2009 Toyota Venza Interior & seats Problems

Hello, I issue this complaint because my 2009 Venza interior started smelling like smoke. It went on for a bit thinking it may be something outside the vehicle. I then realized the smell was coming from the seat I was sitting on. I've read online about this problem and its seems this is a problem many owners of this vehicle have experienced. It seems to me this should be a safety hazard. Thank You [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11626280

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

Dear NHTSA, I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to bring to your attention a matter of significant concern regarding water leakage in my vehicle, which I believe has the potential to compromise the safety and functionality of the car's electronic systems. I would like to submit this report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to address and rectify this issue promptly. During the rainy season, I have observed water leaks occurring on both sides of the front section of my vehicle. This water infiltration has raised serious concerns about the possibility of damage to the car's computer system, thereby posing a potential risk of car malfunction. The electronic components of modern vehicles, including vital control units and sensors, are susceptible to water damage. In the event of such damage, there is a heightened risk of malfunctions that could compromise the overall safety and performance of the vehicle. Furthermore, I have identified an additional water leakage issue through the panoramic roof at the backside of the car. This raises the likelihood of water seeping into the interior of the vehicle, potentially damaging interior components, electrical wiring, and compromising the structural integrity of the car. I am reaching out to the NHTSA with the intention of highlighting the severity of these issues and advocating for a comprehensive investigation into the water leakage concerns in my vehicle model. I believe that swift action is necessary to prevent any potential safety hazards that may arise from compromised electronic systems or structural damage due to water infiltration. In light of the safety implications associated with water damage to the vehicle's electronic components, I urge the NHTSA to initiate a thorough examination of this matter. Your prompt attention to this matter is crucial in ensuring the safety of drivers and passengers who may be affected by similar issues.

NHTSA ID

11559400

Incident

Dec 6, 2022

THE SEAT HEATERS IN THE VEHICLE DON'T WORK LIKE THEY SHOULD. SOMETIMES THERE IS A BURNING SMELL TO THEM. THE DRIVERS SIDE ONE WENT OUT COMPLETELY ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND WE HAD IT FIXED NOW THE PASSENGER ONE ISN'T WORKING AT ALL. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER GETS PRETTY HOT TOO AND HAS TO BE SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ID

11298062

Incident

Dec 2, 2019

Mileage

146,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE SEAT NO HEAT. SPEED SENSOR FRONT RIGHT THERE LIGHT ON BREAK ABS AND VSC. REAR DIFFERENTIAL MAKE NOISE

NHTSA ID

11174623

Incident

Feb 2, 2019

MY FRONT SEAT HEATING SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN WORKING SINCE LAST YEAR. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON TOYOTA VENZA 2009 FOR FRONT SEAT HEATING ISSUES UNTIL NOW. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN IT TO ANY DEALERSHIP TO RECTIFY OR DISCONNECT THE HEATING ELEMENTS. I BELIEVE THIS MIGHT STILL BE A SAFETY ISSUE TO MY VEHICLE. WHAT STEPS SHOULD I TAKE?

NHTSA ID

11164927

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

VEHICLE IS 9 YEARS OLD, BUT WITH ONLY 56,135 MILES AND VERY WELL MAINTAINED. DRIVEN BY A SMALL FEMALE, WHICH IS RELEVANT. EXPERIENCED AN ACRID, BURNING SMELL WHICH CAUSED GAGGING AND COUGHING. NO SMOKE VISIBLE. DEALER FOUND PROBLEMS WITH HEATED SEATS, WIRING AND CONNECTORS. ENTIRE HEATED SEAT SYSTEM NEEDS REPLACED AT COST OF $1130.30 FOR EACH SEAT. MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE ONLINE. THERE IS NO WAY THAT A SMALL FRAMED FEMALE'S WEIGHT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE WIRING WITHIN THE SEAT HEATERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE, DUE TO THIS BEING A SAFETY HAZARD. COULD EASILY CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11152183

Incident

Nov 8, 2018

Mileage

56,135 mi

HEATED SEAT TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER (#875010T010) FAILS RESULTING IN HEATED SEAT FAILURE. IN OUR CASE, THE CONTROLLER FAILED MELTING THE WIRE HARNESS PLUG TO THE CONTROLLER. THIS COULD HAVE STARTED THE SEAT ON FIRE WITH OUR 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA HAS DISCONTINUED THIS PART FOR 2009-2014 VENZA'S AND HAS NOT OFFERED A REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID

11065930

Incident

Jan 6, 2018

Mileage

103,000 mi

THE DRIVER HEATED SEAT NO LONGER WORKS, AT ALL. I PURCHASED IT USED WITH 46K MILES AND IT WORKED FOR ONE WINTER (2014) BUT NO LONGER. THE LIGHT FOR THE HEATER COMES ON BUT THERE IS NO HEAT EMITTED. THERE ARE MULTIPLE RECALLS FOR THIS AVAILABLE BUT NONE FOR MY VIN #. DEALER ESTIMATED $1200+ TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL.

NHTSA ID

11062429

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER IN THE LEATHER SEAT WORKED FINE UNTIL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. NOW WHEN IT IS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION THERE IS A SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRICAL WIRING. SEAT HEATER WAS TURNED OFF, THEN ON AGAIN A COUPLE OF TIMES TO TEST IT. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS STATIONERY OR ON THE ROAD, JUST ANY TIME THE SEAT HEATER IS TURNED ON. NOW THE SEAT HEATER IS OFF AND WILL NOT BE TURNED ON BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THIS VIN NUMBER IS NOT UNDER THE CURRENT SEAT HEATER RECALLS. IT APPEARS FROM THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, THERE ARE MANY OTHER CARS OF THIS MAKE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOT UNDER THE CURRENT RECALLS. THERE SHOULD BE MORE RECALLS, AND THERE SHOULD BE A REPAIR, NOT JUST A DISCONNECT THE WIRING. PEOPLE PAY GOOD MONEY FOR THE COMFORT FEATURES AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.

