2021 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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Common 2021 Toyota Venza problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Toyota Venza 2021, several common problems have been reported:
- Engine Troubles: Complaints include excessive oil consumption, engine stalling, misfires, and loss of power. These issues may stem from defective sensors, dirty air filters, or worn-out spark plugs. Proper engine maintenance is crucial to prevent these problems.
- Brake Faults: Some owners have reported the need to pump their brakes to stop, indicating potential brake system issues. Proper brake function is essential for safety while driving.
- Transmission Issues: Problems such as delayed shifting, grinding during acceleration, unstable ride quality, strange noises, burning smells from the engine bay, and outright transmission failure have been reported. These issues can significantly impact the driving experience and safety of the vehicle.
- Faulty A/C System: Owners have experienced problems like diminished airflow, hot air blowing from the vents, and unpleasant odors. These issues can be caused by various factors such as low refrigerant, clogged filters, compressor malfunction, or blower motor problems. Regular maintenance is key to avoiding A/C system troubles.
These common problems reported by Toyota Venza 2021 owners highlight various issues that can affect the performance, safety, and comfort of the vehicle. Addressing these concerns promptly through proper maintenance and repairs is essential to ensure a smooth driving experience and prolong the longevity of the car.
What is the common problem with Toyota Venza?
The biggest problem areas for the Toyota Venza include interior accessories, exterior accessories, and rotors. Know which Toyota Venza years to avoid to have the best possible experience on the road. Costly fixes lower the value of the investment for your wallet.
What is the Toyota Venza lawsuit?
There is a class-action lawsuit against Toyota for these Toyota Venza windshield defects. The suit alleges undue windshield chipping and cracking plague 2021 Toyota Venza vehicles. This process was started when Plaintiff Heather David noticed a crack in her windshield that was roughly six inches long.
What year is best for Toyota Venza?
The Toyota Venza, launched in 2009, was a unique blend of an SUV and a wagon. Its design catered to those seeking a vehicle with substantial interior space but with a car-like driving experience. 2014 and 2015 are the best Toyota Venza model years of the generation, while 2009 and 2010 are the Venza years to avoid.
Is 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 is the common problem with Toyota Venza?
The biggest problem areas for the Toyota Venza include interior accessories, exterior accessories, and rotors. Know which Toyota Venza years to avoid to have the best possible experience on the road. Costly fixes lower the value of the investment for your wallet.
Does Toyota Venza have transmission problems?
If you don't routinely change your fluids at least every 30,000 miles or so, you may find that your Toyota Venza transmission will slip.
Is 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.
Why did Toyota stop producing Venza?
With the new Crown Signia sharing the same TNGA-K platform as the current Venza and being a hybrid vehicle that will compete in the midsize segment, the two practically compete against one another. Toyota doesn't want competition between two of its own vehicles, so the Venza has to go.
2021 Toyota Venza car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Toyota Venza problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Visibility/wiper problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Exterior lighting problems
- Service brakes problems
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2021 Toyota Venza vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 2021 Toyota Venza
The NHTSA has received 152 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2021 Toyota Venza. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2021 Toyota Venza vehicles.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-05-08
- VIN: JTEAAAAH2MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Widshield cracked all of a sudden without any reason
EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 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.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-01
- VIN: JTEAAAAH6MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Windshield has severe cracking without being struck by anything
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-27
- 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.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-22
- VIN: JTEAAAAH8MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: I was driving and my windshield just cracked . Nothing struck my windshield before incident happened
EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-06-01
- 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.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-11
- 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.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 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.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-22
- VIN: JTEAAAAH6MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: The front glass (windshield) on the passenger side was broken; I got into the car, I turned it on and suddenly I heard a loud clicking noise and dirt came out from the top to the middle, disgonally, I emphasize the car was not moving.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-16
- VIN: JTEAAAAH3MJ
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: Intermittently my 2021 Toyota Venza will not accelerate. It feels like it loses power and will not accelerate. It started in March and has progressively gotten worse. It happens from a stop and from rolling acceleration. Toyota dealer Fred Haas Toyota said "they cannot duplicate the problem" even though I told them to go look online since this seems to be an ongoing problem. I do not feel safe in this vehicle since I cannot depend on it accelerating when I engage the fuel pedal.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-19
