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: 2009
I saw the Venza at an airshow and it immediately caught my attention. I opted for the 4 cyl model due to its cost and fuel efficiency. Although I was hoping for better than 21 mpg, I understand that it may decrease when driving more aggressively. While I do notice the transmission disengaging during engine idle, I appreciate the quick starts. The engine does take a moment to wind up when accelerating or passing, but the steering is very responsive. Although it may float a little when driving straight, I find it easy to handle. The suspension is firm, which allows me to feel the bumps and waves in the road. Unfortunately, I did discover small circular scratch marks on the roof shortly after leaving the dealership, but I am confident that it will be properly fixed soon.
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Vehicle year: 2010
I recently traded in my 2004 Murano for a Venza. Unfortunately, my Murano's driver seat broke just two days after my Nissan extended warranty expired. Despite this being a known issue with Muranos, Nissan refused to fix it and only offered to do so for a steep price of $750. However, I am happy to report that my Venza is a significant improvement. It is more responsive, wider, and more spacious than my old Murano. Additionally, it feels a lot less top-heavy in turns, and the glass roof is a really cool feature!
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Vehicle year: 2013
Nice comfortable wagon for seniors. It's high enough to make it easy to get out of and I've never had a single problem with it. As a Toyota fan, I highly recommend it.
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Vehicle year: 2011
Congratulations on your new Venza! It's great to hear that you're enjoying it so much. With 24 mpg overall and an impressive 28 mpg on the highway at 70 mph, it sounds like you're getting some great fuel efficiency. The navigation system and rear view camera sound like great features, and it's always a plus to have heated seats. It's also good to hear that you haven't experienced any wind noise, and that the tire noise was dampened with a rubber mat. The V6 engine sounds like it has plenty of power, and it's great to know that it's rated for 3500 lbs towing. Thanks for sharing your positive experience with the Venza, and I'm sure your recommendation will be helpful to anyone considering this car.
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Vehicle year: 2013
I recently traded my 2008 Toyota Highlander Limited for the Venza AWD and I absolutely love it! I affectionately refer to it as a baby Highlander. The Golden Umber Mica is a stunning and eye-catching color that receives many compliments. The ride is incredibly smooth and quiet, and the V6 engine purrs just like the Highlander. The interior is spacious and comfortable, making it a joy to drive. I highly recommend taking a Venza for a test drive - you won't be disappointed!
Are you having problems with your Toyota Venza?
Jeromy O'Reilly 2024-11-27
Vehicle year: 2015
We recently test drove a 2013 Venza Limited AWD with 24k miles. While the LED daytime running lights and hid headlights looked great, we found the old style tail lights to be a bit lacking. The seats were wide but unfortunately lacked support, making it difficult to get comfortable. However, the 3.5L engine had plenty of power and was relatively quiet. Despite the 20It sounds like you've owned some great cars over the years, but this one really stands out as the highest quality. It's impressive that it surpasses even your previous Lexus, Acuras, and Infiniti, as well as the many Toyotas and Hondas you've owned since the 1980s.
Kip Parisian 2024-11-24
Vehicle year: 2023
Hello! I appreciate you taking the time to consider our vehicle. While it may not meet all of your needs, I hope you found it to be a nice option. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. Thank you!
Jeremy Carroll 2024-11-21
Vehicle year: 2023
I recently purchased over two dozen new Toyota vehicles, but unfortunately, my experience with the 2023 Venza Limited was not great. Despite its attractive exterior, the interior design was poorly executed, with limited space and no convenient storage options. Additionally, the start button was illogically placed, making it difficult to use. The 12.3” display was also too large and distracting. However, the biggest issue was the design flaw caused by the deep 10” square hole in the dash for the HUD display. The windshield was highly reflective, making it difficult to see the road due to the reflection of the bezel around the deep cutout for the HUD. Although Toyota Customer Service acknowledged the issue, they were unable to offer a solution. While I could have overlooked the poor ergonomics, the impaired view of the road was a deal-breaker for me and my wife. I would advise potential buyers to avoid the Limited model or any other Toyota model with a similar HUD design. It is surprising that such a bad design could be approved by any design engineer. If you are considering purchasing a Toyota model with a HUD display, I recommend test driving it during the day with the sun in front or to the side of you to ensure that you can see clearly.
Kenneth Mayert 2024-11-16
Vehicle year: 2013
Hi there! I hope you're doing well. I just wanted to let you know that I noticed a few things with the car you leased for 5 years. When braking, the car seems to pull to the left, and I noticed a temperature imbalance between the right and left disks. Additionally, the cabin noise is quite loud. Finally, I wanted to mention that the steering wheel seems to be at an angle, which could be causing some issues. I hope this information is helpful, and please let me know if there's anything I can do to assist you further!
Durward Bogisich 2024-11-07
Vehicle year: 2009
I purchased this car used with 90,000 miles on it. It was in great condition and drove really well. It had a lot of power, but there was a bit of torque steer when accelerating and it wasn't great in the rain. Unfortunately, after less than 7,000 miles, the car broke down on the highway due to a damaged alternator. The repair cost $900, which was quite expensive. I also had to replace the front passenger wheel bearing and tie rod, which is a common issue with this model, costing $780. Additionally, I had to replace all the brakes and rotors, which were shaking when stopping, even though they only had 15,000 miles on them. On a trip, the front driver's strut burst and leaked oil all over the brakes, causing the rotor to harden and shake again. The rear struts are also bad, but I decided to skip that repair for now. The leather seats are not in great condition, and the armrests and center console are falling apart. The heater and transmission are making some noise, and the stereo has no bass and low volume. It's disappointing that this was the first newer car I had bought in 20 years and the most expensive one, but I still appreciate the good reviews and minimal complaints about this model compared to other manufacturers.