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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Toyota AVALON problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

349 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

52,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 305 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 199 of 349 complaints (57.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior4011.5%
Steering behavior195.4%
Electrical and battery issues144.0%
Transmission and shifting72.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Exterior Lighting
199
Electrical System
42
Vehicle Speed Control
37
Steering
16
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
14
Structure
14
Unknown Or Other
12
Visibility/Wiper
10
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Exterior Lighting199
Electrical System42
Vehicle Speed Control37
Steering16
Exterior Lighting:Headlights14
Structure14
Unknown Or Other12
Visibility/Wiper10

Exterior Lighting: 199; Electrical System: 42; Vehicle Speed Control: 37; Steering: 16; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 14; Structure: 14; Unknown Or Other: 12; Visibility/Wiper: 10

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
51
25,000 to 49,999
86
50,000 to 74,999
95
75,000 to 99,999
43
100,000 to 149,999
25
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00051
25,000 to 49,99986
50,000 to 74,99995
75,000 to 99,99943
100,000 to 149,99925
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 51; 25,000 to 49,999: 86; 50,000 to 74,999: 95; 75,000 to 99,999: 43; 100,000 to 149,999: 25; 150,000 and above: 5

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (95). 44 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2007
1
2008
7
2009
12
2010
71
2011
50
2012
48
2013
29
2014
49
2015
28
2016
10
2017
7
2018
14
2019
12
2020
5
2021
1
2022
1
2023
2
2024
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20071
20087
200912
201071
201150
201248
201329
201449
201528
201610
20177
201814
201912
20205
20211
20221
20232
20242

2007: 1; 2008: 7; 2009: 12; 2010: 71; 2011: 50; 2012: 48; 2013: 29; 2014: 49; 2015: 28; 2016: 10; 2017: 7; 2018: 14; 2019: 12; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 2

Pattern summary

Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10219777 · 2008-03-01 (March 1, 2008)

MY WIFE WAS TURNING OFF SUNRISE HIGHWAY (WESTBOUND) ONTO THE WELLWOOD AVE RAMP. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV VERY HIGH. SHE TRY TO STOP, USING THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. SHE THEN PUT IT INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. WHILE STOPPED ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HER IN THE REAR. THE MAIN PROBLEM HERE IS WHY DID THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE START TO REV UP. WHEN I GOT TO THE SCENE THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICE THERE. BOTH HE AND I CHECKED THE CAR, I GOT IN, HE OUTSIDE, AND WHEN WE STARTED THE VEHICLE THE TACH SHOW ~950RPM. I LO…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219777 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10221575 · 2008-03-18 (March 18, 2008)

PURCHASED A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED. DISCOVERED THIS CAR'S ENGINE CAN BE SHUT OFF WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK ALLOWING THE CAR TO ROLL FREELY. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD . THIS PROBLEM IS COMPOUNDED NOW WITH THE NEW PUSH BUTTON ON/OFF SWITCH USED TO CONTROL THE MOTOR. I FOUND THIS TO BE THE CASE WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE START/STOP ENGINE SWITCH WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK STOPPING THE ENGINE. THE CAR STARTED TO FREE ROLL IN THE GARAGE. THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY THE POOR STEERING AND BRAKING ACTION RESPONSE …

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221575 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10307917 · 2010-02-09 (February 9, 2010)

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE TELESCOPIC STEERING COLUMN WILL RANDOMLY DEPRESS. THE LATCH THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE WILL RANDOMLY LOOSEN UP AND THE STEERING COLUMN WILL GO ALL THE WAY IN. I ASKED MY DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM. JUST THOUGHT I MIGHT MENTION IT WITH ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS TOYOTA HAS BEEN HAVING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10307917 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10306630 · 2010-02-05 (February 5, 2010)

2008 TOYOTA AVALON - COMPUTER DEFECT - CRUISE CONTROL IS ERRATIC SOMETIMES WORKING OK OTHER TIMES ENGAGED & NOT WORKING - SUDDENLY SPEEDS UP, ERROR CODE E2. AUTO DOES NOT SLOW DOWN PROPERLY. REPORTED TO DEALER W/NO PROBLEM FOUND IN 2009. 12/14/09 CAR DEAD, DASH LIGHTS INDICATE CHECK ENGINE, CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE, BRAKE, BATTERY FAILURE , TOWED TO DEALER. PARTS 10 AMP ETCS FUSE/I7.5 AMP -DOME FUSE/7.5 AMP AND AM2 FUSE. (OP CODE-190011 COMBO A T1/71 T2/99. 1 #00544-24F60-575 TRUESTART BATTERY) LABOR $92. THANK YOU! *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10306630 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10310714 · 2010-02-16 (February 16, 2010)

MUSTY WET SMELL INSIDE CAR WHEN HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER FAN IS TURNED ON. OFF AND ON SMELL OF OVERHEATED ELECTRICAL WIRES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10310714 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10317854 · 2010-03-08 (March 8, 2010)

CANNOT EXPRESS MY COMPLETE AND UTTER DISGUST WITH MY RECENT EXPERIENCE AND OVERALL EXPERIENCE SINCE BUYING MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. I EXPECTED "QUALITY FROM THE PRODUCT" AS THE TOYOTA WEBSITE STATES..HOWEVER, SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE THE 300 DOLLAR A PIECE DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT BLEW OUT ALONG WITH BOTH HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. HERE IS MY CURRENT ISSUE. MY AREA RECENTLY WENT THROUGH A TERRIBLE WINTER BLIZZARD. DURING THIS SNOW STORM, DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE TERRIBLE. WE WERE ALL TRAPPED IN THE HOUSE FOR DAYS ON END. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I FOUN…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10317854 at NHTSA ↗