BEGINNING IN JULY 2013, THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS STARTED FLICKERING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THEN BOTH LIGHTS WENT OFF. THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT IS ONE LIGHT AND SOMETIMES IT IS BOTH LIGHTS. WHEN IT IS ONE LIGHT, IT IS NEVER THE SAME LIGHT THAT GOES OUT. *TR
2009 Toyota Prius lighting problems
moderate 98 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250
Complaints
98
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$250
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ALL THE TIME. I'VE REPLACED THE BALLASTS AND THE HEADLIGHTS 5 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. 1 MONTH AFTER NEW HEADLIGHTS AND NEW BALLASTS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BACK OUT AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I GOT THIS CAR. SOMETIMES I CAN TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF AND IT WILL WORK FOR A BIT.
HEADLIGHTS GO OFF BY THEMSELVES. WHEN I START THE CAR BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO ON, BUT AFTER DRIVING A LITTLE WHILE THE LEFT OR RIGHT, OR SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF. *TR
Apparently a known issue with the HID lights coming on or off intermittently.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEACTIVATED AND ACTIVATED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
MY 2009 PRIUS HAS HEADLIGHTS THAT INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER OR EXTINGUISH AT RANDOM TIMES. SOMETIMES THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WILL EXTINGUISH, SOMETIMES IT'S THE LEFT HEADLIGHT, AND SOMETIMES BOTH EXTINGUISH AT THE SAME TIME. SOME TIMES THE LIGHT(S) COME BACK ON WITHOUT ANY ACTION, AND SOMETIMES IT IS NECESSARY TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND RIGHT BACK ON. TO DATE, THE LIGHTS HAVE RESUMED NORMAL O…
HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER A FEW DAYS.. REPLACED OVER 8 BULBS. CHECKED CONNECTORS, CHECKED WIRING.. NO PROBLEM FOUND AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2009 Toyota Prius?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 98 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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