Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Toyota Avalon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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'.
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.
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. Consumer stated headquarters admitted there was manufacturer defect. Updated 12/04/18
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, [phone]) 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.
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 updated 3/4/15 updated 03/17/15 10/7/2015
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 updated 6/10/2015
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. …
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.
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 updated 12/9/14 the consumer stated that the manufacturer was notified on 9/26/2014. Updated 5/4/2015
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.
Body complaints in other Avalon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2008 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the body & structure of the 2008 Toyota Avalon, 6% of the model year's 349 complaints. The component named most often is body (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Toyota Avalon body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2008 Toyota Avalon, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Toyota Avalon body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.