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Prius Owners Sue Over Faulty Headlights

Owners suing Toyota over expensive repair

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 30, 2009 5:38 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Toyota’s Prius, now in its third generation, remains the dominant hybrid car. But an increasing number of older Prius owners are finding that the autos have a potentially dangerous flaw—failing headlights. What's worse, the so-called high-intensity discharge lamps, which are optional ugrades, can cost more than $1,000 to fix. With a group of Prius owners suing Toyota, the issue threatens to be a customer-relations fiasco, reports Advertising Age.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating whether to declare a recall, which would force Toyota to foot the bill for replacement. In any case, Toyota needs to handle the issue gracefully, because Prius owners are "sensitive people with a clear sense of right and wrong and their obligation to society," says the CEO of Fletcher-Martin, an Atlanta marketing firm. "This is the wrong group to mess with, particularly now."

In this photo from June 5, a Toyota Motor Corp. worker gives the final examination on an newly assembled Prius at Toyota.
In this photo from June 5, a Toyota Motor Corp. worker gives the final examination on an newly assembled Prius at Toyota.   (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Akio Toyoda speaks during a news conference to unveil the revamped Prius in May.
Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Akio Toyoda speaks during a news conference to unveil the revamped Prius in May.   (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Newser001
Jul 1, 2009 4:14 AM CDT
I'm so pleased I didn't opt for the package that had those lamps, when I purchased my '05 Prius! Toyota has a good record of reliability, but poor posturing when dealing with customers after one signs on the dotted line.
TiredMemeCat
Jul 1, 2009 3:00 AM CDT
They need to focus on the MULTIPLE cases of unintended acceleration. Naturally, Toyota blames their customers.
NxBigmouthery
Jun 30, 2009 11:46 AM CDT
If it's a design flaw, it doesn't matter whether the owner is a gap-toothed, ignorant, insensitive, drooling tardburger...fix the damn flaw.
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Toyota Prius • recall • repair • NHTSA • Prius • auto industry • hybrid car

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