RoadVitals

2009 Toyota Avalon Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
25
Latest Jun 7, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
27%
of 91 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Toyota Avalon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 7, 2023

When driving my 2009 Toyota Avalon my headlights sporadically go out. Mostly on the drivers side. I have replaced the headlight on 3 separate occasions with in the last 3 Years and each time it cost me $185.00 for labor and the headlight. I also got stopped by the POLICE for it! Now in 2023 the right head light goes on and off sporadically since March 2023. Again, I got stopped by the POLICE! Now it's JUNE of 2023 and both lights went out while driving home at night. We took it to a different repair shop and was FINALLY told that this has been a problem for the 2009 Toyota Avalon for a while as it was a manufacturing DEFECT. A head light ballast I think. Why should I pay to fix this as well as tickets from the POLICE for a manufacturing ERROR!!! Now I have to pay for 2 Ballasts and 2 headlights????.

NHTSA ID
11525878
Incident
Jun 1, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 17, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND DAY TIME RUNNING LAMPS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. *BF *TR

NHTSA ID
11220542
Incident
Nov 1, 2018
Mileage
82,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 10, 2019

THE BRIGHT LIGHTS DO NOT WORK DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. TOYOTA WILL NOT HONOR RECALL BECAUSE THEY ADDED EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT NOT ALL OWNERS NOTIFIED. IT IS COST PROGIBITIVE YO REPAIR, SO MANY MANY PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF DRIVE WITHOUT BENEFIT OF HIGH BEAMS, A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE EAPECIALLY DRIVING IN RURAL AMERICA.

NHTSA ID
11166217
Incident
Nov 3, 2018
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 13, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH IN THE DARK, THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING TURNED OFF. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO VIEW THE ROAD AND INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES. THE CONTACT HAD TO FLIP THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHTING TO BE RESTORED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HESSER TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 1811 HUMES RD, JANESVILLE, WI 53545, (608) 754-7754) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1809132009. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID
11129360
Incident
Jun 12, 2018
Mileage
111,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 27, 2017

HIGH BEAM LIGHT BULB SHATTERED, NO HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. POSSIBLE HAZARD FOR FIRE OR ACCIDENT AT NIGHT.

NHTSA ID
11040470
Incident
Oct 14, 2017
Mileage
65,600 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 30, 2017

DRIVING ON AN UNLIGHTED TEXAS HIGHWAY AT NIGHT MY HI-BEAM LIGHTS WENT OUT. WHEN I CHECKED THEM LATER , BOTH SIDES THE BULB HAD SHATTERED. I WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 AT THAT TIME COUNTING ON THOSE HI-BEAMS TO SPOT WILDLIFE AROUND THE ROAD AREA. AFTER I LOST THE USE OF THE HIGH BEAMS I HAD TO LOWER MY SPEED AND THE AREA WHICH I COULD SAFELY SEE HAD GREATLY DECREASED.

NHTSA ID
11020628
Incident
Aug 23, 2017
Mileage
74,399 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 24, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT BOTH LIGHT BULBS HAD SHATTERED INSIDE THE HEAD LAMP HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD LAMP HOUSING. THE BULBS WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 06/13/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE DEALER ( ANDREW TOYOTA) CONFIRMS THAT TOYOTA HAS CHANGED THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING DESIGN THAT ACCOMODATES A DIFFERENT HIGH BEAM BULB THAT WILL NOT SHATTER. DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE THE HOUSING. UPDATED 9/27/18*JB

NHTSA ID
10980225
Incident
Apr 23, 2017
Mileage
54,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 18, 2017

JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY BRIGHT BEAM DOESN'T FUNCTION AND NEVER HAS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2009. THERE WERE SERVICE BULLETINS BUT TOYOTA DEALER NEVER CHECKED TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM, TOLD ME THEY DON'T CHECK IF CUSTOMER DOESN'T COMPLAIN. I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR READING SERVICE BULLETINS. I JUST PAID NEARLY $200 FOR REPAIRING THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. IT HAS BEEN DANGEROUS DURING NIGHT DRIVING BUT I ASSUMED THAT WAS THE WAY AVALON WERE BECAUSE THEIR FRONT END SITS LOW. I THINK REIMBURSEMENT IS IN ORDER.

