Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
T-SB-0167-0906/02/200910032523Toyota: vehicle may experience multiple warning lights illuminated, vehicle not shifting from park to driver, and/or other accessories becoming inoperative after the vehicle has cold soaked in sub-freezing (below 14% f [-10% c]) ambient air04/07/2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
T-SB-0167-0906/02/200910032523Toyota: vehicle may experience multiple warning lights illuminated, vehicle not shifting from park to driver, and/or other accessories becoming inoperative after the vehicle has cold soaked in sub-freezing (below 14% f [-10% c]) ambient air04/07/2010

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RQ10003TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION02/16/2010UNINTENDED ACCELERATION
 On september 26, 2007, toyota filed a defect information report and notified nhtsa that some of its model year (my) 2007 and 2008 lexus e350 and toyota camry vehicles could experience unintended and uncontrolled acceleration due to interference between the optional all weather floor mat offered on those vehicles and the vehicles' accelerator pedal.this decision was influenced by an office of defects investigation (odi) engineering analysis.this recall was designated 07e082.two years later, on october 5, 2009, toyota filed a defect information report and notified nhtsa that a number of its my 2004-2009 lexus and toyota vehicles may also experience unintended and uncontrolled acceleration due to interference between the accelerator pedal and the driver's floor mat.this recall was designated 09v388.several months later, on january 27, 2010, toyota filed an amended, or supplemental, defect information report and expanded the population of vehicles to include additional my 2008-2010 toyota and lexus vehicles.since this expansiontook place in a different calendar year, this recall was designated 10v023.separately on january 21, 2010, toyota filed a defect information report and notified nhtsa that certain toyota vehicles and certain pontiac vibe vehicles contained a safety defect in the accelerator pedal assembly that may cause the accelerator pedal to become harder to depress, slower to return, or in the worse case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position.nhtsa designated this recall 10v017.in total, the four recalls cover over 7.6 million toyota and lexus vehicles as well as the pontiac vibe product made by new united motor manufacturing, inc., a venture of toyota and general motors corporation.nhtsa requires additional information from toyota to more fully understand and evaluate, among other things, whether the scope of the recalls identified above (makes, models and model years) is sufficiently broad.the agency is seeking to determine whether toyota viewed the underlying defects too narrowly as interference between the accelerator pedal and the driver

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12/17/20121032001
 While driving on the freeway one or both headlights flicker then turn off. this happens all the time and the only way to get the lights to come back on is to turn them off and then back on again. it is getting progressively worse and the dealer said i have to bring the car in for evaluation when the lights go out. unfortunately i have to do this during business hours when it is dark to know that my lights are out. and when both lights go out it isn't a good idea to leave them off so i can drive to the dealer. both bulbs have burst in the past and have been replaced twice by the dealer. this time the new bulbs don't appear to be bursting but just turning off by themselves. the burst bulb problem started occurring when i had less than 20k miles but now the dealer said both light housings needs replaced at my cost of over $5000. *tr
12/17/2012103200
 While driving on the freeway one or both headlights flciker then turn off. this happens all the time and the only way to get the lights to come back on is to turn them off and tehn back on again. it is getting progressivly worse and the dealer said i have to bring the car in for evaluation when the lights go out. unfortunatly i have to do this during business hours when it is dark to know that my lights are out. and when both lights go out it isn't a good idea to leave them off so i can drive to the dealer. both bulbs have burst in the past and have been replaced twice by the dealer. this time the new bulbs don't appear to be bursting but just turning off by themselves. the burst bulb problem started occuring when i had less than 20k miles but now the dealer said both light housings needs replaced at my cost of over $5000.
02/10/2009180001
 Headlights turn off unexpectedly and also flicker. started off with one light turning off and now both lights will turn off. afraid to drive in the dark. switching lights off and back on will start them back but they may go right back out. is more frequent now. *tr
02/10/200918000
 Headlights turn off unexpectedly and also flicker. started off with one light turning off and now both lights will turn off. afraid to drive in the dark. switching lights off and back on will start them back but they may go right back out. is more frequent now.
