2008 Toyota Avalon Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 209about this part
- Share
- 60%of 349 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 209 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2008 Toyota Avalon, 60% of the 349 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10493360, filed 2013-01, 70,513 miles“I had my car inspected in december 2018 and was told that my high beams were out. I had the bulbs replaced and just recently had my lights inspected. Changing the bulbs did not correct the problem and my high beams are still not working!”
NHTSA complaint #11241041, filed 2019-08, 160,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10760127, filed 2015-08, 48,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11516621, filed 2023-04, 110,950 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10655243, filed 2014-11, 72,775 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10150009Sep 11, 2018Dealer Package: September 11, 2018 A watermark has been added to the Dealer Letter to indicate that ZTR expired on September 10, 2018. The High Beam and Daytime Running Light…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 | 4% |
| 2018 | 1 | 4% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 2 | 1% |
| 2011 | 2 | 2% |
| 2010 | 4 | 9% |
| 2009 | 25 | 27% |
| 2008 | 209 | 60% |
| 2007 | 6 | 2% |
| 2006 | 12 | 3% |
| 2005 | 3 | 1% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
| 2003 | 1 | 0% |
| 2000 | 4 | 2% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% |
| 1998 | 3 | 2% |
| 1997 | 3 | 2% |
| 1996 | 7 | 6% |
| 1995 | 3 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2008 Toyota Avalon
45 complaintsElectrical system
44 complaintsBody and structure
22 complaintsSteering
17 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
13 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsEquipment
7 complaintsEngine cooling
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Toyota Avalon
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology