302 of the
4,245 complaints filed about the Toyota Avalon
are about the lighting —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
Because my instrument panel is alway illuminated, I was unaware that I was driving one night without my lights on. Now I know why I see more cars at night without their lights. Manufacturers need to fix this problem. Older cars would not turn on the panel lights if the headlights weren't on. You would think this would be an easy technology fix with since we have self driving cars now.
NHTSA complaint #11619814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When driving my 2009 Toyota Avalon my headlights sporadically go out. Mostly on the drivers side. I have replaced the headlight on 3 separate occasions with in the last 3 Years and each time it cost me $185.00 for labor and the headlight. I also got stopped by the POLICE for it! Now in 2023 the right head light goes on and off sporadically since March 2023. Again, I got stopped by the POLICE! Now it's JUNE of 2023 and both lights went out while driving home at night. We took it to a different repair shop and was FINALLY told that this has been a problem for the 2009 Toyota Avalon for a while as it was a manufacturing DEFECT. A head light ballast I think. Why should I pay to fix this as well as tickets from the POLICE for a manufacturing ERROR!!! Now I have to pay for 2 Ballasts and 2 headlights????.
NHTSA complaint #11525878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11516621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FROM THE TIME FRAME OF 2017 TIL THE PRESENT, THE HEADLAMPS ON THE VEHICLE WOULD BURN OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. EACH TIME I REPLACE THEM, THEY WOULD LAST FOR ABOUT 4 TO 6 MONTHS AND THEN THEY WOULD BURN OUT AGAIN. SOMETIMES EITHER ONE WOULD BURN, LEFT OR RIGHT, AND TWICE I'VE HAD BOTH GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS CAUSING THE HEAD LAMPS TO BURN OUT. I'VE REPLACED THEM EACH TIME, AND IN COUNTING I HAVE REPLACED THEM AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE 2017. THIS IS TOTALLY UNUSUAL COMPARED TO MY OTHER TWO CARS WHERE I'VE NEVER ONCE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS ON THESE. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AND OTHER TIMES WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON BEFORE DRIVING. TODAY (MARCH 1, 2021) IS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN, AND THIS TIME THE DRIVER SIDE LAMP WENT OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
NHTSA complaint #11398613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY AUTO HIGH BEAMS DAILY FAIL TO WORK CORRECTLY DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING, THE LOW BEAM WOULD BE ON, THE TURN SIGNAL CONTROL LEVER WILL BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY FORWARD. THE GREEN LIGHT ON THE DASH PANEL IS SHOWING A HEADLIGHT WITH A WORD "AUTO" WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE HIGH BEAMS WOULD CYCLE ON & OFF AS THEY SHOULD WITH THE AUTO HIGH BEAM SYSTEM. THEN THE GREEN "AUTO" LIGHT WOULD MYSTERIOUSLY GO OFF AND THE HIGH BEAMS WOULD NOT TURN ON ANYMORE EVEN UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS - THIS WOULD LAST FROM THIRTY SECONDS TO ABOUT FIVE MINUTES..THEN THE AUTO HIGH BEAM SYSTEM MYSTERIOUSLY COMES BACK ON AND ALL WORKING CORRECTLY AGAIN. THIS IS ONLY ON NIGHT TIME DRIVING WHEN THE AUTO HIGH BEAM SYSTEM IS TURNED ON WITH THE GREEN AUTO INDICATOR. THIS IS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND MOSTLY ON DARKER / RURAL ROADS WHERE HIGH BEAMS ARE DESIRED. THIS PROBLEM IS WITH THOUSANDS OF TOYOTAS..AND LEXUS ES ALL MODELS AND THE LAST FIVE MODEL YEARS. DEALERS TURN A BLIND EYE TO IT... ALTHOUGH IT IS OFTEN A VERY INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. TOYOTA DEALERS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT... LOOK IN ALL THE TOYOTA ONLINE AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS... IT'S OUT THERE...THIS HAPPENS EVERY AND ANY EVENING WE DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. VERY ANNOYING FOR SURE.
NHTSA complaint #11375620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2008 TOYOTA AVALON. LOW BEAM ON DRIVERS SIDE GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. HAVE TO TURN HEADLIGHTS ON/OFF QUICKLY. WAS PULLED OVER BY CHP ON HIGHWAY, TOLD HIM JUST HAD LOW BEAMS BULBS REPLACED. HE ASKED ME TO TURN THEM OFF, THEN ON AND BOTH LIGHTS WERE WORKING. THIS WAS IN SPRING 2018 APPROX 80,000 MILES. TOOK TO MECHANIC, THEY WORKED FINE. DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THAT, NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AS IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY AND AFRAID THAT LIGHTS WILL NOT COME BACK ON. SO MANY OF SAME COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS. I EMAILED TOYOTA AND ACTUALLY GOT A CALL BACK BUT GAL STATED THEY HAD NO RECORD OF ANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING LOW BEAM PROBLEMS. SHE GAVE ME A CASE #2008070658. ASKED IF I HAD TAKEN IT TO DEALER BUT THEY WOULD CHARGE FOR DIAGNOSIS, I TOLD HER I WOULD NOT BE DOING THAT. MY MECHANIC HAS REFERRED ME TO ANOTHER SHOP WITH A CERTIFIED A TOYOTA MASTER MECHANIC, WILL SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM TO SAY THE LEAST AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE IT AND STEP UP TO CORRECT PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND OBVIOUSLY I AM NOT ONLY ONE WHO IS VERY CONCERNED.
