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2008 Toyota Avalon acceleration problems

45 complaints (13% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 23,500. 13 crashes reported.

owner complaints
45
of this car's complaints
13%
typical mileage
23,500
crashes
13
recalls
2

Which part fails

  • Accelerator pedal
    8

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Toyota Avalon acceleration problems in other years

199520002005201020152021

Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Toyota Avalon acceleration

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Sudden acceleration 21

Related recalls

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedalReported January 21, 2010 · 2,230,661 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 avalon, model year 2007-2010 camry, model year 2009-2010 corolla, corolla matrix, rav4, model year 2010 highlander, model year 2008-2010 sequoia, and model year 2007-2010 tundra vehicles. Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever may become smooth during vehicle operation. In this condition, if condensation occurs on the surface, as may occur from heater operation (without A/C) when the pedal assembly is cold, the friction when the accelerator pedal is operated may increase, which may result in the accelerator pedal becoming harder to depress, slower to return, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position.
Risk
The accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly. Gm will notify owners for the pontiac vibe please see 10v‑018. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on february 5, 2010 and will be completed on march 15, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331.

Recall number 10V017000 · Recall details

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedalReported October 5, 2009 · 4,445,056 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Risk
A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Remedy
Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine toyota or lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous mats from owners who do not want the new ones. Additionally, software modifications will be installed on camry, avalon and lexus es 350, is 350 and is 250 models that will ensure that the brake overrides the accelerator in the event both brake and accelerator pedals are applied. Toyota will begin mailing letters to owners on december 31, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331, lexus at 1‑800‑255‑3987.

Recall number 09V388000 · Recall details

What 2008 Toyota Avalon owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 24, 2016 · Acceleration · 116,124 miles · OR

The federal safety agency, I would like report an incident of 'sudden unintended acceleration' when driving my 2008 toyota avalon. I was driving with my wife, [xxx], on sunday, 10/23/16 traveling west on walker road in beaverton, oregon at 11:05am (address: [xxx]) . I was stopped behind (2) cars waiting at a traffic light with my right foot on the brake. The car was in drive. Suddenly the car engine quickly revved up. My car surged forward as I depressed my right foot on the brake further. Thankfully my car only surged forward a foot or two and then the engine returned to idle. No contact was made to the car in front of me. This incident was very scary for me and my wife and I am very concerned that this 'sudden unintended acceleration' is a safety hazard and will cause harm to me, my family and others. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 10, 2016 · Acceleration · 250,000 miles · MN

Takata recall march 9th 2016 9:30pm I was accelerating onto the highway from the onramp to about 70mph when the car kept accelerating after pressing the brake so I continued to press the brake but there was no release of acceleration so put the gear in neutral and I found room to pull to the right side and turn the engine off and put the vehicle in park. I gave it 15 seconds and re-started but it was still accelerating, I repeated this again with the same results. I left ithe engine off for a full minute and re-started to find it had reset. I then checked the floor mat and found it intacked and pinned to the floor pins.

Filed Jul 15, 2015 · Acceleration · 100,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota avalon. While driving at 40 MPH, the contact released the accelerator pedal, but the rpms increased and the vehicle independently accelerated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was serviced under the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v017000 (vehicle speed control), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Jun 18, 2015 · Acceleration, Brakes · 20 miles · IL

The car accelerated on it's own, brakes were locked !!! I made a left turn after a stop sign and the car just took off on it's own - accelerating up to 50 miles per hour. I slammed on the brakes, but they were locked. I quickly put the car in neutral, it slowed the car down about 10-12 miles. To avoid cars in front of me - I then put the car in park. After an ugly noise and jerking of the car...it did stop! There were no injuries or property damage. It was a horrific experience. The car was in full throttle! Had it towed to a mechanic.....it was still at full throttle when he looked at it a couple days later. He advised me to call toyota. Toyota said it was out of warranty. I just want my car fixed,

Filed Jan 29, 2015 · Acceleration · 60,900 miles · LA

I was coasting, barely moving when I heard the engine rev up and accelerate. My foot was not on the gas. Before I could apply brakes my car hit the house. I was about 2 feet from the house so there was not much time to react. This all took place in 1-2 seconds. I had turned into a driveway to park.

