# Headlights Turn Off from Brakes, Downhills, and Turns **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 25, 2019, 10:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-turn-off-from-brakes-downhills-and-turns/133299 "2019-01-25T10:45:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![entemberdesigns\_147447](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/97f17d/32.png) [@entemberdesigns\_147447](https://community.cartalk.com/u/entemberdesigns_147447)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 10:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-turn-off-from-brakes-downhills-and-turns/133299/1 "2019-01-25T10:45:53Z")
Hi I have a Toyota Prius 2009 and recently my headlights will turn off if I brake, go downhill, or turn. The thing is I can just turn them on and off and they will be on again. When researching the issue I found this. > **[Toyota to settle lawsuit over Prius headlights that shut off without warning](http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/19/business/la-fi-0120-toyota-prius-20110120)** > > Toyota Motor Corp. has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit over headlights in its 2006 to 2009 Prius hybrids that shut off without warning, triggering at least 2,500 complaints from motorists.... Would this be a solution to my problem by bringing this up to a Toyota dealer or would this not cover it anymore or is it a different issue all together. Any troubleshooting recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 12:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-turn-off-from-brakes-downhills-and-turns/133299/2 "2019-01-25T12:22:05Z")
It states “eligible Prius owners”. Due to the age of your vehicle and that the class action suit is 8 years old, I suspect you are not covered. But I am not a lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 1:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-turn-off-from-brakes-downhills-and-turns/133299/3 "2019-01-25T13:41:18Z")
> [@entemberdesigns\_147447](#): > > Would this be a solution to my problem by bringing this up to a Toyota dealer The worst they can do is say No . But you need it fixed and with a Prius I think a dealer is best. ---
**Author:** ![GorehamJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gorehamj/32/24103_2.png) [@GorehamJ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GorehamJ)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 10:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-turn-off-from-brakes-downhills-and-turns/133299/4 "2019-01-25T22:20:00Z")
Definitely worth a call and visit. [Here](https://www.classlawgroup.com/docs/cases/93_Toyota%20Class%20Action%20Notice.pdf) is the letter on that suit. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-turn-off-from-brakes-downhills-and-turns/133299/5 "2019-01-25T22:35:31Z")
That news article was accurate, Toyota did extend the warranty on the Prius HID bulbs to 5 years/50,000 miles, not 10 years, it has expired. Failing HID bulb can shut off at any time, I don’t know if your problem is really related to diving down hill or turning. You might consider replacing the bulbs. ---
**Author:** ![entemberdesigns\_147447](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/97f17d/32.png) [@entemberdesigns\_147447](https://community.cartalk.com/u/entemberdesigns_147447)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-turn-off-from-brakes-downhills-and-turns/133299/6 "2019-01-25T23:51:27Z")
I went to the dealer. They said it wasn’t covered. Has anyone heard of this problem before or is it just a failing HID bulbs and I have to replace them? I’m pretty certain this happens with brakes, downhills, and turns because every time I drive to work thats the only time they turn off. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-turn-off-from-brakes-downhills-and-turns/133299/7 "2019-01-26T00:37:23Z")
> [@entemberdesigns\_147447](#): > > I went to the dealer. They said it wasn’t covered If you mean by warranty that is correct. Put new bulbs in and if you still have the problem then you will need to pay to have it fixed. ---
**Author:** ![donnaeastman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@donnaeastman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/donnaeastman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 8:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-turn-off-from-brakes-downhills-and-turns/133299/8 "2019-02-04T08:48:01Z")
This is most often caused by an out-of-adjustment **switch**. Or, in the case of the hydraulic pressure **switch** , internal **brake** line corrosion may be causing residual pressure, which in **turn** allows the **switch** to stay closed (effectively **turning** the **brake lights** on). ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-turn-off-from-brakes-downhills-and-turns/133299/9 "2019-02-04T14:01:46Z")
> [@donnaeastman](#): > > This is most often caused by an out-of-adjustment **switch**. Or, in the case of the hydraulic pressure **switch** , internal **brake** line corrosion may be causing residual pressure, which in **turn** allows the **switch** to stay closed (effectively **turning** the **brake lights** on). You got that all wrong in regards to the OP’s problem. His problem is he steps on the brakes and his headlights go off. And **bunch** of **scattered** words in **bold** letters all **over** a post makes reading **difficult**