Toyota Venza problems
The Toyota Venza is a five-passenger mid-size crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by Toyota primarily for the North American market, beginning with its introduction in 2008 and now in its second generation — with a hiatus for model years 2018–2019.
The first-generation Venza was based on the XV40 series Camry platform and marketed between 2008 and 2017 — and shared the platform with the AL10 series Lexus RX. The second-generation model is a rebadged Japanese-market XU80 series Harrier and has been sold since September 2020.
The name "Venza" is a mix of "Venture" and "Monza."
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Toyota Venza model years
Common Toyota Venza problems
Based on complaints from Toyota Venza owners, common problems with the car include:
- Interior Accessories Issues:
- Complaints: Sunroof, moonroof, and broken interior components are major faults.
- Details: Owners reported issues with these accessories, impacting the overall interior quality and functionality of the vehicle.
- Steering Troubles:
- Complaints: Rattling during steering, drifting, and whining while turning.
- Details: Some customers experienced steering-related problems like unusual sounds and difficulties in steering control.
- Brake Faults:
- Complaints: Premature brake wear, the need to pump brakes to stop.
- Details: Early brake deterioration in older models and the necessity to pump brakes for effective stopping were common issues reported by owners.
- Windshield Cracking and Visibility Problems:
- Complaints: Windshield cracking, visibility issues.
- Details: Owners faced challenges with windshield durability, leading to cracking, impacting visibility, and potentially compromising safety.
- Transmission Issues:
- Complaints: Delayed shifting, grinding, unstable ride quality, burning smell.
- Details: Transmission problems, including delayed shifting, grinding noises, and burning smells, were prevalent in earlier models, affecting driving performance.
- Engine Troubles:
- Complaints: Excessive oil consumption, stalling, misfires.
- Details: Engine-related issues like oil consumption, stalling, and misfires were reported, potentially linked to sensor defects, air filter cleanliness, and spark plug condition.
- Faulty A/C System:
- Complaints: Diminished airflow, hot air, unsettling odors.
- Details: Problems with the A/C system included reduced airflow, unusual odors, and inefficient cooling, often attributed to refrigerant levels, filter blockages, or component malfunctions.
These problems significantly impact the driving experience and maintenance costs for Toyota Venza owners. Regular maintenance and prompt addressing of these issues are crucial to ensure the longevity and performance of the vehicle.
Is the Toyota Venza a reliable car?
The Toyota Venza Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 3rd out of 26 for midsize SUVs. The average annual repair cost is $444 which means it has excellent ownership costs. Repairs are less severe than average, and the frequency of these issues is average, so major repairs are not common for the Venza.
What are the issues with Venza?
2 Common Toyota Venza Problems
- Musty and Moldy A/C. Toyota air conditioners smell like mold in numerous vehicles. ...
- Rodents Chew Soy-Coated Wires. Somewhere in the mid-2000's there was an industry-wide push by automakers to replace plastic and glass-based wiring insulation with a more eco-friendly soy-based coating.
Why is the Toyota Venza not popular?
The current Venza is often critiqued for its poor cargo capacity compared to competitors, lacking SUV features/options like roof rails or any usable towing capability, but it also offers a claimed best-in-class EPA efficiency rating of 39 MPG combined.
What is the disadvantage of Venza?
Minimal Cargo Capacity
Unfortunately, there isn't too much cargo capacity in the Toyota Venza. It's much smaller than most of the competitors in its class, which proves to be a problem. You'll only find 28.8 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seat.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Toyota Venza years
We have researched Toyota problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Toyota Venza cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Toyota Venza model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Toyota Venza model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Toyota Venza years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Toyota Venza car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Toyota Venza , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Visibility/wiper problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Service brakes problems
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Toyota Venza vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Venza model years
A total of 82 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Venza model years
There were a total of 8 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Venza model years
There were a total of 70 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with deaths by Venza model years
There were a total of 1 complaints that resulted in a death. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 619 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Toyota Venza . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Toyota Venza vehicles.
Latest 25 complaints
Toyota Venza 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-23
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-23
- VIN: JTEAAAAH3MJ
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: I just purchased as 2021 Toyota Venza Limited. The headlight on low beam cast a odd shaped shadow. It is very distracting and often makes you think something is in front of the car. The issue dissappears when headlight are switched to high beam. This is very unsafe and deserves a recall.
