This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Both low beam headlights on my 2008 Toyota Avalon sporadically go out, and I have to turn the lights off and on in order to get them to turn back on. Both high beam headlights are completely out, as well as both fog lights. There are thousands of 2008 Toyota Avalon owners who are experiencing this problem with their lights. This is a major safety concern for everyone who is affected by this problem. Originally, this type of problem is covered under a 5 year/36K miles warranty, but due to overwhelming complaints, Toyota extended the warranty to 5 year/72K miles. The repair involves replacing the hid headlight control unit (ballast), which came defective from the manufacturer, as well as all of the headlights, and in some cases both headlight housings. The total cost for this repair is about $2,500 to $2,800. In my case, as is the case of many other 2008 Toyota Avalon owners, my beams began to fail after the warranty period, at about 75K miles, and therefore I am required to cover this cost at my own expense. This is a common problem with 2008 Toyota Avalons, which Toyota knows about. Toyota claims that it is a warranty based issue, and they are unwilling to accept the fact that it is a recall based issue. It is a major safety concern for all 2008 Toyota Avalon owners.
On June 24, 2011 we took a trip to Arkansas. As we were going in the mountains, we found that we had no high beams on our headlights. On returning to fresno we took it into the Toyota dealer and he informed us that the headlight had exploded and would cost $2500 to replace. After a discussion with the dealer and Toyota, the dealer fixed them. Then in September 2012 the driving lights went out. We took the car in to the Toyota dealer and he informed us that they have exploded again. They want $2500 to replace them again. I do not understand why they want to charge the customer when it is a manufacturing problem. Can you imagine driving on back roads at night (which we do) and have the lights go out? I think this is a safety issue and makes it a very expensive car to operate yearly. I understand that this is a ongoing problem with the 2008-2010 models with hd headlights.
This car has had all 4 headlights burn out at one time or another. Now for the second time, the left hid low beam has gone out. I'm sure you are aware these are expensive to replace. About 2 years ago Toyota offered to reimburse owners for replacement of high beam halogen bulbs as long as the vehicle had less than 35,000 miles at the time of the malfunction. Recently though, since this was a problem with a larger number of cars, Toyota expanded this to a service bulletin. In this bulletin they will replace both complete headlight assemblies so long as the vehicle is less than 5 years old and has less than 75,000 miles on the odometer. My mother-in-law just had this done on her Avalon, which failed an inspection because both halogen high beam bulbs were shattered, which was purchased at the same time my wife's was. My wife uses her Avalon to commute 90 miles round trip to work. The car currently has 105,000 miles on the odometer since it was purchased new December 8, 2007. Due to the mileage Toyota is not interested in replacing the headlight assemblies on her car. This is a safety defect that could cause a crash. I believe there should be a recall campaign to rectify the problem.
While driving on an interstate, both of the Avalon's headlights went completely out, leaving me without any headlights. Turning the headlight switch on and off would sometimes reactivate one or both of the headlights but they would eventually fail again. The failure has continued to recur. Toyota dealer states that the headlight assembly for both headlights needs to be replaced. Toyota is aware of the headlight assembly defect in the 2008 Avalons, thus extended the original warranty, however, my Avalon was already beyond the extended warranty so it was not repaired due to the cost. The failure mileage was 82,000 and the extended warranty covered mileage up to 73,000. Repair cost is estimated at $2550. The failure is due to manufacture defect and not a wear and tear/usage issue. I then called the manufacturer and was told no further assistance would be given since the original warranty was extended and it didn't matter that the headlight failure happened beyond the covered mileage.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving her vehicle, the headlights failed to illuminate. The contact had to turn the headlight switch on and off several times before the lights began to illuminate. The failure recurred several times later. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for an inspection and the contact was informed that the headlight assembly for both headlights needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The failure mileage was 82,000.
Driving home from work I noticed that my head lights weren't on after being on when I left my job, so I turn them back on and about another 20 miles they were off again I experience this for about a month and was wounding this car isn't that old so something has to be done because the car is not that old for the lights to be going out there is no shortage or any other electrical problem with it. Went to a electrical shop and they informed me that most Avalons have the same problem so I'm writing this report to see what I need to do next so this won't occur for the next 5yrs or so. It happens all the time at night when I drive eventually they will not come on at all is this suppose to be happening I need to know. Thank you,
The daytime driving light/highbeams blew out on one side. I had the light replaced in Florida on a trip. Later in the same year the same light blew out and I took it to a dealer in waldorf, md this dealer, with much reservation, replaced the light. A week later both daytime/high beam lights blew out. I took it back to the dealer and they replaced the headlight assemblies of both light. Now a year and a half to 2 tears later both lights have exploded again. At this point the car has 71009 miles on it. Toyota says they will fix it. However, if they fix it the same way again I'm sure the same problem will return in due time. Lighting at night is a very serious safety issue as I found out this weekend and this safety problem needs to be fixed properly.
Headlights flicker and then go out completely. This is a repeated issue. Headlights on both sides will go out while driving. Sometimes the headlights will come back on; other times will not. This is applicable to the low beams as well as the high beams. Have notified Toyota and they will not address the issue properly. Toyota will not admit there is a defect in the equipment in the 2008 Avalon. Many other Avalons in this model year are experiencing similar issues. This is a significant safety issue.
