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Used 2008 Toyota Avalon Consumer Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
121 reviews

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1.63 out of 5 stars

Don't buy an Avalon

Sheri, 11/16/2009
2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 9 people found this review helpful

Don't buy an Avalon unless you want to be unsafe due to these problems: Transmission does not shift properly, causing severe hesitation and lunging, every single minute you are driving. The car will not drive in even a skiff of snow! Cannot disengage the traction control. My driveway is about a 25 degree incline, and it will not go up it. The car is basically "skating" on roads that are not dry. The exterior trim mouldings on roof have come loose and subsequently lost on the freeway, had to replace at my cost, not covered by any warranty. The sound system speakers are very poor design. An old VW has a better one. What a piece of junk! Stay Away! Shame on Toyota.

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3.5 out of 5 stars

Check the tranny fluid

BillBren, 12/15/2009
2008 Toyota Avalon XL 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Regarding my 2008 Avalon - On 4 occasions I have put the shift lever into reverse and it doesn't engage right away. On one occasion it shuttered when I backed the car up. The car doesn't seem engage in reverse and then slips. I had a very experienced mechanic check the tranny fluid. You have to drop a small pan in the 08 to check the fluid and it had small metal shavings in the pan. I reported this to Toyota USA.

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2 out of 5 stars

Poorly built

John Cantlay, 09/12/2016
updated 09/23/2022
2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 15 people found this review helpful

Top of engine was completely rebuilt after 6 months of driving. Rear window shade broke 3 times. Had to replace all wheel bearings @ 50,000 miles because they were howling. Every device on car is working now and car has 54,000 miles on odometer.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
3 out of 5 stars
Reliability
1 out of 5 stars
Value
1 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

BULLETPROOF

Tobyjug, 01/07/2021
2008 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Smoith. Quiet. Soft. Ride. Very reluable

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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3.38 out of 5 stars

Not what I paid for/lemon

carlosjay, 05/27/2008
2008 Toyota Avalon Limited 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Since day one I am having transmission problems. The dealer keeps on saying there is nothing wrong with the vehicle, but there is. It slows down too quickly when your foot is removed from the gas pedal. Sooner or later I will be rear-ended. I am in arbitration now. I was told by a Toyota the tech to drive aggressively. That is against the law. As of now I am due for an arbitration hearing.

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