Electric System
Alternator, starter, hybrid battery and related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, distributor or rotor failure, spark plugs and wires failure.
What Owners Say
"The cruise control "on/off" button fell off and I had to replace the cruise control switch"
Anonymous, IA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Cruise control laser radar is not working. Not fixing it due to expense"
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Dead center brake light in rear window. Very expensive to replace in labor."
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Center brake light over trunk - replacement outrageously expensive and difficult"
Anonymous, IN (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"The high brake light sometimes works and sometimes does not. To replace the light you have to remove the rear seats"
Anonymous, GA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Rear window brake light went out and was quite expensive to replace"
Anonymous, FL (2008 Toyota Avalon XL 3.5-L V6)"Third brake light went out. Problem is with the led board on the light. Poor solder joint(s). 400 repair"
Judy B., FL (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"The 3rd brake light (light bar in the center of the rear window) had to be replaced at a cost of around $500"
Cindy J., VA (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"The passenger side fog light was broken, probably by a stone thrown up on the road. Replacement cost, $74.95 for the bulb, $238.88 for labor. This was the whole fog light assembly. Seems quite expensive"
Anonymous, CO (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Apparently history of bad soldering joints in the 3rd brake light. Light totally stops working and Toyota wants over $500 in parts and labor to replace with a new one, despite an obviously default supplier product. National Toyota was notified and they covered the repair."
William G., TN (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"High-mount brake lights failed. Because of design, it was very expensive ($300) to replace the unit."
Don B., TX (2008 Toyota Avalon XL 3.5-L V6)"The third brake light inside the rear window is very expensive to replace and very very difficult to access."
Anonymous, MD (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"Similar issue with daytime running lights. Short life and fairly expensive"
Bailey G., CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Daytime running lights-- Part of assembly discussed previously"
C B., CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"middle brake light in rear windshield had broken twice; this is a very expensive repair"
Carol C., NC (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Electrical system in rear - multiple problems"
Anonymous, NJ (2008 Toyota Avalon XL 3.5-L V6)"One daytime running light went out. Required full light assembly replacement"
Anonymous, FL (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Center brake light failed. Expensive to replace; waiting to talk with Toyota. Other- Steering column lock randomly releases and steering column collapses"
George S., CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"Third brake light in rear window had to be replaced"
Anonymous, MD (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"Left headlight assembly stops working and then, after turning switch off and back on, it comes back on for a short time, then drops out again a few minutes later. Then, the whole process must be completed again. Very expensive to repair."
Charles M., VA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Very expensive to replace Xenon lamps that run at 2000 volts."
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"High beam headlights failed-cost to replace was $2800. This was fairly common problem for three model years but not widely reported in reviews. Cost to fix was shocking."
Anonymous, AL (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"Replaced failed bulb"
Anonymous, KY (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"High beam/driving lights blew out. Problem could only be fixed by replacing the entire headlight unit. Every repair shop I visited, to include the local Toyota dealer, wanted almost $1200 per unit to fix it."
Keith L., NM (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"passenger headlight can only be replaced with certain repair shops. Very expensive. Light sometimes stops working and then starts back"
Angela K., GA (2008 Toyota Avalon 3.5-L V6)"The right headlight goes out at random times. Switching headlights off then on again restores the right headlight. Have replaced the expensive right headlight twice but it still fails. No one seems willing to diagnose the problem including Toyota"
Anonymous, MA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Bulb replaced"
Anonymous, NC (2008 Toyota Avalon XL 3.5-L V6)"Headlights gradually lost power and eventually went out. To replace the headlights you have to remove the front wheel well liners"
Anonymous, GA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"bright headlight burned out over 3 years ago"
Anonymous, MS (2008 Toyota Avalon XL 3.5-L V6)"Wow! What an expensive bulb to replace!"
