSA.
Headlights that unexpectedly shut off while driving is clearly a safety issue. And it does appear that HID headlight equipped Prius indeed contain a design defect. Reporting a safety defect to the NHTSA is the first step in forcing Toyota to conduct a recall.

There are three ways to file a complaint...
Call the Vehicle Safety Hotline:
Call 1-888-327-4236 or 1-800-424-9393 toll free (1-800-424-9153, for use by persons with hearing impairments)

File the complaint on-line:
File the complaint on-line at the NHTSA vehicle safety Web site: safercar.gov. Select “File a Complaint†within the Defects and Recalls section of the home page. Or just click here: File a Complaint.

U.S. Mail:
Send a letter to:
U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Defects Investigation (NVS-210)
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590

 

Done and did 1,2,3. I called back to Toyota Cust. Experience just about 1 hour after my inital complaint and they said that my case was already forward to the lead manager. I just hope that I can resolve this ridiculous issue ASAP! We should create a flyer and post them on everyone's Toyota Prius that we see in the parking lot. Someone want to do it?!

 

This is interesting...

If you go to the NHTSA investigations search web page (www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/defectsearch.cfm) and search for NHTSA Action Number PE08066 you will find this open investigation on the 2003-2005 FORD CROWN VICTORIA and MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS:

ODI HAS RECEIVED TEN VOQ'S (Vehicle Owner's Questionnaire that is filled when making a complaint) REGARDING SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING. SIX OF THE VOQ'S WERE REPORTED DURING 2008. THE FAILURES ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND INTERMITTENTLY. IN RESPONSE TO THE FAILURES, SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS PULLED OVER AND WAITED UNTIL THE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION RETURNED WHILE OTHERS CONTINUED DRIVING WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. IT IS NOTED THAT SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS' "FLASH TO PASS" FEATURE REMAINED OPERATIONAL. THIS FEATURE IS ENGAGED BY PULLING BACK AND HOLDING THE MULTI-FUNCTION TURN SIGNAL ACTUATOR ARM. EWR FIELD REPORTS INDICATE REPLACING THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE MAY HAVE RESOLVED THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.

What's interesting is that the above Ford / Mercury headlight failure investigation was started after only 10 complaints. The NHTSA website has over 480 registered complaints (The same issue: SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING) on the Prius, yet the NHTSA has failed to open an investigation into the Prius Headlight defect.

.

 

There was a hit and run incident for my Prius 2005 front damage
The guy who fixed it changed my whole Headlight assembly To HID's
Ofcourse covered by insurance.
I think they were normal headlights before.
Now after 26 months my passenger side head light bulb flickered for couple days and died on me
I leave my Headlights ON Day\ night may be that has caused this ??

Not sure if TOYOTA will cover this . Any Ideas ? Thank you all

 

Welcome atoyotaprius!

Good digging too!..... what I find interesting "your article brought it to mind", is that toyota has completely trashed the idea of trying to make HID work.
This tells me the problem may be more widespread and deeper than we imagine and toyota is not willing to warranty such inconsistency in the product at this time.

Although HID light is superior in distance, brightness, color retention from objects at night, and very efficient, they still will went back to Halogen as their mainstay for the 2010 prius?

Sometimes, Actions speak louder than words!

 

Just bought a 2007 Touring Package 3 and I'm quite happy with it. I'm assuming the HID problem with creep up for me soon, true? If so, can one not revert to standard Halogen lamps?


JT

 

They are not interchangeable. I've never seen an HID to Halogen conversion kit, it's always the other way around. HID is considered superior.

 

The HID has a high voltage ballast etc which an HID equipped car already has.. to convert it, electronically it would be simple... all you need is a 12V source for the Halogen bulb and a way to switch it on and off... but then you have to also figure how to mount the physical hardware. The existing ballast would not be used of course.

Seems using the existing headlight assembly and simply replacing the bulb with a custom fitting so it fits in to the HID bulb holder would be easiest... then adding the mentioned wiring to give it a 12V source and to switch it.

Prob something you would not want to do yourself.... you would need to find someone pretty handy to make such a kit... it wouldn't be worth the trouble unless they were going to in turn sell it to others.
Each kit would have to be considered for each type of car. It may be possible to use existing wiring to switch it on/off, high and low beam. But the wires would have to be cut and attached to the kit.

This may end up being a marketable consideration if these problems become enough widespread.

 

Well Did 1 ,2 and 3
Got a call from Toyota saying they will cover all the Charges
Took it to local Toyota Dealer
Salesman said he is going to call toyota and see if they want to cover the charges
Went back to get the car they said TOYOTA covered all the charges
Now I have a new Problem both Old and the new Bulbs dont match
New one is kind of Yellow and Old one is kind of White
gotto go back .. as this change happened in the afternoon did not notice until night

Cheers
Thanks to everybody here

 

Im gonna guess that the new one is 4200K "Kelvin" and the old one is 4500K.

 

windstrings you must be top gun here , need your help about 06 headlights i saw a large post here with step by step install of the bulbs cant find it not sure if it was pictures or video , can you help me thanks oh going to try the "D4R" type. thanks frank

 

Welcome to the Forum Frank.
Several have posted pics before I posted my experience. And yes its hard to find all the parts and pieces of everyones instructions without allot of digging. D4R is the right type for the 06.

Heres the post I started when I changed my bulbs, hope it helps... the two trickiest areas are getting the cover off and the wire the supports the bulb, I spoke about it pretty extensively here.