Toyota Venza 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2022-05-08
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-23
- VIN: JTEAAAAH2MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Widshield cracked all of a sudden without any reason
Toyota Venza 2023
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-16
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-18
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JTEAAAAH3PJ
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: My wife owns this Toyota Venza. On October 9, 2024, I took the vehicle to the dealership for maintenance and all regular checkups passed. No sensor lights nor problem lights were on during the incident. On October 16, 2024 my wife was parking in a spot to pick up the mail in our community's mailbox. She pressed the brake and tried to park the vehicle when suddenly the motor accelerated over the parking lines on its own to a small hill continuously. My wife tried to press the brake multiple times with no success and the motor continued accelerating on its own. My wife turned the steering wheel to the right to avoid running into the hill or flipping the vehicle over. Once turned, the vehicle continued accelerating crossing over a neighborhood street and finally crashing into a neighbor's wall. Once it crashed the wall, all air bags were deployed and the vehicle rebounded back into the street where my wife was eventually able to shift it into parking. Once parked, the vehicle wouldn't start or move at all. Thankfully, there were no fatalities but my wife crashed into a wall and had to be taken to the hospital to be treated for the bruises in her legs and body from the air bag impact. Additionally, our community is gated and thankfully there is little traffic but this problem in a main road or highway could easily injure or kill people. We reported the accident to the local police and filed a report with them. We also notified insurance of the crash and have started a repair claim but the vehicle has not been inspected for any damages or problems. We have video recording of the incident which we will use for insurance and can provide as part of this complaint.
Toyota Venza 2023
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-27
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-30
- VIN: JTEAAAAHXPJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Traveling interstate 64 Hampton Virginia with 2023 Venza (9/27/2024) a stone hit the windshield and immediately spidered across the window.
Toyota Venza 2022
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-04
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-22
- VIN: JTEAAAAH2NJ
- Components: STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Spontaneous windshield crack that has slowly spread across entire windshield. Driving with NO vehicles around and crack just appeared. Windshield is defective.
Toyota Venza 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-19
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-19
- VIN: 4T3ZE11A59U
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The contact owned a 2009 Toyota Venza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V257000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
Toyota Venza 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-12
- VIN: JTEAAAAH6MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Windshield has severe cracking without being struck by anything
Toyota Venza 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-27
- Date Complaint: 2024-07-31
- VIN: JTEAAAAH4MJ
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Adding to the many complaints about the '21 Venza windshield and the safety issues presented by the easy cracking of the front windshield.
Toyota Venza 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-22
- Date Complaint: 2024-07-23
- VIN: JTEAAAAH8MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: I was driving and my windshield just cracked . Nothing struck my windshield before incident happened
Toyota Venza 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-07-08
- VIN: 4T3ZK3BB6AU
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: When I open the driver's side when car running, the check SRS airbag system warning light comes on. It also comes on if I start car with door open.
Toyota Venza 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-24
- Date Complaint: 2024-07-03
- VIN: 4T3BK3BB4AU
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact submitted the complaint on behalf of her friend. The contact stated that while the contact's friend was driving, the friend heard a ticking noise and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's friend drove the vehicle to the intended destination. The contact's friend exited the vehicle and noticed a large amount of oil on the ground that had leaked from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with failed oil cooler hoses. The contact's friend was informed that the oil cooler hoses needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. In addition, the contact was informed that the previous unknown warranty for the failure description had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 184,000.
Toyota Venza 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2021-06-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-06-29
- VIN: JTEAAAAH6MJ
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: Head lights! Dangerous. They have blind-spots due to equipment blocking full light vision. This is my 2nd report to you. I have not gotten a response. I think this should be looked into immediately. I don't care to drive at night because of this blind-spot. Yes, I have reported this to Toyota and they could not do anything about it because they it from the new type of light bulbs. Please review, research and respond. Thank you.
Toyota Venza 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-11
- Date Complaint: 2024-06-12
- VIN: JTEAAAAH5MJ
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: Seems like, This is common problems for all the Toyota Venza Car. After stopping at redlight, If we push the accelerator, It doesn't have a pickup speed as mentioned 7.1 sec from 0-60 miles. If, car is take on the 45/55 mile from the local road, it may hit by back side of the car. This is really concerning. Working with the dealer to solve the issue.
Toyota Venza 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-10
- Date Complaint: 2024-06-10
- VIN: JTEAAAAH5MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Hit by a very small rock. Started with a small fracture about 8 inches long and after 8 hours the crack has multiplied to be about 16-18 inches.
