Toyota Avalon Complaints (2008)

349 consumer complaints on file.

#10546380October 1, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,697. ## VIN PASSED ## TOYOTA AVALON 2008 ##...UPDATED 11-12-13 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536449August 21, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
REAR SUNSHADE STUCK IN THE UP POSITION AND WILL NOT GO DOWN AUTOMATICALLY, REDUCES VISIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533569August 15, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
2008 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS HIS WIFE TURNED INTO A PERPENDICULAR PARKING SPACE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, ONLY STOPPING WHEN IT HIT A PARKING BARRICADE. HIS WIFE DID ATTEMPT TO APPLY THE BRAKE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535193August 13, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533394August 3, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY, INCLUDING WHEN NEEDED MOST ON DARK WINDING ROADS CREATING A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. TEMPORARY SOLUTION IS TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS AND TURN BACK ON TO RESTORE LIGHTS. FAILURE IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO CORRECT FOR VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 75K MILES. IT COSTS OVER $1500 TO REPAIR, WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY MANUFACTURER EXTENDED 100K MILE WARRANTY. THEY CLAIM IT IS A WEAR ISSUE. A FULL RECALL MUST BE ISSUED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED. MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ARE FOUND ON-LINE. MANUFACTURER KNOWS IT IS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525151July 16, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HIGH BEAMS WORKED SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHER TIMES. NOW THE HIGH BEAMS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS ARE COMPLETELY OUT. WHILE GETTING SERVICE AT THE DEALER LAST YEAR, I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE HIGH BEAMS, BUT THEY JUST SAID THAT THEY WERE WORKING AT THE TIME AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM AT THE TIME. NOW THAT THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER - I WENT TO A NEW DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DIDN'T DO A RECALL TO NOTIFY OWNERS, INSTEAD TOYOTA JUST REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AS NEW CUSTOMERS WENT INTO DEALERS WITH HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. THEN TOYOTA EXTENDED THE REPLACEMENT TO CARS UP TO 40K MILES. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHO COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM, MY CAR WAS WELL UNDER 40K MILES; HOWEVER, NOW I'M TOLD THAT IT WILL COST $2,600 TO FIX SINCE THE CAR IS NOW OVER 40K MILES! WHY DIDN'T TOYOTA PROACTIVELY ALERT OWNERS TO THIS PROBLEM SO THE LIGHTS COULD BE REPLACED? I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515967June 10, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT ON LOW BEAMS GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. WILL COME BACK ON IF THE CAR IS TURND OFF AND RESTARTED. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES. REPLACED THAT LIGHT, NOW THE OTHER LIGHT STARTED DOING THE SAME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514322May 30, 2013
VISIBILITY, STRUCTURE
THE REAR WINDOW SUNSHADE COMES UP UNCONTROLLABLY AND WILL NOT GO DOWN. I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE SUNSCREEN CAME UP BLOCKING MY VIEW OF CARS BEHIND ME AND WAS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING. THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND THERE IS NO WAY TO GET THE SHADE DOWN. A DEALER SUGGESTED THAT IF I CAN CRAW IN THE BACK SEAT AND MANUALLY MANEUVER IT INTO THE DOWN POSITION, I COULD REMOVE THE FUSE AND IT WOULD BECOME INACTIVE; THEREBY, KEEPING IT IN THE DOWN POSITION. I HAVE CHECKED VARIOUS WEBSITES AND CUSTOMERS ARE REMOVING THE FUSES TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513574May 26, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB BURSTS. SEEMS TO BE A WELL REFERENCED DESIGN FLAW THE TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO RECALL. 21300 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH BULLETIN NO:TSB-0044-10 DATE OF BULLETIN:08/16/2010 SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: TOYOTA: HIGH BEAM/DRL BULB INOPERATIVE. ON SOME VEHICLES, THE HIGH BEAM/DRL BULB MAY BECOME INOPERTIVE OR SHATTER. A NEWLY DESIGNED HIGH BEAM/DRL HOUSING ASSEMBLY (INCLUDING THE APPLICABLE BULB) IS AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION H. