There are 5 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2008 Toyota Avalonin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WATER PUMP WHILE DRIVING FAILED AT 62,902 MILES ON 06/23/14, WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BY TOYOTA. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CUT OUT ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER ON LIE I-495 IN NYC, HAD TO BE TOWED TO TOYOTA, TOLD AIR WASN'T BLED PROPERLY AFTER WATER PUMP REPAIR. AGAIN FAILED IN MAY, 2016 AT 86,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING AND REPAIRED AT PRIVATE SHOP. AGAIN FAILED 07/08/16 AT 87,175 WHILE DRIVING AND REPAIRED BY TOYOTA.
CASE # 1509281592 COMPLAINT OF ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO LEAKING "SOFT PLUG" TYPE PART ON VALLEY OF ENGINE. INSTALLED AT THE TOYOTA ASSEMBLY PLANT. THIS PART LEAKED AND ALLOWED ANTI-FREEZE FLUID TO ENTER THE VALLEY AND MIX WITH THE OIL. OVER TIME THIS CAUSED A HARD COATING ON ALL PARTS. THE VALVE GUIDE SEALS WERE RUINED AND THE PVC AND PICK UP TUBE WERE ALMOST COMPLETELY BLOCKED. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BURN OIL AND SMOKE. TOYOTA'S FIX WAS TO BUY A NEW ENGINE FOR $6,826.97. THEY DID NOT WANT TO FIX MY ENGINE. JUST SELL PARTS AND LABOR. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY FIXED MY ENGINE FOR LESS THEN HALF OF THAT. TOYOTA IS AT FAULT FOR NOT INSTALLING PARTS IN THE ENGINE CORRECTLY.
DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CAR HAD UNEXPECTED, SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL. DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT; AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PERSON WAS UNINJURED EXCEPT FOR CHEST BRUISES. THE CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN IN WHEN IT WAS RECALLED AND WAS " FIXED" IN RESPONSE TO 2 RECALL NOTICES BY THE DEALER ON MARCH 4, 2010. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS BASHED IN, HOOD IS BENT UPWARD, RADIATOR DAMAGED AND THE FRONT DOORS JAMMED. MEN HAD TO FORCE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN TO GET THE DRIVER FROM THE CAR. TOYOTA AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BUT NEITHER HAVE HAD TIME TO EXAMINE THE CAR. *KB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE AND PULLED OVER WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND DISTRICT MANAGER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND HOLES IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL 10V017000 (ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD ALSO PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA ITEM NUMBER (10032630) ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, OIL SUPPLY HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIR AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,836. UPDATED 12/30/10 *BF UPADTED 01/07/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND FOUND THAT THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR SENSOR FAILED, THE SEAT BELT SENSOR WAS REPLACED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR & FUEL RATIO SENSOR HAD FAILED AND REPLACED IT PER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,580 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,900.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026