2009 Toyota Avalon: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Jun 7, 2023 · Lights · WI

When driving my 2009 Toyota Avalon my headlights sporadically go out. Mostly on the drivers side. I have replaced the headlight on 3 separate occasions with in the last 3 Years and each time it cost me $185.00 for labor and the headlight. I also got stopped by the POLICE for it! Now in 2023 the right head light goes on and off sporadically since March 2023. Again, I got stopped by the POLICE! Now it's JUNE of 2023 and both lights went out while driving home at night. We took it to a different repair shop and was FINALLY told that this has been a problem for the 2009 Toyota Avalon for a while as it was a manufacturing DEFECT. A head light ballast I think. Why should I pay to fix this as well as tickets from the POLICE for a manufacturing ERROR!!! Now I have to pay for 2 Ballasts and 2 headlights????.

Filed Aug 24, 2021 · Electrical · WV

Driver and passenger side headlights suddenly stopped working. , discovered that both light bulbs had shattered inside the head lamp housing. Dealer & toyota USA confirms that toyota has changed the headlight housing design that accomodates a different high beam bulb that will not shatter. Toyota refuses to replace the housing even though vehicle only has 60,000 miles on it. This is a serious safety issue that needs to be elevated to recall status. Toyota used, a now expired, extended warranty to avoid this being a recall as it should be. How many affected vehicles have to lose day time running lights and high beams!

Filed Jun 17, 2019 · Lights · 82,000 miles · ND

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota avalon. The contact stated that the low and high beam headlights and day time running lamps failed to operate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000. *bf

Filed Jan 10, 2019 · Lights · NE

The bright lights do not work due to manufacturer defect. Toyota will not honor recall because they added extended warranty but not all owners notified. It is cost progibitive yo repair, so many many people like myself drive without benefit of high beams, a significant safety issue eapecially driving in rural america.

Filed Sep 13, 2018 · Electrical, Lights · 111,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota avalon. While driving 45 MPH in the dark, the headlights and the instrument panel lighting turned off. As a result, the contact was unable to view the road and instrument panel gauges. The contact had to flip the headlight switch on and off a few times in order for the lighting to be restored. The vehicle was taken to hesser toyota (located at 1811 humes rd, janesville, wi 53545, (608) 754-7754) where it was diagnosed that the headlight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened case number: 1809132009. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

Filed Nov 28, 2017 · Electrical · FL

I just purchased a 2009 avalon and noticed the high beams are not working. I called toyota and they limited the warranty on this known issue to only 76k miles. My vehicle has 97k miles. Toyota should have done a recall for this issue and not a warranty extension as it causes a potential hazard. I live in a rural area with no street lights. Not having high beams impacts my ability to see clearly on these roads. Reference the federal safety agency reference #10037591 tsb reference #sb-0044-10 rev 1

Filed Oct 27, 2017 · Lights · 65,600 miles · CA

High beam light bulb shattered, no high beam lights. Possible hazard for fire or accident at night.

Filed Aug 30, 2017 · Lights · 74,399 miles · TX

Driving on an unlighted texas highway at night my hi-beam lights went out. When I checked them later , both sides the bulb had shattered. I was driving the speed limit of 70 at that time counting on those hi-beams to spot wildlife around the road area. After I lost the use of the high beams I had to lower my speed and the area which I could safely see had greatly decreased.

Filed Apr 24, 2017 · Lights · 54,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota avalon. While driving, both the driver and passenger side headlights suddenly shut off. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that both light bulbs had shattered inside the head lamp housing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to a defective head lamp housing. The bulbs were replaced and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000. Updated 06/13/17*lj consumer stated further discussion with the dealer ( andrew toyota) confirms that toyota has changed the headlight housing design that accomodates a different high beam bulb that will not shatter. Dealer refuses to replace the housing. Updated 9/27/18

Filed Mar 18, 2017 · Lights · KY

Just found out that my bright beam doesn't function and never has since I purchased the vehicle new in 2009. There were service bulletins but toyota dealer never checked to determine if there was a problem, told me they don't check if customer doesn't complain. I didn't know I was responsible for reading service bulletins. I just paid nearly $200 for repairing the high beam lights. It has been dangerous during night driving but I assumed that was the way avalon were because their front end sits low. I think reimbursement is in order.

Filed May 4, 2016 · Lights · 80,000 miles · MD

The headlights go out when operating the car without warning. This happens when driving on residential, highways and interstate roads. Cannot drive the car at night for fear that they will go out when I am driving. Dealer wanted $2,900 to replace the headlights. This is a safety issue which the manufacturer should address and be responsible for. The limited tsb which they issued would not have helped me. Was not covered under extended warranty.

Filed Dec 26, 2015 · Electrical · 115,000 miles · OH

I have owned the car for 2-1/2 years. In that time I have replaced the high beam lights twice. Currently, the right hand high beam light is burned out and will need replaced a third time. I got a rude awakening when the right hand low beam light burned out yesterday. I discovered that the local auto zone wants $170 for the bulb ... Alone. I can't imagine what it will cost to have someone put it in the car. In my opinion, the cost of replacing this headlight is excessive and should have been considered by toyota when they used this system in their automobiles. The average joe. Is going to be reluctant to replace the bulb. This renders the car unusable in the non-daylight hours. Help.