Toyota Prius Class Action Says Headlights Burn Out Prematurely

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The owner of a Toyota Prius says the company has failed to address a defect that causes the car’s headlights to burn out prematurely.

Plaintiff Michael Robey says the low-beam headlights in 2010 and 2011 models of the Toyota Prius have a defect that can cause them to die suddenly, even while the vehicle is in operation.

“The Headlight Defect has been documented to occur without warning during vehicle operation and poses an extreme and unreasonable safety hazard to drivers, passengers and pedestrians,” Robey states.

“Numerous Class Vehicle owners have reported suddenly losing one or both low beam headlights while driving at night in dimly lit areas, on the highway and/or under other circumstances where properly functioning headlights are crucial.”

Several affected owners and renters have filed online complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to this Toyota Prius class action lawsuit. One reviewer claims their low beam headlights burned out while driving on the interstate and that they had to replace their headlights five times in the last three years.

Another reviewer reports having to replace the headlights in their Toyota Prius three times in a single year. Still another reports having to buy new bulbs every two months or risk having to drive with their high beams on constantly.

According to Robey, Toyota should have been fully aware of the alleged Toyota Prius headlight defect even without these agency complaints to put the company on notice. He alleges the company must have known about the problem through pre- and post-production testing and analysis.

Robey says he bought a 2010 Toyota Prius from a Berkeley, Calif. dealership in December of that year. He claims that by April 2014, the headlights were not functioning properly.

A dealership representative allegedly told Robey that not only were both low-beam headlights burned out but also that the driver’s side headlight assembly had melted. Repairs cost Robey more than $720 out of pocket, he says.

Robey seeks to represent a proposed plaintiff Class defined as “[a]ll persons who purchased or leased any 2010 through 2011Toyota Prius vehicle in the United States.” He is also proposing a subclass consisting of Class Members who made their purchase in California.

Robey is asking the court for a remediation program that would require Toyota to repair the alleged headlight defect in all affected Toyota Prius vehicles without charge, and to extend the warranty on those vehicle’s headlight systems to 10 years or 120,000 miles. The program would also reimburse affected owners for expenses already incurred as a result of the headlight defect.

He also seeks an award of damages, restitution, court costs, attorneys’ fees, and any other available statutory remedies, all with pre- and post-judgment interest.

Robey is represented by attorneys Mark S. Greenstone and Lionel Z. Glancey of Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP.

The Toyota Prius Headlight Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Michael Robey v. Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., Case No. 3:16-cv-07212, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.