2011 Toyota Venza Owner Complaints

Purchased a 2011 toyota venza almost 28 days ago. I haven't even made my first payment for my car loan. The rain here in florida has shown that it is raining inside my vehicle. I have contacted the dealer, I have contacted my insurance company. I have done research and it's a known issue with this vehicle. I need help in correcting this. I am not driving the vehicle because it was shorting out the electric in the car. I have a tarp over it now. Can you point me in the direction of where to turn?

NHTSA ID

11673809

Incident

Jul 13, 2025

My horn no longer works. My mechanic informed me that it is the part that sits behind the airbag in the steering wheel. I was also informed that this happens to a lot of Toyota's. It is very expensive to repair and have not had it repaired. Since it is a common problem, does this issue fall under a recall? I don't feel safe driving without a horn. You don't realize how often you need/use it until you can't.

NHTSA ID

11635843

Incident

May 10, 2024

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ID

11576057

Incident

Sep 13, 2023

I had a 2011 Toyota Venza. Notice oil leakage. Took for oil and filter change and a check. Nothing was found, however four months later car began rattling and driving rough - I took to dealership and was told the Water Pump needed to be replaced. I have since found out that Toyota has had a many issues with the VVT-i Oil line failures AND Water Pump failures- Both that lead to a Failed Engine!! They fixed the water pump, however 45days later, my vehicles just stopped running as I was driving down the road. I checked oil - it was empty! Car would not start. I had car towed to dealer. I was then told 3days later that I needed a New Engine! That the Compressors were bad. In my research I found that when the compressor is starting to go out- the vehicle begins to run rough! This is what was told to the Dealership. I believe they failed to properly diagnosed my vehicle. And they wanted me to pay $9400 to Repair!!!! $5500 for a used Engine!! If Toyota knows they have the issue with the oil line... they should have checked for this... and checked the Engine when they KNOW THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILURE EFFECTS THE ENGINE!!!!!! I AM NOT THE MECHANIC!! The service guy at the dealership had his head down the entire time ... he knows they screwed up!! Of Course taking NO OWNERSHIP. I asked him why wouldn't they check for Engine compression when I told them it was driving rough - he says they just don't check for that!!! NOT MY FAULT.... This is NOT what I expect from a Toyota- has anyone else had this issues??? Vehicle had 168,000 miles. I had a Toyota Landcruiser with well over 220,000 miles and NEVER an engine issue!

NHTSA ID

11555299

Incident

Oct 20, 2023

The roof panoramic glass shattered for no apparent reason. Passengers in the car could have been harmed Insurance has approved the repair. There was no warning or indication of failure.

NHTSA ID

11549925

Incident

Sep 22, 2023

The headlight housing prongs are incorrect. The bulbs are H11, but the housing does not fit h11. I have tried 4 different brands.

NHTSA ID

11547229

Incident

Sep 28, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Venza. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated, and the check SRS (Supplement Restraint System) message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the error messages were cleared; however, upon placing her purse on the passenger seat, the messages again became displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that the driver’s side harness needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V014000 (Air Bags, Seat). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 137,945.

NHTSA ID

11532247

Incident

Jun 22, 2023

Mileage

137,945 mi

Major brake problem ; we were saved miraculously I have a Toyota Venza 2011 and I am the only owner ; the car drives smooth , however with major brakes issue My brakes and rotors are still in good condition, however; twice in the highway I wanted to slow down and the brakes don’t work , I freak out and my steering wheel looses control and almost hit cars but after a couple minutes it works The worst one was a couple days ago ; was driving at 30 miles an hour trying yo drop off my daughter for her game , hit the curb , brakes completely Lost Control and the car won’t stop We panicked the car luckily kept going in the direction of the parking lot and I chose to go through bushes to stop the car and put the emergency brake ; the car after a few horror minutes stopped If the car merged a little bit outside the parking lot there is fast traffic and a lake right after I had the car towed right away , I will not touch that car again At the dealership they tried to dismiss the problem saying that brakes are fine I read multiple complaints on forums about the same issue This BRAKE Disaster NEEDS to be recalled People’s lives are in play If this doesn’t get resolved there will be lawyers involved

