How to Replace a Tail Light Bulb on a Prius

Burnt out tail lights are a common reason for a police officer to pull you over, so when a friend of mine pointed out that the right tail light on my Prius was out, I knew I needed to get I fixed. A phone call to the Toyota dealer revealed this minor “repair” would set me back $40.

I am not an electrician or a mechanic, but last time I checked, light bulbs were a couple of bucks. To be exact, $2.24 for a Prius tail light bulb. Mine came in pair, so $4.48. 

I want to show you how I did it. It’s really easy and it took less than five minutes. It would have taken me much longer just to drive to the dealer.

1. Locate the bulb you need to replace. Mine was on the passenger side in the lowest part of the assembly.

2. Buy the new light bulb. The guy at the auto supply store asked for model and year of the car. The turn signal and brake light worked fine but the tail light part was burnt out.

3. Remove the panel.

4. Remove the bulb assembly by twisting it counter clock wise.

5. Pull the bulb to remove it from the socket and insert the new bulb into the socket. You should feel it click.

6. Insert the bulb assembly back in and twist it clockwise.

7. Replace the cover.

8. Make sure the new bulb works. Hard to see in day light but it works.

Note: When changing the tail light bulb on your Prius or any car, be careful not to touch the glass part of the new bulb as this will cause the tail light bulb to burn out quicker. If you accidentally touch the glass, clean it with rubbing alcohol before installation.

It’s a simple task that saved me nearly $40 and a trip (with waiting time) to the dealer. The same thing happened when my dryer stopped working. I ordered a $3 fuse on Ebay  and replaced it myself in just minutes.