2008 TOYOTA AVALON Exterior Lighting Problems

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.

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.

Mileage: 110,950

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.

Mileage: 80,000

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.

Mileage: 98,000

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.

Mileage: 90,000

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.

CAR DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT GOES OUT RANDOMLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY .

Mileage: 67,000

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.

Mileage: 93,000

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!

Mileage: 160,000

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.

Mileage: 129,000

LOW BEAM LIGHTS RANDOMLY GO OUT AFTER BEING ON FOR A SHORT TIME. I'VE BEEN BATTLING THIS ISSUE SINCE 2013 WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE DEALER SAYS MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNT OUT. I CAN TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON QUICKLY AND THE AFFECTED LIGHT COMES BACK ON. I DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WHEN IT IS DARK OUT. I EVEN HAD SMALL LED LIGHTS MOUNTED INTO MY DASH AND WIRED INTO EACH LOW BEAM BULB SO I CAN SEE IF ONE GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AT NIGHT AS IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO KNOW IF ONE WHEN OUT.

Mileage: 50,000

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD AT NIGHT ON A HIGHWAY THE HIGH BEAMS SUDDENLY WENT OUT AND WOULD NOT GO ON AGAIN. I SWITCHED TO LOW BEAMS. I LATER LEARNED FROM A MECHANIC THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR INFERIOR MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLLING THE HEADLIGHTS AND THAT THE LOW BEAMS COULD ALSO SUDDENLY GO OUT WHILE IN MOTION. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. THE TOYOTA CORPORATION WILL NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND HAVE REFERRED ME TO A TOYOTA DEALER THAT WANTS OVER $2,000.00 TO FIX THE SAFETY ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I BELIEVE IT ONLY AFFECTS THE 2008 AVALON MODELS. THERE ARE EVEN SEVERAL ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTHING TO DOWNLOAD AS I DID NOT GET A WRITTEN ESTIMATE, ONLY A TELEPHONE QUOTE, FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER.

Mileage: 61,250

1. HIGH BEAMS AND DAY RUNNING LIGHTS INOPERABLE (DISCOVERED JANUARY 2018). 2. TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND CAUSED CAR TO DECELERATE IN APRIL 2018.

Mileage: 70,000

OUR HIGH BEAMS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM

Mileage: 58,000

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?

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.

Mileage: 59,400

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.

Mileage: 117,323

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.

Mileage: 45,000

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!

Mileage: 80,000

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.

Mileage: 123,000

RECENTLY PURCHASED A CAR. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY GOE OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES. UNFORTUNATELY THIS ISSUE WAS DISCOVERED WHILE MY RECENTLY LICENSED TEEN WAS DRIVING THE CAR... HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! I WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE LIGHT SYSTEM CHECKED OUT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE LIGHTS WERE BROKEN. I ASKED IF THEY COULD HAVE EXPLODED DO TO SOME SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. I WAS ASSURED THAT WAS NOT THE CASE AS THEY INSINUATED THAT WHOEVER PUT THEM IN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE, OFFERING ME A VERY COSTLY SOLUTION. HOWEVER THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. BEFORE AGREEING TO ANY REPAIRS, I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH. THEIR UNCERTAINTY LEFT ME UNEASY AND VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH COMING OUT OF POCKET FOR ANYTHING AT THAT POINT AND MY CHILD'S SAFETY IS MY TOP PRIORITY. UPON RESEARCHING, I FOUND OUT THESE PROBLEMS ARE KNOWN TO TOYOTA. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 72,000 MILES, BUT, WOULD NOT COVER MY CAR ISSUE DUE TO MILEAGE AND YEAR SURPASSING THAT WHICH IS OUTLINED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. HEADLIGHTS ARE ESSENTIAL AND QUITE FRANKLY REQUIRED BY LAW. THE EXTENSION SHOULD BE APPLIED WITH NO MILEAGE RESTRAINT AS HEADLIGHTS ARE A MAJOR SAFETY COMPONENT OF A VEHICLE. EVERY WHERE YOU GO DEALERS SWEAR BY THE AVALON BEING A COST EFFECTIVE AND VERY SAFE CHOICE WITH THIS ISSUE EXISTING, THEY HAVE NON THE LESS SHOVED A FOOT RIGHT DOWN THEIR OWN THROATS! THIS SHOULD EITHER BE A RECALL OR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH UNLIMITED MILES. IF YOU CAN'T DO THIS TAKE THE CAR OFF THE MARKET/QUIT LETTING DEALERS SALE THE CAR ASSURING UNBEKNOWNST BUYERS OF THE CAR'S UNDENIABLE QUALITY FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!

Mileage: 116,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE BULB WAS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE LOCATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT. IN ORDER TO GET THE LIGHT OR LIGHTS BACK ON, I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THIS PRESENTS AN ONGOING POTENTIAL HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY BOTH GO OFF AT ONCE. THIS MODEL IS THE TOP OF THE LINE (LIMITED) AND HAS THE HID LIGHTS. I HAVE READ ON LINE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I FURTHER UNDERSTAND THAT TOYOTA MAY HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AND I AM NOT ABLE TO GET THEM ON AGAIN WHILE I AM TRAVELING ON AN UNLIT ROAD. THIS LAST HAPPENED YESTERDAY AS I WILL INDICATE BELOW BUT IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MORE THAN A FEW YEARS NOW.

Mileage: 62,000

LEFT HEAD LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER ABOUT 15 TO 20 MIN OF DRIVING..THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA FOR YEARS. WHY HAS THE NHTSA FORCED TOYOTA TO FIX THIS. IT SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NHTSA HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR A LONG WHILE. NHTSA REF# 10033406 AND 10037591. *TR

Mileage: 87,230

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, BOTH HIGH BEAM HEAD LAMPS EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

Mileage: 41,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT BOTH HEADLAMPS WERE NOT CORRESPONDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES BLEW OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,187.

Mileage: 70,187

THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ARE KNOWN TO EXPLODE ON SOME 2008 AND 2010 MODELS. MY HIGH BEAM LIGHTS EXPLODED WITH 66,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I ROUTINELY DRIVE IN AN AREA WITH A HEAVY DEER POPULATION. I CANNOT SEE THESE HAZARDS AT NIGHT WITH OUT HIGH BEAMS. TOYOTA HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS ISSUE (5 YEARS, 70,000 MILES). SINCE MY CAR IS OVER WARRANTY IN YEARS BUT NOT MILES, TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THEY ARE TELLING ME THE COST WILL BE OVER $2,000. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD AND AM VERY UPSET THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM ON MY $40,000 TOP OF THE LINE TOYOTA. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO THE DOT, NTSB, AND ATTORNEY GENERAL. YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 66,000

THE HEADLIGHTS FOR THE AVALON ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHTING SYSTEM WILL WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, ONE OF THE LIGHTS WILL NO LONGER WORK. IN THE DARK, THIS CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ONCOMING CARS AND LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO SEE PEOPLE AND OTHER ITEMS IN THE ROAD.

Mileage: 75,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE HIGH BEAM HEAD LAMP AND THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMP BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER FOUR YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

Mileage: 20,000

ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HIGH-BEAM HEAD LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON THE FREEWAY. LOW -BEAM LIGHTS WORK. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD AND IS OBVIOUSLY A TOYOTA ENGINEERING FLAW. TOYOTA DID HAVE A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR THIS VEHICLE - 75,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. MY CAR HAS 52,000 MILES BUTS IS OVER 5 YEARS OLD. TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THIS, FREE OF CHARGE AND I SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE FIX OF $2,500 PLUS LABOR, WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS.

Mileage: 52,000

TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER TOO HAVE HEADLIGHTS LOOKED AT BECAUSE A POLICE OFFICER PULLED ME OVER FOR "NO HEADLIGHT PASSENGER SIDE". WHEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON FOR HIM, IT CAME BACK ON. THEN I FOUND BOTH HIGH BEAMS BURNED OUT AND THE DRL'S ALSO DID NOT WORK. SO, OFF TO THE DEALER. THEY FOUND BOTH HIGH BEAM BULBS EXPLODED, AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE ANYTHING ELSE / FIND ANY OTHER PROBLEM. THEY REMOVED THE HIGH BEAM BULBS BUT NEGLECTED TO INFORM ME. NOW AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THESE PROBLEMS ARE KNOWN TO TOYOTA. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 72,000 MILES, BUT, WOULD NOT COVER MY CAR THAT I BOUGHT FROM THEM WITH 82,000 MILES ON IT... MY CAR NOW HAS 97,000 MILES ON IT BUT NOTHING DOES ME ANY GOOD WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT CROSSING THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT... TALK ABOUT A AHA MOMENT. IT IS A COMPLETE SAFETY ISSUE WETHER THEY ADMIT IT OR NOT.. I HAVE BOUGHT MY 3 CARS FOR THE SAME DEALERSHIP / SALESMAN... MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY ARE WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN A HEADLIGHT ISSUE. I HAVE REPLACED THE HIGH BEAM BULBS MYSELF, NOW WORKING ON THE LOW BEAMS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY WILL GO OUT SOON.

Mileage: 97,000

ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HIGH-BEAM HEAD LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON THE FREEWAY. LOW -BEAM LIGHTS WORK. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD AND IS OBVIOUSLY A TOYOTA ENGINEERING FLAW. TOYOTA DID HAVE A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR THIS VEHICLE - 75,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. MY CAR HAS 52,000 MILES BUTS IS OVER 5 YEARS OLD. TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THIS, FREE OF CHARGE AND I SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE FIX OF $2,500 PLUS LABOR, WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS.

Mileage: 51,000

WHEN COMING BACK FROM A SHORT TRIP I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP WAS OUT. THEN ONE DAY THE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN THEN THE NEXT IT IS OUT. NOW IT RARELY COMES ON SO I.CALLED MY TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE AT LEAST $200 FOR NEW LOW BEAM LIGHT BULB. I THEN TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE BULB WAS NOT BAD BUT THE BALLAST WAS BAD. THEY SHOWED ME A LIST OF COMPLAINTS FROM ON LINE AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM. TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I RESEARCHED SEVERAL WEB SITES AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS ON THE 2008 AVALON. SOME PROBLEMS EXACTLY LIKE MINE OTHERS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BUT ALL ARE ABOUT MALFUNCTIONING HEADLIGHTS.

Mileage: 31,000

DISCOVER THAT BOTH HIGH BEAMS DO NOT FUNCTION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE AVALON, AND TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. WHILE THIS ISSUE IS NOT AN DIRE ONE, IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX. I THINK THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES INVOLVED MY REQUIRE A RECALL.

Mileage: 48,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS COMPLETELY DISTORTED AND INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE BULB HOUSING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL: CSC-10042925-9889 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), BUT IT WAS EXPIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,919. MA 09/03/15 THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT SIDE HEADLAMP IMPLODED. UPDATED 12/10/15 *JS

Mileage: 22,919

TOYOTA SENT OUT A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE ABOUT JUNE 2012 THAT IF YOU HAD PROBLEMS WITH HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON MY MODEL VEHICLE TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALER. CAR HAD TO BE LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD A UNDER 72,000 MILES. I ASK ABOUT MY CAR AND THEY SAID MY MILEAGE WAS TO HIGH. WITHIN A MONTH I FOUND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE HIGH BEAM BULBS WOULD EXPLODE AS MINE DID. I WENT BACK TO TOYOTA TO ASK FOR A WAVER FOR THE REPAIR TO BE DONE. THEY AGAIN SAID NO. BUT WOULD BE HAPPY TO REPAIR IT FOR $2284.66. THE COST OF NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. IT SEEMS THAT THE ORIGINAL BULB WAS NO LONGER MADE AND THERE WAS NO DIRECT REPLACEMENT FOR IT. SOLUTION WAS THE $2284.66 REPAIR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED NO MATTER THE AGE OR MILES OF A VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO MENTION IN THE NOTICE OF BULBS EXPLODING OR THAT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. VERY MISLEADING ON THE PART OF TOYOTA.

