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2008 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Avalon years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Toyota Avalon are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

305 reports with mileage · 44 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 209 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports4 fire reports12 injury reports

What owners actually said

349 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2018
Electrical System

JULY 30, 2018 WHILE IN PARKING SPACE I TURNED ON IGNITION AND HEARD A MILD POP, THE LOOKING TOWARDS PASSENGER SEAT I SAW WHITE SMOKE RISING BETWEEN CHAIR AND WINDOW AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER SEAT. IT SMELLED AS IF DOMING WAS BURNING. I TURNED IGNITION OFF. SMOKE STOPPED. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING UNDER THE CHAIR. I CHECKED MOVEME…

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JULY 30, 2018 WHILE IN PARKING SPACE I TURNED ON IGNITION AND HEARD A MILD POP, THE LOOKING TOWARDS PASSENGER SEAT I SAW WHITE SMOKE RISING BETWEEN CHAIR AND WINDOW AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER SEAT. IT SMELLED AS IF DOMING WAS BURNING. I TURNED IGNITION OFF. SMOKE STOPPED. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING UNDER THE CHAIR. I CHECKED MOVEMENT OF CHAIR AND IT WAS OK. I CALLED TOYOTA: NO IDEA OF CAUSE AND CLAIMED NO RECALLS. I MENTIONED WHAT I SAW ON LINE, TO NO AVAIL. I OBSERVED 6/2/2016 RECALL: 16V396000 AND 11/19/2014 # 14V743000. I WOULD LIKE THESE HEATING WIRES ON BOTH SIDES TO BE DISCONNECTED TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FIRE WHILE DRIVING. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11114737

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2018
Exterior Lighting

HEAD LIGHTS RANDOMLY GO OFF AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING. IF I TURN THEM OFF THEN BACK ON THEY COME BACK ON. SOMETIMES THEY STAY ON. MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE TO REPEAT THIS OFF AND ON PROCEDURE AGAIN AND AGAIN! THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF STREET LIGHTS, AND WINDING ROADS. WHY WON'T THEY MA…

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HEAD LIGHTS RANDOMLY GO OFF AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING. IF I TURN THEM OFF THEN BACK ON THEY COME BACK ON. SOMETIMES THEY STAY ON. MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE TO REPEAT THIS OFF AND ON PROCEDURE AGAIN AND AGAIN! THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF STREET LIGHTS, AND WINDING ROADS. WHY WON'T THEY MAKE THIS A RECALL?

NHTSA ODI #11111907

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2018
Visibility/wiper

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.

NHTSA ODI #11103540

97,000 miles · Jun 19, 2018
Unknown Or Other

DASHBOARD IS CRACKING ALL OVER AND ITS NOT FROM HEAT I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID I MISSED RECALL BY 17 DAYS? NEVER GOT A NOTICE, MU CONCERN BESIDES COSMETICS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE VINYL OVER AIR BAG AREA WILL BECOME BITS OF SHARP VINYL SCHRAPNEL IF DEPLOYED. THEY KNOW ITS A PROBLEM AND TRYING TO AVOID A SAFETY RECALL BY …

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DASHBOARD IS CRACKING ALL OVER AND ITS NOT FROM HEAT I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID I MISSED RECALL BY 17 DAYS? NEVER GOT A NOTICE, MU CONCERN BESIDES COSMETICS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE VINYL OVER AIR BAG AREA WILL BECOME BITS OF SHARP VINYL SCHRAPNEL IF DEPLOYED. THEY KNOW ITS A PROBLEM AND TRYING TO AVOID A SAFETY RECALL BY CALLING IT EXRENDED WARRANTY RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11102585

59,400 miles · Jun 7, 2018
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT NIGHT BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BEAMS FAILED TO GO ON. WHILE FUSES ARE OK, NEITHER HIGH BEAM WILL GO ON IN EITHER THE FLASH OR PERMANENT MODE.

NHTSA ODI #11100397

117,323 miles · May 22, 2018
Exterior Lighting

PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT INTERMITTENT FAILURE. NOTICEABLE, OBVIOUSLY, ONLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. FAILS AFTER A FEW MINUTES DRIVING, THEN WORKS NORMALLY FOR A DAY OR TWO THEN FAILS AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. NO RHYME OR REASON TO THE FAILURES. ONLY OCCURS ON LOW BEAM. HEADLAMP IS NOT 'BURNT OUT.' AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS I…

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PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT INTERMITTENT FAILURE. NOTICEABLE, OBVIOUSLY, ONLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. FAILS AFTER A FEW MINUTES DRIVING, THEN WORKS NORMALLY FOR A DAY OR TWO THEN FAILS AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. NO RHYME OR REASON TO THE FAILURES. ONLY OCCURS ON LOW BEAM. HEADLAMP IS NOT 'BURNT OUT.' AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS IS NOT A HEADLIGHT ISSUE BUT RATHER A HOUSING ISSUE AND THE ENTIRE HOUSING AND LAMP NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHY HAS TOYOTA NOT ISSUED A RECALL? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! CAR CURRENTLY HAS 115,739 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #11097171