NHTSA ID

11428931

Incident

Aug 11, 2021

HEATED LIGHTS ON BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT NOT WARMING UP. BOUGHT THIS CAR SECOND HAND FROM A SMALL AUTO DEALER (BUYACAR.COM IN GREENSBORO NC). BUT I DID TAKE MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIRS, THEY DID NOT TELL ME THAT THERE'S A RECALL ABOUT SEATS FOR THIS MODEL AND I DID COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WARMING SEAT NOT WORKING. SO RECALL WAS ABOUT, WIRING OF SEAT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT CHECK BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE CHARGED$500 FOR A REPAIR THAT IS PART OF A RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ID

11408309

Incident

May 31, 2016

Mileage

64,750 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH IN THE RAIN AND FOG WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL ON A CURVE COLLIDING INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AS THE FRONT AND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11309894

Incident

Jan 4, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

I HAVE A 2011 TOYOTA VENZA WITH 136000 MILES AND BURNS THRU OIL. I HAVE TO PUT OIL EVERY MONTH IF I AM NOT CAREFUL IT WILL BURN QUICKLY.

NHTSA ID

11283152

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

Mileage

134,000 mi

I HAVE POSTED THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT BECAUSE THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THE TIME I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED IN 2017. SOMETHING IS CAUSING THE POWER TO DRAIN FROM THE BATTERY I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES SINCE 2017 I WAS TOLD THAT I WASN'T DRIVING THE CAR ENOUGH TO KEEP IT CHARGED IF I LEFT IT SIT FOR 3 DAYS WITHOUT STARTING IT.

NHTSA ID

11277290

Incident

Oct 9, 2019

Mileage

85,000 mi

HEATED SEAT WIRING WAS DISCONNECTED BY THE DEALER TO PREVENT A FIRE AND NOTED THAT THE PLUG WAS MELTED AND THE SEAT WAS CHARRED, DUE TO A MALFUNCTION, MY HEATED SEAT ON DRIVER SIDE STOPPED WORKING, FOUND A NHTSA CHAMPAIGN ID 14V743000 THAT AFFECTED 2009-2011 TOYOTA VENZA AND ALSO REPORTED TO TOYOTA CORPORATION AT 800-331-4331 SPOKE WITH KHUSHBOO, REGARDING THE RECALL AND SHE STATED MY VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT MY VEHICLE FALLS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE RECALL ON TOYOTA VENZA 2009-2011.

NHTSA ID

11266882

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

94,000 mi

WHEN MY CAR HIT 100,000 MILES IT STARTED HAVING A ISSUE WHEN STARTING UP, I WOULD HEAR LIKE A GRINDING, WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL I HAD FOUND OUT THERE WAS MINIMAL OIL IN MY CAR, I ADDED OIL AND TOOK BY MY SHOP THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER TOYOTAS THAT HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. OIL CONSUMPTION, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, REPLACED THE OIL HOUSING, THE TUBING, HAD THEM RUNNING OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS, AND THEM TELLING ME THAT MY CAR PASSED AND CHARGING ME FOR ALL TEST. MY CAR NOW, IS EATING ABOUT 15 Q OF OIL EVERY 5000 MILES AND TOYOTA STILL SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I AM WORRIED MY CAR WILL STALL ON A FREEWAY WHEN THERE IS NO MORE OIL IN MY ENGINE AND THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO KNOW, CAUSE IT JUST BURNED ALL AWAY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JS *DT

NHTSA ID

11192187

Incident

Mar 25, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

WARNING CONTROL LIGHTS ARE ON IN 20MINUTES AFTER VEHICLE IS RUNNING

NHTSA ID

11174631

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

Mileage

10 mi

ON 12/14/2018 I PUT MY HAND ON THE SIRIUS/TOYOTA RADIO DISPLAY AND NOTED THE SCREEN WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH. THE RADIO HAD BEEN ON FOR ABOUT AN HOUR LISTING TO SATELLITE RADIO. THIS COULD BE A VARY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11161792

Incident

Dec 14, 2018

DRIVER SEAT HEATER IS NOT WORKING AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL # 14V743000. BUT FOR SOME REASON MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER IS NOT RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

11153729

Incident

Nov 10, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHILE MOVING, THE VENZA SEEMS TO JERK, AS IF IT'S ABOUT TO STOP, W/OUT ME APPLYING A FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL (MY FOOT IS ON THE GAS). THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THIS YEAR.