Mileage: 78,000

TOTAL FAILURE OF BOTH HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS. TOYOTA REFUSES TO CONSIDER THIS A WARRANTY ITEM. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM IN N.Y. STATE, TOYOTA DOES NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. UPON CHECKING THE INTERNET, I FIND THAT MY PROBLEM IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. *TR

Mileage: 77,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TOYOTA HAS ISSUE WITH DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS. THEY WILL ONLY WARRANTY IF UNDER 72000 MILE OR 5 YEARS. IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

LIGHTS JUST STOPPED WORKING. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS AND WROTE SEVERAL DEALER SERVICE MEMOS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. AFTER TALKING WITH TOYOTA CONSUMER AFFAIRS THAT THIS WAS THEIR PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT, THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY EVEN ADVISED ME THAT THE LOW BEAMS MAY FAIL. THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND TOLD ME JUST ABOUT TO POUND SAND. THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THIS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MY SAFETY MEANS NOTHING, EVEN AFTER OWNING 5 TOYOTA VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS STOP WORKING. REPLACEMENT BULBS BURN OUT PREMATURELY. TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD A CUSTOMER SUPPORT BULLETIN. TOYOTA HAD INCORRECT ADDRESS ON FILE SO I DID NOT RECEIVE BULLETIN WITHIN WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PERIOD (1 MONTH LATE). DEALER PROMISED TO CHECK BUT OVER THE COURSE OF 4 MONTHS, DID NOT CONTACT TOYOTA. MY DIRECT CONTACT TO TOYOTA WAS THEN 5 MONTHS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. HIGH BEAM BULBS REPLACED TWICE, AND STILL PROBLEMS ON A REGULAR BASIS. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY CAN GET NO SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALER AND THE OTHER DEALER WILL NOT EVEN RETURN THE PHONE CALL THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT YET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB EXPLODED AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BECAME OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHT CLUSTERS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

MY TOYOTA AVALON'S HEADLIGHTS STARTED GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN I NOTICED MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS OUT ALTOGETHER. SINCE IT CAME AND WENT I LET IT GO FOR AWHILE BUT NOW IT IS MOST OF THE TIME ON BOTH LOW BEAMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE BOTH LOW BEAMS COULD GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. TOYOTA RECOGNIZED A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY TO 5 YEARS OR 75000 MILES. I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THEM BUT IT COULD BE BECAUSE IT CAME ABOUT AROUND THE TIME I WAS BUYING THE CAR USED. NOW I FIND OUT THAT THE HIGH BEAM CANNOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHANGING OUT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FOR $1200 FOR EACH SIDE. TOYOTA TELLS ME THEY WILL NOT HELP ME OUT WHATSOEVER AND WANT ME TO FORK OUT $2500 TO FIX A PROBLEM THEIR ENGINEERS CAUSED!! *TR

Mileage: 115,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AND NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A REMOTE DARK COUNTY ROAD, FIRST MY HIGH BEAM LAMPS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY,THEN APPROXIMATELY FIVE SECONDS MY LEFT LOW BEAM LAMP FAILED. I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED ALL HEADLAMPS OFF, THEN AFTER FIFTEEN SECONDS, I TURNED THE LOW BEAM LAMPS ON. AFTER A WARM UP PERIOD, THE LOW BEAM LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE HIGH BEAMS NEVER ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DAY-TIME RUNNING LAMPS ARE NO LONGER WORKING. *TR

Mileage: 72,775

I WAS DRIVING IN A RURAL AREA IN ILLINOIS WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF DEER, SO I FLIPPED ON MY HIGH BEAMS FOR BETTER VISIBILITY. I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 87,000 MILES ON IT THAT SUMMER AND MAY NOT HAVE EVEN USED THEM YET. THE HIGH BEAMS STAYED ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN FLASHED AND WENT BACK TO LOW BEAM. I CHECKED THEM UPON ARRIVING HOME AND COULD SEE THAT THEY SHATTERED. I REPLACED THESE WITH BULBS FROM O'REILLY AUTO - USING GLOVES TO AVOID TOUCHING THEM - THESE HIGH BEAMS WERE SELDOM USED BUT WORKED. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER OF 2014 AND THESE ALSO FAILED; DID NOT SHATTER BUT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. I ASSUME THEY ARE BURNED OUT. I AM CONCERNED THAT I MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS FOR SAFETY ON THIS OTHERWISE FANTASTIC CAR. I HAVE AVOIDED USING THE HIGH BEAMS EVER SINCE I REPLACED THEM THE FIRST TIME, SO I AM NOT SURE WHEN THEY ACTUALLY QUIT WORKING THIS TIME. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT TIME & DATE THIS STARTED, BUT IT IS CONTINUOUS & REPETITIVE. THE HEADLIGHTS CONSISTENTLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. FOR A TRIP OF ABOUT TEN MILES, I CAN EXPECT FOR ONE OR BOTH TO FAIL ABOUT THREE TIMES. IT'S DANGEROUS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPANY HAS SENT NOTIFICATIONS TO THE DEALERS BUT ARE REFUSING TO ADMINISTER A RECALL. THEY OFFERED ME A $750 CREDIT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. HOWEVER, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE MANY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, IT COSTS OVER $2,000 TO FIX IT (AND THAT'S NOT A GUARANTEE). THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. THEREFORE, IT SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY A WARRANTY. I'M SHOCKED AT THE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH NO ACTIONS BY THE COMPANY. THEY ARE MORALLY (IF NOT ETHICALLY AND LEGALLY) OBLIGATED TO ISSUE A RECALL AND REPAIR THEIR R&D FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

HI BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON DARK COUNTRY ROAD. TOOK CAR IN FOR REPAIR. BOTH HI BEAM BULBS WERE BROKEN. THEY WERE REPLACED SECOND INCIDENT APPX. 8 MOS, AGO. HI BEAMS FAILED TO WORK. HAD BULBS REPLACED. THIRD INCIDENT 2 WEEKS AGO. INSPECTED BULBS. THEY ARE BURNT OUT. BULBS NOT YET REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 44,360

I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY DARK TWO-LANE STATE HIGHWAY USING MY HIGH BEAMS WHILE CAUTIOUSLY WATCHING FOR DEER. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HIGH BEAMS WENT TO LOW BEAMS. THE SWITCH WORKED AND THE DASH BOARD LIGHT SHOWED THAT THE HIGH BEAMS WERE ON BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY WERE NOT ON. WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK THE LIGHTS IN A WELL LIGHT AREA I COULD SEE THAT BOTH BULBS SHATTERED IN THE HOUSING ASSEMBLY. THERE ARE SMALL FRAGMENTS OF GLASS SPEWED EVERYWHERE INSIDE THE CASING. EARLIER THIS YEAR TOYOTA SENT A LETTER STATING A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE ENHANCEMENT APPLIES FOR 72,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF FIRST USE, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. MY CAR IS NOW 6 YEARS SO THE WARRANTY WILL NOT APPLY. I SELDOM DRIVE IN THE LATE EVENING AND I SELDOM USE MY HIGH BEAMS. I BELIEVE THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD IF I WOULD HAVE USED THE HIGH BEAMS MORE FREQUENTLY. THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY COSTLY OUT-OF-POCKET REPAIR THAT OBVIOUSLY IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD PAY FOR GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY ARE AWARE THE HIGH BEAM/DRL BULBS CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE. *TR

Mileage: 61,925

AFTER RECEIVING TOYOTA TSB SB-0011-10 IN APRIL 2010, I WENT IN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHECK IT OUT. THEY INDICATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM LIGHT BULBS COULD EXPLODE AND THAT THE ENTIRE HIGH LIGHT ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED ABOUT GETTING MINE DONE BUT, THEY SAID BECAUSE MY CAR HAD OVER 70,000 MILES THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM PER THE TSB. BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO REPLACE THEM AT MY COST OF ABOUT $2400.00. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE BULBS EXPLODED IN MY UNITS. WHEN I TRIED TO REPLACE THEM, I WAS TOLD THAT THE LISTED BULB WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. I FEEL THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE UNLIMITED MILES AS THE REPLACEMENT UNIT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BY THE BULB MANUFACTURER. AND THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO PROPER OPERATION OF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 74,500

CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 2,000 MILES PER YEAR, CITY DRIVING AND MOSTLY DURING THE DAYTIME. NO REAL NEED FOR HIGH BEAMS WHILE DRIVING. UNSURE WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED, BUT I WAS A LONG JOURNEY IN THE COUNTRY AND HIGH BEAMS WERE NEEDED. UNABLE TO HAVE THEM ON. AFTER THE TRIP CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR. WAS TOLD THAT BOTH HEADLIGHT LENS ASSEMBLIES WERE NEEDED TO THE TUNE OF OVER $900. I WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR 5 YEARS OR 72,000 MILES ONLY. AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS PURCHASED I PAID FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE 7 YEAR PLAN. I WAS TOLD THAT UNDER THIS WARRANTY HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT COVERED. THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY OUT OF WARRANTY. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT THIS CAR HAS MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHT LEN ASSEMBLIES. WHY DID NOT TOYOTA ISSUES NOTICES TO THE CONSUMERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE? OR A RECALL? THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN IT IS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

WENT TO USE HIGH BEAMS ON DESERT ROAD TOWARDS LANCASTER CA, PUT HIGH BEAMS ON, THEY STAYED ON FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES THEN ALL FRONT LIGHTING WENT OUT. WENT TO DEALER (ROSEVILLE TOYOTA) TO CHECK ON THE PROBLEM, DEALER SAID THEY WERE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA KNOWS OF PROBLEM. WILL COST 3,000.00 TO REPAIR WITH REPLACED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. CAR HAS ONLY 39,000 MILES ON IT AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. I WAS TRAVELING SEPTEMBER 2, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 9:00 P.M. ON HIGHWAY 49 IN ALABAMA. THE CONTROL FOR THE HEADLIGHTS WAS IN THE "ON" POSITION AND THEY BEGAN TO FLICKER AND GREW DIMMER AND DIMMER, UNTIL THEY COMPLETELY WENT OUT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL KNOB TO THE "AUTO" POSITION AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. WHEN THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL IS IN THE AUTO POSITION, THE FOG LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND REMAIN ON, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT. HOWEVER,IN THE AUTO POSITION, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL REMAIN OFF UNTIL THE SENSOR DETECTS THE ABSENCE OF DAYLIGHT. THEN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING. THANK GOODNESS, THEY OPERATED IN THE AUTO POSITION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP WITH A LONG STANDING REPUTATION FOR QUALITY WORKMANSHIP INVOLVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I WAS INFORMED I NEEDED A NEW HID BULB AND BALLAST. THE TOTAL FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR TOTALED $696.95. HE CHECKED THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL, WHICH FLICKERED TWICE WITHIN 45 MINUTES. THEY DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEM THE REST OF THE DAY. SHOULD IT BECOME A PROBLEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THAT WILL BE ANOTHER $696.95! I HAVE COME ACROSS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF THIS MODEL AND DISCUSSIONS SEEKING SOLUTIONS. IT WOULD BE A SHAME FOR SOMEONE TO DIE IN A SITUATION SIMILAR TO THE ONE I EXPERIENCED BECAUSE HE OR SHE PANICKED AND HIT SOMEONE, OR LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 96,985

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WHICH FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM BULBS FAILED IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY AS A RESULT THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 5 YEARS OR 75000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS EARLIER. MY CAR HAS COMPLETED 5 YEARS, BUT THE MILEAGE IS BELOW 75000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ASKED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WITH OUT ANY CHARGE. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON HAS A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT/HIGH BEAM. DOCUMENTED DEFECT AND TOYOTA ISSUED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT TO INCREASE THE COVERAGE TO 5 YEAR/ 72000 MILE TO COVER REPLACEMENT BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE. THERE WAS NO RECALL. 6 YEARS OUT AND UNDER THE MILEAGE LIMIT I AM STUCK PAYING FOR A $2500 REPAIR FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. I DON'T SEE HOW HAVING HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. IF HIGH BEAMS WERE NOT NEEDED THAN THEY WOULDN'T BE ON THE CAR. CAN'T ALERT ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO A POTENTIAL TRAFFIC SAFETY CONDITION AHEAD. CAN'T TURN ON HIGH BEAMS ON COUNTRY ROAD TO SAFELY SEE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO PREVENT POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARDS. NOT HAVING HIGH BEAMS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 68,500

WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE MOUNTAIN ROAD AT NIGHT I TURNED THE HIGH BEAMS OFF FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WHEN I TURNED THEM BACK ON THERE WAS A BRIGHT FLASH AND THE HIGH BEAMS NO LONGER WORKED. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT READS: "ON SOME 2008-2010 AVALON VEHICLES, THE HIGH BEAM/DRL BULB MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE OR SHATTER. A NEWLY DESIGNED HIGH BEAM/DRL HOUSING ASSEMBLY (INCLUDING THE APPLICABLE BULB) IS AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED." TOYOTA WILL PROVIDE THE REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY IF THE VEHICLE IS UNDER 5 YEARS OR 70,000 MILES. ORIGINALLY THEY ISSUED THE BULLETIN AUTHORIZING REPLACEMENT FOR 36 MONTHS OR 36,000 MILES AND SUBSEQUENTLY INCREASED IT TO 5 YEARS, 70,000 MILES. MY 5 YEARS WAS UP ON MARCH 20, 2014. THE LOCAL DEALER QUOTED ME $2,583.88 FOR THE REPAIR. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, SINCE IT INVOLVES THE HEADLIGHTS. WHILE HIGH BEAMS ARE NOT ALWAYS REQUIRED, 2 LANE ROADS AT NIGHT ARE CERTAINLY SAFER USING HIGH BEAMS. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

HIGH BEAM/RUNNING BULBS WERE BURNT OUT. ON JULY 18,2014 HIGH BEAM BULBS BOTH FAILED A SECOND TIME AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE DARK AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE MILEAGE AT THE TIME WAS 80540. TOYOTA MUST BE MADE TO HAVE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 29,294

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON A DARK ROAD, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WHICH FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM BULBS FRACTURED IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY AS A RESULT THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,300. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF POOR DESIGN BY TOYOTA. WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY RE-DESIGNED IN 2010. THE ASSEMBLY WAS TOO SMALL FOR THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE LAMPS AND AS A RESULT, THE LAMPS BECAME WELDED TO THE ASSEMBLY. WHEN IT WELDED, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE A BURNED OUT LAMP. THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2700. UPDATED 11/17/14

Mileage: 64,300

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON A DARK ROAD, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WHICH FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM BULBS FRACTURED IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY AS A RESULT THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,300. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF POOR DESIGN BY TOYOTA. WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY RE-DESIGNED IN 2010. THE ASSEMBLY WAS TOO SMALL FOR THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE LAMPS AND AS A RESULT, THE LAMPS BECAME WELDED TO THE ASSEMBLY. WHEN IT WELDED, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE A BURNED OUT LAMP. THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2700. UPDATED 11/17/14

Mileage: 64,300

FRONT HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY CUT OFF. I QUICKLY SWITCHED INTERIOR LIGHT CONTROL AND THEY IMMEDIATELY CAME BACK ON. WITH NO FURTHER OBVIOUS PROBLEMS I DISMISSED ISSUE AS INCIDENTAL. HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS LATER I WAS TOLD MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. HOWEVER, WHEN I CHECKED IT WAS WORKING. ON 7/7/14 I WAS STOPPED BY FHP AND GIVEN WARNING FOR PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT OUT. ON 7/12/14 GATORLAND TOYOTA REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB ($214.15) AND SAID EVERYTHING OK. ON 7/15/14 I WAS ADVISED THAT DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT OUT. ON 7/18/14 GATORLAND TOYOTA ADVISED BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT $2,219.95 PLUS TAX (FREE LABOR) TO INSTALL. SINCE OUT OR WARRANTY COSTS ALL MINE. THIS IS IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT I HAVE FOLLOWED SERVICE MANUAL TO THE LETTER AND ALL WORK SINCE PURCHASE DATE PERFORMED AT GATORLAND (APPROXIMATELY 20 SERVICE CALLS). ON 7/29/14 THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS CARE OUT OF WARRANTY. *JS

Mileage: 71,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, BOTH HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.

Mileage: 4,500

MY HUSBAND AND SON WERE RECENTLY IN OMAHA AND EXPERIENCED SEVERE WEATHER (TORNADOS/THUNDERSTORMS/FLOODING). AS THEY WERE DRIVING BACK TO THE CAMPGROUND WEST OF OMAHA, DURING TORRENTIAL RAINS, THE HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA AVALON TURNED OFF REPEATEDLY. MY HUSBAND HAD TO CONTINUE TO SWITCH THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING TO GET THE LIGHTS TO STAY ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST; HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT DURING ADVERSE DRIVING CONDITIONS. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE BLACK HILLS AT NIGHT (WHERE WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF WILDLIFE), I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I RESEARCHED A RESOLUTION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS, THINKING IT MIGHT BE A LOOSE WIRE OR BAD BULBS. DURING MY RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2011 (TCS-11-030) RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. WE PURCHASED OUR VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2012, WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS AROUND 47,000 MILES. HAD WE KNOWN ABOUT THIS SERVICE BULLETIN WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2012, WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE ISSUE ADDRESSED. HOWEVER, SINCE WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL AND HAVE NOT UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, DURING DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS, HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTING, WE DID NOT ADDRESS IT. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA TODAY, I WAS TOLD THAT, DUE TO OUR MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE (100,000 NOW), OUR VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED THAT WAS ISSUED (UNBEKNOWNST TO US) IN 2011. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALER IN OUR AREA FOR DIAGNOSIS (AT OUR EXPENSE) AND POSSIBLY SOMETHING COULD BE DONE IF THE DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THAT OUR HEADLIGHT ISSUE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL IN 2011 (THE RECALL SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES AVALONS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2008 AND 2010). AS I EXPLAINED TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP, WE MAY HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE DURING THE DAY BUT DIDN'T KNOW DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE DON'T RELY ON THE LIGHTS DURING DAYTIME. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD ERRONEOUSLY SHUT OFF. WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FUNCTION NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Mileage: 25,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD ERRONEOUSLY SHUT OFF. WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FUNCTION NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Mileage: 25,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS (HIGH BEAMS) MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,600. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN UPDATED 09/16/2014 *JS

Mileage: 36,600

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS (HIGH BEAMS) MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,600. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN UPDATED 09/16/2014 *JS

Mileage: 36,600

THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. FIRST IT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND RECENTLY BOTH ON A DARK ROAD. VERY DANGEROUS AND I HAVE READ OTHER ACCOUNTS THAT TOYOTA CHARGES HUGE AMOUNTS WHEN THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

ON SERVICING OF MODEL XLS, SERVICE ADVISER NOTED THAT HI BEAM/DRL'S WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED EXPLODED HALOGEN LAMPS. CORRECTION REQUIRED A REDESIGNED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, AS NOTED IN TSB 44-0010, AT AN APPROX. COST OF $900.00 . THIS WAS APPARENTLY DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHT HOUSING WHICH ALLOWED OVERHEATING AND CAUSED THE LAMP EXPLOSION. THE TSB RECOGNIZED THIS CONDITION BUT DOES NOT REPLACE THE DEFECT AFTER A PROVIDED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 5 YEARS/72,000 MILES. THE LOSS OF HIGH BEAM LIGHTING IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH CAN GO UNDETECTED UNTIL NEEDED. ALTHOUGH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, (DRL'S), ARE NOT REQUIRED, THEY DO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED LIGHTING DURING TIMES WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE REQUIRED (RAIN, SNOW, SLEET. LOSS OF EITHER AFFECTS DRIVING SAFETY. *TR

Mileage: 65,152

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. RIGHT AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR, WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE FLICKERING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. ON DECEMBER 14, 2013 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT (LUCKILY THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON WHEN I TURNED THEM OFF/ON QUICKLY). I TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE WHOLE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY AT THE TUNE OF $2570.04. THE SERVICE CENTER ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE HOUSING FOR THE BULBS WAS TOO SMALL AND THIS IS CAUSING THE BULBS TO OVERHEAT AND GO OUT. IT WAS AFTER 2010 THAT TOYOTA REDESIGNED THE HOUSING AND FIXED THE ISSUE. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 5 YEARS/72,000 MILES. IRONICALLY, IT APPEARS WE ARE JUST OVER THAT. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT DUE TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO DON'T AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $2500 TO HAVE NEW LIGHT ASSEMBLIES INSTALLED IN OUR CAR. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF A BAD DESIGN ON TOYOTAS PART AND I REFUSE TO PLAY A VICTIM IN THIS RIDICULOUS SOLUTION TO SUCH A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. I AM ASKING TOYOTA TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMER. THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHT DESIGN AND THE FACT THAT TOYOTA IS FULLY AWARE SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO HAVE THIS FIXED. THERE SHOULD BE NO LIMITTIME WISE OR MILEAGE WISE ON A SAFETY ISSUE THIS HUGE FOR TOYOTA'S CUSTOMERS. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

I PURCHASED MY 2008 AVALON NEW IN DECEMBER 2008 WHICH INCLUDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 84 MONTHS OR 100,000 MILES. IN NOVEMBER, 2013, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE LOW. I TURNED THEM OFF AND BACK ON WHICH SEEMED TO RESOLVED THE ISSUE. (I TYPICALLY DRIVE WITH THE DRL) HOWEVER, THE SAME ISSUE RETURNED OFF AND ON OVER THE NEW FEW MONTHS. MY CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE ON MARCH 22, 2014 AND THEY WERE ADVISED. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FOR MY LIGHTS/DAYTIME RUNNING/HIGH BEAMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN ENHANCEMENT FOR 5 YEARS OR 72000 MILES...WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. UNFORTUNATELY, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I PURCHASED WAS NOT APPLICABLE, AND THE 5 YEAR ENHANCEMENT EXPIRED IN DECEMBER 2013. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY MAIL OR DURING ANY SERVICE APPOINTMENT ABOUT THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY OR PROBLEMS WITH THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. I WAS QUOTED A COST OF $2,600 FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS IS NOT FAIR. *TR

Mileage: 71,732

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AT NIGHT TIME, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT STOPPED WORKING. BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT AT VARIOUS TIMES. OCCASIONALLY AT THE SAME TIME. HE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 5/19/14*CN

Mileage: 90,000

I WAS UTILIZING THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS PERIODICALLY ON A DARK EVENING. NEAR THE END OF A 1 HOUR AND 45 MINUTE TRIP, THE HIGH BEAMS GAVE A SLIGHT FLICKER AND WENT OUT. UPON EXAMINATION TODAY, BOTH LIGHTS HAD BLOWN OR SHATTERED. I ORDERED NEW BULBS TODAY WITH $35 EACH. *TR

Mileage: 96,500

WE WERE DRIVING ON ROUTE 95 IN SOUTH CAROLINA IT WAS RAINING WE HAD BEEN USING OUR BRIGHT LIGHTS WHEN WE SUDDENLY LOST OUR BRIGHT LIGHTS. WHEN WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION WE PULLED INTO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WE WERE INFORMED OUR HEAD LIGHT AND FIXTURES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE FACT THEY BOTH SIDES HAD EXPLODED WE WERE TREATED VERY POORLY BY TOYOTA.UPON INVESTIGATION THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TOYOTA AVALON AND A EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD BEEN ISSUED OF WHICH WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF AND IT HAD EXPIRED.A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THE EVENT HAPPENED AND IT COST US $2600 DOLLAR AND HAD TO DRIVE WITH A HAZARDOUS VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

THE HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAMS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND TOYOTA IS NOT ADDRESSING. THEY WANT 3500 WITH LABOR TO FIX THIS ISSUE. SHOULD BE A RECALL. HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AT NIGHT AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES SHOULD BE PAID BY TOYOTA. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,614.