Filed Jul 9, 2014 · Acceleration · 54,000 miles · PA

My laser cruise control became unreliable toward the end of 2013. I had used it on a daily basis for over 5 years and am very familiar with the way it should perform. When tracking a vehicle directly ahead of me on a straight and level road, the laser control should maintain a safe distance and a speed that is essentially identical to the "lead" vehicle. This has not been the case for the past 7 months. My car would often continue to maintain a speed that was faster than the "lead" car,as it was safely slowing down, and come so close that I would have to jam on my breaks. I brought it into the dealer, who insisted that the laser cruise control had been damaged in an accident (therefore my extended warranty would not apply) and I would have to make a claim on my car insurance. My insurance company as well as my repair shop could see no damage that would have caused the malfunction. Eventually my insurance company agreed to pay for the "repair". After the dealer repaired the car with a new laser control sensor the problem has continued, although not as often. I've had it back to the dealer several times and they insist it meets all specifications and is performing to manufacturer's specs, and that there is nothing more they can do for me. Corporate toyota basically washes their hands of the incident by saying everything related to this matter is at the dealers discretion. Although I have not had an accident yet, this malfunctioning "safety" feature puts me at jeopardy. I fear for my life every time I use it. It would seem to me that others have had similar problems, and may have had significant accidents as a result. I hope you will look into this matter.

Filed May 2, 2014 · Acceleration · 59,100 miles · VA

I was coasting to a stop at a red light with my foot on the brake and as I applied the brake harder to come to a complete stop the engine began to uncontrollably race and the car began to accelerate. I applied the brake as hard as I could, flipped the transmission into park and turned off the engine, missing the car in front by inches. I waited approximately 10-15 seconds, restarted the car with my foot on the brake and the transmission in park and the engine began to uncontrollably race again. I turned off the engine and waited approximately 2 minutes re-started the car and it started somewhat roughly but the unintended acceleration stopped and I was able to move the car off the road. When I parked the car I checked that the floor mat was firmly anchored and nowhere near the accelerator pedal and it was. Prior to the incident I was braking and the car was slowing appropriately so it doesn't seem that the accelerator pedal itself became stuck. I was able to drive the car safely to the dealer and notified toyota.

Filed Aug 15, 2013 · Acceleration, Airbags · 17,920 miles · CA · crash

2008 toyota avalon. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle sudden acceleration. *smd the consumer stated as his wife turned into a perpendicular parking space, all of a sudden, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own, only stopping when it hit a parking barricade. His wife did attempt to apply the brake, but to no avail. The consumer stated the air bag did not deploy.

Filed Apr 12, 2012 · Acceleration · 33,000 miles · TN · crash · 1 injury

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 the federal safety agency campaign id number: 10v017000 (vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal). The vehicle was not further repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 33,000.

Filed Feb 3, 2012 · Acceleration, Engine · 30,000 miles · NC · crash · 1 injury

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.

Questions about the 2008 Toyota Avalon acceleration

Does the 2008 Toyota Avalon have acceleration problems?

Owners have filed 45 complaints about the acceleration of the 2008 Toyota Avalon, 13% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2008 Toyota Avalon acceleration problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 23,500 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2008 Toyota Avalon acceleration?

Yes, 2 recalls: 10V017000, 09V388000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Toyota Avalon have the most acceleration problems?

The Toyota Avalon model years with the most acceleration complaints are 2006 (103 complaints), 2007 (85 complaints) and 2005 (72 complaints).

Other 2008 Toyota Avalon problems

Lights 209Electrical 44Body 22Steering 17Transmission 13Visibility 11Airbags 8Brakes 7Engine 5Fuel system 3Seats 3Locks 2Driver assistance 1Tires 1Wheels 1

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