NHTSA ID

11124186

Incident

Jul 12, 2018

Mileage

30,000 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN AND DOES NOT STAY UP AND BLOCKS VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11101737

Incident

Jun 11, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE SUN VISOR IN MY VENZA BROKE AND WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION CREATING A VISIBILITY ISSUE. UPON AN INTERNET SEARCH, I FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH SEVERAL TOYOTA MODELS. IN FACT, THE CAMRY WAS RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE VISORS IN MORE RECENT MODEL CONFIRMING THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF A DESIGN FLAW. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CORPORATION BUT THEY SAID CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT DISCUSS HISTORY OF FLAWED VISORS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A 2011 VEHICLE WITH ONLY 27,000 MILES: THERE HAS BEEN NO EXCESSIVE WEAR ON CAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS TO VERIFY AGE AND MILEAGE. I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $186 TO REPLACE VISOR. TOYOTA IS PROFITING FROM A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW IMPACTING CONSUMER SAFETY.

NHTSA ID

11100417

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

27,000 mi

MY VEHICLE NEVER RECEIVED SERVICE FOR THE FOLLOWING RECALLS BY TH NHTSA NHTSA #'S 14V743000 13V123000 13V014000 12V091000 11V306000 NO HISTORY OF THESE RECALLS COMPLETED MY VIN# [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11099939

Incident

Jun 5, 2018

Mileage

98,000 mi

SEATS RUBBED ON CONSOLE. STRONG ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEATS NO LONGER OPERATE. WHEN IN REVERSE AND TURNING STEERING WHEEL LOUD SQUEALING NOISE AND THUMPING UNTIL PLACED IN DRIVE. WENT TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS WHO SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR FELL DOWN AND BLOCKED ABILITY TO SEE WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11096950

Incident

Jul 15, 2012

Mileage

20 mi

UNSAFE TO DRIVE RUST CORROSION OF SUB FRAME. VEHICLE KEPT IN GARAGE AND BROUGHT INTO TOYOTA DEALER EVERY 5K MILES FOR MAINTENANCE SINCE PURCHASE IN 2011. MY PROBLEM IS THE FAULTY SUB FRAME PART AND THE DEALERSHIP NEGLECT.

NHTSA ID

11079513

Incident

Mar 10, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE POWER-DRIVEN BACK HATCH CAUGHT SOME FINGERS IN IT AS IT CLOSED. THIS HAPPENED TO ME ([XXX]) SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND I IGNORED IT. IT HAPPENED TO MY GRANDSON ([XXX]) YESTERDAY. IT DIDN'T BREAK ANY BONES BUT DID DO SOME FLESH DAMAGE AND CAUSED SOME SERIOUS PAIN. IS THERE ANY WAY OF TURNING OFF THE POWER-DRIVEN FEATURE? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11051651

Incident

Nov 30, 2017

Mileage

146,000 mi

THE TOYOTA VENZA 2011 HAS PROBLEMS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE CAR IS AT HIGH. THE ABS LIGHT TURN ON MAKING IT HARD TO STEER. THE TRACTION LOST CONTROL LIGHT ALSO TURNS ON. A RED STEERING WHEEL LIGHT TURNS ON. ONCE ALL THESE LIGHTS ARE ON, THEN THE AC DOES NOT WORK AND THE HEAT DOESN'T WORK EITHER. IN THE WINTER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS AT HIGH, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. IN THE SUMMER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ONLY THE SUN HEATS UP THE CAR CAUSING THE SAME WARNING LIGHT COME ON AND THEN I CAN'T GET ANY AIR CONDITIONING AGAIN. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS. WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO TRY TO FIX IT BUT THEY HAVEN'T FIXED ANYTHING. THEY JUST CHARGED UP TO $700 AND THEY HAVEN'T FIXED ANYTHING. THEY DID A COMPUTER RESETS AND COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS HAVE TRIED TO FIX IT BUT NONE OF THEM ARE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ALSO, WHEN THE AC IS ON DURING THE HEAT UP THE ENGINE FANS THAT COOL OFF THE ENGINE STOP WORKING. OUR CARS ENGINE STOPPED ALL OF THE SUDDEN REALLY RECENTLY WHEN IT WAS REALLY HOT. FROM AN AUCTION.

NHTSA ID

11019780

Incident

Feb 21, 2013

Mileage

1,500 mi