Mileage: 90,000

HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HIGH BEAM BULBS ON TWO OCCASIONS (AUGUST 4, 2010 (UNDER WARRANTY) AND FEBRUARY 4, 2010) INCLUDING HAVING AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT EVALUATION PERFORMED WITH THE LAST INCIDENT. *TR

BOTH HIGH BEAMS WENT OUT AT SAME TIME WHILE ON DARK COUNTRY ROAD. LOW BEAM ON RIGHT SIDE CUTS OUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 72000 MILES FOR THE HID LIGHTS. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE WARRANTY. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF BOTH HIGH BEAMS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORTUNATELY IT DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH. THE LOW BEAM CUTTING OUT AS IT DOES IS DANGEROUS. MY LOCAL DEALER SAYS BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2660.00. HEADLIGHTS ARE A NECESSARY SAFETY FEATURE. TOYOTA MUST KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION AND THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. A FRIEND WITH THE SAME MODEL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I AM REQUESTING NHTSA TO DEMAND TOYOTA RECALL THE TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED CARS WITH THIS TYPE OF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE THE LIGHTS WITH A RELIABLE SYSTEM. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

Mileage: 45,000

WE PURCHASED THIS CAR IN MAY 2013. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW THE LEFT HEADLIGHT IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING. THE HEADLIGHT MAY OR MAY NOT COME BACK ON WHILE DRIVING BUT WILL COME BACK ON THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. CHECKING ONLINE REVEALED OTHER COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE SAME ISSUE, INCLUDING BOTH HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF AT THE SAME TIME - DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, IT APPEARS THE HIGH BEAMS ARE OKAY. *TR

Mileage: 101,000

THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I LATER LEARNED THE BULBS WERE SHATTERED. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS BECAUSE THE CAR NOW HAS 80,000 PLUS MILES THEY WILL NOT FIT IT. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $2600. *TR

Mileage: 67,184

HEAD LIGHTS QUIT WORKING IN DECEMBER OF 2010 HIGH BEAMS, TOYOTA FIXED THEM, HIGH BEAMS QUIT WORKING AGAIN ON DECEMBER 24TH 2013. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON HAS A DEFECTIVE HIGH BEAM / LOW BEAM HEADLAMP. THE HIGH BEAM BULB BURST WHILE IN USE ONE NIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 43,000 MILES, BUT THE 60 MONTH WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JULY 2013. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN AUGUST, JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. MY VEHICLE WAS DUE FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION IN OCTOBER, SO I RESEARCHED INFORMATION TO REPAIR THE HEADLAMP AND DISCOVERED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2008 TOYOTA AVALONS. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER TO DETERMINE THE REPAIR COST. WHEN THE SERVICE REP. SAW LOW MILEAGE, HE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND ESTIMATED THE REPAIR TO BE APPROX. $1000 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. WHEN HE REALIZED THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, HE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE $65 BULB. I'M CONCERNED THAT A $1500 REPAIR WAS INSTANTLY REDUCED TO $65 BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IF THE PROBLEM IS REPORTED WITHIN THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY PERIOD THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY IS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE AND THE WARRANTY IS EXTENDED ANOTHER 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT THE BULB WILL BLOW OUT AGAIN AT SOME INCONVENIENT TIME. HIGH AND LOW BEAMS ARE REQUIRED IN MA AS AN ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION ITEM. OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE CRITICAL FOR SAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT. WHY ISN'T A REPAIR FOR A COMMON PROBLEM / SAFETY HAZARD LIKE THIS A RECALL ISSUE? *TR

Mileage: 42,867

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT STOPPED ILLUMINATING INDEPENDENTLY. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500. DA

Mileage: 49,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

Mileage: 73,000

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. INITIALLY WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT BULB BUT SOMETIMES ITS THE LEFT BULB. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WILL BE ABOUT 1500.00 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM WILL NOT BE SOLVED AND MANY OWNERS OF THE CARS ARE SPENDING IN EXCESS OF 2500.00 AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. ITS A SAFETY HAZARD. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CO AND THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED WAS "THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE BULB HAS AN ENHANCED LIGHT OUTPUT FOR A BETTER FIELD OF VISION AND THUS SAFETY. THE BULBS WILL TURN OFF IF THE BULB IS STARTING TO OVERHEAT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THERE ARE TIMES BY SIMPLY TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEN BACK ON THE HID WILL TURN BACK ON." THE LIGHTS CAN BE ON FOR 5 MINUTES AND THEY WILL TURN OFF. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH I LEARNED THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BUT WIDESPREAD WITH 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. ITS DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY HAZARD. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. *TR

BOTH HIGH BEAM LAMPS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A HILLY ROAD WITHOUT ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON ROAD -- BOTH BULBS WENT BAD. DEALER AT SERVICE JUST WANTED TO REPLACE THEM. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I CAME ACROSS BULLETIN ONLINE THAT STATED TOYOTA WOULD REPLACE HOUSING FOR LAMPS WITH NEW ONE PROVIDED CAR WAS UNDER 72,000 MILES AND 5 YEARS. ALTHOUGH MY CAR WAS AT 4.5 YEARS AT TIME OF INCIDENT, WHEN I CALLED INTO TOYOTA, I WAS AT 5 YEARS 1 MONTH, ALTHOUGH STILL UNDER MILEAGE. I WAS TOLD TO HAVE DEALER CALL TOYOTA, WHICH THEY DID NOT DO, DESPITE ME REPEATEDLY ASKING THEM TO DO SO OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. IN THE END, I CALLED TOYOTA AGAIN AND AFTER THEY WERE ABLE TO REACH THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT SINCE IT WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT OF HOUSING TO THEIR NEW DESIGN. I HAD REPLACED THE HIGH BEAM BULBS OF COURSE, AT SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE SINCE THEY ARE NOT STANDARD BULBS AVAILABLE AT AUTO PARTS STORES, BUT I FEAR THEY WILL AGAIN FAIL ME AT NIGHT WHILE ON A DARK HILLY ROAD. PLUS NOW, RIGHT AFTER FINISHING ANOTHER DEALER SERVICE, ONE LOW BEAM HID LAMP IS NOT STAYING ON AND GOES OFF. CHECKING ONLINE, I DO NOT SEEM TO BE THE ONLY ONE WITH HEADLAMP ISSUES ON THIS MODEL, HIGH BEAM OR LOW BEAM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

LOW BEAM LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF, TRIED THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS OF WHICH NEITHER WOULD COME ON. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALER TRIED NEW BULBS WHICH IMMEDIATELY BLEW OUT. THE DEALER SAID THAT BOTH LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1400.00 EACH. WAS ADVISED THAT TOYOTA KNEW THAT THESE LIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND ISSUED THE SERVICE BULLETIN TBS #0044-10 REV 1 EXTENDING THEIR WARRANTY FROM 36,000 MILES TO 72,000 MILES BUT WOULD NOT RECALL THEM. THIS CAR WAS 1600 MILES PAST THE WARRANTY SO WAS NOT COVERED. IF TOYOTA THINKS THAT LIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. *TR

Mileage: 73,600

BOUGHT USED IN FEB 2013. USED LITTLE UNTIL MAY. HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON WITHOUT WARNING. GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY HAD TO INSTALL NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AS PER TOYOTASERVICE BULLETIN 0044-10 AT A COST TO ME OF $2600. CALLS TO TOYOTA CORPORATE AND TOYOTA EXTRA CARE RESULTED IN THERE MAINTAINING THAT THOUGH THEY KNEW THE PROBLEM EXISTED (THEY EVEN DESIGNED A NEW SYSTEM) BUT MAINTAINED IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND AT MY COST. FOR SURE MOST MANUFACTURERS WOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 59,000

WHEN DRIVING, MY CAR HAS THE DRL OPTION THAT UTILIZES THE HIGH BEAMS AT A LOWER VOLTAGE DURING THE DAY. ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I NOTICED THAT MY HIGH BEAMS SEEMED TO NOT BE WORKING WHICH IS VERY ODD FOR BOTH BULBS TO BE OUT AT THE EXACT SAME TIME. SOMETIMES, I NEED MY HIGH BEAMS ON DARK CURVY ROADS IN THE AREA THAT I LIVE IN. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP(CAPITAL TOYOTA) ABOUT IT AND OF COURSE THEY SWEPT IT UNDER THE RUG OF: "WE HAVENT HEARD OF THAT BEFORE" THE SERVICE WRITER WAS GRATIOUS ENOUGHT TO GIVE ME A TOYOTA CORP. NUMBER 18003314331. SO I CALLED AND THROUGH A COUPLE HOLDS THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT DUE TO "LEGAL" (YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD BE CONCERNED "LEGALLY" THAT OWNERS ARE HAVING ISSUES SEEING AT NIGHT DUE TO AN SUBSTANDARD PARTS)RESONSIBILITIES THEY WOULD NOT COVER MY CAR IN WHAT THEY ARE CALLING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SOLEY FOR THE HEADLIGHT ISSUE THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF. THEY SAID THE WARRANTY WAS FOR 5 YEARS FROM THE DATE THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO SERVICE. MY CAR IS ONE MONTH PAST SAID DATE. KEEP IN MIND THAT I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN EARLY JUNE '13. SO I WAS NOT AWARE NOR DID I RECEIVE ANY SORT OF NOTIFICATION THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE OR IT WOULD HAVE. IN FACT WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF IT NEEDED TO BE CAUGHT UP ON ANY RECALL'S/TSB'S AND THEY SAID "NO". THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE NATIONAL RECALL LEVEL OF SERVICE IF TOYOTA DOES NOT SEE THE NEED IN FIXING SOMETHING BEYOND MY CONTROL. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE ISSUE, SIMPLY REPLACING THE HIGHBEAM/DRL'S WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE. NOT TO METION THE FACT THAT I COULD RECEIVE A TICKET BY THE POLICE FOR MY HIGH BEAMS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED OF ANY FORTHCOMING INFORMATION. *TR

Mileage: 39,000

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

Mileage: 71,500

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.

Mileage: 65,000

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

Mileage: 45,000

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

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

Mileage: 55,000

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

Mileage: 58,089

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

Mileage: 73,000

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

Mileage: 120,019

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

Mileage: 58,000

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

Mileage: 105,000

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

Mileage: 98,000

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

Mileage: 50,000

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

Mileage: 78,000

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

Mileage: 70,513

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS EXPLODED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THERE WAS BROKEN GLASS ALL AROUND THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

Mileage: 53,000

I BOUGHT A 08 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED FROM CARMAX IN MAY 2012 WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE I WAS TOLD BY MY COWORKER THAT MY HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. I LOOKED AT THE REFLECTION IN THE GLASS BUT WASN'T SURE THAT THE LIGHT WAS OUT. I TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, GOT OUT OF THE CAR INSPECTED THE LIGHT AND BOTH WERE ILLUMINATED. I RETURNED TO CAR TO CARMAX, REPORTED WHAT I THOUGHT WERE SMALL THINGS, VIBRATION IN THE TIRE, CHIPPED PAINT. I VERBALLY COMPLAINED ABOUT A SHORT IN THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND THE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT BUT IMPLIED THAT THE ISSUE HAD BEEN CORRECTED. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE HID HEADLIGHT ISSUE. THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FEW MONTHS I WORKED THE MIDNIGHT SHIFT. I DROVE THE CAR 10 MIN TO WORK. THE REST OF THE TIME WAS MOSTLY DAYLIGHT DRIVING. ON OCT. 1, 12 I STARTED DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT. DAYS HAD BECOME SHORTER AND IT GOT DARKER EARLIER. DURING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS I NOTICED POOR ILLUMINATION AT NIGHT AND WAS CONSTANTLY SWITCHING MY HEADLIGHTS FROM THE ON POSITION TO OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. I HAD KNEE SURGERY OCT. 25, 2012 AND DIDN'T DRIVE FOR A WEEK. NOV 19, 12 I VISITED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CATONSVILLE, MD. I ADVISED THAT MY LIGHTS WERE TURNING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED NEW BULBS CLAIMING THAT THE BULBS GOING OUT WAS AN INDICATOR THAT THEY WERE GOING BAD. I'M NO GENIUS BUT IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE THAT BULBS STILL ILLUMINATED WHEN THEY'RE BAD. AFTER INSISTING THAT THE EXPLANATION MADE NO SENSE AND CONTACTING TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION. THE DEALERSHIP REEVALUATED THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOUND THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS BAD. TMC EVALUATED MY CLAIM AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR HALF THE COST OF REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, $1500. ALTHOUGH I HAD THE CAR 7 MONTHS IT WAS OUT OF THE ALREADY TMC EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 5 YRS. BUT UNDER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE OF 7200 MILES. THE TSB # FOR THIS IS 004410. *TR

Mileage: 57,000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS FLICKER THEN TURN OFF. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON IS TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. IT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND THE DEALER SAID I HAVE TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR EVALUATION WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE TO DO THIS DURING BUSINESS HOURS WHEN IT IS DARK TO KNOW THAT MY LIGHTS ARE OUT. AND WHEN BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT IT ISN'T A GOOD IDEA TO LEAVE THEM OFF SO I CAN DRIVE TO THE DEALER. BOTH BULBS HAVE BURST IN THE PAST AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. THIS TIME THE NEW BULBS DON'T APPEAR TO BE BURSTING BUT JUST TURNING OFF BY THEMSELVES. THE BURST BULB PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING WHEN I HAD LESS THAN 20K MILES BUT NOW THE DEALER SAID BOTH LIGHT HOUSINGS NEEDS REPLACED AT MY COST OF OVER $5000. *TR

