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2.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,995 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2008 Toyota Avalon accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2008 Toyota Avalon Owner Comments

problem #10

Apr 042023

Avalon

  • 110,950 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

OEM high beam bulbs continuously explode. I-??m not saying they just burn out, these bulbs shatter, and send shards of glass on the inside of the headlamp housing. I believe it-??s a big safety risk, because for me, it happened while I was driving late at night in the dark where there are deer nearby. Brights are essential to see far and when you-??re driving through hills, going up a hill you need your brights to extend higher than your normal lights do. This is a commonly complained about problem for the 2008-2010 models of this Toyota Avalon. Toyota has issued a technical service bulletin back in 2011, but it is a major defect and I believe it should be fixed regardless of whether a customer pays for a warranty or not. A mechanic told me also that they are not sure why Toyota has not warrantied vehicles with this issue. The solution is replacing the headlight housing. So there is clearly a material defect, and I believe it affects safety. Vehicles are required to have high beam headlights for a reason, and the high beams on this vehicle burn out commonly on certain vehicles, and replacing bulbs does NOT solve the problem. It is a very expensive repair as well. What kind of car manufacturer doesn-??t recall or acknowledge a material defect or design flaw in such a crucial safety feature or a vehicle such as headlights? It-??s an expensive, annoying, and dangerous issue that continues to happen. There are so many complaints about this high beam issue for the 2008 year. In my mind this really reduces Toyotas reputation and credibility since they did not and will not recall these headlights. We just have to deal with their faulty design. Fix your mistakes instead of making customers foot the bill for your poor craftsmanship. This is pathetic.

- Maple Grove, MN, USA

problem #9

Sep 022021

Avalon

  • miles
This car has a rear window shade that started going up on its on when it is hot outside. I could not locate this feature in the owners manual. I did read that a safety feature for the shade is that when car is placed in reverse the shade is automatically closed. This feature has stopped working, in fact the shade now will not even lower. I used to be able to manually assist the shade down while someone would press the switch but down it raises back up almost immediately. I checked with Google and apparently this is a common problem. I have finally pulled the fuse to keep the shade down permanently.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #8

Dec 022020

Avalon

  • miles
Power sunshade is stuck in the up position blocking the back windshield and check engine light turns on which disables traction and stability control. These make the car dangerous to drive

- Bloomfield, CT, USA

problem #7

Jul 152020

Avalon

  • 162,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Power rear sunshade gets stuck in up position causing visibility hazard at night

- Wallingford, CT, USA

problem #6

Sep 282018

Avalon 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that the dashboard was sticky and melting. The contact stated that the image of the dashboard was reflected on the front windshield. The contact stated that it was difficult to see oncoming vehicles or pedestrians due to the reflection. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified. The contact was informed that the warranty period for repairing or replacing the dashboard was exceeded and no assistance would be offered. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000. Consumer stated headquarters admitted there was manufacturer defect. Updated 12/04/18

- Granville, OH, USA

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problem #5

Jul 102018

Avalon

  • 110,000 miles
The dashboard gets sticky on sunny days and the surface becomes shiney which then reflects off the windshield. The reflection (on the windshield) significantly obstructs drivers view of oncoming traffic or pedestrians on sunny days. Driver is blinded or it is impossible to see through the reflection. This is a dangerous condition and a significant safety issue for the car owner and the public (accident can affect other vehicles, property, or pedestrians) that needs addressed as a permanent solution by Toyota corporation for all affected vehicles on the road. The vehicles are in motion and stationary when this occurs. Any recall should be extended by Toyota to all vehicles having this condition that are currently driven and not limited to any arbitrary date of coverage. Dashboard replacement by Toyota corporation is currently known to be the only solution

- Granville, OH, USA

problem #4

Nov 132016

Avalon

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Patterson, LA, USA

problem #3

Jan 272015

Avalon 6-cyl

  • 49,000 miles
Dashboard is sticky and shiny. The sheen on the dash also creates a glare on sunny days, which creates a safety hazard. Toyota is avoiding a recall for the use of inferior parts.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #2

Aug 192013

Avalon 6-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
Rear sunshade stuck in the up position and will not go down automatically, reduces visibility.

- Bay Shore, NY, USA

problem #1

Sep 202012

Avalon

  • 26,000 miles
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. ## VIN failed ##

- Lyman, SC, USA

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