- VIN: JTEAAAAH0MJ
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Vehicle parked safe place. When I returned to the vehicle Windscreen at a large crack.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-02
- VIN: JTEAAAAH1MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: I was driving down the freeway and my windshield unexpectedly cracked. I was not struck by a rock or other object, it cracked out of nowhere.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-04
- VIN: JTEAAAAH3MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: a small rockchip hit the windshield and caused a crack which quickly began to grow at an alarming rate. the crack grew to about the size of half the windshield in a one day time. The windshield is very surprisingly fragile.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-01
- VIN: JTEAAAAH3MJ
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: When accelerating from a stopped position, the car fails to go forward. This incident has occurred six times and often seems to be at the worst times, such as pulling into a busy road from a stop sign. The car will start to accelerate and stop with no response from the gas pedal for 3-5 seconds. There have almost been a couple of accidents with this vehicle because of this issue. No check engine light or any light at all came on in the car when this incident occurred. This vehicle has been taking to the dealership and the problem has been mentioned to them, however with no codes to read for the OBDII they claim there is nothing they can do about it.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-30
- VIN: JTEAAAAH8MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: HUGE crack developed suddenly in windshield. This is the third repair I have had to make. This windshield seems to crack easily - even the slightest hit damages the windshield. With this crack I can feel the separation in the glass. It’s dangerous. Doing a simple internet search reveals this as a known issue.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-19
- VIN: JTEAAAAH5MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: I have been driving this car for over a year and have not had any impact, collision or any kind of accident. Last week I noticed a crack around the windshield. I starts from the bottom, up towards the middle and arcs toward the driver side. There is no point of contact or any indication that a small/tiny rock fell on it. At first I thought it was a rain drop that rolled down on the windshield but after cleaning both inside and outside, I realized it was a crack.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-19
- VIN: JTEAAAAH3MJ
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Recently while driving on [XXX] in long island New York I got multiple hits by bolder, one bolder made a crack which is almost 18 inches now and increasing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-25
- VIN: JTEAAAAH5MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: windshield crack for no resend. no impact at all. car was parked.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-10
- Number Of Injuries: 2
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JTEAAAAH0MJ
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: The crash occurred at 2:50 PM on January 10, 2024 while pulling our 2021 Toyota Venza into a diagonal parking space on a slight upgrade. The vehicle surged over the curb, across the sidewalk and into a brick wall with gas pipelines attached to it. As this was happening, the driver yelled, “I don’t know what’s happening.” The car then rebounded onto the sidewalk and was turned off quickly because of a gas smell. We exited the vehicle and tried to keep people away from the scene because of the smell. The passenger had great difficulty getting out of the car because the passenger side door was blocked by a tree in the median. The Fire Department cleared the area, the police interviewed both the driver and the passenger and the gas company arrived to repair the meters and pipes. No citation was issued. During a call on January 12, 2024 to cancel a pre-paid service agreement, we were referred to the Toyota Brand Engagement Center who interviewed us before forwarding information on to the Toyota Liability Team. Toyota sent a contractual employee to download the information from the vehicle’s computer modules for further analysis by Toyota. On February 20, 2024, Toyota issued a report that stated the vehicle had no defects related to the accident and that the accelerator pedal had been fully depressed prior to impact. The report did not address other information that was provided to individuals investigating the incident, including information about the incident itself, information about a delayed acceleration event several days prior to the incident and notification from the local Toyota dealer the next day that a check engine light had come on around 2:50 the day of the incident followed a minute later by alarms indicating “airbag failure to deploy” and “hybrid system failure.” The report also did not address the possibility of a problem with the throttle system, specifically the accelerator sensor.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-04
- VIN: JTEAAAAH2MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: I recently bought this car and without any reason have a Crack on my windshield I have read many people who have had similar issues and gets worse after replacement having to replace their windshield many times. I am concerned at the safety of the cars windshield and its defect nature. Also have issues with visibility with wipers not clearing rain effectively on the drivers side.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-03
- VIN: JTEAAAAH3MJ