NHTSA ID
10966723
Incident
Mar 8, 2017
Exterior lighting
Filed May 4, 2016

THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHEN OPERATING THE CAR WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL, HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATE ROADS. CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT FOR FEAR THAT THEY WILL GO OUT WHEN I AM DRIVING. DEALER WANTED $2,900 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ADDRESS AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. THE LIMITED TSB WHICH THEY ISSUED WOULD NOT HAVE HELPED ME. WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID
10862953
Incident
Apr 1, 2013
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 16, 2015

WHILE DRIVING DURING DARK HOURS , THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF OR JUST DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GO OFF AT SOME TIME .I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON BY SWITCH ATTACH TO STERLING . THEY WORK BACK ON FOR SOME TIME AND THEN GO OFF AGAIN.IT DOES HAPPEND EVERY DAY TO ME ON CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY. IT'S SCARY AND UNSAFE . ITS HIGH RISK SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING AT DARK TIME HOURS. PLEASE MAKE TOYOTA CORP. FIX THIS ISSUE . THEY KNOW ABOUT THAT PROBLEM, DEFFECT FOR SO LONG.

NHTSA ID
10783048
Incident
Oct 5, 2015
Mileage
51,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 9, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA ID
10781023
Incident
Aug 5, 2015
Mileage
165,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 22, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE CAUSE UNKNOWN. THE HIGH INTENSITY BULBS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ID
10767428
Incident
Aug 1, 2013
Mileage
88,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 25, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,920.

NHTSA ID
10759140
Incident
Mar 15, 2013
Mileage
49,920 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE AND CAUSED THE LOW BEAMS TO MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

NHTSA ID
10705405
Incident
Mar 9, 2015
Mileage
31,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 9, 2015

THE HIGH BEAMS ON OUR 2009 TOYOTA AVALON SUDDENLY CEASED TO FUNCTION LAST WEEKEND. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE HOUSINGS REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT THEREOF BUT THAT THIS REPLACEMENT IS ONLY COVERED FOR 5 YEARS OR 72,000 MILES UNDER THE "ENHANCED" WARRANTY. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW 5 1/2 YEARS AGO. THE COST FOR FIXING THIS DEFECT WAS QUOTED AT $2,626 AND NEITHER THE DEALER NOR TOYOTA CORP. WERE WILLING TO ABSORB ANY OF THIS COST TO MAKE IT EVEN REASONABLY AFFORDABLE. NON-WORKING HIGH BEAMS COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THIS MALFUNCTION IS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT RATHER IS A KNOWN DEFECT. IT SHOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER A LIMITED WARRANTY BUT SHOULD BE A REQUIRED RECALL SO THAT PEOPLE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE EXORBITANT REPAIR COST ARE NOT PUT IN JEOPARDY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10682265
Incident
Feb 1, 2014
Mileage
95,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 2, 2015

JANUARY 14TH 2015 WHILE DRIVING DURING THE NIGHT, ALL OF THE HEADLIGHTS EXCEPT FOR LOW BEAMS QUIT WORKING. THIS CAUSED A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHILE DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY ON UNLIT ROADS BECAUSE OF REQUIRING TO DRIVE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT. THESE HEADLIGHTS HAD BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE ONE OF THEM BURNED OUT ON DEC 7, 2011 WHEN THE CAR HAD 38,640 MILES ON IT. WE WERE TOLD THE ORIGINAL BULBS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE NEW BULBS WOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND WE EVENTUALLY WERE REIMBURSED. WHEN THESE BULBS BURNED OUT WE WERE TOLD BY TWO DEALERS (SEBRING, FL AND CLEVELAND, TN) THAT THE REAL PROBLEM WAS THE MODULES AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED REPLACED AT A COST OF WELL OVER $2,000. TOTAL TIME FOR REPLACEMENTS LASTED 3 YEARS 1 MONTH AND ~62,000 MILES. 3 SETS OF HEADLIGHTS REQUIRED IN SLIGHTLY OVER 5 1/2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. TOYOTA USA HAS REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680681
Incident
Jan 14, 2015
Mileage
100,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 12, 2015