Anonymous, MN (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Both daytime running lights failed at the same time. At this time both high beam lights failed. Then both low beam lights were on and off intermittently but never at the same time. Cost over $800.00 to replace them. No help from Toyota even though this is a problem that Toyota is and has been aware of for a long time. How this does not constitute a SAFETY RECALL is beyond my comprehension. I was never notified by them about the 70,000 mile extension and I had my failures at only 800 miles over t"
James M., CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"The leveling system in the high intensity headlights went out. so lights would often go out, even on the highway"
Anonymous, TX (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Both high-beam headlights burned out at the same time due to a short in the wiring"
Anonymous, VA (2008 Toyota Avalon XL 3.5-L V6)"Headlights burn out too fast and are very expensive and difficult to replace. Not well engineered. There was a recall but it occurred before I bought the vehicle. Neither the dealer nor Toyota will take responsibility for this poorly designed part"
Anonymous, NC (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Repaired but costly"
Anonymous, IL (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"One stop working"
Anonymous, NY (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"When a headlight fails it is a nightmare to replace bulb. the low beam cost my wife $350 at the dealer, $75 for the bulb, the rest was labor to remove the front grill to get to bulb. We are thinking of selling the 2008 Avalon when a high beam fails, as the whole light assembly must be replaced at a cost of $1,300!!! This work must be done by a mechanic, as the time and intricacy involved for the high beam assembly removal and replacement. Toyota designed this system, $1,300 for a burned out"
John W., AZ (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Headlight on passengers side quit working and when they tried to fix it they shorted out the high beams. It cost me about $420.00 for the repair. I thought that was a bit much for a burnned out headlight"
James N., FL (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"The hi-beam bulbs have poor life expectancy. The Toyota dealer charged $80 plus labor to replace the bulb and did not use OEM bulb. I bought the OEM bulb on Amazon for $14 and installed it myself in 10 minutes"
Joel J., PA (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"out"
Anonymous, MO (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Passenger side headlight burned out, replacement cost was $280.97. The bulb itself was $74.95 not cheap but the labor to replace it was $206.02. I find to believe the engineers can't find a better design for replacing the bulb"
Anonymous, CO (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"one headlight or both will go off at times. Have to turn lights off and then on again for the light(s) to come back on. It always comes back on"
Lawrence N., NC (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"DRL and high beam headlights went out at 600 miles over the extended warranty for this problem and Toyota said TOO BAD and would not pay. Then the low beams started going on and off intermittently. Total out of pocket cost over $800 to repair what should have been a SAFETY RECALL."
James M., CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Have had to replace headlights and Daytime Running lights several times. Have never had this problem before."
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"The car is old enough (9 years when the headlights needed replacing) to warrant new headlights. However, due to the 20,000V Xenon bulbs, they must be replaced at a shop for $600. This is extreme."
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Lights are not aimed high enough for safe night driving. Toyota says they can't adjust them. Too bad - this is such a wonderful car to drive otherwise."
John B., NC (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"During night driving, the right headlight will go off at random times. Quickly turning the headlights off then on again will cause the right headlight to illuminate again. As suggested by the local Toyota service department, I've replaced the expensive headlight 3 times and the problem still occurs. Inquiries to Toyota USA have not been answered."
W F., MA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Replaced HID bulb and computer control. Parts were $500, labor $300. Sort of ridiculous for one headlight, but (1) only real nonmaintenance problem in 10 years of ownership; (2) these headlights are much better than the older versions; (3) I understand similar replacement with BMW and others are equally expensive or worse."
J F., GA (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"One of the headlights randomly turns off (and stays off) when driving at night. The headlight turns back on if the headlight switch is manually turned off, then back on."
John S., IL (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"both high beam bulbs blew out at the same time"
Roger B., AZ (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"High beams and daytime running lights went out"
Anonymous, TX (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Had to replace passenger side headlight bulb"
Anonymous, PA (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"Headlights seem to have a fairly short life and are extremely expensive"
Bailey G., CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Drivers side headlight began blinking and going off, replacement bulb $175 plus $100 to install, dealer recommends removing bumper and other items to access. Passenger side went out shortly after, bought bulb online for $54 and was able to replace m"
Michael R., FL (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"Water leaked around housing, bulbs shattered"
Edward S., IN (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Upper beams went out. Toyota issued fix only if under 5 yrs or 7500mi. Car qualified for neither, cost to fix $2300. Safety issue they don't care about. Other owners lost all headlight functionality. Should be a NHSTA issue (they know about it)!"