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Toyota 2021 Venza has faulty windshield glass the prematurely cracks under no external impact. In fact, the car was parked and when I came back, there was a crack on the windshield. Several owners have reported similar issue with similar failure patterns mode. There's also pending class action law suit for this issue.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-30
- VIN: JTEAAAAHXMJ
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: winsheild cracked out of no where. Driving on I95
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-24
- VIN: JTEAAAAH7MJ
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: It's its been about 4 times for myself and twice for my husband. When pulling out of parking lot onto busy street making a right hand turn, the car failed to accelerate so that I can merge onto the street. I almost got reareded twice because of this not being able to get up to speed. I have taken it to the dealer twice. The first time they told me there was a computer recall so he would do the update and it if it happened after that to bring it in. We'll it's happened many more times. And the dealer can't tell me what it is.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-12-17
- VIN: JTEAAAAH4MJ
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: My windshield cracked and was replaced twice for some unknown reason. First in 2021 and now 2023.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-12-15
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JTEAAAAH8MJ
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: I was parking my car in a parking lot very slowly (1 mile/hr, or less). My foot was on the break paddle, and I just turned into a parking spot. Suddenly, I heard huge acceleration noise and the car surged forward so rapidly, so powerfully on its own, and totally lost control. Then the break did not work at all. There are bushes in front of the parking spot and it is on top of a retaining wall with side walk road below. The crazy lost controlled car run through the bushes and jumped down from the top of the retaining way onto the side walk road. It hit the railing of the side road and then slowed down. I then gained the control of the car as the break back to work. The car is badly damaged and several parts falling down when it jump down the retaining wall. It was so terrified and I though I will die. And if someone was walk in the side road at that moment, they will be killed. I am still shaking when think about what was happen. Luckily, no one was there. I bought the car in Jan. 2022, brand new, only 8 miles used. Now it has around 14,000 miles on it. *** In Sept. 2022, Someone also posted very similar incidence for Toyota 2021 Venza in Toyatonation.com Discussion starter • #1 • Sep 3, 2022 soshima Has this happened to anyone else who owns a 2021 Venza? As I was slowly pulling in (going about 2 miles or less) to a perpendicular parking spot at my apartment complex, I took my foot off the accelerator, all the sudden my car lunged forward and rapidly accelerated forward on its own. It was completely terrifying to have the car take over. The car jumped the curb and went down a hill and I crashed head on into a two story garage at my apt complex. I saw a "MALFUNCTION" on the dashboard and the air bags did not deploy. I injured my back, neck and right arm. My car that only has 9K miles on it, was completely totaled. Toyota's Product Liability Dept - 3rd party engineers inspected the electronic data recorder. and car I'm awaiting the final report from Toyota.
2021 Toyota Venza recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2021 Toyota Venza.
- 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.
Negative 2021 Toyota Venza car reviews
Positive 2021 Toyota Venza car reviews
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I've been driving my Venza Limited for 6 months now without any issues. Although it's not a race car, the acceleration is a big step up from the second generation Chevy Equinox I was driving. When driving in sport mode, the acceleration is even nicer. I didn't even bother trying to pass slow-moving vehicles in my Equinox. Even when driving aggressively, I'm averaging 36mpg. My best is about 52mpg for a short 20-mile trip across town and back. Toyota has been using this platform and engine for nearly 3 years (Harrier in Japan), so there's no need to be fearful about buying a first model year. The safety features are a big step up as well. Perhaps the biggest compliment, other than a droning engine when pushed hard, is that you don't even realize you're driving a hybrid most of the time. The regenerative braking is extremely smooth. The seats are extremely comfortable, and the JBL sound system sounds great. The Venza is much quieter than the RAV4s that I test drove before purchasing my Venza. It's not Lexus quiet, but having the extra sound deadening makes the audio system sound even better. It does lack handy storage and has less cargo space than a RAV4, but the interior looks WAY nicer. Before purchasing, I studied up on the eCVT, and it is absolutely nothing like a standard CVT, which has a metal belt that eventually wears out. Although it doesn't have gears like a standard transmission, it does have gears rather than a belt. Weber State University has this excellent video discussing the hybrid transaxle, which is really a better term for the transmission in this vehicle: https://youtu.be/O61WihMRdjM. We received about 8 to 10 inches of snow right before spring came, so I took my Venza out to test its all-wheel-drive function in the fresh snow, and I couldn't get it to handle poorly no matter how hard I tried. The computer system would send power to the appropriate wheels extremely quickly to keep the car driving straight.I really appreciate the fact that there is no mechanical drivetrain connecting the back wheels, just an electric motor that is computer controlled. I am happy to report that after 6 months and about 6,000 miles, I am still extremely pleased with my Toyota Venza purchase. If you are considering a hybrid (and you definitely should be), this car should definitely be on your short list!
