2008 Toyota Avalon complaints

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

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

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

REAR WINDOW VISIBILITY IS MY PROBLEM, AT DARK AND WHEN IT RAINS IT'S NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE CLEARLY ANYTHING THROUGH MY BACK WINDOW. THE REAR WINDOW SUNSHADE IS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WELL THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW IN THE RAIN AND WHEN IT'S DARK. IF IT WAS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION THAT WOULD BE OK, BUT IT'S NOT. I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE CHARGED ALMOST $900. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO FIX ONE. FIRST OFF THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO LOWER IT EVEN IF IT'S NOT FIXED TO GO UP AND DOWN. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA. WHEN I CALLED THEM ABOUT MY DYNAMIC CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING LAST YEAR THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT FOR FREE OR AT GREATLY REDUCED PRICE BECAUSE I WAS PAST THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH I HAD LESS THEN 25,000 OR 26000 MILES ON IT WHEN I CALLED. IT HADN'T WORKED AT THAT TIME FOR A GOOD 6 TO 8 MONTHS. TOYOTA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS IN MY OPINION. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

TELESCOPIC LEVER IS RELEASED AND STEERING WHEEL MAKES TOWARD ON THE HIGHWAY IN DRIVING. THIS IS MY 3RD TIME EXPERIENCE. HOW CAN STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS RELEASED WITHOUT ANY WARNING IN DRIVING. ACCORDING THE 2008 TOYOTA AVALON MANUAL, TOYOTA ALREADY MAKES CAUTION LIKE THIS.(PAGE61) "AFTER ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL. MAKE SURE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. OTHERWISE, THE STEERING WHEEL MAY MOVE SUDDENLY, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND RESULTING IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY." "WHILE DRIVING. DO NOT ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL. DOING SO MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO MISHANDLE THE VEHICLE AND AN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY." TOYOTA MANUFACTURER ALREADY UNDERSTAND IF STEERING WHEEL IS UNLOCKED OR RELEASE IN DRIVING, CAUSING IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. I THINK TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY MAKES RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR

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

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

CAR WOULDN'T START AT SHOPPING AREA - PAID $5 FOR A BATTERY JUMP - HAD CAR TESTED AT LOCAL AUTO SHOP - SAID WE NEEDED AN ALTERNATOR BUT MAY BE UNDER WARRANTY - WENT TO EASTERN SHORE TOYOTA - FOR $56.57 - YES WE NEEDED AN ALTERNATOR - NOT UNDER WARRANTY -COST $580 - TAKE TIL TUES - SUGGEST WE SPEND $100 PLUS AND RENT A CAR. WE ELECTED TO TAKE OUR CHANCES AND HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED CLOSER TO GULF SHORES WHERE WE ARE STAYING - COST WAS $396. WE HAVE NEVER HAD AN ALTERNATOR GO OUT AFTER OWNING VEHICLES FOR NEARLY 60 YRS - LET ALONE AT 46725 MILES AND SUCH A PRICEY CAR. WE ARE CONSIDERING THE RAV 4 FOR 2014 BUT THIS IS GIVING US SECOND THOUGHTS. *TR

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

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

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.

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 MO

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

THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL LOCK UNLOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WENT FULL FORWARD. THE LOCK HAD ALSO COME UNLOCKED ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR BUT I HAD NOTICED IT AND CORRECTED IT PRIOR TO THE WHEEL GOING FORWARD. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET TODAY AND NOTICE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS SITES WITH COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME NATURE ABOUT THE AVALON. *TR

