Electric System
Alternator, starter, hybrid battery and related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, distributor or rotor failure, spark plugs and wires failure.
What Owners Say
"It appears to be the same issue as for the headlights."
Anonymous, AB (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The headlight leveling sensor became inoperable. It caused the vehicle not to be drivable until the problem was fully identified and repaired (replaced sensor.)"
Anonymous, (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Cruise control became sporadic and then just quit working. After reporting the problem at my next service experience, I was told the cruise control switch had failed and a new one was installed. The system has worked fine since then"
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Rear brake led lights failed. Had to replace entire cluster/fixture"
Anonymous, MA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"When taillight stoplights failed, in this case, go very dim, they are a set of led's and the whole taillight assembly must be replaced. Costly, $348"
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Right rear stop lights went out, they are encased led lights, had to replace the entire esembly"
Rudy J., MO (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The brake lights are a panel of LEDs. They cannot be replaced, the entire tail light assembly has to be changed. The driver's side failed last year and now the other side is out. I will replace with an aftermarket assembly for about $80 vs $300"
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The brake lights are LED's in a cluster. Some of the LED's stopped working. Unfortunately this is not a simple replacement of a bulb to get the brake lights working but required replacement of both entire rear light assemblies which was very expensiv"
Gary K., NY (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Tail light "array" (big tail light unit) went out while traveling. Dealer in FL told me part was approx. $750. I think total bill was near $900 to repair"
Anonymous, MN (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The driver's side brake light (composed of LEDs) is not working. To be assessed at dealer in coming weeks"
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Seems to be related, as the headlights failed along with interior dash lights and parking lights simultaneously"
Andrew H., NM (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Driver brake light went out and LED so entire assembly was replaced which was cheaper. Driver headlight often goes out and need to switch lights on and off to get it back on."
Anonymous, WI (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Left Rear LED brake light - one of six LEDs became intermittent."
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Light are constantly unplugging in various parts of the car and have to be manually re plugged, running lights and taillights"
Anonymous, CT (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"LED taillight on one side quit, then worked again, then quit. This happened a few times until we replaced the light"
John L., MD (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Both taillights are starting to go out. Since the lights are configured as one unit, you cannot just replace faukty bulbs...have to pay for the entire unit"
Anonymous, OR (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Taillight 212 for part alone and replaced myself. Ouch!"
L L., VA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"1 Rear tail light went out, the cost of replacing it was high, due to the fact you could only get it from Toyota, they charge whatever they want. Going with out a tail light can cause a ticket issue, being stopped by police. I replaced both main tail lights due to the other one may go out any day, probably sooner rather than later."
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Part of the tail lights are LED, They had fully burned out on one side, partially on the other. Unlike the incandescent bulbs in each, when the LEDs burn out you have to replaced the entire tail light assembly, a pricy proposition."
Anonymous, CO (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Tail lights seem to work intermittently, even after replacing the unit. there are about 6 led in each light, some work sometimes, others other times, and often not any of the work."
John L., MD (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"In very cold weather, the entire digital dashboard goes away -- no speedometer or gauges. Once the ice on the switch melts, the electronics return"
Lawrence R., IL (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The combination meter went bad, so it would intermittently just go blank and not show my speed or other dash items. Apparently it's a common problem where a part has to be re-soldered to the board. Once that was done everything came back on and has worked perfectly since."
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Energy use gauge started having just some lines show up in fluorescent colors and brighter than other lines. Dealership said this was NORMAL. IT had NOT been NORMAL for 14 years. Now the Energy Display is becoming dimmer and dimmer. We'll see...or maybe then again WE WON'T!!!"
Anonymous, (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Periodically the heads-up display doesn't come up (the car is operating and can be driven, but you can't see the speed or gas gauge etc.). The starter battery has been replaced and the fuses appear to be intact, so possibly some electrical issue. It resolves itself but recurs. Once the car wouldn't shut off completely and it wouldn't lock and windows wouldn't operate. Again, resolved itself."
Steven L., CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Instrument panel display intermittently is not displayed. Car still runs."
Anonymous, NC (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Had to replace headlight assembly for second time"
John L., MD (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"One or both lights turn off intermittently. Turn switch off & back on lights work for a short period of time. Time duration not consistent"
Robert D., AK (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Have had to replace lights almost every year. Expensive for bulb and very expensive for labor"
Anonymous, VA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The HID headlight on the right is intermittent. Turning the lights off and back on restarts it. I plan to replace myself. The dlr charges over $400"
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Had to replace passenger side headlight for the 2nd time in life of the car. very expensive"
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The headlights are dimmer than they should be, especially in cold weather. If we leave the car parked outside when it is 0 degrees, one light sometimes will not work. I had the covers buffed ($80) which helped some with the brightness. The dealer"
Tim B., WY (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Had to recently replace the passenger headlamp again after only about 14 months"
Anonymous, VA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"INTERMITTENTLY WOULD GO OFF"
Marshall C., ME (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The headlights would periodically go off while driving at night"
Anonymous, VA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"One headlight cuts out intermittently. Turn lights on and off to fix the problem. Headlight leveling sensor died. Ridiculously expensive to replace!"