Mileage: 103,200

HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND ALSO FLICKER. STARTED OFF WITH ONE LIGHT TURNING OFF AND NOW BOTH LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF. AFRAID TO DRIVE IN THE DARK. SWITCHING LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON WILL START THEM BACK BUT THEY MAY GO RIGHT BACK OUT. IS MORE FREQUENT NOW. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

LOST BOTH HIGH BEAM LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM AT NIGHT, ON A DARK MOUNTAIN ROAD IN OREGON. I HAVE 2002 CHEVY SILVERALDO PICKUP WITH OVER 150,000 MILES AND NO HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS EVER. THE LAST KNOWN HEADLIGHT FAILURE I HAD WAS ON MY 1957 CHEVY AROUND 1970. YOU WOULD THINK HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS IN TODAYS CARS WOULD NOT EXIST, EVER! I CHECKED ALL FOUR FUSES PER TOYOTA'S MAINTANANCE MANUAL, AND THEY ARE GOOD. I SEE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON TOYOTA'S. SEEMS LIKE THEY WOULD FIX OUR PROBLEMS BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY. THANKS *TR

Mileage: 89,110

BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON SPORADICALLY GO OUT, AND I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO TURN BACK ON. BOTH HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE COMPLETELY OUT, AS WELL AS BOTH FOG LIGHTS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF 2008 TOYOTA AVALON OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR LIGHTS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR EVERYONE WHO IS AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. ORIGINALLY, THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM IS COVERED UNDER A 5 YEAR/36K MILES WARRANTY, BUT DUE TO OVERWHELMING COMPLAINTS, TOYOTA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 5 YEAR/72K MILES. THE REPAIR INVOLVES REPLACING THE HID HEADLIGHT CONTROL UNIT (BALLAST), WHICH CAME DEFECTIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE HEADLIGHTS, AND IN SOME CASES BOTH HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS. THE TOTAL COST FOR THIS REPAIR IS ABOUT $2,500 TO $2,800. IN MY CASE, AS IS THE CASE OF MANY OTHER 2008 TOYOTA AVALON OWNERS, MY BEAMS BEGAN TO FAIL AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD, AT ABOUT 75K MILES, AND THEREFORE I AM REQUIRED TO COVER THIS COST AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2008 TOYOTA AVALONS, WHICH TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT. TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT IT IS A WARRANTY BASED ISSUE, AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT IT IS A RECALL BASED ISSUE. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ALL 2008 TOYOTA AVALON OWNERS. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

HIGH BEAMS /DRL EXPLODED INSIDE HOUSING ASSEMBLIES, BOTH SIDES AT SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

ON JUNE 24, 2011 WE TOOK A TRIP TO ARKANSAS. AS WE WERE GOING IN THE MOUNTAINS, WE FOUND THAT WE HAD NO HIGH BEAMS ON OUR HEADLIGHTS. ON RETURNING TO FRESNO WE TOOK IT INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND HE INFORMED US THAT THE HEADLIGHT HAD EXPLODED AND WOULD COST $2500 TO REPLACE. AFTER A DISCUSSION WITH THE DEALER AND TOYOTA, THE DEALER FIXED THEM. THEN IN SEPTEMBER 2012 THE DRIVING LIGHTS WENT OUT. WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND HE INFORMED US THAT THEY HAVE EXPLODED AGAIN. THEY WANT $2500 TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WANT TO CHARGE THE CUSTOMER WHEN IT IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. CAN YOU IMAGINE DRIVING ON BACK ROADS AT NIGHT (WHICH WE DO) AND HAVE THE LIGHTS GO OUT? I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MAKES IT A VERY EXPENSIVE CAR TO OPERATE YEARLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 2008-2010 MODELS WITH HD HEADLIGHTS. *TR

Mileage: 54,930

THIS CAR HAS HAD ALL 4 HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE LEFT HID LOW BEAM HAS GONE OUT. I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE THESE ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO TOYOTA OFFERED TO REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR REPLACEMENT OF HIGH BEAM HALOGEN BULBS AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 35,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTION. RECENTLY THOUGH, SINCE THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH A LARGER NUMBER OF CARS, TOYOTA EXPANDED THIS TO A SERVICE BULLETIN. IN THIS BULLETIN THEY WILL REPLACE BOTH COMPLETE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES SO LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 75,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW JUST HAD THIS DONE ON HER AVALON, WHICH FAILED AN INSPECTION BECAUSE BOTH HALOGEN HIGH BEAM BULBS WERE SHATTERED, WHICH WAS PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME MY WIFE'S WAS. MY WIFE USES HER AVALON TO COMMUTE 90 MILES ROUND TRIP TO WORK. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 105,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW DECEMBER 8, 2007. DUE TO THE MILEAGE TOYOTA IS NOT INTERESTED IN REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ON HER CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE A CRASH. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL CAMPAIGN TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND NOTICED MY HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON. BOTH SEEMED TO HAVE BURNT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

Mileage: 128,000

WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE, BOTH OF THE AVALON'S HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT, LEAVING ME WITHOUT ANY HEADLIGHTS. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF WOULD SOMETIMES REACTIVATE ONE OR BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS BUT THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL AGAIN. THE FAILURE HAS CONTINUED TO RECUR. TOYOTA DEALER STATES THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR BOTH HEADLIGHTS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DEFECT IN THE 2008 AVALONS, THUS EXTENDED THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY, HOWEVER, MY AVALON WAS ALREADY BEYOND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SO IT WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED MILEAGE UP TO 73,000. REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED AT $2550.00. THE FAILURE IS DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND NOT A WEAR AND TEAR/USAGE ISSUE. I THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GIVEN SINCE THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED AND IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE HAPPENED BEYOND THE COVERED MILEAGE. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HER VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR BOTH HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Mileage: 82,000

MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON HAS A LIGHT PROBLEM WHERE ONE OR THE OTHER OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT RANDOMLY. WE HAVE ASKED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAVE THE CAR SERVICED TO LOOK INTO IT AND ON EVERY OCCASION HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY CAN'T GET THE CAR TO RECREATE THE ISSUE. WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PULLED OVER NOT ONCE BUT TWICE FOR HAVING A HEADLIGHT OUT BUT WHEN WE TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON THEY WORK AGAIN. IT WAS BAD WHEN IT WAS JUST ONE OR THE OTHER BUT RECENTLY BOTH WILL GO OUT. WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.. *JS

Mileage: 93,600

THE HIGH BEAMS BOTH BLEW OUT IN DECEMBER OF 2011. ONE LOW BEAM ALSO GOES OUT OCCASIONALLY, EITHER THE RIGHT OR LEFT. I CAN USUALLY TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF AND GET THE LOW BEAMS WORKING. THE TOYOTA GARAGE SAID I NEEDED NEW HIGH BEAM BULBS. I REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT STILL HAD ISSUES WITH THE LOW BEAMS GOING ON AND OFF. ON JUNE 12, 2012 THE HIGH BEAMS BLEW AGAIN. THE TOYOTA GARAGE SAID I NEEDED NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES FOR A TOTAL COST OF $2500.00. I HAVE A 5 YEAR 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE NOT COVERED. I AM GOING TO TAKE THIS DECISION TO ARBITRATION WITH TOYOTA. *JB

Mileage: 73,448

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I NOTICED THAT MY HEAD LIGHTS WEREN'T ON AFTER BEING ON WHEN I LEFT MY JOB, SO I TURN THEM BACK ON AND ABOUT ANOTHER 20 MILES THEY WERE OFF AGAIN I EXPERIENCE THIS FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND WAS WOUNDING THIS CAR ISN'T THAT OLD SO SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT THAT OLD FOR THE LIGHTS TO BE GOING OUT THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OR ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH IT. WENT TO A ELECTRICAL SHOP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MOST AVALONS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO I'M WRITING THIS REPORT TO SEE WHAT I NEED TO DO NEXT SO THIS WON'T OCCUR FOR THE NEXT 5YRS OR SO. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AT NIGHT WHEN I DRIVE EVENTUALLY THEY WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL IS THIS SUPPOSE TO BE HAPPENING I NEED TO KNOW. THANK YOU, *TR

Mileage: 66,000

THE DAYTIME DRIVING LIGHT/HIGHBEAMS BLEW OUT ON ONE SIDE. I HAD THE LIGHT REPLACED IN FLORIDA ON A TRIP. LATER IN THE SAME YEAR THE SAME LIGHT BLEW OUT AND I TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN WALDORF, MD THIS DEALER, WITH MUCH RESERVATION, REPLACED THE LIGHT. A WEEK LATER BOTH DAYTIME/HIGH BEAM LIGHTS BLEW OUT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES OF BOTH LIGHT. NOW A YEAR AND A HALF TO 2 TEARS LATER BOTH LIGHTS HAVE EXPLODED AGAIN. AT THIS POINT THE CAR HAS 71009 MILES ON IT. TOYOTA SAYS THEY WILL FIX IT. HOWEVER, IF THEY FIX IT THE SAME WAY AGAIN I'M SURE THE SAME PROBLEM WILL RETURN IN DUE TIME. LIGHTING AT NIGHT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS I FOUND OUT THIS WEEKEND AND THIS SAFETY PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED PROPERLY. *TR

Mileage: 27,000

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS (HID BULBS) GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. WE HAVE REPLACED THE HID BULBS AND THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR EVALUATION. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SAY DEFINITIVELY WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE BULBS (TOTAL COST OF $800) IN ORDER TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE BULBS OR NOT. SINCE THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED THE VEHICLE CAN'T BE SAFELY DRIVEN AT NIGHT FOR LONG DISTANCES FOR FEAR THE LIGHTS WILL GO OUT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE NOR RESOLVE. *JS

Mileage: 52,000

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND THEN GO OUT COMPLETELY. THIS IS A REPEATED ISSUE. HEADLIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON; OTHER TIMES WILL NOT. THIS IS APPLICABLE TO THE LOW BEAMS AS WELL AS THE HIGH BEAMS. HAVE NOTIFIED TOYOTA AND THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE PROPERLY. TOYOTA WILL NOT ADMIT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE EQUIPMENT IN THE 2008 AVALON. MANY OTHER AVALONS IN THIS MODEL YEAR ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 37,707

SEPT. 11, 2011, WHILE PARKED, AT NIGHT, AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS ON, BOTH HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT LAMPS EXPLODED. THE VERY NEXT DAY, I TOOK MY AVALON TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS ABOVE 36,000 MILES, THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,700. I WAS TOLD THAT BOTH LAMPS AND ASSEMBLIES MUST BE REPLACED. I WAS PRESENTED A TOYOTO SERVICE BULLETING STATING THAT BOTH ASSEMBLIES MUST BE REPLACED. GOT NO OPTIONS FROM THE DEALERSHIP. NOV. 9, 2011, I RECEIVED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE STATING THAT MY WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 75,00 MILES AND THE IT COVERED THE HEAD LAMPS AND ASSEMBLIES. IT TOOK UNTIL JAN. 10, 2012, TO SETTLE THIS ISSUE. THE LAMPS AND ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED BY THE COMPANY AND I RECEIVED A FULL REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

Mileage: 36,578

MY HIGH-BEAM LIGHTS WENT OUT OVER A YEAR AGO ON MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON TOURING (HID LIGHT PACKAGE), NOT SURE ON MILEAGE BUT APPROX. 60,000. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE AVALON FROM (AND ALSO BOUGHT THE TOP DOLLAR EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 100,000 MILES). THEY SAID THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES. SAID IT WOULD BE ABOUT $2,800. I THOUGHT MY WARRANTY SHOULD REPLACE IT, THEY DISAGREED. THEY SAID I COULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE MY LOW BEAMS WERE FINE AND DIDN'T SEE ANY FUTURE PROBLEMS HAPPENING. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FROM TOYOTA FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THEY WOULD REPLACE THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY'S AT NO CHARGE TO ME IF I HAD LESS THAN 72,000 MILES. I HAD ABOUT 80,000 AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. ON 4/13/2012, DRIVING OVER AN HOUR HOME FROM DINNER, MY DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM STARTED FLASHING AND WENT OUT COMPLETELY. IN THE DARK. I TOOK MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TODAY TO FIX THE BULB. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE $380 ISH TO REPLACE THE ONE LOW BEAM BULB. BUT SAID BOTH HIGH BEAMS AND BOTH FOG LIGHTS WERE OUT TOO. AND THEY THOUGHT THIS WAS A RESULT OF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY'S AND THOUGHT I SHOULD REPLACE THEM BOTH, BACK TO THE $2,800 FOR LIGHTS!!! I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COMPLAINED BUT THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I WAS PAST THE 72,000 MARK. THIS IS A DEFECT AND SHOULDN'T BE BASED ON MILES OR TIME. THEY POSTED A WARRANTY EXTENSION, ADMITTING THEIR PROBLEM, BUT ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T DRIVE MANY MILES. I FEEL TAKEN BY TOYOTA. THIS COULD HAVE (AND MAY IN THE FUTURE) CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. MAKE IT RIGHT TOYOTA!!! *JS