NO HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS JUST LOW BEAM. HARD TO SEE. WE GOT THIS USED CAR 1 1/2 YRS AGO WITHOUT HIGHBEAMS. TOYOTA WANTS TO CHG ME 500$ TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR AND EXTRA 2000$. I FOUND A LETTER TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER THAT THESE HEADLAMPS MAY HAVE A SHORT LIFE AND THEY WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW ASSEMBLY AND NEW BULB. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOT ONLY AGGRAVATION. NO SATISFACTION ON HELPING ME TO REPLACE THIS EXPENSIVE BULB PROBLEM WHICH OCCURRED. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE RECTIFIED THIS BEFORE SELLING IT TO US. IT IS THEIR PROBLEM TO REPLACE THIS ASSEMBLY AND NEW BULBS NOT MINE. THEY SOLD US A MALFUNCTIONING HEADLAMP UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10671966
Incident
Jan 9, 2015
Mileage
31,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 6, 2015

TURNED ON ENGINE AND TURNED ON HIGH BEAMS. BULBS SHATTERED. TOOK TO THE BOBBY RAHAL DEALER. TOLD THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF FIVE YEARS HAD LAPSED. WAS UNDER THE 72000 MILEAGE LIMIT, HOWEVER.. HAD TO PAY $166 TO JUST REPLACE THE BULBS. TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HOUSING WOULD COST $900. THIS IS A FACTORY DESIGN DEFECT AND THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A REDESIGNED HOUSING. IF THE DESIGN WAS FAULTY FROM THE ONSET, WHY AREN'T ALL HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES BEING REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER? THE INTERNET CONTAINS HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTED FATALITIES SO I GUESS THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR IS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY....

NHTSA ID
10670380
Incident
Dec 22, 2014
Mileage
57,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 19, 2014

MY HIGH BEAM AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE BOTH NOT WORKING. THE TOYOTA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND STATED I NEED TO REPLACE THE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES ALONG WITH A NEW TYPE BULB. I SEE WHERE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY TOYOTA CARS AND TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER MY CAR DUE TO IT BEING OVER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD OF 5 YEARS BY JUST OVER A MONTH. I ALSO HAVE A TOYOTA PLATINUM EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD IT DOES NOT COVER MY PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY TOYOTA AS THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BUT RESTRICT THE TIME FOR REPAIRS FOR WHICH THEY EXTENDED TO 5 YEARS BUT NOT FOR US WHO ARE JUST OVER BY LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OR EVEN LONGER. I BELIEVE AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM THAT MY VEHICLE MAY HAVE MORE LIGHTING PROBLEMS WHICH ARE NOT PRESENT AT THIS TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR IT AT THEIR EXPENSE AS THIS IS NOT A CHEAP REPAIR OF MORE THAN $1000 PER LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10614689
Incident
Jul 14, 2014
Mileage
51,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jun 16, 2014

