2011 Toyota Avalon: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Nov 10, 2020 · Electrical · VA

Headlights flickering constantly and at times one or both will go completely off. Will have to manually turn off and then turn on again. Both will shine steady for about 2 minutes and then began to flicker again. This happens when parked or when in motion. This only applies to when the lights are on low beam. (this has been happening for a few months).

Filed Feb 22, 2018 · Lights · 120,000 miles · FL

Headlights blinked for a year plus. Headlights failed at night while driving. Lucky we were not on a long trip but was driving in snow. Also lucky there was no accident. Returned to toyota dealer and was told that my VIN did not have the problem as other viv's of the same year did. They replaced the ballasts (noted as defective on the repair invioce) and stated the defective ballasts caused the both headlights to burn. This is a serious safety situation. The cost to replace the ballasts and headlights was $967.70. Wow. Toyota will not warranty the parts or labor. Their claim is that my VIN didn't have the defective ballasts which after reading this that analysis is wrong. I expected to be notified that there was a safety recall. I expect more quality from an avalon. I have owned several toyotas (2 at present) and these will be the last. I will not do business with a company that weasels from there responsibilities.

Filed Mar 30, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 15,610 miles · FL · crash

February 25, 2014, I arrived for my 2 p.m. Doctor's appt and drove very slowly into a parking space. I was constantly braking because the toyota avalon sport 2011 has lots of low trim in the front of the car and I did not want to scratch the car. I kept my foot on the brake, stopped the car, then opened the door to check the white line to see if I was in my parking space. Then, the motor began accelerating very rapidly. Before I could turn the engine off, the car lunged forward and I felt like I was airborne. Within seconds, the car hit the very tall heavy metal and glass doors of the doctor's office and stopped. The car was covered with glass. The metal doors of the office were damaged. Please note, the airbags did not deploy. The entire front of the car: grill, headlights, fenders and hood were damaged. Thankfully no one was injured.

Filed Mar 24, 2011 · Lights · 15 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota avalon. The contact stated that the newly designed high intensity discharged headlights only allowed partially illumination of the road and the contact was concerned the failure could cause a crash. The manufacturer was contacted and filed a report of the failure but provided no further assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was advised that they were unable to make repairs because the headlights were operating as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 15 and the current mileage was 750.

Filed Mar 19, 2011 · Visibility · 800 miles · KY

I bought a new 2011 avalon may 2010. Within 2 weeks, film from gas vapors formed on interior windows. The film impedes clear vision which is a safety hazard. The film is so thick, one can write their name. Looking outward it appears you are inside an iridescence bubble. Reflection from sun and headlights worsens the problem to the point that it's difficult to judge the distance between your car and other vehicles. I've been to arbitration through national center for dispute resolution case # 2210170; I requested msds sheets for the cause of the gas vapors. Instead I was provided a copy of a letter from toyota corp dated 1989 stating "there are no known carcinogenic materials." tasc# 102320282. .I find it hard to believe that in 21 years toyota hasn't changed the parts in cars. I requested either (1) permanent resolution to fix the film on the windows problem; (2) a full refund, or (3) new car w/o the gas vapor problem. I was offered $500 for car washes! A bumper sticker on the car now states "I am a lemon, never buy a toyota."