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.
2008 Toyota Avalon lights complaints
Page 6 of 8: complaints 131 to 160 of 209, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Low beam head lights both right & left go off intermittingly, I had originally had problems with nigh beams they were fixed under warranty.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Driving down the road and the headlights go out.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
Update to the federal safety agency 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)
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!!
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
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