TODAY 16 JUNE 2014 I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT, NO HEADLIGHTS FUNCTIONING. I PURCHASED A 2009 AVALON NEW. HAD SEVERE HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS FROM THE BEGINNING. HEADLIGHTS WERE TOO DIM FOR DRIVE AT NIGHT SAFELY (COME TO FIND OUT I WAS DRIVING ON THE FOG LIGHTS ONLY, THE DIM HEADLIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN TURN OFF SO JUST THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ON), AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT ADJUST THEM STATING THAT IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW TO ADJUST THEM MORE THAN THE MANUFACTURER'S SETTINGS, AND THEN THE HEADLIGHT STARTED TURNING OFF COMPLETELY WHEN DRIVING (WHICH WAS MORE THAN TERRIFYING), BUT THE INDICATOR LIGHT INSIDE THE CAR SAID THEY WERE ON. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES, ALWAYS GOT THE SAME ANSWER: "YOUR CAR IS FINE," "THAT'S JUST THE WAY THEY OPERATE". I AM 71 YEARS OLD AND I GUESS THEY THINK I'M STUPID (NOT). FINALLY AFTER MANY TRIPS AND THE HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF COMPLETELY, THEY TELL ME THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE, BUT I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED. $2600.00 FOR 2 HEADLIGHTS. MY DEALER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE A LONG TIME AGO, BUT MY DEALER NEVER INFORMED ME AND PUT ME OFF AND WOULD TELL ME THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL THE OFFER TO FIX THEM HAD EXPIRED. I'M NOT GOING TO JUST LET THIS GO WITHOUT A FIGHT. TOYOTA KNEW THESE 2009 AVALONS HAD DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS AND DID NOT RECALL THEM. I WILL SPREAD THE WORD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CARS AND IF PEOPLE ARE SMART THEY WILL GO ELSEWHERE TO BUY THEIR CARS. I AM JOINING WITH CLASS ACTION SUIT TO MAKE TOYOTA FIX ALL THESE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10598659
Incident
Apr 1, 2011
Mileage
40,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 30, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LAMP BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,842.

NHTSA ID
10550127
Incident
Oct 3, 2013
Mileage
62,842 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 7, 2012

HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS SHATTERED BECAUSE OF FAULTY DESIGN WHICH UTILIZES THEM AS DRL, BUILD UP ON FILAMENT CAUSES HIGH HEAT TO SHATTER BULBS PREMATURELY. I CALLED AND SPOKE TO TOYOTA BUT THEY DECLINED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT SAYING THEY ONLY COVER FOR 5 YEARS OR 72,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE VERY DISINGENUOUS SINCE HOW ARE MILES RELATED TO THIS SAFETY CONCERN. I CAN UNDERSTAND A TIME CUT OFF BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE MILEAGE CUTOFF. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND IT IS THEIR DESIGN THAT CAUSES IT SO WHY AREN'T THEY STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT? *TR

NHTSA ID
10454412
Incident
Mar 8, 2012
Mileage
82,568 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 12, 2011

HIGH BEAM BULBS FAILED. THESE ARE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AS WELL. THESE MAY HAVE FAILED MUCH EARLIER AND NOT BEEN NOTICED.

NHTSA ID
10412708
Incident
Jun 8, 2011
Mileage
58,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 7, 2011
Fire reported

MARCH 2011 NOTICE HIGH BEAM LIGHT OUT ON MY 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WENT TO REPLACE IT & FOUND NO BULB JUST ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. AFTER REVIEW OF BULB AREA I NOTICED THE BULB HAD DISAPPEARED WITHIN ITS CONFINEMENT AREA. BULB MUST HAVE MELT AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10405439
Incident
Mar 5, 2011
Mileage
35,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 18, 2011

2009 TOYOTA AVALON XLS [XXX] IN SERVICE 10/31/2008; MILEAGE AT FAILURE UNKNOWN, BUT LESS THAN 42,000. BOTH HIGH BEAM BULBS EXPLODED ON THE VEHICLE. BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM. TOYOTA ISSUED A TSB 0044-10 ON THIS FAILURE 1/27/2010, YET THEY REFUSE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE ISSUE. THE BULBS FAILED DESPITE A CUMULATIVE USE OF LESS THAN 2 HOURS ON THE HIGH BEAMS IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (I LIVE IN A METROPOLITAN AREA). IF THE BULBS ARE REPLACED, THEY WILL FAIL AGAIN DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE HOUSING. IS THIS PURELY A SAFETY ISSUE, LIKELY NOT BECAUSE THE DRIVER STILL HAS LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. HOWEVER IT FURTHER ILLUSTRATES TOYOTA'S RELUCTANCE TO ADDRESS A KNOWN FAILURE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C . 552(B)(6) *LN

NHTSA ID
10383236
Incident
Oct 1, 2010
Mileage
42,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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