Sept. 11, 2011, while parked, at night, automatic headlights on, both high beam headlight lamps exploded. The very next day, I took my Avalon to the dealer and was told that since the car was above 36,000 miles, that the repair would cost $2,700. I was told that both lamps and assemblies must be replaced. I was presented a toyoto service bulleting stating that both assemblies must be replaced. Got no options from the dealership. Nov. 9, 2011, I received a warranty enhancement notice stating that my warranty was extended to 75,00 miles and the it covered the head lamps and assemblies. It took until Jan. 10, 2012, to settle this issue. The lamps and assemblies were replaced by the company and I received a full reimbursement.
My high-beam lights went out over a year ago on my 2008 Toyota Avalon touring (hid light package), not sure on mileage but approx. 60,000. I took it into the dealer I purchased the Avalon from (and also bought the top dollar extended warranty for 100,000 miles). They said the entire headlamp assembly was bad and needed replaced on both sides. Said it would be about $2,800. I thought my warranty should replace it, they disagreed. They said I could continue to drive it because my low beams were fine and didn't see any future problems happening. A few months later, I received a warranty extension from Toyota for this exact problem. They would replace the headlamp assembly's at no charge to me if I had less than 72,000 miles. I had about 80,000 and they refused to fix it. On 4/13/2012, driving over an hour home from dinner, my driver side low beam started flashing and went out completely. In the dark. I took my car to a Toyota dealership today to fix the bulb. They said it would be $380 ish to replace the one low beam bulb. But said both high beams and both fog lights were out too. And they thought this was a result of the headlamp assembly's and thought I should replace them both, back to the $2,800 for lights!!! I called Toyota customer service and complained but they said they couldn't do anything because I was past the 72,000 mark. This is a defect and shouldn't be based on miles or time. They posted a warranty extension, admitting their problem, but only for people who don't drive many miles. I feel taken by Toyota. This could have (and may in the future) cause serious injury or death. Make it right Toyota!!!
Low beam / driving lights on passenger side turn off after approx 3 - 5 minutes of operation. If light switch or engine is shut off and restarted, light resets and operates for approx 3-5 minutes and then shuts off again. Also, both high beam bulbs are inoperative. Bulbs have shattered leaving glass shards inside the highbeam light housing. Only the left front low beam light is working which Toyota replaced at 27,000 miles.
The low beam/high beam bulbs turn off while I am driving. Sometimes the left side and sometimes the right side. If I turn them off then back on they both turn on fine but later turn off again and it keeps happening. I replaced all bulbs with new ones and after installing them, the same exact problem happens and nothing has changed. My car has less then 50K miles and had no electric work done to it since I purchased it so I am almost positive that it is a manufacture defect.
Running/bright beams both went out on left and right around Sept 2011. Lites use the same lamp. Had repaired at freeman Toyota in hurst tx. Was not told it was a temporary fix. Toyota issued warranty enhancement notice sometime after that repair. Right lamp out again now April 2012. Dealer says they cannot repair/replace and to deal with Toyota direct for refund, etc.
The high beam bulbs burn out all the time. I have replaced the high beam bulbs 4 times in three years. Toyota issued a service bulletin regarding the problem, but only extends the factory warranty to 72K miles. My bulbs initially burned out--simultaneously--at 83K. Judging from the comments on Toyota forums and user websites, this is a very common problem. Toyota should correct problem for all Avalon owners, not just those with minimal miles.
Two years ago both bright headlights failed. Dealer replaced bulbs at my expense. On 3/12/2012 both bulbs on the drivers side failed. Dealer said the vehicle had defective headlight assembly that Toyota knew about that had to be replaced ($1265.30) at my expense because vehicle had over 50000 miles (car now has 85000 miles). I called Toyota and they confirmed that this was true. My question to Toyota was, if I was driving on a busy highway at night and both defective assemblies failed wouldn't my safety be in jeopardy and if so why wasn't this car recalled?
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that both external headlights would fail without warning. The contact would adjust the light switch for the lights to become operable. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 74,000. Updated 4/2/12 updatd 04/16/12
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Avalon. While parked, the contact noticed that the passenger side headlight stopped functioning. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing where the mechanic replaced the passenger side headlight bulb. The failure continued after the replacement of the bulb. There was a manufacturer's recall for the headlights but the vehicle was over the mileage limit. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.
2008 Toyota Avalon limited: At 35 months and 40,000 miles, the high intensity headlights (hid) began intermittent operation and pointed straight down to the ground making night driving unsafe. The dealer claimed the low beam hid headlamp was going out and the replacement cost for the hid low beam bulb was an exorbitant $300 dollars ($125 for the bulb and $175 for installation). The bulb replacement did not fix the aim problem and a new headlamp assembly was ordered and installed. The headlamps still point at the ground making the vehicle unsafe to drive at night. I can not believe the federal government would allow Toyota to create such a safety hazard as a light bulb that works intermittently or costs $300 to replace, which is hardly affordable by a majority of americans. The fact that the dealer can not get the lamps to aim correctly on the street indicates the design is also flawed. This is not a luxury item like electric windows or air conditioning. This is a safety device, required by law, and the car is unsafe to drive at night when it malfunctions. The problem is that the hid malfunction occurs prematurely when compared to other headlamps and is extremely expensive to repair. There are numerous complaints about this issue on the internet but Toyota is evidently denying any issue exists.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Miramar, FL, USA