"How reliable is the 2008 Toyota Avalon?"

"Based on 417 NHTSA complaints, the 2008 Toyota Avalon has a median complaint mileage of 52000 miles. The most common issue is EXTERIOR LIGHTING."

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

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Toyota Avalon is EXTERIOR LIGHTING, accounting for a significant portion of the 417 total complaints filed."

2008 Toyota Avalon: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 417 complaints

417

Total Complaints

52,000mi

Median Mileage

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

33,375 25th Percentile

52,000 Median Mileage

75,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

199

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

STEERING

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

STRUCTURE

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VISIBILITY/WIPER

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

AIR BAGS

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTIVE HEAD REST SAFETY SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NEVER A HEAD REST SAFETY SYSTEM INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACT..."

"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 ..."

"MY WIFE WAS TURNING OFF SUNRISE HIGHWAY (WESTBOUND) ONTO THE WELLWOOD AVE RAMP. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV VERY HIGH. SHE TRY TO STOP, USING THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. SHE THEN PUT IT INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. WHILE STOPPED ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HER IN ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28