10/21/2012891101
 Lost both high beam lighting while driving in a snow storm at night, on a dark mountain road in oregon. i have 2002 chevy silveraldo pickup with over 150,000 miles and no headlight problems ever. the last known headlight failure i had was on my 1957 chevy around 1970. you would think headlight problems in todays cars would not exist, ever! i checked all four fuses per toyota's maintanance manual, and they are good. i see there are several complaints on toyota's. seems like they would fix our problems before there is a fatality. thanks *tr
10/21/201289110
 Lost both high beam lighting while driving in a snow storm at night, on a dark mountain road in oregon. i have 2002 chevy silveraldo pickup with over 150,000 miles and no headlight problems ever. the last known headlight failure i had was on my 1957 chevy around 1970. you would think headlight problems in todays cars would not exist, ever! i checked all four fuses per toyota's maintanance manual, and they are good. i see there are several complaints on toyota's. seems like they would fix our problems before there is a fatality. thanks
07/24/2011549301
 On june 24, 2011 we took a trip to arkansas. as we were going in the mountains, we found that we had no high beams on our headlights. on returning to fresno we took it into the toyota dealer and he informed us that the headlight had exploded and would cost $2500 to replace. after a discussion with the dealer and toyota, the dealer fixed them. then in september 2012 the driving lights went out. we took the car in to the toyota dealer and he informed us that they have exploded again. they want $2500 to replace them again. i do not understand why they want to charge the customer when it is a manufacturing problem. can you imagine driving on back roads at night (which we do) and have the lights go out? i think this is a safety issue and makes it a very expensive car to operate yearly. i understand that this is a ongoing problem with the 2008-2010 models with hd headlights. *tr
07/24/201154930
 On june 24, 2011 we took a trip to arkansas. as we were going in the mountains, we found that we had no high beams on our headlights. on returning to fresno we took it into the toyota dealer and he informed us that the headlight had exploted and would cost $2500 to replace. after a discussion with the dealer and toyota, the dealer fixed them. then in september 2012 the driving lights went out. we took the car in to the toyota dealer and he informed us that they have exploded again. they want $2500 to replace them again. i do not understand why they want to charge the customer when it is a manfacturing problem. can you imagine driving on back roads at night (which we do) and have the lights go out? i think this is a safety issue and makes it a very expensive car to operate yearly. i understand that this is a ongoing problem with the 2008-2010 models with hd headlights.
06/14/201293600
 My 2008 toyota avalon has a light problem where one or the other or both headlights go out randomly. we have asked the dealership where we have the car serviced to look into it and on every occassion have been told they can't get the car to recreate the issue. we have actually been pulled over not once but twice for having a headlight out but when we turn them off and back on they work again. it was bad when it was just one or the other but recently both will go out. we feel like this is a huge safety issue..
12/05/201152000
 The low beam headlights (hid bulbs) go out intermittently while driving. we have replaced the hid bulbs and the problem has continued. the vehicle has been taken to a local toyota dealer for evaluation. they have been unable to say definitively what the issue is. they want to change the bulbs (total cost of $800) in order to make a determination of whether the problem is with the bulbs or not. since the problem has continued the vehicle can't be safely driven at night for long distances for fear the lights will go out. this is a major safety issue that toyota does not seem to want to acknowledge nor resolve.
11/18/200937707
 Headlights flicker and then go out completely. this is a repeated issue. headlights on both sides will go out while driving. sometimes the headlights will come back on; other times will not. this is applicable to the low beams as well as the high beams. have notified toyota and they will not address the issue properly. toyota will not admit there is a defect in the equipment in the 2008 avalon. many other avalons in this model year are experiencing similar issues. this is a significant safety issue.
12/05/201152000
 The low beam headlights (hid bulbs) go out intermittently while driving. we have replaced the hid bulbs and the problem has continued. the vehicle has been taken to a local toyota dealer for evaluation. they have been unable to say definitively what the issue is. they want to change the bulbs (total cost of $800) in order to make a determination of whether the problem is with the bulbs or not. since the problem has continued the vehicle can't be safely driven at night for long distances for fear the lights will go out. this is a major safety issue that toyota does not seem to want to acknowledge nor resolve.
11/18/200937707
 Headlights flicker and then go out completely. this is a repeated issue. headlights on both sides will go out while driving. sometimes the headlights will come back on; other times will not. this is applicable to the low beams as well as the high beams. have notified toyota and they will not address the issue properly. toyota will not admit there is a defect in the equipment in the 2008 avalon. many other avalons in this model year are experiencing similar issues. this is a significant safety issue.
12/05/201152000
 The low beam headlights (hid bulbs) go out intermittently while driving. we have replaced the hid bulbs and the problem has continued. the vehicle has been taken to a local toyota dealer for evaluation. they have been unable to say definitively what the issue is. they want to change the bulbs (total cost of $800) in order to make a determination of whether the problem is with the bulbs or not. since the problem has continued the vehicle can't be safely driven at night for long distances for fear the lights will go out. this is a major safety issue that toyota does not seem to want to acknowledge nor resolve.
11/18/200937707
 Headlights flicker and then go out completely. this is a repeated issue. headlights on both sides will go out while driving. sometimes the headlights will come back on; other times will not. this is applicable to the low beams as well as the high beams. have notified toyota and they will not address the issue properly. toyota will not admit there is a defect in the equipment in the 2008 avalon. many other avalons in this model year are experiencing similar issues. this is a significant safety issue.