Toyota Venza 2022
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-29
- Date Complaint: 2024-06-06
- VIN: JTEAAAAH6NJ
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: I am the primary driver of our 2022 Toyota Venza. On [XXX] I had just taken the car through the Splash automated car wash on [XXX] and I was navigating into an adjacent space for use of the vacuum cleaners. As I took my foot off the accelerator to put the vehicle into Park, it suddenly and unintentionally accelerated. It crossed the driveway entrance to the car wash, jumped a curb which was actually the top of retaining wall for the parking lot of the adjacent business, and sailed over the retaining wall into the parking lot which was over 2 feet lower than the level of the car wash. I was able to bring the car to a stop without hitting anything, but 3 tires were blown out and severe damage occurred to the underside and front end of the car (we are awaiting estimates of the damage to the car). The airbags did not deploy. I had a minor shoulder bruise from the seat belt but no other injury. The car is at an auto repair shop awaitinng estimates and adjuster inspection. No report has yet been filed with Toyota but we expect to file today. No independent service center or other inspection has been done yet. There was no warning system notification prior to the incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Latest 5 recalls Toyota Venza
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 35 recalls for different components of the Toyota Venza.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Toyota Venza 2022
- Report Received Date: 2022-04-13
- Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
- Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
- Summary: Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
- Consequence: Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.
- Model: Toyota Venza 2021
- Report Received Date: 2022-04-13
- Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
- Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
- Summary: Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
- Consequence: Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.
- Model: Toyota Venza 2010
- Report Received Date: 2021-04-13
- Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
- Components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
- Summary: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2009-2015 Venza vehicles. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) wiring may become damaged with regular use of the driver-side door.
- Consequence: Damaged wires may cause the air bag sensor to become inoperable, preventing the deployment of the side and curtain air bags on the driver side and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver-side front door wire harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TB01/21TA01.
- Model: Toyota Venza 2011
- Report Received Date: 2021-04-13
- Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
- Components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
- Summary: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2009-2015 Venza vehicles. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) wiring may become damaged with regular use of the driver-side door.
- Consequence: Damaged wires may cause the air bag sensor to become inoperable, preventing the deployment of the side and curtain air bags on the driver side and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver-side front door wire harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TB01/21TA01.
- Model: Toyota Venza 2009
- Report Received Date: 2021-04-13
- Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
- Components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
- Summary: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2009-2015 Venza vehicles. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) wiring may become damaged with regular use of the driver-side door.
- Consequence: Damaged wires may cause the air bag sensor to become inoperable, preventing the deployment of the side and curtain air bags on the driver side and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver-side front door wire harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TB01/21TA01.
Latest negative Toyota Venza car reviews
Latest positive Toyota Venza car reviews
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Vehicle year: 2014
I hope this message finds you well! I just wanted to share my experience with my beloved Venza. I purchased it on May 5th, 2016 and it has been a reliable companion ever since. In fact, the only maintenance I have ever needed to do is replace the brakes, tires, and oil. I am so grateful to have never experienced any issues with my Venza LE.
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Vehicle year: 2021
Congratulations on owning your Venza for three months! It's great to hear that you're loving it so far. The ride is smooth, comfortable, and quiet, making it a predictable and safe choice. You're getting impressive gas mileage too, with 38-42 MPG around town and 40-45 MPG on the freeway. Using ECO mode adds about 3 MPG compared to normal mode, which is a helpful tip. The acceleration may be a bit more muted, but driving in ECO mode provides smoother starts from stop signs. The external styling is sharp and perfect for empty-nesters, although the cargo space is smaller than others. If cargo room is a priority, the RAV4 might be a better fit. However, the Venza's interior is almost Lexus-like and more luxurious than the RAV4. If sporty handling is important, the Mazda CX-5 is worth considering. It's also great to know that the gas tank has a reserve of about 3 gallons when you reach empty, and you typically show about 470 miles to go after a full tank. The XLE trim with the standard 8 inch screen seems to be the sweet spot, with physical controls for radio volume/tuning and climate control. The 12 inch touchscreen is harder to adjust while driving. Although the XLE costs $3K more than the LE, it's worth it for the additional features, such as front/rear bumper sensors with automatic braking and projector headlights which are much brighter than the reflector headlights in the LE. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!A larger driver display with more information (MID), a HomeLink garage door opener built into the rearview mirror, Softex-fabric combo seats instead of all fabric seats (which feel like leather and are not much different from the all Softex seats in the Limited, in my opinion), seat adjustment memory for two drivers, and a few other features are included in the XLE. I found that upgrading from the LE to the XLE provided me with features that were important to me and not just 'nice to have.'