Mileage: 60,000

LOW BEAM / DRIVING LIGHTS ON PASSENGER SIDE TURN OFF AFTER APPROX 3 - 5 MINUTES OF OPERATION. IF LIGHT SWITCH OR ENGINE IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, LIGHT RESETS AND OPERATES FOR APPROX 3-5 MINUTES AND THEN SHUTS OFF AGAIN. ALSO, BOTH HIGH BEAM BULBS ARE INOPERATIVE. BULBS HAVE SHATTERED LEAVING GLASS SHARDS INSIDE THE HIGHBEAM LIGHT HOUSING. ONLY THE LEFT FRONT LOW BEAM LIGHT IS WORKING WHICH TOYOTA REPLACED AT 27,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

THE LOW BEAM/HIGH BEAM BULBS TURN OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE LEFT SIDE AND SOMETIMES THE RIGHT SIDE. IF I TURN THEM OFF THEN BACK ON THEY BOTH TURN ON FINE BUT LATER TURN OFF AGAIN AND IT KEEPS HAPPENING. I REPLACED ALL BULBS WITH NEW ONES AND AFTER INSTALLING THEM, THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM HAPPENS AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. MY CAR HAS LESS THEN 50K MILES AND HAD NO ELECTRIC WORK DONE TO IT SINCE I PURCHASED IT SO I AM ALMOST POSITIVE THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR

THE HIGH BEAM BULBS BURN OUT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE REPLACED THE HIGH BEAM BULBS 4 TIMES IN THREE YEARS. TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE PROBLEM, BUT ONLY EXTENDS THE FACTORY WARRANTY TO 72K MILES. MY BULBS INITIALLY BURNED OUT--SIMULTANEOUSLY--AT 83K. JUDGING FROM THE COMMENTS ON TOYOTA FORUMS AND USER WEBSITES, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD CORRECT PROBLEM FOR ALL AVALON OWNERS, NOT JUST THOSE WITH MINIMAL MILES. *TR

Mileage: 83,600

RUNNING/BRIGHT BEAMS BOTH WENT OUT ON LEFT AND RIGHT AROUND SEPT 2011. LITES USE THE SAME LAMP. HAD REPAIRED AT FREEMAN TOYOTA IN HURST TX. WAS NOT TOLD IT WAS A TEMPORARY FIX. TOYOTA ISSUED WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE SOMETIME AFTER THAT REPAIR. RIGHT LAMP OUT AGAIN NOW APRIL 2012. DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT REPAIR/REPLACE AND TO DEAL WITH TOYOTA DIRECT FOR REFUND, ETC. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

TWO YEARS AGO BOTH BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS FAILED. DEALER REPLACED BULBS AT MY EXPENSE. ON 3/12/2012 BOTH BULBS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILED. DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE HAD DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY THAT TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED ($1265.30) AT MY EXPENSE BECAUSE VEHICLE HAD OVER 50000 MILES (CAR NOW HAS 85000 MILES). I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THIS WAS TRUE. MY QUESTION TO TOYOTA WAS, IF I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND BOTH DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLIES FAILED WOULDN'T MY SAFETY BE IN JEOPARDY AND IF SO WHY WASN'T THIS CAR RECALLED? *TR

Mileage: 43,542

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH EXTERNAL HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WOULD ADJUST THE LIGHT SWITCH FOR THE LIGHTS TO BECOME OPERABLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 4/2/12 *CN UPDATD 04/16/12

Mileage: 50,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BULB. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE HEADLIGHTS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

Mileage: 78,000

2008 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED: AT 35 MONTHS AND 40,000 MILES, THE HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS (HID) BEGAN INTERMITTENT OPERATION AND POINTED STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE GROUND MAKING NIGHT DRIVING UNSAFE. THE DEALER CLAIMED THE LOW BEAM HID HEADLAMP WAS GOING OUT AND THE REPLACEMENT COST FOR THE HID LOW BEAM BULB WAS AN EXORBITANT $300 DOLLARS ($125 FOR THE BULB AND $175 FOR INSTALLATION). THE BULB REPLACEMENT DID NOT FIX THE AIM PROBLEM AND A NEW HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED. THE HEADLAMPS STILL POINT AT THE GROUND MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD ALLOW TOYOTA TO CREATE SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD AS A LIGHT BULB THAT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY OR COSTS $300 TO REPLACE, WHICH IS HARDLY AFFORDABLE BY A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS. THE FACT THAT THE DEALER CAN NOT GET THE LAMPS TO AIM CORRECTLY ON THE STREET INDICATES THE DESIGN IS ALSO FLAWED. THIS IS NOT A LUXURY ITEM LIKE ELECTRIC WINDOWS OR AIR CONDITIONING. THIS IS A SAFETY DEVICE, REQUIRED BY LAW, AND THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HID MALFUNCTION OCCURS PREMATURELY WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER HEADLAMPS AND IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET BUT TOYOTA IS EVIDENTLY DENYING ANY ISSUE EXISTS. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

MULTIPLE FAILURES OF HIGH BEAM / DRLS (SAME BULB). BULB WILL QUIT WORKING OR IN SOME CASES SHATTER AND LEAVE GLASS SHARDS IN THE HOUSING. (KNOWN, AND RECENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED, PROBLEM WITH BULB HOUSINGS BY TOYOTA.) I HAVE ALSO RECENTLY EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FAILURES (TEMPORARY FAILURES SO FAR) OF THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT. THE LOW BEAM WILL FAIL, AND USUALLY (AFTER COOLING, OR A FEW ON/OFF CYCLES) WILL RESUME OPERATION. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THIS ALSO TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, PROBABLY A VOLTAGE PROBLEM, AND SEEMINGLY RELATED TO THE BULB HOUSING PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA RECENTLY OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND OFFERED TIME/MILEAGE-LIMITED REPAIRS FOR. SO FAR, TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM FOR VEHICLES OUTSIDE THE ARBITRARY SET LIMITATIONS OF 5 YEARS OR 72,000 MILES. THE CHRONIC AND REPEATED FAILURE OF THESE HEADLIGHTS (HIGH BEAMS/DRL AND HID LOW BEAMS) IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN AN OFFICIAL RECALL FOR REPAIR AT TOYOTA'S EXPENSE WITHOUT TIME OR MILEAGE LIMITS. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

NOTICED MY LIGHTS BEING DIMMER THAN NORMAL ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, THEN REALIZED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE GOING OFF ALTERNATELY. BUT ON AT LEAST 2 OCCASIONS THEY BOTH WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THE RUNNING OR FOG LIGHTS WERE ON SO I HAD SOME LIGHTING, BUT ON AT LEAST 1 OCCASION I HAD TO USE MY BRIGHT LIGHTS AS I WAS DRIVING ON A SECTION OF ROAD WHERE THERE WERE NO STREET LIGHTS. *TR

IN SEPTEMBER 2011, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT FAILED ON MY TOYOTA AVALON AT AROUND 62,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BULB AT A COST OF $217.99. I HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM TOYOTA FOR HIGH BEAM AND DRIVING LIGHT BULBS BUT NOTHING FOR LOW BEAM BULBS. I HAVE SUBMITTED THIS LAST SERVICE VISIT FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL BE COVERED. NOW, 5 MONTHS AND 3,000 MILES LATER, THE HEADLIGHT (PROBABLY THE LOW BEAM BULB) ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAS FAILED. THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THAT BULB AS A COURTESY FOR A CHARGE OF ONLY $40 INSTEAD OF THE FULL PRICE OF $217.99. THIS IS THE THIRD TOYOTA AVALON I HAVE HAD AND THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD ANY RELIABILITY PROBLEMS WITH ONE. CLEARLY TOYOTA NEEDS TO REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR THE COST OF THESE BULB REPLACEMENTS. *TR

Mileage: 61,857

OVER THE COURSE OF 1 MONTH BOTH HIGH BEAMS EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. BULB CHIPS ARE INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY. HEADLIGHT LEVELING SYSTEM NOT FUNCTIONING ON 1 SIDE, LIGHT IS POINTING TO THE GROUND. *TR

Mileage: 49,000

WHEN I STARTED MY CAR LAST WEEK, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE BULB BUT TOOK IT TO A SHOP WHERE THEY TRIED TO REPLACE THE BULB BUT I WAS TOLD IT'S NOT THE BULB. IT BEGAN WORKING AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER BUT SEEMS TO TURN ON AND OFF BUT WITHOUT ANY CONSISTANCY. WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNING ON AND OFF TOGETHER. THE FOG LIGHTS ARE WORKING BUT I HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF EVERY FEW MINUTES TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE CHECKED AGAIN BUT I AM BEING TOLD AGAIN IT IS NOT THE BULBS. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE! I AM WAITING FOR THEM TO TURN OFF ONE LATE NIGHT AND NOT RETURN ND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, INJURING ME AND MY FAMILY. *TT

LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS BOTH RIGHT & LEFT GO OFF INTERMITTINGLY, I HAD ORIGINALLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH NIGH BEAMS THEY WERE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 49,000

I HAVE THE 2008 TOYOTA AVALON TOURING. THE HID/LOW BEAM PASSENGER LIGHT WENT OUT. DEALER ADVISED BOTH LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEED REPLACED AT $1088 EACH PLUS 2 HOURS LABOR. THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND THEY ARE BACKLOGGED 90 DAYS. DEALER JUST RECEIVED ONE THAT WAS ORDERED 90 DAYS AGO. DRIVING WITH ONE LIGHT (MAYBE 2 SOON) IS DANGEROUS AND I CAN'T PARK IT IN THE GARAGE FOR 90 DAYS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REPLACING FREE AND SUPPLYING A RENTAL CAR WHILE THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER. *TR

Mileage: 33,725

RIGHT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT / DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT GOES OUT APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES AFTER VEHICLE IS STARTED. OCCURS WHETHER VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING. TURNING OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTING WILL RESET LIGHT FOR A FEW MINUTES.

