2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid Problems

Windshield suddenly cracked, making two large arcs several feet long. Driving on paved road at 20 mph, no gravel, no other traffic.

A large crack appeared on the windshield of my 2021 Toyota Venza. Due to this being a safety issue when driving the vehicle, so I looked into having it repaired by a local shop. When the Venza was taken to the repaired, the repair shop notified me that the issue didn't originate from a rock/chip. The issue was with the windshield or the windshield installation. After a quick Google search, it came to my attention that this is a frequent issue with this year and make. There are class action lawsuits about this issue. This needs to be addressed by Toyota.

low‑beam headlights/headlight assembly issues. Moisture getting in, corrosion of prongs that connect to the headlight assembly. Dimming lights once assembly was replaced. Condensation in the headlights. Some bulbs work while others don't.

While driving under normal conditions and driving into my driveway on Thursday, March 19, I experienced a sudden and temporary loss of braking ability. When I applied the brake pedal, the vehicle did not decelerate as expected. This resulted in a collision with a residential fence at low speed. There were no warning lights or prior indications of a braking issue before the incident. The loss of braking appeared to be momentary, but significant enough to prevent me from stopping the vehicle in time. The vehicle has been regularly maintained and had no known prior brake issues although there are times when the brakes skip when traction is involved. There are also sudden issues with the acceleration. Given the safety risk, I believe this incident may be related to a potential defect in the braking system or electronic control systems.

This just showed in my 2021 Toyota Venza. I heard that this is is common issue for all Toyota but was not corrected .

While driving under normal conditions and driving into my driveway on Thursday, March 19, I experienced a sudden and temporary loss of braking ability. When I applied the brake pedal, the vehicle did not decelerate as expected. This resulted in a collision with a residential fence at low speed. There were no warning lights or prior indications of a braking issue before the incident. The loss of braking appeared to be momentary, but significant enough to prevent me from stopping the vehicle in time. The vehicle has been regularly maintained and had no known prior brake issues although there are times when the brakes skip when traction is involved. There are also sudden issues with the acceleration. Given the safety risk, I believe this incident may be related to a potential defect in the braking system or electronic control systems.

I was stopped at an intersection. When I pressed the accelerator to try to pull across the intersection, the vehicle initially began to move forward but almost immediately all acceleration power was lost. The accelerator pedal could be pushed to the floor with no response from the vehicle. It took several seconds of feathering the accelerator for the vehicle to regain the ability to move forward and I was able to clear the intersection. This is the fourth time that I have experienced the same issue with this vehicle over the past two years. The problem cannot be replicated by the dealer. There are no warning lights on in the vehicle. I don’t know if warnings appear during this few seconds of power failure because it happens very quickly and my focus is trying to get out of the way of oncoming traffic. This is a serious safety concern because it has occurred while trying to move through an intersection or pull onto the road. The vehicle losing power and stopping in these moments could result in a collision with an oncoming vehicle.

I am submitting this complain regarding my 2021 Toyota Venza, which has developed a serious defect involving the fuel system. Although my vehicle is fairly new, I began experiencing problems with the fuel door not opening properly. Initially, I could not access the fuel cap, which left me unable refuel in a timely manner. Soon after, I noticed additional fueling issues: while attempting to refuel, the gas pump would repeatedly shut off and stop the fueling process. After taking the vehicle for inspection, it was determined that the actuator responsible for controlling the fuel door and fueling system required complete replacement. I am concerned this defect represents more than just an inconvenience. Inability to open the fuel door or complete a fueling cycle can create dangerous situations - such as being stranded without fuel or blocking a fueling station. Additionally, if the actuator fails while in use, it could interfere with the proper venting of the fuel system. I have since learned that other Toyota Venza owners are experiencing the same problem with the actuator, suggesting this is not an isolated case but a potential widespread defect. I request that Toyota investigate this issue and that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration evaluate whether a safety recall or service campaign is warranted. 2021 Toyota Venza LE [XXX] 90,0000 Sincerely, [XXX] and [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

low‑beam headlights/headlight assembly issues. Moisture getting in, corrosion of prongs that connect to the headlight assembly. Dimming lights once assembly was replaced. Condensation in the headlights. Some bulbs work while others don't.

JUST PURCHASED NEW 2021 TOYOTA VENZA HYBRID. WITH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON, HAVE BLACK "SHADOWS" IN TOP PORTION OF ILLUMINATED FIELD ON BOTH SIDES. VERY DISTRACTING ESP. ON DARK, CURVY ROAD. THESE SHADOWS DO NOT APPEAR WITH HIGH BEAMS ON...NOTHING ON HEADLIGHT LENS TO CAUSE THESE BLACK AREAS. LOW BEAM SHADOWS APPARENT WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AS WELL AS MOVING. PREVIOUSLY HAD A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID WITHOUT THIS ISSUE.