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Vehicle year: 2023
Hello! We recently retired and were on the lookout for a new vehicle to replace our beloved Rogue. We were hoping to find something that would give us better mileage and an overall more luxurious feel. After much searching, we finally found the perfect fit for us - a 2023 Venza! We absolutely love it, although it does have a bit less hauling capacity than our previous car. The seats are incredibly comfortable and we're thrilled with the convenience of being able to simply say, 'Hey Toyota, take us to where we want to go.' Our son, who drives a Lexus RX, initially tried to convince us to get one as well, but after seeing and driving our new car, he was convinced that the Venza was the way to go. We're a bit puzzled as to why this model isn't selling as well as the Rav4, which we don't think is nearly as nice. In any case, we highly recommend the Venza - you can't go wrong with it!
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Vehicle year: 2014
I hope you're doing well! I wanted to share my thoughts on my all white Venza. Overall, it's been a great ride! However, I have noticed a couple of things that could be improved. Firstly, the navigation visibility can be poor, especially on sunny days. It can be difficult to see what I'm punching in and reading it. Additionally, there are a couple of blind spots that I've noticed. Despite these minor issues, I still really like my Venza!
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Vehicle year: 2015
Now that I've driven smoothly through a blizzard and then freezing rain while everyone else struggled, I absolutely love this car! It's such a shame they stopped making it. If you test it out in an Ohio winter, you'll definitely want to get your own Venza!
Are you having problems with your Toyota Venza?
Adolf Beahan 2025-05-29
Vehicle year: 2009
I really enjoyed driving my 2009 Venza until recently when I experienced an issue with the accelerator getting stuck. Even when the car was in park, the engine revved so high that smoke started pouring out from under the hood. I was so scared that I didn't want to turn the car back on and ended up blocking traffic for 40 minutes. Eventually, I had to have the car towed to a local Toyota dealer. Unfortunately, the technicians were unable to reproduce the issue and are suggesting that it may be due to my car mats. I'm a bit disappointed that the recalled Camrys have an 'accelerator override' system that simply cuts the accelerator when the brake is applied, but my Venza doesn't have this feature. I'm hoping that Toyota can find a solution to this problem soon.
Eino Nolan 2025-05-22
Vehicle year: 2010
Although the car has some great features and is enjoyable to drive, I am hesitant to purchase another Toyota due to some recent issues. Our AWD Venza is currently in need of a new transmission, which is a common problem according to our service representative. Additionally, we have experienced issues with the A/C, right seat heater, front brake rotors, and navigation system. After only 32,000 miles, the car has started to rattle and feel old. While waiting in the service department, I noticed that I am not alone in my disappointment with my Toyota. Despite these issues, I still believe that Toyota produces quality vehicles and I hope that these problems can be addressed in future models.
Tito Gleichner 2025-05-16
Vehicle year: 2009
Hello! I recently purchased a 2009 Venza (base 4-cly) and unfortunately, I am experiencing some issues with a knocking feel and steering column rattle noise. After speaking with Toyota, they provided me with the TSB for a Steering Column Rattle Noise, T-SB-0005-11, but unfortunately, my Venza is one month out of the Toyota 3yr basic warranty. The dealership has quoted me $1,333.68 for parts and $243.53 for labor to address this issue. This is actually the second time I have had a Toyota with a steering column and warranty issue (the first time was a 2006 Camry, Intermediate Steering Column TSB ST001-06). I am feeling quite frustrated, but I am hopeful that we can find a solution. If not, I will have to consider other options. Thank you for your time and assistance!
Loy Sipes 2025-05-09
Vehicle year: 2010
I really like my vehicle, but I've had some issues with the Toyota service department. In the first year and a half of owning my fully loaded 2010 Venza AWD, everything was great. However, I recently had to get an extensive rear suspension repair due to a clunking noise in the rear, and unfortunately, the noise has returned just 3 months later. Additionally, the transmission started to shudder and slip, but Toyota replaced it, saying that it's a fairly common issue with the AWD model. Despite these issues, my car only has 27,000 careful miles. It does have a few squeaks and rattles, but overall, it's a great car.
Reese Jones 2025-05-04
Vehicle year: 2012
It's unfortunate to hear that your Venza has developed a hole in the floor carpet on the driver's side, especially with only 32,000 miles on it. It's understandable to be concerned about the quality of materials used by Toyota. Despite purchasing an extended warranty, the dealer and Toyota have stated that it is considered a wear item. Hopefully, the rest of the vehicle will hold up better for you.