NHTSA complaint #11348822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER NUMEROUS TIMES DUE TO HAVING A HEADLIGHT OUT. HOWEVER IT'S NEVER BLOWN. ONCE I SHOW THE OFFICER BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN BACK ON THE LIGHT IS ON. FROM READING MANY TOYOTA FORUMS AND GOING TO A TOYOTA DEALER, IT IS A FAULTY WIRING SYSTEM AND TO REPAIR IT WILL COST AT LEAST $1300.00 OR MORE. IT IS A HASTLE AS WELL AS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE LIGHT DOESNT STAY ON ONCE TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF THEN ON. WITHIN A FEW MILES IT GOES OFF AGAIN AND IT IS CONSTANTLY BLOWING THE LIGHT BULBS. IN THE 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD MY CAR I HAVE REPLACED THE LIGHTS AT LEAST 7 TIMES. THE LIGHT WILL ALWAYS BE OFF WHEN I START MY CAR WITH THE REMOTE STARTER AND WHEN I START IT WITH THE IGNITION IF IT'S ON, WITHIN A FEW MILES OF DRIVING IT GOES OFF AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11316900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE HEADLIGHTS, WHEN ON LOW BEAM, IN NON AMBIENT LIGHT CONDITIONS (TOTAL DARKNESS) DO NOT PROJECT FAR ENOUGH TO DETECT PERSONS WALKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR CARS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY IF THE ROAD IS UNDULATING (DIPS, CURVES, HILLS). HEADLIGHT PROJECTION CAN BE REDUCED TO 1 1/2 CAR LENGTHS ON DIPS ON DARK NIGHT. THE LOW BEAM CUTOFF LINE CAN BE AN ISSUE AS THERE IS NO VISION THRU THE UPPER HALF OF THE WINDOW IN SUCH CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #11307980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS OR AT DUSK, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOSEPH AIRPORT TOYOTA (1180 W NATIONAL RD, VANDALIA, OH 45377, (937) 898-8060) TO BE INSPECTED. THE HEADLAMPS WERE ADJUSTED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.
NHTSA complaint #11288116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED USED VEHICLE IN 2015, I'VE EXPERIENCED HEADLIGHTS THAT FLICKER AND GO OFF ONLY TO BE FULLY ILLUMINATED BY TURNING OFF THEN BACK ON. MOSTLY, IT'S THE DRIVER SIDE AND SOMETIMES THE PASSENGER SIDE; INFREQUENTLY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE AFFECTED. I'VE SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR A SOLUTION AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR REPORTS WITH 'SOLUTIONS' RANGING FROM SIMPLE FEW DOLLARS TO ABOVE $1000. MY LOCAL DEALER HAD THE CAR ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS...TO NO AVAIL AND WAS WILLING TO 'FIX' IT FOR $1200. BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF SIMILARLY DESCRIBED ON INTERNET FORUMS, I THINK THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLES IF, FOR NO OTHER REASON, THAN THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11280504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH EITHER ONE OR BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF RANDOMLY. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY AND I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS ON OCCASION I DO NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THE LIGHTS ARE OFF. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AND ISSUED A WARNING WITH THE EXCEPECTATION THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED. THIS POSES ANOTHER GREAT CONCERN AS THE MECHANIC HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE, THEREFORE, IT CANNOT BE FIXED. THE MECHANIC HAS ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE DEALER AS WELL AS OTHER MECHANICS ALONG WITH CONDUCTING HIS OWN RESEARCH ALL TO NO AVAIL. DURING MY RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLIANTS STATING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS THAT I AM EXPERIENCING, ALSO WITH NO RESOLVE OR REMEDY. I AM SHOCKED THAT TOYOTA WOULD PLACE PEOPLE IN SUCH DANGER AND NOT TAKE ANY ACTION TO RECTIFY THIS VERY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.
NHTSA complaint #11278180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE AND ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF UP TO 75,000 MILES. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT; THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
NHTSA complaint #11257969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD MY CAR INSPECTED IN DECEMBER 2018 AND WAS TOLD THAT MY HIGH BEAMS WERE OUT. I HAD THE BULBS REPLACED AND JUST RECENTLY HAD MY LIGHTS INSPECTED. CHANGING THE BULBS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND MY HIGH BEAMS ARE STILL NOT WORKING!
NHTSA complaint #11241041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND DAY TIME RUNNING LAMPS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. *BF
NHTSA complaint #11220542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON NOVEMBER 2018 I NOTICED THAT MY REAR DECK MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BULB BUT THE VERY NEXT DAY IT WAS BACK ON AGAIN. THIS CONTINUED FOR ABOUT A WEEK SO I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE ABOUT $400 TO TAKE OFF THE REAR DECK JUST TO SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE AVALON'S WITH THIS SAME UNSAFE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE ALSO WILL NOT PASS STATE SAFETY INSPECTIONS WITH THIS ISSUE.I THINK AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE CONDUCTED ON THIS HIGHLY UNSAFE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11187293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KENDALL TOYOTA (10943 S DIXIE HWY, MIAMI, FL 33156) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE BATTERY WAS ALSO REPLACED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE ODOR COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
NHTSA complaint #11182815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA AVOLON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS DISCOLORATION ON THE HEADLIGHT UNITS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY AT NIGHT AND HIS VISION WAS IMPAIRED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DCH TOYOTA OF TORRANCE (2909 PACIFIC COAST HWY, TORRANCE, CA 90505, (424) 271-2340) TO BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
NHTSA complaint #11181381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BRIGHT LIGHTS DO NOT WORK DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. TOYOTA WILL NOT HONOR RECALL BECAUSE THEY ADDED EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT NOT ALL OWNERS NOTIFIED. IT IS COST PROGIBITIVE YO REPAIR, SO MANY MANY PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF DRIVE WITHOUT BENEFIT OF HIGH BEAMS, A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE EAPECIALLY DRIVING IN RURAL AMERICA.
NHTSA complaint #11166217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.