This report covers 2 events for the same problem. The first occurred in the spring of 2025 and I did not document the date or time. The second one occurred on November 10, 2025 @ about 10:15 a.m. (1) Last spring my wife was driving the Venza up the street to our residence going a slow rate of speed. As she approached the house, she took her foot off on the gas and coasted toward the left curb so she could back into our driveway. At that point, car suddenly surged forward and accelerated toward the curb. My wife rapidly applied the brake and averted any problem. (2) The second event occurred on November 10, 2025 @ 10:15 a.m. My wife was starting to park at a parking lot in the Tanasbourne Town Center. She was going to back into a parking spot so she drove forward going slightly left. Then, with the car still in drive, the car surged forward. She quickly stepped on the brake and the car stopped abruptly. (She was angling the car and was about ready to stop and put the car in reverse when this happened) Again, with her quick response braking, she was able to avert hitting person or thing. As to which component or system failed, there appears to be a random malfunction of sensors or perhaps the CPU...something that is calling for full throttle when the gas petal is not pushed. The safety risk is possible harm to the driver, outside property, or the worse situation would be harm to pedestrians that might be in the way of the car. We have not been able to reproduce the problem. The same maneuvers have been repeated 100's of times without incident. As of this writing, the vehicle is being taken to the Toyota dealer to have the oil changed and at that time they will be asked to do a thorough inspection of the systems that might cause this, check for any recorded malfunctions, etc. To the best of our knowledge, there were no warning lamps or messages that appeared.

I was stopped at an intersection. When I pressed the accelerator to try to pull across the intersection, the vehicle initially began to move forward but almost immediately all acceleration power was lost. The accelerator pedal could be pushed to the floor with no response from the vehicle. It took several seconds of feathering the accelerator for the vehicle to regain the ability to move forward and I was able to clear the intersection. This is the fourth time that I have experienced the same issue with this vehicle over the past two years. The problem cannot be replicated by the dealer. There are no warning lights on in the vehicle. I don’t know if warnings appear during this few seconds of power failure because it happens very quickly and my focus is trying to get out of the way of oncoming traffic. This is a serious safety concern because it has occurred while trying to move through an intersection or pull onto the road. The vehicle losing power and stopping in these moments could result in a collision with an oncoming vehicle.

This report covers 2 events for the same problem. The first occurred in the spring of 2025 and I did not document the date or time. The second one occurred on November 10, 2025 @ about 10:15 a.m. (1) Last spring my wife was driving the Venza up the street to our residence going a slow rate of speed. As she approached the house, she took her foot off on the gas and coasted toward the left curb so she could back into our driveway. At that point, car suddenly surged forward and accelerated toward the curb. My wife rapidly applied the brake and averted any problem. (2) The second event occurred on November 10, 2025 @ 10:15 a.m. My wife was starting to park at a parking lot in the Tanasbourne Town Center. She was going to back into a parking spot so she drove forward going slightly left. Then, with the car still in drive, the car surged forward. She quickly stepped on the brake and the car stopped abruptly. (She was angling the car and was about ready to stop and put the car in reverse when this happened) Again, with her quick response braking, she was able to avert hitting person or thing. As to which component or system failed, there appears to be a random malfunction of sensors or perhaps the CPU...something that is calling for full throttle when the gas petal is not pushed. The safety risk is possible harm to the driver, outside property, or the worse situation would be harm to pedestrians that might be in the way of the car. We have not been able to reproduce the problem. The same maneuvers have been repeated 100's of times without incident. As of this writing, the vehicle is being taken to the Toyota dealer to have the oil changed and at that time they will be asked to do a thorough inspection of the systems that might cause this, check for any recorded malfunctions, etc. To the best of our knowledge, there were no warning lamps or messages that appeared.

Vehicle at operating temperature, running, in gear and at a stop. Making a left turn into traffic. I release the brake and apply the accelerator, the car rolls out into traffic but no power, I press more and more until it is 100% throttle, all the way to the floor. Then after about 5 seconds the vehicle moves forward. Complete loss of response/power for 5 seconds. Thankfully no traffic coming. This happens a second time with the same circumstances, different location. Press the accelerator, no response, sudden loss of all power, then after 5 seconds it responds. This time there is traffic coming to my driver's side at 50 MPH, I was trying to press harder but it wouldn't respond. There were no warning lights, MIL, sounds or messages. Toyota wants $169.99/hr plus tax to investigate.

While driving under normal conditions and driving into my driveway on Thursday, March 19, I experienced a sudden and temporary loss of braking ability. When I applied the brake pedal, the vehicle did not decelerate as expected. This resulted in a collision with a residential fence at low speed. There were no warning lights or prior indications of a braking issue before the incident. The loss of braking appeared to be momentary, but significant enough to prevent me from stopping the vehicle in time. The vehicle has been regularly maintained and had no known prior brake issues although there are times when the brakes skip when traction is involved. There are also sudden issues with the acceleration. Given the safety risk, I believe this incident may be related to a potential defect in the braking system or electronic control systems.

