Dealer Package: September 11, 2018 A watermark has been added to the Dealer Letter to indicate that ZTR expired on September 10, 2018. The High Beam and Daytime Running Light (DRL) in the Avalon operate on the same bulb. Toyota has received reports from customers that in some cases a High Beam/DRL Bulb would become inoperative earlier than expected in certain 2008 to 2010 Model Year Avalon Vehicles. It is important to note that the High Beam/DRL Bulbs are separate from the Head Lights (Low Beams). Therefore, this condition does not impact the ability to continue to use the regular (Low Beam) head lights in the event a High Beam/DRL Bulb was to become inoperative. Although the High Beam/DRL B
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Toyota Avalon lighting problems
moderate 4 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
4
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
When does it fail?
Of the 4 lighting complaints filed for the 2010 Toyota Avalon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TOYOTA: BULLETIN PROVIDING INFORMATION ON SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THE INOPERATIVE OF DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS(DRL) AND HIGH BEAM BULB.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TOYOTA: ON SOME 2008-2010 AVALON VEHICLES, THE HIGH BEAM LIGHT BULBS MAY NOT WORK OR SHATTER.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TOYOTA: HIGH BEAM/DRL BULB INOPERATIVE. ON SOME VEHICLES, THE HIGH BEAM/DRL BULB MAY BECOME INOPERTIVE OR SHATTER. A NEWLY DESIGNED HIGH BEAM/DRL HOUSING ASSEMBLY (INCLUDING THE APPLICABLE BULB) IS AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I have a 2008 Toyota avalon touring model. Since late june of 2010 through october of 2010 the car has been driven on 3 consecutive long trips. The first trip was approximately 3600 miles, the second trip was approximately 1200 miles and the last trip was 1800 miles. All of these trips the head lamp system was set on auto. The bright lights were used on occasion when on dark roads or during…
Had lighting trouble with your 2010 Toyota Avalon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2010 Toyota Avalon?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 4 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 4 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 55,979 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Toyota/Avalon.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.