The Lemon IndexHeadlights that dim, flicker or go out can be a bulb, a connector or the lighting module.
Fix soon. Don’t drive at night until they work. Get them checked soon.
Burned-out bulbs. Then: a corroded or melted connector; a failed headlight module or relay.
Owners describe this in 18,955 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Toyota Prius.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 Toyota Prius | 607 | 30% |
| 2006 Toyota Prius | 518 | 36% |
| 2008 Toyota Prius | 329 | 22% |
| 2013 Nissan Altima | 263 | 11% |
| 2015 Acura RDX | 219 | 52% |
| 2015 Cadillac SRX | 204 | 46% |
| 2005 Toyota Prius | 190 | 18% |
| 2014 Nissan Altima | 177 | 16% |
| 2015 Nissan Altima | 174 | 18% |
| 2014 Cadillac SRX | 162 | 42% |
| 2012 Cadillac SRX | 158 | 38% |
| 2013 Cadillac SRX | 142 | 36% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2024 GMC Canyon · 60% 2015 Acura RDX · 52% 2014 Acura RDX · 49% 2015 Cadillac SRX · 46% 2014 Cadillac SRX · 42% 2013 Acura RDX · 40% 2016 Cadillac SRX · 40% 2012 Cadillac SRX · 38%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of headlights not working
- Burned-out bulbs
- A corroded or melted connector
- A failed headlight module or relay
- A failed LED or HID ballast
- Water inside the headlight housing
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive if the headlights are not working?
Fix soon. Don’t drive at night until they work. Get them checked soon.
Get help right away if both lights go out; a connector looks melted.
Of the 18,955 complaints describing it, 1.0% mention a crash and 2% mention a fire.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: exterior lighting (86%), electrical system (28%), visibility/wiper (2%), power train (2%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 69,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Toyota (2,404), Chevrolet (2,093), Dodge (1,386), Ford (1,142), Cadillac (1,129).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (electrical repairs): the middle half ran $580 to $1,300, typical $922, from 126 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Related symptoms
Car battery keeps dying All dashboard warning lights on Speedometer not working Power window not working Backup camera not working Touchscreen freezing or going black
Quick answers
What causes headlights not working?
Headlights that dim, flicker or go out can be a bulb, a connector or the lighting module. Common causes: burned-out bulbs; a corroded or melted connector; a failed headlight module or relay; a failed LED or HID ballast; water inside the headlight housing.
Is it safe to drive if the headlights are not working?
Fix soon. Don’t drive at night until they work. Get them checked soon.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Toyota Prius, Cadillac SRX and Nissan Altima. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 126 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $580 to $1,300. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup