Toyota Facing Lawsuit, Potential Recall Over Prius HID Headlights
inspirion7 submitted on 7/1/2009 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 5:27:21 AM
19 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.leftlanenews.com
Toyota may have one of the best reputations for quality around, but the Japanese automaker has found itself at the center of a firestorm involving potentially defective Prius headlights.
Hundreds of previous-generation Prius owners have filed complaints with the U.S. Transportation Department, claiming the hybrid’s headlights prematurely expire, leaving owners with enormous repair costs.
The complaints involve previous-generation Prius models equipped with option high-intensity discharge headlights. The U.S. Transportation Department officially opened a case to investigate the complaints last April and a class action lawsuit was filed against Toyota last month. In all, the U.S. Transportation Department has received 338 complaints, according to Automotive News.
Disgruntled owners are upset that Toyota’s warranty doesn’t cover the HID bulbs. Including labor, the HID systems typically cost between $300 and $1,800 to replace.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into the situation but has yet to announce an official recall.
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