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I love my new hybrid SUV! It's sleek and beautiful both inside and out. Plus, it's fast on the highway and gets great MPG. Even the basic model comes with plenty of options, and they're all hybrid and AWD no matter which one you choose.
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I recently splurged and got the Limited version of the Venza. Although I didn't have much of a choice, as it was the last one left and another customer was eyeing it up hungrily. I really like the look of it - it's Lexus-like but still quite distinct. Where I live, Lexuses are a dime-a-dozen, as common as Subarus in a ski town. The Venza, on the other hand, is much less common - so far. They are only made in Japan, so the quality is top-notch and evident. What's more, this car gets WAY better MPG than advertised. While it gets what it advertises in the cold winter, come spring, summer and fall, the MPG is off the charts: 44 highway and 53 in town. And this is not an itty-bitty Prius! If I have a criticism, it's peculiar to me: there's too much tech for this driver to deal with. If texting while driving is considered dangerous, this car can be just as dangerous. Changing the radio station requires a PhD (or a 13-year-old tech wizard in the passenger seat). The 12-inch wide color touch screen is over-the-top in its flexibility and complexity. It tells you way more than you need to know: the nearest gas station, where to get a massage (if the heated seats aren't doing the trick for you) and which local pizzeria has curry-chicken-lentil topping. I found a display setting I like and leave it alone. Speaking of over-the-top: The Star Gazer roof is the ultimate wiz-bang option that will have your passengers going 'WOAH! THIS CAR IS SOOOO COOL!' Read up on what it does. Amaze your friends. Make your rivals green with envy. The Venza handles well - very predictably - no surprises. It's not bothered by extreme crosswinds, snow, ice, slush, or heavy rain - if you have the right tires. Warning: My car came with terrible OEM tires - in fact, the poorest rated all-season tires on TireRack.com. I changed them out immediately. The Venza has plenty of power when you want to blow the doors off a 300 series BMW. (A BMW 500 or 700 series, however, will blow your doors off.) So what's missing? Cargo space. My previous car was a Honda CRV, which had more cargo space than the Venza.It's not a bad car, but it may not be suitable for heavy-duty tasks like towing or hauling large items. However, it's perfect for everyday use like running errands or going on a trip with a few suitcases and a pet. The back seats are comfortable and spacious, making it a great car for adults. This car is ideal for people in their 40s and older who don't need a car for all-purpose use. It's perfect for those whose kids have their own cars or may also have a pick-up truck for heavy-duty work.
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The camera with the technology package is incredibly useful. The Birds eye view for parking lots and the garage is invaluable for parking in tight areas. As a woman, I appreciate the 360 view when parked to check my surroundings. The digital rear view mirror gives me complete coverage of all lanes behind me, which is the best for safety, with no blind spots. I also love the fact that there are no knobs on the infotainment center, and the push button to talk takes care of all my needs, along with the up and down volume control, all on the steering wheel. The stargazer window is great when opaque for our hot summers, and the air-cooled seats are wonderful. I absolutely love this car!