NHTSA ID

11045517

Incident

Feb 21, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHEN DRIVER-SIDE SEAT WARMER IS ACTIVATED THERE IS A STRONG WIRE BURNING SMELL THAT FILLS THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OTHER MODELS, AROUND THE SAME YEAR, WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. IT APPEARS THE 2009 VENZA ALSO HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10992613

Incident

Apr 14, 2017

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED A "RUBBER BURNING" SMELL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ECU RELATED TO MY DRIVER SEAT WARMER HAD STARTED TO MELT. THE ECU WAS REMOVED AND THE HEATING ELEMENT FOR MY DRIVER SEAT WAS DISCONNECTED. TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART STATING THAT IT IS OUT OF THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. I POINTED OUT THAT THIS SEEMED TO ME TO BE MORE OF A POTENTIAL RECALL ISSUE RELATED TO A MANUFACTURE DEFECT/FAULTY PRODUCT. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10930064

Incident

Apr 5, 2016

Mileage

81,000 mi

SEAT HEATER OR DRIVER SIDE HEATS UP TOO HOT AND TOO FAST. SMELLS LIKE WIRES ARE BURNING. BROUGHT TO DEALER THEY ARE PUSHING US TO INSTALL A NEW SEAT FOR $5200.00. AND CHARGED US $112.00 FOR DIAGNOSTICS. AND DID NOT DISABLE THE HEATER. THEY LEFT IT IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION. CAR WAS TURNED ON IN PARK ALSO HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. (ANSWERED NO FIRE BELOW BUT YOU COULD SMELL THE WIRE OR SOMETHING BURNING).

NHTSA ID

10809340

Incident

Dec 2, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi

AS WITH CERTAIN 2009 VENZAS MANUFACTURED IN THE SOUTHEASTERN USA, I HAVE ONE I WAS TOLD WAS MANUFACTURED IN THE GULF STATES, WHERE THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER WIRING HAS ALSO BEEN DAMAGED. UNLIKE SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, LLC (SET), THERE HAS BEEN NO OTHER RECALL BY GULF STATES TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS (GST), AND IT'S QUITE CONCERNING. I'M FINDING SEVERAL PEOPLE OWNING VENZA'S WHO ARE HAVING A SIMILAR ISSUE. "THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE COMPRESSION OF THE SEAT CUSHION WHICH MAY DAMAGE THE SEAT HEATER WIRING. CONSEQUENCE: DAMAGE TO THE SEAT HEATER WIRING COULD CAUSE THE WIRES TO SHORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF THE SEAT BURNING AND CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT."

NHTSA ID

10734873

Incident

Jul 4, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT PRODUCED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE WIRING INSIDE THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID

10693882

Incident

Jan 21, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE HEATED LEATHER FACTORY INSTALLED SEATS IN OUR 2009 TOYOTA VENZA START TO SMELL LIKE ELECTRIC WIRES MELTING AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TURNING THEM ON. I HAVE CALLED MY TOYOTA DEALER AND TOYOTA CORPORATION AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY MODEL AND VIN. I HAVE 140,000 MILES ONLY CAR AND THEY ARE TELLING ME TO TAKE IT TO MY DEALER TO GET A DIAGNOSIS WHICH I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR SINCE I AM OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIODS THERE IS A RECALL ON AFTER MARKET COMPONENTS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE BUT MINE IS FACTORY INSTALL. HOW DO I GET THIS PLACED ON A RECALL LIST. I AM AFRAID MY SEATS WILL CATCH ON FIRE IF THIS IS NOT REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683848

Incident

Jan 15, 2015

Mileage

1,400,000 mi

ON 1-22-13 WE HAD THE SEAT HEATER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REPAIRED. WE OBSERVED THAT THE CAB WOULD FILL WITH THE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNING WHEN WE ENGAGED THE SEAT HEATER. IT FIRST OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH PRIOR, BUT AT THAT TIME I COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SMELL. AN ONLINE CHECK REVEALED THAT NHTSA HAD ANNOUNCED A RECALL FOR SEATS: FRONT ASSEMBLY;SEAT HEATER/COOLER ON NOVEMBER 19TH, 2014, REF: 14V743000. I WOULD REQUEST THAT OUR VIN BE INCLUDED ON THE RECALL LIST, SO THAT WE COULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THE REPAIR. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10682772

Incident

Jan 22, 2013

Mileage

22,327 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT CUSHION WAS LACKING SUPPORT AND WOULD CAUSE DIFFICULTY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REACH AND MANEUVER THE PEDALS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000.

NHTSA ID

10384536

Incident

Dec 26, 2010

Mileage

18,000 mi

WHEN USING THE AUTOMATIC REAR BACK DOOR LIFT FEATURE ON THE TOYOTA VENZA THE DOOR CONTINUES TO CLOSE DESPITE RESISTANCE. ONCE THE BUTTON IS PUSHED TO CLOSE, IT APPEARS THAT ANYTHING THAT GETS IN THE WAY WILL GET SMASHED. AN ARCHIVED DISCUSSION WAS POSTED (JUST FOR THE LOCKING PORTION) AT: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-322499.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378089

Incident

Jan 20, 2011

Mileage

20,000 mi