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

IT JUST RAINED THE PASS 4-5 DAYS. MY WIFE WENT TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING SHE THOUGHT DROPPED UNDERNEATH MY SEATS. SHE SAID MY CARPET/FLOORBOARDS WERE WET. I WENT TO THE VEHICLE AND PRESSED DOWN ON THE CARPET. WATER INSTANTLY RAISED UP AND FORMED A PUDDLE AROUND MY INTIRE HAND. THIS IS HAPPENING DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND BACK SEATS. NO MOISTER ON HEADLINER DOORS PILLARS DASH SEATS ETC ETC ETC. ONLY CARPET. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY CAR WAS T-BONE ON THE PAX SIDE AND THEN MY CAR CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 35 MPH WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AT LESS THAN 5 MPH. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH CRUSHED THE PAX SIDE OF THE CAR; JAWS OF LIFE HAD TO BE USED TO EXTRACT THE PAX IN MY VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT MY VEHICLE TRAVELED IN A SIDE MANNER AND SPUN AROUND HITTING A GUARD RAIL APPROXIMATELY STRAIGHT ON. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED AND THE DRIVER DOOR WAS BENT ON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS; NOTHING IN FRONT OF THE FRONT TIRES WAS LEFT ON THE VEHICLE. IN SPITE OF THIS, NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. POLICE REPORT DONE ON SCENE AS WELL AS EMT REPORT STATE THE SAME. *TR

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

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

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

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

STEERING WHEEL COLUMN ADJUSTMENT LEVER DROPS DOWN ALLOWING THE STEERING COLUMN TO COLLAPSE FORWARD (OR MOVE BACK IF HOLDING ON TO IT DURING VEHICLE ENTRY). LEVER INTERFERES WITH ENTRY AND EXIT OF THE VEHICLE AND HURTS THE LEG. ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMN IS NOT LOCKED AND IF IT COLLAPSES DURING A CRASH COULD CONTRIBUTE TO LESS EFFECTIVENESS OF THE AIRBAG. THE PROBLEM STARTED SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE -- SOMETIMES UNLOCKING DAILY. *TR

STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING. TILT AND TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE. HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY AS AUTOMOBILE AGE. POTENTIALLY CAUSE FOR AN ACCIDENT. FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS AT WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBLE.COM. AUTOMOTIVE VIBRATION CAUSES LEVER TO LOOSEN AND HANG DOWNWARD. DRIVER ENTERING OR EXITING VEHICLE KNEE STRIKES LEVER CAUSING PAIN AND IN SOME CASES BRUISING. ASK LOCAL DEALER IF THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL, THEY SAID NO. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY NOT. *TR

STARTED TO BACK OUT OF DRIVE AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK WHILE ROLLING TO BRING IT TO A STOP. I NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEHAVIOR IN THE CAR BEFORE. REPORTED TO TOYOTA AS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY SENT A THIRD PARTY ENG. OUT TO RUN TESTS ON THE CAR. AFTER HE GOT DONE DOING SOME DISASSEMBLY TO LOOK AT THE CONTROL LINKAGE HE REASSEMBLED THE PARTS REMOVED IMPROPERLY AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOAD TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CALLS TO TOYOTA WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO SEND ME A WRITTEN REPORT OF THEIR FINDINGS. IT NOW JULY 9TH. I WAS TOLD BY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOYOTA THAT A REPORT WAS MAILED JULY 3RD. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF A CALL COULD BE MADE TO TOYOTA TO LET ME KNOW IF THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE WAITING WAY TO LONG FOR AN ANSWER. *TR

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

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

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.

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, THE REAR LIP SPOILER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE BUT STATED THAT THE SPOILER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,700.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIGHT FOOT AND INJURIES TO THE FACE, KNEES, BACK, AND NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO BODY SHOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CAR HAD UNEXPECTED, SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL. DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT; AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PERSON WAS UNINJURED EXCEPT FOR CHEST BRUISES. THE CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN IN WHEN IT WAS RECALLED AND WAS " FIXED" IN RESPONSE TO 2 RECALL NOTICES BY THE DEALER ON MARCH 4, 2010. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS BASHED IN, HOOD IS BENT UPWARD, RADIATOR DAMAGED AND THE FRONT DOORS JAMMED. MEN HAD TO FORCE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN TO GET THE DRIVER FROM THE CAR. TOYOTA AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BUT NEITHER HAVE HAD TIME TO EXAMINE THE CAR. *KB