Anonymous, NH (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Bulbs do not last long enough and they are very difficult to change. The dealership wants hundreds of dollars to change the bulbs because they claim that the bumper must be dropped in order to reach the bulbs"
Chuck S., IL (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Mechanism that automatically vertically aligns headlights failed. $600 repair price kept me from getting repair"
Thomas C., IA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Left front headlight-dealer charged $300 to replace"
J H., DE (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Headlights were intermittently turning off. Required replacement of headlight modules on both sides"
James B., CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Toyota Prius has issues they are unwilling to address. Headlights go out randomly, at times completely. Toyota will not fix it even thought it is a serious safety issue"
Fred B., CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"plastic headlight casing becomes "foggy" even though I've had it fixed before. This cuts down on the strength of the headlights; they appear dim and don't light up the driving area adequately"
Janice N., CO (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"All lights suddenly went out while driving at night, then soon came back. Dealer was unable to diagnose. Also, one headlight has failed, then came back without any action on our part"
Andrew H., NM (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Headlights clouding over."
William M., WI (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"just a burnt out headlight"
Anonymous, MI (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The headlights turn off while driving. I shut the switch off and back on and the lights work again for a short time. Seems as though something overheats and cuts out."
Anonymous, GA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Basic problem is expense. Replacing that headlight is expensive! Should not cost nearly $300 to replace a bulb."
Ben P., VA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Headlights went out frequently due to manufacturer's defect; Toyota eventually replaced the defective part."
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The xenon light section on one headlight burned out"
Anonymous, WA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"One headlight stopped working. Replacing the bulb is a major job because there's no room behind the headlight to reach in and remove it. The fenders have to be loosened, so I had both replaced at once. This is the first time I've had to have a headlight bulb replaced"
W S., DC (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Needed replacement headlight, surprisingly expensive"
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Left headlight went out was 300+ to replace"
John R., WA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"difficult to repair"
Peter K., MA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Left front headlight works intermittently. Cost of repair very high due to need to remove large portion of bumper to access headlight"
Anonymous, VA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The left front headlight went out but it is an over complicated fix that costs $500 to fix, so we haven't fixed it"
John M., OR (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Headlight went out and it's impossible for anyone but the dealer to fix. It also is very expensive"
Kimura F., CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"$450 to replace headlights w non Toyota parts. Craziness! I watched a YouTube video and it's too complicated to do w/o all the tools"
L L., VA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"I've replaced and realigned the bulbs on multiple occasions. They don't last very long."
Anonymous, IL (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"This is a recognized problem, and can be found on the Internet. Both headlights will come on, and then one or both will go off while driving. Then may come back on and then go back off repeatedly if you drive long enough. Had bulbs replaced. Did NOT help. Had another expensive component replaced on both, and that worked for about a year. Now it's starting again."
Anonymous, (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The problem is intermittent. Mechanics have not been able to find the and correct the problem, suggesting it may be caused by corrosion. NB - I only have ONE car, the Prius. You appear to think I have two cars because the surveys asks me for data twice."
Anonymous, AB (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"One headlight goes off, back on if turned off and back on"
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Right headlight would fail from time to time"
Anonymous, DC (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Problem was with the replacement starter battery, which was not charging properly, causing the horn (alarm) to not stop blasting when attempting to engage a battery charger. Problem was improper installation of the new battery and the posts causing intermittent open circuits when driving so that the battery charge dissipated"
Anonymous, MD (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"I had to replace an interior light"
Richard G., CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The Toyota smart key interacts with the car's keyless entry system that is charged by the starter battery. This problem was resolved with the correction to the new starter battery installation which affected the concurrent horn problem"
Anonymous, MD (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"I had two fobs. One failed when the membrane failed and the lick)unlock buttons fell out. The second is held together by package tape. The replacement cost is over $500."
Anonymous, RI (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Accessory battery failed this causes the car to not start and the keyless entry to fail. Also had to replace the batter in the Key Fob."
Brian K., CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Failure of starter battery. Diagnosed after third breakdown"
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The engine light was going on, but nothing appeared wrong. Took to Toyota, and they could find anything"
Chris W., NY (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Headlight level sensor located where it is subject to corrosion and frequent malfunctions in wet weather."
Anonymous, CT (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
"Headlamp bulb VERY expensive, $175. Labor to replace also very pricy, $155 I also had to have the clear plastic housing for the headlights polished to eliminate the yellowing, $60 for one side. The other side is new due to being hit while parked"
Anonymous, CA (2004 Toyota Prius None 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)