2008 Toyota Avalon problems
Owners have filed 417 complaints about the 2008 Toyota Avalon with NHTSA. Exterior lighting accounts for 51.1% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of vehicle speed control at 10.8%.
Complaints417
Crashes31
Fires6
Injuries18
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Exterior lighting 51.1% · 213
Vehicle speed control 10.8% · 45
Electrical system 10.6% · 44
Structure 5.3% · 22
Steering 4.1% · 17
Power train 3.1% · 13
Unknown or other 2.9% · 12
Visibility/wiper 2.4% · 10
Severity
Of those complaints, 31 describe a crash, 6 describe a fire and 18 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 17 model years of the Toyota Avalon in this data, 2008 ranks 2nd by complaint volume — 2006 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 7 in the last three years against 25 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 52,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Evening interstate headlights fail at 65 mph then return after headlight switch is cycled to off and back on.... Third occurrence in as many months. No recall info on Toyota website. Over 100 complaints on same issue. Does someone have to be injured or killed before this problem is addressed??? Original owner, maybe not for much longer. Get off your butt Toyota and address this dangerous situation. Exterior lighting · reported at 105,000 miles
While driving down a remote dark county road, first my high beam lamps failed simultaneously,then approximately five seconds my left low beam lamp failed. I stopped the car, turned all headlamps off, then after fifteen seconds, I turned the low beam lamps on. After a warm up period, the low beam lamps illuminated. The high beams never illuminated again. The day-time running lamps are no longer working. Exterior lighting · reported at 72,775 miles
Tl- the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated the driver's and passenger's side headlight stopped illuminating independently. There was a manufacturer recall for the exterior lighting. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 49,500. Da Exterior lighting · reported at 49,500 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…