09/11/201136578
 Sept. 11, 2011, while parked, at night, automatic headlights on, both high beam headlight lamps exploded. the very next day, i took my avalon to the dealer and was told that since the car was above 36,000 miles, that the repair would cost $2,700. i was told that both lamps and assemblies must be replaced. i was presented a toyoto service bulleting stating that both assemblies must be replaced. got no options from the dealership. nov. 9, 2011, i received a warranty enhancement notice stating that my warranty was extended to 75,00 miles and the it covered the head lamps and assemblies. it took until jan. 10, 2012, to settle this issue. the lamps and assemblies were replaced by the company and i received a full reimbursement.
03/31/201043542
 Two years ago both bright headlights failed. dealer replaced bullbs at my expense. on 3/12/2012 both bulbs on the drivers side failed. dealer said the vehicle had defective headlight assembly that toyota knew about that had to be replaced ($1265.30) at my expense because vehicle had over 50000 miles (car now has 85000 miles). i called toyota and they confirmed that this was true. my question to toyota was, if i was driving on a busy highway at night and both defective assemblies failed wouldn't my safety be in jeopardy and if so why wasn't this car recalled?
12/06/201137225
 Hid high beam headlight on driver's side failed. light was replaced in may, 2011. hid low beam headlight on passenger side failed on 12/13/11.
08/01/201165000
 While driving with 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
11/13/2011
 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.
08/01/201165000
 While driving with 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
11/13/2011
 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.
08/01/201165000
 While driving with 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
11/13/2011
 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.
08/01/201165000
 While driving with 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
11/13/2011
 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.
08/01/201165000
 While driving with 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
11/13/2011
 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.
10/14/201161000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota avalon. the contact stated the engine failed and the vehicle would not start. the vehicle was towed to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test that located the failure in the throttle body wires, electrical system wires, and the fuel system wires that failed due to rodents who chewed the wires. the manufacturer would not cover the repairs under the warranty. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 61,000. rvk
10/14/201161000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota avalon. the contact stated the vehicle engine failed. the engine would not start. the vehicle was towed to the dealer who performed a diagnosed that located the failure at the throttle body wires, electrical system wires, and the fuel system wires failed due to rodents that chewed the wires. the manufacturer would not cover the vehicle failure under the warranty. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 61,000. li
07/25/201175000
 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.
11/06/201045000
 2008 toyota avalon defect - high and low beam head lamp assembly in my 2008 toyota avalon, i lost my high beams and my left low beam headlights while driving at night. upon checking bulbs, both high beam 9011h1r1 bulbs blew out (shattered). i found the tsb notice on line (tsb-0044-10) and went to toyota seeking toyota to fix the defect. they told me the cost was $2,400 to replace both headlight assemblies. they did offer to split the cost 50/50 with me but i declined stating that it was a defect and was occurring in 2008, 2009 and 2010 toyota avalon. in other words, it was a design defect and they should fix it for free. toyota declined stating it was not a recall but a tsb. this is a safety issue because i lost not only my high beam headlights without warning, but also my left low beam head lamp. toyota should classify this as a 'recall' and not a tsb.
08/01/201055600
 My 2008 toyota avalon headlight(s) are blinking out but when i swith to the automatic made it comes back on.
11/06/2009132001
 I own a 2008 toyota avalon xl, purchased 01/24/08. recently, while turning, i hit a pothole. the alarm system started and the car accelerated. i could not get the alarm or the car to stop, even though i was braking. i finally put the car in park and turned off the key. the motor made a sound as though it was dying and finally stopped. i restarted the car and continued without further incident. *tr
12/01/20081
 Musty wet smell inside car when heater or air conditioner fan is turned on. off and on smell of overheated electrical wires. *tr
12/07/200946000
 I owned a 2008 avolan. it caught fire dec. 7 2009 and burned up. i thought i needed to report this to someone. i don't want this to happen to someone else, and the result could be death. i got hurt bad but i am better now.*cw
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
01/01/20084300210/10/2007
 I own a 2008 toyota avalon which has the push button start in lieu of a key. when stopping on any incline i discovered that unlike the traditional key used for the ignition that it is possibile to stop the car without putting it into park. the key system forces you to put the car into park in order to get the key out of the ignition.. the new one does not. i was distracted by my wife and a new puppy which was about to vomit and wanted out of the car. when i stopped i failed to put the car into park and while we opened the doors the car started to roll and could have caused serious injury.i realize this could happen with the old key system . however, this would have been lot less likely in the old key system and i believe the new key less system is therefore a design defect and a seriuos accident waiting to happen. thank you for listening.*cn
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - SOFTWARE
02/15/20085000109/14/2007
 My wife was turning off sunrise highway (westbound) onto the wellwood ave ramp.