45,000 miles · Apr 25, 2018
Exterior Lighting

THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT OR THE UPPER BRAKE LIGHT WORKS VERY INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MOST AVALONS ON THE ROAD IN THIS BODY STYLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH A DEFECTIVE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. THE DEALER WANTS OVER $500 FOR THE PART ALONE. THE LIGHT WORKS ONCE IN A RARE RARE WHILE. I CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN TORRANCE, …

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THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT OR THE UPPER BRAKE LIGHT WORKS VERY INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MOST AVALONS ON THE ROAD IN THIS BODY STYLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH A DEFECTIVE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. THE DEALER WANTS OVER $500 FOR THE PART ALONE. THE LIGHT WORKS ONCE IN A RARE RARE WHILE. I CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN TORRANCE, CA., THEY SUGGESTED I CONTACT YOU. THIS OCCURS WHEN SITTING STILL OR DRIVING ON STREETS AND A HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11090098

80,000 miles · Dec 10, 2017
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY GO OUT WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. IT STARTED WITH ONE SIDE BUT NOW BOTH LIGHTS ARE GOING OFF AND HAVE DONE SO SIMULTANEOUSLY WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS!

NHTSA ODI #11053809

111,000 miles · Aug 16, 2017
Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

OUR 2008 TOYOTA AVALON WAS RAMMED FROM THE REAR WITH FULL FORCE FROM A HONDA CRV GOING 40 MPH. THE AVALON WAS SLOWING DOWN TO ALLOW A GROUNDHOG TO CROSS ON A STRAIGHT 2 LANE ROAD AT THE TIME, BUT THE DRIVER OF THE HONDA BEHIND SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A DISTRACTED DRIVER BECAUSE SHE DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING. THE DRIVER OF THE AVALON …

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OUR 2008 TOYOTA AVALON WAS RAMMED FROM THE REAR WITH FULL FORCE FROM A HONDA CRV GOING 40 MPH. THE AVALON WAS SLOWING DOWN TO ALLOW A GROUNDHOG TO CROSS ON A STRAIGHT 2 LANE ROAD AT THE TIME, BUT THE DRIVER OF THE HONDA BEHIND SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A DISTRACTED DRIVER BECAUSE SHE DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING. THE DRIVER OF THE AVALON SUFFERED HEAD, NECK, BACK AND HIP INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES IS EXTENSIVE-PICTURES OF THE AVALON ATTACHED. THE HONDA AIRBAG DEPLOYED, SAVING THAT DRIVER FROM INJURY. THE AIRBAG OF THE TOYOTA DID NOT DEPLOY-CLEARLY MALFUNCTIONING AND COULD HAVE PREVENTED SOME OF THE INJURIES IF IT HAD DEPLOYED PROPERLY. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT BUT IT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO US YET. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE WORKING ON THE CLAIM. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE YET AND IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER IT IS 'TOTALED'.

NHTSA ODI #11015718

123,000 miles · Aug 5, 2017
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT HID LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF. WHEN I CYCLE THE ON/OFF SWITCH THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON, BUT WILL GO OFF RANDOMLY AGAIN. THE LIGHT DOES THIS IN DIFFERENT WEATHER AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. NO SET PATTERN. WHEN ADVISED OF THE PROBLEM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS AN PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE AND…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT HID LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF. WHEN I CYCLE THE ON/OFF SWITCH THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON, BUT WILL GO OFF RANDOMLY AGAIN. THE LIGHT DOES THIS IN DIFFERENT WEATHER AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. NO SET PATTERN. WHEN ADVISED OF THE PROBLEM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS AN PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND DETERMINED THE ISSUE WAS NOT ISOLATED TO MY VEHICLE. MANY OTHER 2008 TOYOTA AVALON OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. TOYOTA DOES NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. GIVEN THE RANDOMNESS THAT THE LIGHTS TURN OFF, THIS IS DEFINITELY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED TO ENSURE TOYOTA FIXES THE PROBLEM PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #11013009

Official recalls

6

16V396000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler

Jun 2, 2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

14V743000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler

Nov 19, 2014

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

10V035000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 3, 2010

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

10V036000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 3, 2010

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

10V017000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Jan 21, 2010

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 CAMRY, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX, RAV4, MODEL YEAR 2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SEQUOIA, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 TUNDRA VEHICLES. DUE TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FRICTION LEVER INTERACTS WITH THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSIDE THE PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY, THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE LEVER MAY BECOME SMOOTH DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THIS CONDITION, IF CONDENSATION OCCURS ON THE SURFACE, AS MAY OCCUR FROM HEATER OPERATION (WITHOUT A/C) WHEN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS COLD, THE FRICTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS OPERATED MAY INCREASE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMING HARDER TO DEPRESS, SLOWER TO RETURN, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY BECOME HARD TO DEPRESS, SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BAR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH WILL ALLOW THE PEDAL TO OPERATE SMOOTHLY. GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS FOR THE PONTIAC VIBE PLEASE SEE 10V-018. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2010 AND WILL BE COMPLETED ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

09V388000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Oct 5, 2009

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.