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Headlight went out. Recall and replace one. Second one went out but was not covered by recall. They cost $175. Toyota should have done both at same time. They knew they were defective;"
F S., OR (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"Headlamp/daytime running light assembly burned out. Both left and right sides had burned out and were replaced previously"
C B., CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"Known problem is in a recall. Left headlight goes off periodically. Can get it to come on again just by turning lights off and back on. Not taken in for recall repair yet"
Anonymous, OK (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"had to replace both high beams bulbs at same time, both went out' Cost was way too high and will not buy a toyota because of that problem,"
Daniel T., FL (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"One headlight bulb burned out and the dealer repair cost was crazy expensive. In order to change the lamp the front bumper had to be removed! Toyota dropped the ball when it came to designing easy access to the front headlights"
Jonathan A., CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Brights went out. This was a recall issue and they were replaced at no charge and quickly"
Anonymous, WI (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"High beam failure on both bulbs simultaneously"
Anonymous, NC (2008 Toyota Avalon 3.5-L V6)"Both headlight assemblies had to be replaced in 7/14. Even though I was still covered under an extended warranty this item was excluded. Headlights would suddenly shut off without warning. Cost to repair was $ 842"
T S., NJ (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"One lo-beam bulb burned out and was replaced by me (owner). I am very happy the bulb was not a high-energy HID bulb because that would require service from the car dealer"
Kenneth E., CA (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"High beam out replacement $130"
V K., TX (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Problem with lights going out on high beam"
Anonymous, AL (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"High beam headlights quit working, Dealership fixed the problem without cost to me. Made me a satisfied customer!"
Anonymous, MO (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"A burned out one is very expensive to replace. One burned out three times. The garage had been putting in the wrong bulb"
Paul T., TN (2008 Toyota Avalon 3.5-L V6)"The headlights and all front lights and incorporated in one package. When one light goes out the whole unit must be replaced at a cost of about $450 plus about $250 for labor. This seems like a totally ridiculous design to me"
Anonymous, VA (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"high beam light malfunction"
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"product recall. entire front headlight assembly replaced because of light burnout"
Anonymous, AR (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"headlight burned into plastic body of the light assembly; was a factory defect for which Toyota had given extended warranty but the problem occurred in my car when the period of the extended warranty was over"
Anonymous, VA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"High beams stopped working. Repair was over $2000 but Toyota covered it"
Anonymous, IL (2008 Toyota Avalon XL 3.5-L V6)"complete failure of high beam head lamps 400 miles after the extended warranty to 72000 miles and Toyota would do nothing about it"
James M., CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Low beam burned out with installed replacement cost about $200"
John W., MT (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"Burned out right low beam"
Anonymous, NY (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"power supply to the day time running lights"
Anonymous, PA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"High beam lights originally installed burned out, replacements do not have the same intensity and also have burned out"
Carol C., NC (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"High beams on headlight assemblies blown. Told by Toyota dealer that there was an issue with this but Toyota coverage of the fix had expired by the time that this occurred and we would be responsible for the $2,400 repair. Spoke with Toyota and the"
Kevin C., NJ (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Low beam burned out, cost $350 to repair. Bulb alone was $175!"