Mileage: 45,500

I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BOTH FRONT LOW BEAM LIGHT BULBS. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WOULD WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY KEEPING ME AT BAY AS I COULD NOT DRIVE @ NIGHT. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ALONG WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE WERE REPLACED ON TWO APPOINTMENTS AT $192.50 PER BULB ALONG WITH LABOR.. THE TOTAL CAME TO $310.20 X 2= $620.40 THAT'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS. I WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS USING THE LIGHTS TOO MUCH AND THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE LIGHTS GOING OUT!! MY CAR HAS LOW MILES AND IT TOLD HIM THAT WAS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. I AM VERY DISCOURAGED WITH THE OUTCOME OF HAVING TO FORK OUT SO MUCH MONEY FOR A FACTORY DEFECT, SHAME ON TOYOTA! *TR

Mileage: 57,523

DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND ON MAKES IT WORK AGAIN, BUT PROBLEM IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY AND THE DURATION THE HEADLIGHT STAYS ON APPEARS TO BE SHORTER AFTER EACH ON/OFF CYCLE. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERING... ONE DAY ONE HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT, THE NEXT DAY, THE OTHER LIGHT... ESSENTIALLY TAKING TURNS GOING OFF. THEN BOTH WOULD BE ON. PER SOME RECENT COMPLAINTS, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE REPLACING THE LOW BEAMS WILL FIX THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A CLEAR MANUFACTURING ISSUE CONSIDERING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME MODEL. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ADVISED THIS HAD NOTHING TO DUE WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE HIGH BEAM ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED WHEN SUDDENLY, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES BUT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR EVERY TWO TO THREE MONTHS AFTER THE REPLACEMENT. MOST RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE MALFUNCTION WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON EITHER THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT LIGHT WENT OUT. REPLACED BOTH HID LIGHTS BUT ISSUE KEEPS COMING BACK. WHEN I TURN THE LIGHT OFF AND THEN ON THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. HOWEVER AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES ONE OF THE LIGHTS GO OFF AGAIN. IT SEEMS TO BE RANDOM, BUT SOME TIMES BOTH GO OUT THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. CALLED TOYOTA TO FILE A COMPLAINT AS THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS. TOYOTA FRANKLY TOLD US THAT THIS IS NOT THEIR ISSUE. LOOKING AT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. WE LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND WITHOUT LIGHTS YOU HAVE VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER. P.S. THIS IS NOT THE HIGH BEAM ISSUE BUT RATHER THE NORMAL HEAD LIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ILLUMINATED, WE HEARD WHAT SEEMED LIKE A FIREWORK OR SMALL ARMS FIRE. MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. WE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS EXAMINED, DIAGNOSED, & REPAIRED. THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS, BUMPER COVER, & COWLING WERE REPLACED DUE TO MELTING AND FIRE DAMAGE, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED(IT HAD BEEN DETERMINED IT HADN'T BEEN DAMAGED OTHER THAN INSPECTION) ALL PARTS WERE RESERVED FOR MY INSPECTION. I HAD BEEN TOLD THE HIGH BEAM HAD WORKED ITSELF LOOSE & CAUSED THE FIRE. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN!!! THE BULB HAD EXPLODED IN THE HOUSING, MINUTE PIECES OF GLASS WERE INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING, & THE ONLY DAMAGE TO IT WAS EXTERNAL CHARRING. I HAVE STORED THE LENS FOR INSPECTION, PROVING THE EXPLOSION THEORY. I THANK THE LORD WE WERE NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME OR THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BURNED TO A CRISP. WE RECEIVED A FORM LETTER FROM TOYOTA A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE" CONCERNING CERTAIN 2008- 2010 AVALON'S HIGH BEAM DRL BULBS. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE HAD OTHER ISSUES AS THEY HAVE OFFERED REIMBURSEMENT IF WE HAVE HAD ANY REPAIRS PAID FOR "OUT OF POCKET" THIS BULB EXPLODED.....IT CAUSED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ITS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WE WERE IDLING IN A DRIVEWAY NEAR A WATER SOURCE, AND I HAVE HAD FIRE SAFETY TRAINING. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED A LARGE EXTINGUISHER AND CARRY IT IT THE VEHICLE. WE ARE VERY ANXIOUS & CAUTIOUS DRIVING THE VEHICLE NOW. *TR

FAILURE: HIGH BEAM/DRL BULBS HIR1 9011. IN NOVEMBER 2010, THE RIGHT FRONT HID LOW BEAM BULB WAS FLICKERING AND FAILED. AS PART OF THE RIGHT FRONT HID LOW BEAM BULB REPLACEMENT, I DECIDED TO REPLACE BOTH OE TOSHIBA HIGH BEAM/DRL BULBS WITH PHILIPS REPLACEMENTS. TOSHIBA NO LONGER MANUFACTURES THE HIR1 9011 BULBS. THIS MOVE WAS STRICTLY A PRECAUTIONARY ACTION. KEPT THE TOSHIBA BULBS AS SPARES. WITHIN 6 MONTHS ONE PHILIPS HIR1 BULB FAILED IN THE DRL MODE AND THE OTHER BULB FAILED IN THE HIGH BEAM MODE. REUSED THE TOSHIBA BULBS. *TR

Mileage: 49,000

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY TOYOTA AVALON 2008 TOURING GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. IT STARTED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM AND NOW BOTH GO OUT OCCASIONALLY. VERY SCARY WHEN DRIVING IN EARLY A.M. RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND DRIVING AT NIGHT AND YOUR LIGHTS GO OUT. *TR

Mileage: 58,196

HIGH BEAM EXTERIOR LAMP LIGHTING FAILURE. AUTO REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT BULBS WERE SHATTERED INSIDE OF HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED THE BULBS. HIGH BEAM BULBS FAILED AGAIN AFTER 9 MONTHS. TOYOTA STATES THAT BOTH HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES MUST BE REPLACED AT $1088 EA TO PREVENT HIGH BEAM BULBS FROM SHATTERING IN THE FUTURE. *TR

Mileage: 39,798

RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT STOPPING WORKING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, TURNED LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AND HEADLIGHT WORKED, HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING, WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN TO BOTH HEADLIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

IT STARTED OFF WITH MY LOW BEAM HID LIGHTS ON MY PASSENGER SIDE...IT WOULD BURN VERY DIM AND SOMETIMES GO OUT COMPLETELY. I WOULD TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE LIGHT WORKED SOMEWHAT, IT WOULD BURN BUT IT WAS DIM. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING SO I USED MY HIGH BEAMS WHEN POSSIBLE. ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AFTER THAT (LATE AUGUST/EARLY SEPTEMBER 2011) MY HIGH BEAM ON THE DRIVER SIDE STOPPED WORKING AND IT WAS REPLACED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR BEFORE IT STOPPED WORKING. SO THAT LEFT ME WITH A LOW-BEAM ON THE DRIVERSIDE AND A HIGH-BEAM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE HIGH-BEAM WENT OUT ON THE DRIVERSIDE THE HIGH-BEAM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT LEAVING ME WITH ONLY A LOW-BEAM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND FOG LIGHTS. AND EVERYTIME A LIGHT WENT OUT I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND NOTICED MY LIGHTS GOT DIM. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

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.

Mileage: 50,000

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

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 $589.00 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.

Mileage: 79,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

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?

Mileage: 43,500

HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED- ARE TOTALLY INOPERATIVE. FUSES CHECKED OK. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA AVALON MODELS USING HID HEADLIGHTS. IN MANY CASES, LOW BEAMS WILL ALSO FAIL SOON. REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE, AND DOES NOT CORRECT THE DESIGN PROBLEM. *KB

Mileage: 51,000

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. *KB

Mileage: 66,000

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. *KB

Mileage: 66,000

TL* 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.

Mileage: 112,000

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 $2,300.00, MY COST WAS $500.00 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 $500.00. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

Mileage: 50,000

TL* 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!! *TR

Mileage: 48,000

TL*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 *BF UPDATED 06/10/11

Mileage: 58,000

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" $140.00 AND THEY COULD PUT ONE BULB IN FOR ABOUT $350.00. 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. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

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). *TR

Mileage: 80,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

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! *TR

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.

Mileage: 36,000

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 $1,088.00 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 $175.00 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. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 33,600

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!!!!! *TR

Mileage: 45,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 97,400

HIGH BEAMS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. FUSES ARE FINE. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND BASED ON THE COST IN OTHER COMPLAINTS, IT MAY BE AWHILE. HAVE EMAILED LOCAL TOYOTA ASKING IT THIS WAS COMMON WITH 2008 AVALON BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY. *TR

Mileage: 29,000

TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF HID HEADLIGHTS IN THE AVALON. THEY INTENT FOR SOMEONE TO DIED BEFORE CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED TODAY BY TOYOTA DIRECT THAT MY HID COMPUTERS ARE OVERHEATING CAUSING MY RIGHT HEADLAMP TO FAIL FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE LEFT HIGHBEAM NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. MY COST TO FIX IS $2788.00. TECHNICIAN APOLOGIZED BUT CLEARLY IT'S NOT A DEALERSHIP PROBLEM - THIS IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM - SAME A PRIUS. IF TANAZIANS CAN OVERTHROWN A GOVERNMENT ON FACEBOOK, SURELY AVALON OWNERS CAN KILL PRODUCTION OF THIS VEHICLE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO NO HEADLIGHTS. OF COURSE WE NEED HEADLIGHTS TO DRIVE OUR VEHICLES AT NIGHT!! I AM GOING TO CREATE A FACEBOOK PAGE TODAY TO START THE GLOBAL PROCESS OF TAKING THIS VEHICLE OF THE MARKET. THOSE READING THIS, PLEASE PASS THE MESSAGE TO THOSE LOOKING TO PURCHASE AN AVALON. FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WORKS. I REFUSE TO LEFT TOYOTA CRAP ON THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND YOURS SHOULD WE MEET AT NIGHT--AND I HAVE TO NAVIGATE WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. STATES REQUIRE HEADLIGHTS TO BE ON WHEN IT'S RAINING, DAY LAMPS FOR SAFETY AND OF COURSE AT NIGHT. LOOK FOR THE FACEBOOK PAGE. NEVER NEVER BUY A TOYOTA! *TR

HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF. THE LAST INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WAS WHILE DRIVING ONE NIGHT AT AROUND 70 MPH.. ALL LIGHTS WENT OFF! WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND TURN LIGHTS TO OFF AND THEN BACK TO ON. WERE ABLE TO GET LOW BEAMS BACK ON BUT NOT THE HIGH BEAMS. LATER DISCOVERED AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT BOTH HIGH BEAM BULBS HAD EXPLODED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIP AND AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH OUR MODEL/YEAR OF CAR WHICH IS A 2008 AVALON. STILL FEARFUL THAT WE COULD HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE LOW BEAMS. THIS IS AN URGENT SAFETY ISSUE! IN ADDITION, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE COST TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WOULD RUN AROUND $2500.00! WE ARE LUCKY THAT WE ARE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

HEADLIGHT TRANSFORMER IS NOT WORKING, TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME 2,096 TO FIX IT. *TR

Mileage: 41,000

DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT WITH 47,000 MILES. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT HAS GONE OUT WITH 75,000 MILES. I HAVEN'T HAD HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT ON MY CARS IN 20 YEARS UNTIL NOW. MY CAR IS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

DRIVING DOWN A DARK ROAD, THE HIGH BEAMS WOULD NOT COME ON. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID HIGH BEAMS BURNED OUT AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2600. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IF THEY WERE REPLACED, THEY MAY BURN OUT AGAIN. UPDATED 02/14/11 *BF

I JUST HEARD ON THE RADIO THIS MORNING THERE IS A RECALL ON THE HEADLAMP'S INTERMITTENTLY WORKING/NOT WORKING ON THE PRIUS. PLEASE ADD THE 2008 TOYOTA AVALON TO THIS RECALL. ON DECEMBER 24,2010, AS MY WIFE AND I WERE LEAVING MY DAUGHTER AND SON IN-LAW'S HOUSE AT APPROX. 8:30 P.M., I USED MY REMOTE START AND STARTED MY CAR. MY SON-IN-LAW LOOKED OUTSIDE AND SAID, 'YOU HAVE A HEADLIGHT OUT'. IT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLAMP. I GOT IN THE CAR AND TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON TO 'AUTO' AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS CAME ON ONCE AGAIN. HOWEVER, I HAD TO TURN THEM OFF AND TURN THEM BACK ON TO GET THEM BOTH WORKING. ON JANUARY 16, 2011, MY WIFE, MOTHER-IN-LAW AND MYSELF WERE LEAVING A RESTAURANT. I AGAIN USED MY REMOTE START AND STARTED THE CAR. I WALKED PAST THE FRONT OF THE CAR ON MY WAY TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND WOULD HAVE NOTICED A LIGHT OUT BUT I DID NOT. APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE RESTAURANT, WE ENTERED A DARK AREA AND WE NOTICED WE COULD HARDLY SEE THE ROAD. I SAID TO MY WIFE, I THINK I HAVE A HEADLIGHT OUT? I AGAIN TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON TO THE AUTO POSITION AND THEY BOTH CAME ON ALLOWING US TO SEE THE ROAD AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS THE LEFT FRONT HEADLAMP THAT WENT OUT. AGAIN, PLEASE ADD THE 2008 TOYOTA AVALON TO THE RECALL LIST ABOVE. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF, INTERMITTENTLY. I WENT TO MY TOYOTA DEALER THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THEM, NOW I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA AVALON. . THE NEXT EVENING (TONIGHT) I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, DRIVING AND THE LEFT LIGHT WENT OUT. SOMETIMES IT IS THE RIGHT. WHEN I TURN OFF THE SWITCH AND THEN ON AGAIN THEY RESUME OPERATION...FOR AN UNPREDICTABLE TIME. THIS IS A ISSUE THAT HAVE RESULTED IN A RECALL. *LN

