Vehicle Data Hub

2004 Toyota Prius lighting problems

185 complaints about lighting have been filed for the 2004 Toyota Prius, which is 25% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
185 25% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
106,000 miles 164 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
0 and 0
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When lighting problems show up

Lighting complaints by mileage, 2004 Toyota Prius Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 106,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 7 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 4 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 9 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 19 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 29 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 29 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 23 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 16 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 13 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 4 complaints 200k+ miles: 11 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 106,000 miles
Based on 164 complaints that include mileage. 12% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles7
20k to 40k miles4
40k to 60k miles9
60k to 80k miles19
80k to 100k miles29
100k to 120k miles29
120k to 140k miles23
140k to 160k miles16
160k to 180k miles13
180k to 200k miles4
200k+ miles11

What the data shows

Of the 164 lighting complaints that report mileage, the median is about 106,000 miles, and 12% were reported before 60,000 miles.

None of the lighting complaints mention a crash, fire, injury or death.

What owners wrote

1) on a 95 degree day the car was parked in the sun. 2) brake light assembly deformed in the heat obscuring some of the 6 LED reflectors. The black plastic used in the assembly does not hold up to the heat. 3) I complained to toyota corporate in california to fix the source of the problem. Nothing done to date.

August 2004

2004 toyota prius headlight problem - this is clearly a huge safety issue. When driving, my headlight (both) shut off intermittently. Sometimes, one. Sometimes the other. Sometimes both. No incident yet but surely this is a major safety issue. I came very close to an auto accident on 1/3/2010 due to this issue! I called the dealer to have the headlights replaced and they are wanting $870 dollars to replace the bulbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $375 per bulb and $60 per headlight for service!!!!!!!!

Reported at 105,000 miles, January 2010

Other problems reported for the 2004 Toyota Prius

Lighting problems in other years

Lighting problems across all Toyota models