What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota Avalon?

Exterior lighting leads the complaint file with 209 complaints. Speed control and the electrical system follow.

Does the 2008 Toyota Avalon have recalls?

Yes. The by-year fact shows recalls for this model year. See the Recalls section on this page for the full list.

What is the gas mileage of the 2008 Toyota Avalon?

See the fuel economy section on this page, which is built from EPA data.

Is the 2008 Toyota Avalon reliable?

The file holds 349 owner complaints for this year. Read the problem groups above and compare years in the by-year section on this page.

2008 Toyota Avalon Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 349 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Toyota Avalon^[1]. Exterior lighting is the biggest group, with 209 complaints^[2].

349owner complaints^[1]

6recalls^[3]

22MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups in NHTSA's file for this year, biggest first.

Exterior Lighting. 209 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe headlights that shut off while driving and sometimes come back after the switch is cycled. Others describe lights that sit at uneven heights after a repair did not hold.
Speed Control. 45 complaints^[5]. Owners describe the car surging or picking up speed when they expected it to slow down. Some say the brakes were needed to bring it under control. This group also links to 13 crashes in the reports^[5].
Electrical System. 44 complaints^[6]. Owners describe a push-button start that let the car stop without being shifted into park, an alarm that would not quiet down, and odd smells that they tied to wiring.
Structure. 22 complaints^[7]. Owners describe rattles from the trunk area, a door that does not line up with its frame, damp carpets, and a rear sunshade that moves on its own.
Steering. 17 complaints^[8].
Power Train. 13 complaints^[9].
Unknown Or Other. 12 complaints^[10].
Visibility/Wiper. 10 complaints^[11].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2008 Avalon is necessarily included.

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler (16V396), June 2016. About 7,749 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[12]
Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler (14V743), November 2014. About 3,233 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury, burns. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Equipment › Other › Labels (10V035), February 2010. About 271,417 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Equipment › Other › Labels (10V036), February 2010. About 153,418 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal (10V017), January 2010. About 2,230,661 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal (09V388), October 2009. About 4,445,056 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, death.^[17]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Avalon, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	19 / 28 / 22	$3,050

Safety ratings

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: 4 DR FWD^[18].

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
AVALON 4DR SEDAN XL/XLS^[19]	197 in	73 in	59 in	111 in	3,560 lb

How 2008 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Avalon model year. The 2008 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	80	0
1996	109	0
1997	125	1
1998	178	1
1999	92	1
2000	173	2
2001	134	2
2002	116	1
2003	293	2
2004	205	3
2005	228	7
2006	360	7
2007	243	6
2008	349	6
2009	91	7
2010	46	7
2011	106	1
2012	30	4
2013	160	4
2014	114	4
2015	53	2
2016	25	4
2017	14	2
2018	25	2
2019	72	5
2020	10	4
2021	27	2
2022	8	0

NHTSA's counts for the Avalon show 349 complaints and 6 recalls for 2008^[3]. Among the 28 model years listed, 26 have fewer complaints than 2008 and 1 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2022 (8) and the most are for 2006 (360)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2008 Avalon?

The complaint file for this Avalon is led by exterior lighting, which stands well apart from the other groups^[2]. Speed control has far fewer complaints, but it carries the most crash reports of any group^[5]. These are unverified owner reports, so they show what people raised and not how often a part fails. Check the Recalls section on this page and ask a shop to look at the lights and the cruise and throttle behavior before you buy^[1].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota Avalon?: Exterior lighting leads the complaint file with 209 complaints^[2]. Speed control and the electrical system follow^[5]^[6].
Does the 2008 Toyota Avalon have recalls?: Yes. The by-year fact shows recalls for this model year^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the full list.
What is the gas mileage of the 2008 Toyota Avalon?: See the fuel economy section on this page, which is built from EPA data.
Is the 2008 Toyota Avalon reliable?: The file holds 349 owner complaints for this year^[1]. Read the problem groups above and compare years in the by-year section on this page.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Toyota Avalon

2000 173 complaints, 2 recalls
2004 205 complaints, 3 recalls
2005 228 complaints, 7 recalls
2006 360 complaints, 7 recalls
2007 243 complaints, 6 recalls
2008 this page
2011 106 complaints, 1 recall
2013 160 complaints, 4 recalls

Compare all model years of the Toyota Avalon

Other Toyota models from 2008

2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser 124 complaints, 9 recalls
2008 Toyota Highlander 602 complaints, 12 recalls
2008 Toyota Land Cruiser 8 complaints, 5 recalls
2008 Toyota Prius 1,497 complaints, 4 recalls
2008 Toyota Yaris 247 complaints, 10 recalls

All Toyota models

Similar cars from 2008: large cars

2008 BMW 7 Series 94 complaints, 3 recalls
2008 Ford Crown Victoria 50 complaints, 3 recalls
2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 19 complaints, 0 recalls
2008 Mercury Sable 61 complaints, 1 recall

All large cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 349 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Toyota Avalon (23 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 15 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
209 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Toyota Avalon model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Avalon, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
45 complaints name the speed control component group (13 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 22,750). NHTSA vehicle records
44 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 55,600). NHTSA vehicle records
22 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 64,850). NHTSA vehicle records
17 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 25,000). NHTSA vehicle records
13 complaints name the power train component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 20,750). NHTSA vehicle records
12 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 47,500). NHTSA vehicle records
10 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 110,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 16V396, filed June 2, 2016: Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater / Cooler. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V743, filed November 19, 2014: Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater / Cooler. NHTSA recall database
Recall 10V035, filed February 3, 2010: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
Recall 10V036, filed February 3, 2010: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
Recall 10V017, filed January 21, 2010: Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal. NHTSA recall database
Recall 09V388, filed October 5, 2009: Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal. NHTSA recall database
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, AVALON 4DR SEDAN XL/XLS: length 197 in, width 73 in, height 59 in, wheelbase 111 in, curb weight 3,560 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2008 Toyota Avalon: problems, recalls and fuel economy