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511681May 13, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ON FEBRUARY 27, 2013 I NOTICED THAT BOTH HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. AT THAT TIME OUR 2008 AVALON HAD ABOUT 73,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I LEARNED THAT TOYOTA HAD A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MECHANISM ON THE 2008 AVALON AND HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. I CONTACTED MY TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS INFORMED MY CAR WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE. ON MAY 3, 2013, I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. I DID SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND LEARNED THAT THE PROGRESSION OF THE KNOWN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY PROBLEM WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF ALL HEAD LIGHTS. I CALLED TWO REPAIR LOCATIONS AND RECEIVED QUOTES IN EXCESS OF $2800 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MECHANISMS. I THEN CALLED TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND WAS INFORMED THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO ASSIST FIXING A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504200March 22, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING THE INOPERATIVE OF DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS(DRL) AND HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM BULBS. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BULBS. PROBLEM CONTINUES AFTER BULB BEING REPLACED. LIGHTS RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION WHEN SWITCHED TO OFF POSITION AND BACK ON. NO SPECIFIC PATTERNS OF OCCURRENCE. EXPLANATION BY DEALERSHIP WHEN CHECKED WAS THAT THEY DID NOT DETECT A PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF SERVICE. NOTE ENTERED BY SERVICE ADVISOR STATED "ELECTRICAL PROBLEM". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501424March 5, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVING IN DARK 2-LANE COUNTRY ROAD, NEEDED HIGH BEAM FOR SAFETY AND BETTER VISIBILITY. HIGH BEAMS DID NOT TURN ON. DURING THE TRIP ALMOST HIT A COYOTE BUT WAS ABLE TO AVOID DUE TO DRIVING 45 MPH (20 MPH BELOW POSTED SPEED LIMIT). ALSO, DUE TO SLOWED SPEED WE CONSTANTLY WERE CREATING A LONG QUEUE BEHIND US CAUSING MANY VEHICLES TO UNSAFELY PASS US, THUS CREATING ANOTHER POTENTIAL HAZARD. WENT TO THE DEALER TO FIX PROBLEM BUT IT WOULD COST $2000 TO FIX! TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM (SERVICE BULLETIN#TSB-0044-10) AND THEY DID EXTEND THE WARRANTY, BUT THEY WOULDN'T HONOR THAT IN OUR CAR BECAUSE WE WERE 2 MONTHS PAST THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD. THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME WE NEEDED TO USE THE HIGH BEAM AFTER OWNING IT FOR 6 MONTHS, SO THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE HAPPENED WAY BEFORE THE END OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE OF COURSE WAS NOT WILLING TO STEP UP AND OR AT LEAST PARTIALLY PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THEIR CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE WAS VERY INDIFFERENT. TOYOTAS HAVE DEFINITELY SLIPPED IN QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. I WILL NOT RECOMMEND ANY OTHER TOYOTAS TO MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501194March 4, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498185February 14, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
REAR WINDOW VISIBILITY IS MY PROBLEM, AT DARK AND WHEN IT RAINS IT'S NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE CLEARLY ANYTHING THROUGH MY BACK WINDOW. THE REAR WINDOW SUNSHADE IS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WELL THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW IN THE RAIN AND WHEN IT'S DARK. IF IT WAS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION THAT WOULD BE OK, BUT IT'S NOT. I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE CHARGED ALMOST $900. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO FIX ONE. FIRST OFF THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO LOWER IT EVEN IF IT'S NOT FIXED TO GO UP AND DOWN. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA. WHEN I CALLED THEM ABOUT MY DYNAMIC CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING LAST YEAR THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT FOR FREE OR AT GREATLY REDUCED PRICE BECAUSE I WAS PAST THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH I HAD LESS THEN 25,000 OR 26000 MILES ON IT WHEN I CALLED. IT HADN'T WORKED AT THAT TIME FOR A GOOD 6 TO 8 MONTHS. TOYOTA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS IN MY OPINION. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498013February 13, 2013
STEERING