John W., AZ (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"High beam control failed. Unable to select high beam"
Bruce W., VA (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"The cost of replacing one headlight was $250 for the bulb and $250 for the labour, Wow"
Laurence T., ON (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"Both low and high beam bulbs had to be replaced. This vehicle has automatic timed headlights turn off"
Anonymous, MD (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"High beams failed even though we seldom drive at night; then recently both low beams replaced at a cost of $ 446 also brake lite failed and the assembly cost $ 221 OUTRAGEOUS for a certified ' reliable' auto since 1955 had replaced one seal bea"
Anonymous, TX (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"High beams do not work"
Anonymous, NC (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"My headlights shorted out several times"
Gerald R., NV (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"frequent bulb failure - twice"
Anonymous, MB (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Surprisingly poor design for Toyota. Cost ~$900 to replace dead headlight. Front bumper had to be lowered to do so"
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Have had trouble with the headlights most of the time I've owned the car. Sometimes one just doesn't work, but then the next time it does work. Have had both replace but still have a problem at times with one of them"
Debbie L., OK (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"Computer control of left headlight failed"
Anonymous, WI (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Headlight wiring required replacement twice since owned. Quite expensive if out of warrantee"
Anonymous, MO (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"Headlights burned out. These are 2000V Xenon headlights that can only be replaced by the dealer. Big cost and pain."
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"One of the headlight bulbs goes bad frequently"
Anonymous, WA (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"High beams were out and dealer wanted to replace both headlight units for $3000; however a local mechanic took it apart and replace bulbs for $300."
Anonymous, NE (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"While driving one night with the high beams on, both high beams just stopped working. They and the daytime driving lights (which are the same bulb) no longer work. Checked the fuses, and the fuses are just fine. Had my mechanic look at it and found out the problem is with the headlight units from this model year. It is a known issue, but one which DOT did not dictate a recall for. The only way to fix the problem is to replace the entire headlight assembly, which costs $1,000 per unit. Despite this being a known/documented defect, Toyota does not consider this to be a safety issue and will not replace the units at their expense (I tried to get them to do this---had no luck at all)."
Anonymous, NM (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"Left headlight operates intermittently. Can be corrected by turning the headlights on and off. Understand this is a problem Toyota was aware of early on, but did not offer a fix at their expense. Now it would cost hundreds of dollars to correct. This car is driven locally mostly in daylight and the problem is not one to stop use of the car."
Anonymous, (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"The headlights are not burned out but sometimes just go off. They come back on in various times"
Anonymous, (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Passenger seat heated to very hot, as if control was set to full hot. made the bottom of thighs turn red."
John W., AZ (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"When outside temperature drops below freezing the horn ceases to work. Now living in FL and Problem went away"
Judy B., FL (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)"The tire pressure warning light goes on and stays on even though the tires (including the spare) are filled to 80% of their rated maximum pressure. (Any higher and the handling and ride are not comfortable)"
Anonymous, MA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Tire pressure monitor system failed in the ON position, indicating low pressure when pressure was acceptable."
Anonymous, VA (2008 Toyota Avalon XL 3.5-L V6)"tire pressure warning light stays on even when all tires are properly inflated and system is reset"
James M., CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"Tire pressure monitor was no longer working and needed to be replaced."
Anonymous, MO (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"I get a Battery warning light; technicians are unable to track why."
Benito A., AL (2008 Toyota Avalon XL 3.5-L V6)"sometmes intermittent anti collision light"
Anonymous, CT (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"Check engine light"
Anonymous, PA (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"Check Engine light"
Anonymous, PA (2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 3.5-L V6)"Engine coil failure caused Check Engine, VSC, & Traction control lights"
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"rear mounted stop lite in back window shelf went out, found at annual state vehicle check. should be easy change out. but not, as only way to change lite was dealer required to pull back recling seats. 2 hour shop time."
Anonymous, TX (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)"First reported in 2012, wipers worked only intermittently; multiple trips to Toyota dealership for repair. In 2016 had same complaint but contacted regional office(?) who followed up w/dealer resulting in a refund of $270. Toyota Service searched a little harder and found a ground wire disconnected--difficult to locate and time-consuming"
Linda L., OH (2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 3.5-L V6)
"When travelling on an empty road the auto-braking system will engage and we reset. Sometimes we are forced to drive w/o the cruise on. Also, passing on the freeway the w/ the cruise engaged the brakes will come on. In a word, inconsistent"
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Avalon Touring 3.5-L V6)