2008 Toyota Avalon Body & structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING AND MELTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ELK GROVE TOYOTA (9640 W STOCKTON BLVD, ELK GROVE, CA 95757, (916) 405-8000) WHERE THE GENERAL MANAGER OBSERVED THE DASHBOARD, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE CENTER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1909100691. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ID

11255092

Incident

Feb 26, 2019

Mileage

27,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS STICKY AND MELTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IMAGE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS REFLECTED ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE ONCOMING VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS DUE TO THE REFLECTION. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY PERIOD FOR REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE DASHBOARD WAS EXCEEDED AND NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED HEADQUARTERS ADMITTED THERE WAS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. UPDATED 12/04/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11132089

Incident

Sep 28, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

OUR 2008 TOYOTA AVALON WAS RAMMED FROM THE REAR WITH FULL FORCE FROM A HONDA CRV GOING 40 MPH. THE AVALON WAS SLOWING DOWN TO ALLOW A GROUNDHOG TO CROSS ON A STRAIGHT 2 LANE ROAD AT THE TIME, BUT THE DRIVER OF THE HONDA BEHIND SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A DISTRACTED DRIVER BECAUSE SHE DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING. THE DRIVER OF THE AVALON SUFFERED HEAD, NECK, BACK AND HIP INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES IS EXTENSIVE-PICTURES OF THE AVALON ATTACHED. THE HONDA AIRBAG DEPLOYED, SAVING THAT DRIVER FROM INJURY. THE AIRBAG OF THE TOYOTA DID NOT DEPLOY-CLEARLY MALFUNCTIONING AND COULD HAVE PREVENTED SOME OF THE INJURIES IF IT HAD DEPLOYED PROPERLY. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT BUT IT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO US YET. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE WORKING ON THE CLAIM. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE YET AND IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER IT IS 'TOTALED'.

NHTSA ID

11015718

Incident

Aug 14, 2017

Mileage

111,000 mi

WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTIFICATION -ZE6 REPAIRS RELATED TO CRACKED DASH BOARD. TOYOTA SENT LETTER IN DECEMBER,2014 INDICATING PARTS FOR THE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE AVAILABLE BY LATE SPRING. I'VE MADE TWO CALLS AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER LETTER BUT WAS PROVIDED NO INPUT REGARDING A POSSIBLE DATE. I HAVE A FEELING THEY HOPE THE PROBLEM WILL DISAPPEAR. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET SATISFACTION? UPDATED 10/06/15*LJ UPDATED 11/13/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10733273

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND SHINY. THE SHEEN ON THE DASH ALSO CREATES A GLARE ON SUNNY DAYS, WHICH CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD. TOYOTA IS AVOIDING A RECALL FOR THE USE OF INFERIOR PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680619

Incident

Jan 27, 2015

Mileage

49,000 mi

THERE WAS ONE CRACK THAT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. SINCE THEN, THERE IS ONE LONG DEEP CRACK ALONG THE TOP FRONT EDGE OF THE DASHBOARD THAT EXTENDS ALMOST THE ENTIRE LENGTH. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE 23 MORE CRACKS BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. BECAUSE THIS DASHBOARD HAS THE AIRBAG INSIDE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WE DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH THE CRACKED DASHBOARD. ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE AN AIRBAG GO OFF TOO SOON OR GO OFF TOO LATE COULD BE VERY SERIOUS. IT IS OUR OPINION, THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THE CAR AND ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR POLICY THAT GIVES DEALERSHIPS DIRECTION TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10672347

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE ROOF. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 02/24/15*LJ UPDATED 3/4/15*CN UPDATED 03/17/15*JB 10/7/2015*JS

NHTSA ID

10671461

Incident

Dec 8, 2014

Mileage

71,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH WHEN THE ROOF BEGAN LEAKING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 02/24/15*LJ UPDATED 6/10/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10671458

Incident

Nov 3, 2014

Mileage

71,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND BECOMING VERY STICKY. PARTS OF IT HAVE ALSO CRACKED. WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING THROUGH THE WINDOW, IT IMPEDES VISIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668570

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

CONSUMER WRITING IN REGARDS TO 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. STATING THAT THERE IS A CRACK IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COVER. *KL THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A TWO INCH CRACK IN THE UPPER CORNER IN THE SAME AREA, AND A CRACK UNDER IN THE VINYL UNDER THE PASSENGER HEAT AND AIR VENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10651241

Incident

Nov 3, 2014

IN THE SUNLIGHT THE DASHBOARD HAS EMITTED A STICKY SUBSTANCE, WHICH IS REFLECTED ONTO THE FRONT WINDOW, IMPAIRING THE DRIVERS VISION. TOYOTA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, PER THEIR REPRESENTATIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648444

Incident

Oct 17, 2014

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE VINYL COVER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. ONE CRACK WAS ELEVEN INCHES ACROSS THE FRONT COVER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,580. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ UPDATED 12/9/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ON 9/26/2014. UPDATED 5/4/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10639752

Incident

Oct 15, 2013

Mileage

27,580 mi

DECEMBER 2012: I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK AT RIGHT SIDE OF DASHBOARD. BY APRIL 2014 AT LEAST 10 MORE CRACKS APPEARED ON UPPER, LOWER, AND SIDE SURFACES OF DASHBOARD. SOME CRACKS EXTEND THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE DASHBOARD AND SOME AROUND THE AIR BAG. *TR I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THERE IS AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT; OCCUPANTS COULD BE INJURED BY DASHBOARD DEBRIS.