TELESCOPIC LEVER IS RELEASED AND STEERING WHEEL MAKES TOWARD ON THE HIGHWAY IN DRIVING. THIS IS MY 3RD TIME EXPERIENCE. HOW CAN STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS RELEASED WITHOUT ANY WARNING IN DRIVING. ACCORDING THE 2008 TOYOTA AVALON MANUAL, TOYOTA ALREADY MAKES CAUTION LIKE THIS.(PAGE61) "AFTER ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL. MAKE SURE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. OTHERWISE, THE STEERING WHEEL MAY MOVE SUDDENLY, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND RESULTING IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY." "WHILE DRIVING. DO NOT ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL. DOING SO MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO MISHANDLE THE VEHICLE AND AN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY." TOYOTA MANUFACTURER ALREADY UNDERSTAND IF STEERING WHEEL IS UNLOCKED OR RELEASE IN DRIVING, CAUSING IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. I THINK TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY MAKES RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496119February 1, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT HEADLIGHT WORKS FOR ONLY ABOUT FIVE MINUTES THEN TURNS OFF BUT TURNS BACK ON RIGHT AWAY IF I TURN OFF THEN ON ALL LIGHTS DEALER REPLACED LIGHT IN AUGUST 2011 BUT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. RETURN TO DEALER GOT ONLY A DENIAL OF ANY "ONGOING" PROBLEMS REPORTED (EDMUNDS SAYS OTHERWISE FROM MANY IRATE TOYOTA OWNERS). DEALER ONLY OFFERED TO REPLACE THE BUILT AGAIN ($178.00) OR "CHARGE LABOR TO CK THE FULL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (IGNORING THAT ONLY THE HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY NEED BE CHECKED AND THAT THE ASSEMBLY CAN BE REPLACED FOR AROUND $300.) DEALER REALLY WANTS TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM AND JUST SELL MORE BULBS. THIS IS LIKELY MY LAST TOYOTA (AFTER HAVING FOUR.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10495185January 30, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE HIGHBEAM LIGHTS WERE HARDLY USED AND THEY WENT OUT ONE NIGHT AT THE SAME TIME. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD THE BULBS REPLACED. THEY DID TELL US THAT BULBS USUALLY GO OUT ONE AT A TIME BUT HAD NO EXPLANATION WHY BOTH WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. WE INDICATED THAT THE USER'S MANUAL SUGGESTED TO LOOK AT OTHER PARTS AS BURNED BULBS WOULD USUALLY BE CAUSED BY A PROBLEM IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS ONLY THE BULBS. WE JUST LEARNED AFTER THE VISIT THAT TOYOTA HAD SENT A BULLETIN TO THE DEALERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT SOME 2008-2010 MODELS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BULB HOUSING, NOT THE BULBS AND THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE HOUSING. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10495204January 30, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WOULDN'T START AT SHOPPING AREA - PAID $5 FOR A BATTERY JUMP - HAD CAR TESTED AT LOCAL AUTO SHOP - SAID WE NEEDED AN ALTERNATOR BUT MAY BE UNDER WARRANTY - WENT TO EASTERN SHORE TOYOTA - FOR $56.57 - YES WE NEEDED AN ALTERNATOR - NOT UNDER WARRANTY -COST $580 - TAKE TIL TUES - SUGGEST WE SPEND $100 PLUS AND RENT A CAR. WE ELECTED TO TAKE OUR CHANCES AND HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED CLOSER TO GULF SHORES WHERE WE ARE STAYING - COST WAS $396. WE HAVE NEVER HAD AN ALTERNATOR GO OUT AFTER OWNING VEHICLES FOR NEARLY 60 YRS - LET ALONE AT 46725 MILES AND SUCH A PRICEY CAR. WE ARE CONSIDERING THE RAV 4 FOR 2014 BUT THIS IS GIVING US SECOND THOUGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494722January 25, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE WERE DRIVING ON MOUNTAIN ROADS IN A SNOWSTORM AT NIGHT, AND DISCOVERED WE DID NOT HAVE HIGH BEAMS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR MECHANIC ONCE WE RETURNED FROM OUR TRIP, AND WERE TOLD THAT BOTH HIGH BEAM LIGHT BULBS WERE SHATTERED. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US THAT THIS IS A ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF, AND THAT THEY HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN JANUARY OF 2010 FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN FEBRUARY OF 2011 (MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS RELEASED). THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN, AND THE CAR WAS "CERTIFIED." WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,400, AND WAS NOT BE COVERED UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VINTAGE AVALON THAT SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL, NOT JUST A SERVICE BULLETIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493360January 17, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DURING A ROUTINE 70000 MILE MAINTENANCE CHECK I HAD THE DEALER LOOK INTO A FLICKERING DRIVER-SIDE HEAD LIGHT. THEY SAID THE BULB WAS GOING BAD AND ALSO DISCOVERED THAT MY HIGH BEAMS DIDN'T WORK. TOYOTA SAID THE PROBLEM IS INHERENT TO 2008-2010 AVALONS BECAUSE OF A POORLY ENGINEERED HEAD-LAMP ASSEMBLY AND THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM WOULD BE $2820.85. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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