Mileage: 40,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE TRANSFORMER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WAS NO CURRENT RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 41,000

HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF, INTERMITTENTLY. I WENT TO MY GREEN TOYOTA IN LEXINGTON KY FRIDAY JANUARY 29, 2011 AND THEY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT. NOW I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTAS. THE NEXT EVENING (TONIGHT) I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, DRIVING AND THE LEFT LIGHT WENT OUT. SOMETIMES IT IS THE RIGHT. WHEN I TURN OFF THE SWITCH AND THEN ON AGAIN THEY RESUME OPERATION...FOR AN UNPREDICTABLE TIME. *TR

Mileage: 78,150

HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND STILL NO RECALL. PLEASE HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED OVER IT!! *LN

Mileage: 90,000

2008 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH HIGH BEAM LIGHTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD USING THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS, THEY ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED WORKING. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS HAD BURNED OUT. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE REPLACEMENT COST WAS $1300 PER HIGH BEAM LIGHT. *JB

WE HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED. COMING HOME AT DARK, PULLED INTO NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY, HEARD A "POP" NOISE. DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT AT THE TIME. THREE OR SO MINUTES LATER, PULLING INTO OUR OWN DRIVEWAY JUST DOWN FROM THE NEIGHBORS, HEARD ANOTHER "POP" AND THIS TIME NOTICED THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS HAD CHANGED. NOW HIGH BEAM/DRL BULB IS INOPERATIVE OR PERHAPS HAS SHATTERED. WE ARE LEFT WITH ONLY LOW BEAM LIGHTS. *TR

Mileage: 7,500

OWNER OF 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. TWO WEEKS AGO THE LEFT HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT (SHATTERED), HAD THAT REPLACED AND THIS WEEK BOTH HIGH BEAMS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. BOTH HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WERE SHATTERED WITHIN THE HOUSING AREA. WENT TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED OF THE $2,000 PLUS COST SINCE VEHICLE IF OUT OF WARRANTY WITH 76,000 MILES. LUCKILY, WE HAVE NOT HAD THE TOTAL LIGHT FAILURE SITUATION. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED AT TOYOTA EXPENSE. *TR

Mileage: 76,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE HEADLIGHTS RE-ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT LIGHT UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,925.

Mileage: 53,925

BOTH HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT ON 2008 TOYOTA AVALON STOP WORKING. 28,000 MILES ON VEHICLE .TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB ON ALL 2008 TO 2010 AVALONS HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BUT ARE CHARGING $ 2200 TO REPLACE WITH A NEW REDESIGNED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY THEY ADMIT TO PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT ISSUE RECALL . DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED ? *TR

Mileage: 28,000

RIGHT SIDE HIGH BEAM BULB (ALSO DOUBLES AS DRIVING LIGHT) FOUND SHATTERED. BOUGHT NEW BULB (ABOUT $45 ONLINE) AND INSTALLED MYSELF. NO REASON FOUND FOR SHATTERED BULB.

Mileage: 47,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS HAD BEEN CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Mileage: 52,000

BOTH HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL) ARE INOPERATIVE, PER NHTSA ODI # TSB-0044-10. COMPLAINT: TOYOTA AND ODI HAVE KNOWN OF THIS RECURRING LIGHTING SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT ON VARIOUS VEHICLES FOR THREE MODEL YEARS 2008-2010. TOYOTA HAS EVEN DEVELOPED A NEWLY DESIGNED HIGH BEAM/DRL REPLACEMENT HOUSING ASSEMBLY TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, WITH AN APPROXIMATE COST TO EACH VEHICLE OWNER OF $3,000+, UNLESS COVERED BY 3 YEAR/36,000 WARRANTY. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR BOTH TOYOTA AND NHTSA TO EXPOSE VEHICLE OWNERS TO HIGH REPAIR EXPENSE FOR KNOWN SERIOUS LIGHTING SAFETY-RELATED DEFECTS, IF VEHICLE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. ODI SHOULD RECLASSIFY THIS DEFECT, PLEASE!

Mileage: 25,809

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 70,000

BOTH HIGH BEAM LAMPS SHATTERED INSTANTANEOUSLY IN GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS. FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR DISTRACTION AND DANGEROUS TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE PRIMARY VEHICLE AND OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. WHILE TOYOTA FREELY ACKNOWLEDGES DEFECTIVE PARTS USED IN 2008,2009 AND 2010 MODELS, THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR, OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD.(T-SB-0044-10) THE STANDARD CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER RANGES BETWEEN $2400.00 AND $800.00.

Mileage: 49,261

RIGHT HID LOW BEAM HEADLAMP WENT OFF WITH OUT NOTICE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. ALSO, RIGHT HID LOW BEAM HEADLAMP WENT OFF AFTER TURNING ON FOG LIGHTS OR HIGH BEAMS. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES BETWEEN 11 NOV 2010 AND 20 NOV 2010 WITHOUT ANY WARNING. HEADLAMPS IN AUTO MODE. MILEAGE 48K. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PLAYING AROUND WITH THE SWITCH, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

Mileage: 60,000

THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THE HEADLIGHT REPLACED AT A COST OF $250, ($80 FOR THE LAMP AND $170 IN LABOR. AFTER DRIVING 11,270 MILES, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

2008 TOYOTA AVALON DEFECT - HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY IN MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON, I LOST MY HIGH BEAMS AND MY LEFT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. UPON CHECKING BULBS, BOTH HIGH BEAM 9011H1R1 BULBS BLEW OUT (SHATTERED). I FOUND THE TSB NOTICE ON LINE (TSB-0044-10) AND WENT TO TOYOTA SEEKING TOYOTA TO FIX THE DEFECT. THEY TOLD ME THE COST WAS $2,400 TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THEY DID OFFER TO SPLIT THE COST 50/50 WITH ME BUT I DECLINED STATING THAT IT WAS A DEFECT AND WAS OCCURRING IN 2008, 2009 AND 2010 TOYOTA AVALON. IN OTHER WORDS, IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. TOYOTA DECLINED STATING IT WAS NOT A RECALL BUT A TSB. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I LOST NOT ONLY MY HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WITHOUT WARNING, BUT ALSO MY LEFT LOW BEAM HEAD LAMP. TOYOTA SHOULD CLASSIFY THIS AS A 'RECALL' AND NOT A TSB.

Mileage: 45,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH WHEN SHE WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT HER HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ENGAGED BUT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE, YET THE FOG LIGHTS WERE OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE CORRECTED BY SWITCHING THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF AGAIN. THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

Mileage: 45,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AT NIGHT TIME THE LEFT HEADLIGHT SHUT OFF. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WOULD BE REPAIRED AT HER OWN EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULB. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF TOYOTA AVALON VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE LEFT BULB BURNED OUT THAT THE RIGHT BULB ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51000.

Mileage: 45,000

2008 TOYOTA AVALON PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT SHUTS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BULB FOR $385.00. PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS AND NOW STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN. THE PROBLEMS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE SWITCHED TO AUTO MODE. I TRAVEL WITH MY LIGHTS ON DURING THE DAY FOR SAFETY REASONS AND CHECK THEM OFTEN. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT FOUND THE LIGHT OFF NOT ONCE. I PLAN ON HAVING THE DEALERSHIP MOVE THE LEFT BULB TO THE RIGHT AND VICE-VERSA TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM FOLLOWS THE BULB OR STAYS CONSISTENT TO THE RIGHT SIDE. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN ON THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. HE CONTINUED DRIVING MOMENTARILY BEFORE THE LOW BEAMS FAILED A SECOND TIME. THE FOG LIGHTS WERE THE ONLY EXTERIOR LIGHTS THAT WOULD FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS SHUTS OFF AUTOMATICALLY. I BOUGHT 2008 TOYOTA AVALON TOURING MODEL. PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HID LIGHTS SHUTS OFF AUTOMATICALLY. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS COMMON ISSUE WITH TOYOTA AVALON. EXPECTING TOYOTA TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. MY CAR HAS 40K MILES ON IT. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED EDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LONG-RANGE ILLUMINATION. THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ALSO PROVIDED POOR ILLUMINATION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD LIGHT MODULES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NEWLY INSTALLED MODULES ILLUMINATION WAS WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL ONES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

Mileage: 30,000

2008 TOYOTA AVALON TOURING HAD BOTH HIGH BEAMS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THE SERVICE WRITER COMMENTED THE BULBS APPEARED TO HAVE EXPLODED WITHIN THE UNIT PER THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, HOWEVER, NO EXPLANATION. NOW THE LOW BEAM DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT AND THEN COMES BACK ON. I AM CONCERNED THAT BOTH LOW BEAMS WILL GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME, BUT WILL STILL COME BACK ON LATER. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR BACK IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS ONLY AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, BUT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE CAR AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO RESEARCH AND REPLACE AT THEIR COSTS DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS WITH LOSING HEADLIGHTS WITHOUT WARNING DURING NIGHT DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLEAR THE PROBLEM BY RE-SETTING THE SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN, BUT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENT NOW. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SHORT TIME FRAME FOR HAVING LIGHTING ISSUES OF THIS TYPE ON A 2008 VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY SHUTTING OFF. INITIALLY JUST THE LEFT HEADLIGHT, THEN THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT, AND NOW ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY THE BRIGHT LIGHTS STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER, LEAVING ME WITH NO LIGHTS OR BRIGHTS. IT HAPPENS MOST OF TIME WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE AUTO SWITCH POSITION. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER (BYERS TOYOTA DELAWARE, OH) AND THEY AT FIRST WANTED ME TO PAY TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE REST OF THE ENCLOSURES FOR OVER $2000.00. I HAVE A 100,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THE LIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE THEY NEED TO REPLACE THIS FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

2008 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED - HID HEADLAMP INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF. THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP EITHER IS OFF AT THE STARTING OF THE VEHICLE, OR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT OCCURS ESPECIALLY ON COLD MORNINGS. THE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED, AND THE NEW HEADLAMP IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TOYOTA PRIUS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 41,000

PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY SHUTTING OFF. INITIALLY JUST THE LEFT LIGHT, THEN THE RIGHT LIGHT, AND NOW ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY, LEAVING ME WITH NO ILLUMINATION TO DRIVE BY. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER (TOYOTA OF NEWNAN, NEWNAN GA) AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 39,000

HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT WHILE IN OPERATION. THIS WILL OCCUR IN EITHER AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL MODE. YOU WILL NEED TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS THEN TURN THEM BACK TO THE ON POSITION TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON SOMETIMES. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARD FOR ME AND THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL AS A VIOLATION OF THE LAW, DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT WHILE IN OPERATION. THIS WILL OCCUR IN EITHER AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL MODE. YOU WILL NEED TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS THEN TURN THEM BACK TO THE ON POSITION TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT ON A COUNTRY ROAD WHERE WE LIVE. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN RICHMOND, KENTUCKY,40475 STATED THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $343.00 PER HEADLIGHT BULB PLUS LABOR WHICH INCLUDED TAKING OFF THE FRONT BUMPER TO INSTALL THE HEADLIGHTS. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE TWO HEAD LIGHT BULBS, APPROXIMATELY $1,000.00. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON TOURING, THE HID HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT. BOTH HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WENT OUT SOON AFTER AS I BEGAN TO USE THEM UNTIL I COULD COME IN FOR THE REPAIR, ABOUT 4 DAYS. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE HID HEAD LIGHT WOULD COST $563 TO REPLACE. THIS COST BREAKS DOWN TO $350 FOR THE PART (ONE HID LIGHT), AND $157 FOR THE LABOR AS THEY CLAIMED TO NEED TO DO COMPLEX THINGS TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE THIS BULB. TO REPLACE THE LOW BEAM LIGHT ALONG WITH TWO HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WOULD AMOUNT TO A TOTAL OF $700. WHAT? HOW DOES A 2008 HAVE A FAILED HID HEAD LIGHT BY 2009? ALSO, HOW DO BOTH HIGH BEAM LIGHTS GO OUT? *TR

Mileage: 41,700

RIGHT HID HEADLAMP WENT OFF WITH OUT NOTICE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST FOUR DAYS WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *TR

Mileage: 27,400

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ALIGNED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS LOWER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE MOTORIZED HEADLIGHT SELF-LEVELING ADJUSTER FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT MOTOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE OPTICAL EQUIPMENT TO PROPERLY CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12,508.

Mileage: 12,508