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My wife and I have been driving the Venza XLE for about three months now. Initially, we were interested in the RAV4 Hybrid/Prime, but due to the current situation, they were hard to come by. However, we are very happy with our decision to go with the Venza. This is our first hybrid vehicle, and we are getting an impressive 43 MPG tank average, which is even better than the EPA MPG figures. The power delivery is incredibly smooth, and I appreciate how Toyota has managed to isolate power source transitions, making the driving experience distraction-free. The acceleration is decent, and while the engine can be a bit loud at times, I don't mind the tradeoff for the increased efficiency. The braking system is impressive, with a seamless blend of regen and friction braking. The handling is good for an SUV, and I'm looking forward to trying out the eAWD system's capabilities. While there is some road noise, especially on highways, the Venza is packed with luxury features like parking sensors, power folding mirrors, and memory seats. My wife loves the luxurious exterior and interior appearance, and even a friend who previously owned a Lexus RX 350 noticed many similarities between the two vehicles. Overall, we are very satisfied with our purchase of the Venza XLE.For example, the memory functions are only available for the seat and not the side mirrors. Additionally, the sliding mechanism of the vanity mirror cover is not as smooth as that on the RX. There is also more hard plastic present in the interior. Of course, these things are to be expected since the Venza costs less. Moving on to the areas of improvement, the infotainment system seems outdated and the menus are very laggy. The screen is not up to today's standards and there are only USB-A ports, which is a shame for a 2021 vehicle. I now have to purchase USB-A to USB-C/Apple cables to connect current phones. The rear turn signals should be more prominent and mounted higher for safety when changing lanes. On the other hand, the front turn signals are really nice looking. When going over bumps, I have to slow down a lot, otherwise, the vehicle will make some disturbing sound like I broke something metallic. I am guessing the sound came from the suspension. Lastly, I was disappointed to find out that Toyota makes the front passenger power seat on the XLE trim optional while the driver's seat has memory. Toyota's practice of using options on every trim level just makes car shopping more complicated. I was not able to get a power front passenger seat unless I bought the higher trim or shopped around other dealerships on the XLE trim. It's even worse when there is an ongoing vehicle shortage. For shoppers, it's important to know that the current Venza is more of a premium (not luxury) compact crossover that's good for commutes/errands than a midsize crossover that's good for family trips. I wouldn't consider the Venza as an entry that slots between the RAV4 and Highlander. The interior is not that big, so I wouldn't try to go on a road trip with more than 4 people or even more than 3 people if luggage is involved. The cargo floor is high up and the sloped tailgate cuts out usage cargo space.I believe that even small families should consider midsize crossovers with larger interiors, such as the Highlander, or better yet, a minivan if they don't require off-road capabilities. My wife and I have the latter, and it has been a great choice for us. This brings me to another point. In the owner's manual, it states that the Venza is not designed for off-roading (only if unavoidable) and that snow chains cannot be mounted (mine has the larger tires). Additionally, the Venza cannot tow. On the positive side, it has great fuel economy, Toyota reliability, and is made in Japan. The interior is premium, with low wind noise and plenty of luxury features. The styling is also premium, and the seats are comfortable. On the downside, there is too much road noise at highway speeds, the infotainment system is outdated and laggy, the rear turn signals are mounted low and not very visible, the suspension makes a disturbing metallic noise on bumps unless going very slow, and there is not much cargo room with the second row up.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2021 Toyota Venza problems:
2021 common problems? : r/Toyotavenza
Jan 14, 2024 ... Well, the factory Battery Warranty is 10 years / 150k miles (whichever comes first) so no need to worry about that. And Hybrid-Related Component ...
2021 Toyota Venza Reliability - Consumer Reports
Premature pad/rotor wear, pulsation or vibration, antilock system, parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, squeaking, brake failure, regenerative braking.
2021 Toyota Venza issues with windshield cracking or fuel tank not ...
Dec 14, 2023 ... A design change was made to open the cover up so water could not collect inside but people doubt that fixed it, since water / salt can still ...
2021 Venza Gas Tank Problem - Venza Club - Toyota Owners Club ...
Mar 18, 2021 ... 2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid Limited Fuel gauge and fuel tank do not operate properly, like the 2020 & 2021 Rav 4 gas tank problem.
2021 Toyota Venza problems
NHTSA has already logged several complaints regarding 2021 Toyota Venza problems in regards to defective windshields. Many Toyota Venza drivers have been ...
Other years of Toyota Venza
Are you having problems with your 2021 Toyota Venza?
Kristian Fay 2024-08-20
I'm really enjoying my new Venza, but unfortunately I've had to jump start it twice since purchasing it due to the starter battery not having enough power to start the car. I mainly use this car for running errands, but it seems that the 12volt starter battery needs you to drive more than one mile in order to recharge. I've taken it into the dealership twice and they recommended a trickle charge, which I am doing. However, I must admit that I'm a bit hesitant to use this car for multiple short trips as I've lost confidence in its ability to start. It's frustrating to have to put the car on a trickle charger after running errands, but I'm hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon.