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Venza. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The contact stated that during the first failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed, however the diagnosis was unknown. The contact stated that during the second failure, the steering wheel warning light illuminated, the steering wheel became difficult to turn, and the accelerator and brake pedals seized. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and thirty seconds later, the vehicle operated as intended. The contact stated that during the third failure, the contact became aware that the fuel gauge was not operating properly. After refueling the vehicle, the fuel gauge warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the buttons on her steering wheel and the infotainment system also failed to function as designed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 57,346.

My 2021 VENZA has had an issue with the airbag light coming on. The SRS Airbag Malfunction notification is on when starting the vehicle. Within the first year of having the car I paid to have the system checked and the tensioner and airbag replaced. Three months later the light came back on. I was told the seatbelt got twisted again. Other vehicles under Toyota have active recalls on Airbag issues currently with this manufacturer. I believe this make and model should be included. I am currently having to pay another diagnostic fee in 2026 after only having the preowned vehicle two years to figure out why the SRS malfunction notification has come back on. Of course the light has come on when the vehicle is out of warranty. My safety is at risk if the airbag malfunctions so of course I am taking this notification very seriously. I don't ignore issues like this. Consistent failure in the airbag system is scary. I don't want to have an accident in which the airbag fails. This make and model is not longer being produced but it should be included in Toyota's current airbag recall.

I was involved in a no fault accident when an SUV slammed into the back of my Toyota Venza at full speed and pushed me into the left guardrail of the bridge we were driving on. Neither the front airbags or the driver (left) side airbags deployed.

Left side of my heated steering overheated and burned through the leather.

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Venza. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The contact stated that during the first failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed, however the diagnosis was unknown. The contact stated that during the second failure, the steering wheel warning light illuminated, the steering wheel became difficult to turn, and the accelerator and brake pedals seized. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and thirty seconds later, the vehicle operated as intended. The contact stated that during the third failure, the contact became aware that the fuel gauge was not operating properly. After refueling the vehicle, the fuel gauge warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the buttons on her steering wheel and the infotainment system also failed to function as designed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 57,346.

Indeed, I recently encountered a concerning issue with my 2021 Toyota Venza. The problem manifested in mid-July, during the process of preparing to enter my vehicle. To my dismay, the door refused to open. Despite my repeated attempts to use the keyless entry system, the door stubbornly remained closed. Consequently, I was compelled to resort to using my key fob, which presented its own challenges. While I would not typically express such frustration, the safety implications of this issue are significant and have become quite inconvenient for me. As a physically disabled individual, I rely on a scooter lift in the rear of my vehicle to facilitate my mobility. This lift allows me to walk to the front of the car while holding onto the side for stability, preventing potential falls. On the day in question, I slipped my hand behind the handle of the door to open it and it didn't work. When I attempted to activate the unlock button on my key fob, it failed to respond. Despite my repeated attempts to press the button at least ten times, it remained unresponsive. By this point, my legs had become increasingly weak, to the extent that I felt a slight loss of balance when using the key. As a physically disabled individual and of an advanced age, I am unable to stand for extended periods. Therefore, this issue has caused me considerable stress and emotional distress. Upon visiting my local Toyota dealer, I was informed that the repair would incur a cost of approximately $800, which I unfortunately lack the financial means to cover. Consequently, I contacted Toyota’s 800 number to inquire about any special financial hardship programs that might assist me in paying for this repair. Regrettably, I was informed that such programs were not available. This situation has become increasingly frustrating for me. I find it difficult to reconcile the fact that Toyota has a history of encountering numerous issues with various of its models.

OUR CAR IMPACTED WITH ANOTHER AS WE TRIED TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY FROM A SHORT MERGE LANE. THE OTHER CAR ENTERED IN FRONT OF US FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER WE PASSED A STOP SIGN IN THE MERGE LANE; THE OTHER CAR THEN STOPPED SHORT BEFORE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, JUST AS WE WERE SPEEDING UP THE ENTER THE HIGHWAY. A SENSOR SOUNDED IN OUR CAR, WE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, AND THE TWO CARES COLLIDED. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT OF OUR VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED; THE REAR DRIVE SIDE OF THE OTHER CAR WAS DAMAGED. DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT IN OUR CAR OPERATED NORMALLY. PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT IN OUR CAR LOOSENED INSTEAD OF TIGHTENED; PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON DASHBOARD AS BRAKES WERE HIT OR IMPACT HAPPENED (WE WERE GOING APPROX. 15 MPH. UPON IMPACT). SAID PASSENGER OBSERVED UPON IMPACT OF HEAD ON DASH THAT HER SEAT BELT WAS HANGING SLACK AWAY FROM HER CHEST BY APPROX. SIX TO EIGHT INCHES. TOYOTA PRODUCT LIABILITY DEPT. WAS INFORMED (CASE NUMBER 210409002008) BETWEEN 6:15 AND 7:30 PM ON FRIDAY, APRIL 9TH, 2021. THEY SAY THEY WILL DOWNLOAD THE "BLACK BOX" INFORMATION, BUT THEY HAVEN'T COMMITTED TO A PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF THE SEATBELT, WHICH SEEMS CRITICAL (I.E., THAT A SEATBELT ENGINEER PHYSICALLY INVESTIGATE).*DT