NHTSA ID

10632203

Incident

Dec 21, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD OF MY TOYOTA AVALON STARTED MELTING OVER A YEAR AGO. THE FRONT DASHBOARD PANEL IS ALL CRACKED UP. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND IS KEPT IN THE GARAGE. IT NEVER BEEN IN AN INCIDENT AND HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE ON IT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629547

Incident

Aug 30, 2014

Mileage

12,500 mi

IN NOVEMBER 2011 A CRACK DEVELOPED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED GULF STATES TOYOTA IN HOUSTON WHO REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD UNDER WARRANTY. I THEN CONTACTED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY ALSO REFUSED TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DASHBOARD. TWO YEARS LATER ANOTHER FOUR CRACKS HAVE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE AGAIN I APPROACHED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHO THEN CONTACTED GULF STATES TOYOTA, AND ONCE AGAIN THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CRACKED DASHBOARD UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CAR IS GARAGED AND WHEN IT IS PARKED OUTSIDE A SUN SHADE IS ALWAYS PLACED IN THE WINDSHIELD. I PAID FOR A PLATINUM TOYOTA EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING 72 MONTHS OR 100,000 MILES AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO COVER THIS PROBLEM UNDER THE WARRANTY. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS OF CRACKED DASHBOARDS ON 2008 TOYOTA AVALONS ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597433

Incident

Nov 15, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOP SURFACE OF THE DASHBOARD AND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AREA EXHIBITED SEVERAL CRACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID

10593583

Incident

Mar 6, 2013

Mileage

36,000 mi

THE REAR WINDOW SUNSHADE COMES UP UNCONTROLLABLY AND WILL NOT GO DOWN. I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE SUNSCREEN CAME UP BLOCKING MY VIEW OF CARS BEHIND ME AND WAS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING. THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND THERE IS NO WAY TO GET THE SHADE DOWN. A DEALER SUGGESTED THAT IF I CAN CRAW IN THE BACK SEAT AND MANUALLY MANEUVER IT INTO THE DOWN POSITION, I COULD REMOVE THE FUSE AND IT WOULD BECOME INACTIVE; THEREBY, KEEPING IT IN THE DOWN POSITION. I HAVE CHECKED VARIOUS WEBSITES AND CUSTOMERS ARE REMOVING THE FUSES TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514322

Incident

Apr 26, 2013

Mileage

89,000 mi

IT JUST RAINED THE PASS 4-5 DAYS. MY WIFE WENT TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING SHE THOUGHT DROPPED UNDERNEATH MY SEATS. SHE SAID MY CARPET/FLOORBOARDS WERE WET. I WENT TO THE VEHICLE AND PRESSED DOWN ON THE CARPET. WATER INSTANTLY RAISED UP AND FORMED A PUDDLE AROUND MY INTIRE HAND. THIS IS HAPPENING DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND BACK SEATS. NO MOISTER ON HEADLINER DOORS PILLARS DASH SEATS ETC ETC ETC. ONLY CARPET. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10487510

Incident

Dec 4, 2012

Mileage

70,250 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, THE REAR LIP SPOILER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE BUT STATED THAT THE SPOILER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,700.

NHTSA ID

10460958

Incident

May 31, 2012

Mileage

62,700 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10430625

Incident

Oct 14, 2011

Mileage

61,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON IN OCTOBER OF 2009. A MONTH OR SO AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, I REALIZED THAT THE DRIVER?S SIDE DOOR WAS NOT ALIGNING WITH THE DOOR FRAME. WHEN THE DOOR OPENS, IT DROPS ABOUT A HALF AN INCH. WHEN THE DOOR CLOSES, IT HITS AGAINST THE FRAME OF THE CAR AND THE FRAME PUSHES IT UP INTO THE POSITION WHERE THE DOOR WILL LATCH CLOSED. IT APPEARED TO ME THAT THE HINGES OF THE DOOR WERE NO LONGER WELDED TO THE CAR. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE DOOR ON THE CAR IS THE SCREWS. I RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED ONLY TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP INFORM ME THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT AT THEIR LOCATION, AND THAT THE HINGES HAD COME UNWELDED FROM THE CAR AND HAD BEEN BENT BY ?AN OUTSIDE FORCE? AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TIGHTENED THE SCREWS ON THE HINGES AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IN THIS CAR NOR HAVE I DONE ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE ENOUGH ?OUTSIDE FORCE? TO BREAK THE WELDING AND BEND THE HINGES, WHICH MEANS THAT TOYOTA SOLD ME A CAR THAT WAS DAMAGED, AND COULD BE UNSAFE. EITHER THE HINGES ARE DEFECTED OR THE CAR WAS INVOLVED AN ACCIDENT EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN. EITHER THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T INSPECT IT TO SEE IF THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CAR, OR THEY KNEW THAT THE HINGES HAD BEEN BENT, THEY TIGHTENED THE SCREWS AND SOLD THE CAR TO ME ANYWAY. THEN AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR, THE SCREWS BEGAN TO LOOSEN SINCE THE HINGES WERE ALREADY BENT AND DETACHED FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. WHETHER THIS ISSUE WAS OVERLOOKED, OR PURPOSELY KEPT FROM ME, EITHER WAY, THEY SOLD ME A CAR THAT HAD DAMAGES THAT COULD PRESENT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF THE SCREWS, THE ONLY THING CURRENTLY HOLDING THE DOOR TO THE CAR, WERE TO GIVE WAY UNDER THE PRESSURE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE DOOR, THE WHOLE DOOR COULD THEORETICALLY COME OFF AT ANY TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341038

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

33,000 mi

2008 AVALON HAS UNEXPLAINED NOISES IN THE TRUNK, BACK SEAT AREA. SOUNDS LIKE A LOOSE PART WHICH MAKE A "BUMPING " SOUND WHEN THE CAR MOVES OVER A DIP OR UNEVEN SURFACE. THE AUTO REAR SUNSHADE ALSO RATTLES CONTINUOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320051

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

Mileage

30,000 mi