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.
The high beam on the left side wen out - when switch is turned off then on again it comes back on - then both lights went off at same time and it was completely dark. This initially happened to me approx. 3 months ago & continues daily. I thought it was the bulb until I had it checked & it turned out not to be the problem. Research indicates replacement cost between $2200 & $3000 in addition to the fact that it's a manufacturer's issue and Toyota must devise a plan to rectify before someone loses their life.
Problems with headlights going out intermittently, when they go out it usually its one at a time, but the other day my wife was driving at night when both lights went out and was completely dark. She got stopped and turned off the lights and back on using the switch and both lights came back on as it did when we would lose just one light. We took car to the dealer and they said the bulbs were bad and replaced them for $589 after researching this problem I was told this is a known problem with a lot of others. This is a safety issue that needs to be addressed and fixed before someone gets killed. Toyota needs to fix this problem now and not look the other way.
High beam headlights burn out frequently. I have replaced 4 in the last six months. They have been professionally installed. Sometimes this happens while driving. In addition, the left front headlight quits and will only come back on when the lights are turned off and they turned back on.
High beam lights stopped working suddenly. Indicator on the dash shows they are on but the light bulbs do not turn on. Checked edmunds and other auto web sites and see this is a problem with many 2008 models - very expensive ($131 each)light bulbs burn out within a year and design has been modified on 2009 model. Toyota admits it has a problem but is not replacing anything after 36,000 miles or 3 years. Seems the ones reported are going out at about our mileage. Tsa has reported it as tsa ODI #tsb-0044-10. Cost to replace has been quoted as high as $3,000. My concern is that the entire lighting system could go out when I am driving at night on the interstate at 70 mph. Another concern is that driving the speed limit with low beams is dangerous here where there are deer that get on the road. Why does Toyota expect consumers to pay for their design mistake that creates the potential death for their customers?
- Springdale, AR, USA
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Several headlight failures. First about 2 months ago, the driver's side headlight would go off intermittently, and come back on again. Then about a month later the high beams quit working. Then 2 nights ago, on a dark 2 lane road, with heavy rain falling, the headlights went out altogether. I immediately turned on the flashers and continued driving slowly as I was almost home. When I got home, I found I could turn the lights off and back on, and the low beams worked fine. The high beams still do not work. Have not taken car to dealer. In my 5 years of driving various makes of cars, I have never had this problem. May be my last Toyota. I found this website and found many people with the same problem. Probably for each problem reported here, there are maybe 20-30 not reported. Seems to be a safety recall issue to me.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated the headlights failed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact replaced the headlight fuse himself but the failure was not corrected and the headlights continued to fail. The vehicle was not further repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that they were not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000 and the current mileage was 116,000.
Update to NHTSA report 10361610 concerning Toyota Avalon headlamp assembly. Hid brights shattered and then hid low beams will go out intermittently either side. System will reset by turning lights off then back on. Known tsb by Toyota. Dealt with Toyota customer service and received a benefit package through Toyota corporate and where car is serviced. Mileage was approximately 50,000. Benefit package was replacement of both sides of headlamp assembly. Value was state at $2,300, my cost was $500 which is probably the actual cost of the units and the labor to replace;I.e. Toyota wasn't out a dime. Have a document which states that if there is a recall on this item that I will receive back the $500. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that all of the exterior lighting failed and she was unable to see while driving at night. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was inspected and the contact was informed that there was a malfunction with the light bulb and when the lights became hot, they would crack the head lamp. The manufacturer was aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was 94,000. The approximate failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.
I own a 2008 Toyota limited Avalon. I have been experience exterior lighting problems that while driving my headlamps go out. I discovered this problem when I noticed my highbeams were out. When replacing the lamps I was told both highbeams exploded. Now my low beams continue to go out and only when I turn the lights off and back on do they come back. Went to Toyota directly and they told me they know of the problem but they are not going to recall. Based on numerous complaints over the internet, this is not a one time failure. This is an ongoing issue and Toyota needs to be held accountable for this safety issue. My car started this issue with approx 48K miles. In addition, I do not have the amount of disposable funds in order to change the bulbs. In addition, it appears changing of the bulbs is not the problem and it is the housing based on other car owners documentation on the internet. With that said, it is imperative Toyota takes responsibility and action. Numerous car owners of the 2008 Avalon are in a situation where safety is not being taken seriously by Toyota. Are they willing to let a known safety issue wait until someone takes them to court? they must have great lawyers!!
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that the vehicles high intensity light bulb worked intermittently and would shut off randomly. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Toyota dealer who replaced the right side hid light twice and the left side once; however, the lights continued to shut off. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The current mileages were 60,032. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000. Updated 06/0611 updated 06/10/11
Vehicle is 2008 Toyota Avalon limited. Both hid headlight bulbs go out and come on intermittently without any pattern as to when they will go out. The dealer said this is a known problem with this make and model and with some prius models. Since this is a known problem the dealer said the bulb had been reduced to "only" $140 and they could put one bulb in for about $350. Aside from the outrageous price for a headlight bulb, this is a known defect that many people have experienced and one that recurs after the repair. It is clearly the assembly that is defective. The danger in your headlights going out unexpectedly and regularly is obvious. The dealer said it couldn't help, because this was not covered by the warranty. I wrote to Toyota. They gave me a report or incident number, but after many months have offered no relief. Based upon the number of complaints that I see for this same issue, I feel that Toyota should bear responsibility for this defect.
