NHTSA Complaint #10315409 — 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH TIRE FAILURE AND BRAKES GRABBING. *KB THE BATTERY AND HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED TOYOTA HAS SINCE REMOVED THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF BULB AND ASSEMBLY FROM PRODUCTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS 1 YEAR OLD THE CONSUMER WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE AND GIVEN A WARNING FOR THE HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE CONSUMER AND HER HUSBAND EXITED THE VEHICLE, THEY ALONG WITH THE POLICE OFFICER FOUND BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING AND HE LET THEM GO WITHOUT A CITATION. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE DISCOVERED THAT ONE HEADLIGHT OR THE OTHER WILL JUST GO OUT ON OCCASION DURING EVERY DRIVE. THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY A YEAR OLD. TOYOTA RECOMMENDED USING THE HEADLIGHTS LESS AND THEY FURTHER RECOMMENDED NOT USING THE HIGHLY TOUTED FEATURE THAT ALLOWS THE LIGHTS TO AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. LAST MONTH, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA REGARDING INFORMATION ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS. THE LETTER STATED THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM WOULD REIMBURSE FOR SOME COST RELATIVE TO THE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. HOWEVER THE LOCAL DEALER DID NOT AGREE AND THE COST FAR EXCEEDED ANYTHING MENTIONED IN THE LETTER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE COST OF INSTALLATION FOR NEW BULBS WOULD BE $245 IN LABOR FOR EACH HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT, THAT WAS IN ADDITION TO THE EXORBITANT COST OF THE BULBS THEMSELVES. *JB