Edwardo Hickle 2024-07-18
We had the car for about a month and had driven 810 miles when it unexpectedly had to be towed due to a dead battery and logic reprogramming. Fortunately, we were at home and not stranded on the road. Although completing the towing form online was a bit frustrating as it did not accept the Vin number, Toyota kept us updated throughout the process. We now make sure to always have our smartphone with us. Occasionally, we have had some trouble with the Venza not shifting gears properly, which was not an issue with our previous Honda CRV. Despite this, we are pleased with the car's performance and fuel efficiency, averaging about 42 miles per gallon. As retired seniors, we do not take many long trips, but we appreciate the parking sensors and cross traffic alert. The XLE model we chose had most of the features we wanted, although the storage could have been better designed. Overall, we are happy with our purchase and enjoy the car's comfortable ride and peppy performance.
Chadrick Bartell 2024-03-26
Hi there! I hope you're doing well. I wanted to share my experience with the 2021 Venza Driving Feel. I purchased my Venza in December 17, 2020 and noticed some noise coming from the hybrid system right from the start. The dealer technician confirmed this, and I also noticed some noise coming from outside the cabin when driving over 45 mpg. The dealer service advisor and technician said it's not a big deal, but I was wondering if any other users have experienced similar issues. Would love to hear your thoughts!
Imani Block 2024-01-20
I recently purchased a loaded Limited with Star Gaze and I'm happy with the initial experience. The Venza is returning 39-42 MPG, which is impressive compared to other Toyota Hybrids I've owned in the past. Although the Avalon Hybrid was nicer, I prefer the Venza's easier in/out height. The new Venza caught my attention while I was driving a 2020 Subaru Outback Touring, which was good but lacked style and fuel efficiency. As someone who drives 30K+ per year, I decided to switch back to a hybrid due to rising gas prices. The Venza is stylish, has a nicely appointed interior, and has enough get up and go for its size. Although the driving dynamics are not sporty, I'm okay with that. The Star Gaze roof is interesting, but living in Sunny SWFL, it stays covered. The touch screen is better than the Subaru, but I would like some basic knobs. The interior storage is smaller than I'm accustomed to, but I hope I can live with it. Although I'm a bit disappointed in the tire/road noise, especially on not perfectly smooth pavement, I'm overall happy with the Venza. Update after about 6 weeks: Although I tend to trade cars every couple of years, this is the first time I've regretted my choice so quickly.I apologize for my mistake in choosing the Venza based on its impressive online appearance, as it did not live up to my expectations in person. Unfortunately, due to limited inventory, I had to order it without being able to spend time with it beforehand. While I have owned many other Toyota Hybrids in the past, including luxurious models like the Avalon and Lexus ES300 Hybrid, I found the Venza to be lacking in certain areas. Although it has a nice interior and good looks, the limited interior storage and cargo capacity were disappointing, and the ride quality was harsh for a vehicle in its price range. Additionally, the touch screen was challenging to use and lacked basic buttons or knobs. Despite these issues, the Venza is still a good car and I expect it to be dependable. However, I would recommend potential buyers to carefully consider their needs and preferences before making a purchase. Maybe its sibling for other markets, with some lipstick and high heels to make it flashier for the USA market. I wasn't that impressed. However, I eventually traded it for a Highlander Platinum and found that it was exactly what I should have bought in the first place.
Talon Ziemann 2024-01-19
I've been driving my new Venza for just over 2 months and have put on just over 2000 miles. I absolutely love the way it drives and looks! However, I have experienced some issues with the information screen randomly shutting off three times and occasional difficulty connecting to my iPhone. Additionally, I've noticed that I'm only getting around 554 miles to a tank, despite Toyota stating that it should be closer to 566 miles per tank. Despite these issues, I still find the Venza to be a fun and sporty small SUV. UPDATE: Overall, I'm happy with the car itself, but I do have some concerns about the gas tank. Toyota claims that it has a 14.5 gallon tank with an estimated gas mileage of 566 miles per tank, but I've never been able to put more than 11.5 gallons of gas in my tank (even when I've pushed it to 3 miles to empty) and have never gotten better than 440-460 miles to a tank. I feel like I've been misled and that Toyota needs to address this issue. I've also heard that the RAV4 had a similar problem, so a recall may be necessary. Toyota, please do better or at least be honest about the real numbers.