This is my 2nd posting. My first was March 11, 2011 from westerville, Ohio. Enclosed below is the reply from Toyota to the Ohio attorney general office. "please accept our apologies for this situation and for any inconvenience that Mr. X may have been caused. Please advise Mr. X that his vehicle is outside the warranty in which repair would be covered by Toyota and no assistance will be provided". this response to the Ohio attorney general's office clearly indicates Toyota will pay for this if your vehicle is still under warranty. Should you need a copy of this - email me at: [xxx] I encourage everyone to send your complaint to your state's attorney general's or inspector general's office. We are getting screwed by Toyota. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Hid headlights on Toyota Avalon touring intermittently go out. You have to reset them by turning off your headlights. This is scary when you are driving at any speed but at highway speed is downright ridiculous. It has happened over and over. If you do research online you will find that this is a problem with both the touring and the limited (the Avalon versions with hid headlights) and not the XL or XLS versions with halogens. This is a headlight system problem ($2500 at dealer) not a bulb problem! everyone is having this problem with these models of the Avalon. NHTSA please factor this in to your research if you are doing a % of complaints to car models built not to factor in the Avalons built with halogens. This problem is abundant online and some simple research will let you see that Toyota has a serious safety concern on their hands. I know they had a recall on the prius for the same issue. Yes I have 2 kids in the back seat in car seats. Please keep them safe and make Toyota fix this issue before I am checking the deaths box on the above form! thank you!
2008 Toyota Avalon limited, 40,000 miles. Both high beam headlamps broke. Dealer knows it's a manufacturer design problem due to overheating. Replacement cost for both headlight assemblies is more than $2,000. Manufacturer has been contacted and will not cover cost.
The high beam bulbs on both sides have failed three times. One bulb had exploded. Toyota states they have record of any problems with this type of failure. This obvious safety issue should be corrected by Toyota.
The passenger side headlight of my 2008 Toyota Avalon limited dimmed for 3 days and then went out. The vehicle was still under warranty and the dealer replaced at no charge. 4,000 miles later (out of warranty) the driver side headlight dimmed for 2 days and now it is out. During each instance, I was able to turn the headlights off and on and each time the headlight would work properly but after a few minutes, the headlight would dim and then go out completely.
I own a 2008 Toyota Avalon with hid headlights. I was on a vacation with my wife and 2 month old driving at night in a storm when I decided to use my high beams. This was approximately March 25th 2010, while driving the high beam bulbs exploded. There is a tsb on the headlights being designed defective. When the high beams exploded it ruined the integrity of the low beams. When I came to a stop both low beams shut off. I turned the lights off and then back on and they came back on but anytime I sit for a minute or so they turn back off. I brought it to the dealership and called Toyota and they both told me since I wasn't in bumper to bumper warranty any more that it would cost me $1,088 a side for parts plus labor to install them. I was also told to fix the low beam problem I would have to buy new bulbs at $175 a piece. I was told it was not a safety issue so they did not have to issue a recall, and that there isn't even anything on file about them looking into it. How is your headlights shutting off not a safety issue" why should I have to pay to get headlights that aren't defective. I understand if they were cracked or damaged in some way but a design defect??" please look into this. I only had 48K miles on the car at the time. I drove the car the 1400 miles back to my home and it has been parked since but on the drive the headlights started cutting out while driving.
Last weekend I was driving my 12yr son to visit his grandfather for spring break. We stopped to use the restroom and turned off the car. When we got back on the road, the high beams would no longer work. We were driving down dark country roads in the middle of no where. I needed extra light, so I turned on my fog lights. Forgetting the high beams wouldn't work, I tried them again; when I applied the beams, the fog lights went out. When I shut the high beams, they came back on. I now have to go pick up my son from his visit and am afraid to drive at night. I've had my left headlight go out intermittently when the car was first shut off, but now my lights are all going off. My brother tried to help me figure out what was wrong and we found nothing physically wrong with the car. We looked online and found multiple complaints. I drive a 2008 Toyota Avalon touring - and I am now afraid to drive at night. I frequently do a lot of night driving, and don't know what to do. I have approx 45,000 miles on the car. If there is a similar recall on the prius, they need to do something before there is a fatal accident!!!!!
I purchased my 2008 Avalon touring in February 2008 within two years of owning, I noticed that my high-beam no longer were working. I took into the dealership to have checked, they indicated the high-beam bulbs had burned out. When inquiring why they would both burn-out in such a short period of owning the vehicle the service technician indicated the high beam bulb also works as your day running lights, they quoted a figure of over $160 for the bulbs and another $180 to complete the work. I purchased the bulbs and put them in myself. Upon inspecting the bulbs on removal, both had completed exploded when the went bad. Keeping fingers crossed that this will be the last to time to replace. Over the past couple weeks I noticed that the low-beam light on the passenger side seemed to be shutting down periodically. After researching on the internet, I found that it appears to be an ongoing issue with others. All indications were the only way to correct is replacing the bulb. Once again out of pocket for over a $150. Was able to replace myself. Read a forums where people indicated they had to pull their entire bumper off to replace. Not the case. There is a safety clip that holds the bulb in place, and it takes alittle work to get it off the first time, but not that difficult once you've done. Schedule to take my car in for an oil change this week, and I plan to inquire at the dealership as to the number of complaints that I've noticed on the web with their headlights associated with the 2008 Avalon.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Houston, TX, USA