2013 Toyota Venza Problems

Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Potential Safety Issue - 2009-2015 Toyota Venza Models Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), I am writing to formally report a potential safety concern related to the 2009-2015 Toyota Venza Models. The issue pertains to a discernible creaking sound originating from the turn signal stalk when the turn signals are engaged and the steering wheel is turned. Upon thorough examination, it has been identified that the source of this noise is the clock spring, a crucial airbag component designated by its yellow color and distinguished by two orange and yellow wires. It is imperative to emphasize that the clock spring, being a vital element of the airbag system, plays a pivotal role in ensuring occupant safety. Unfortunately, the persistent "clicking/ratcheting" noise associated with the turn signals in these models has been observed to have adverse consequences over time. This prolonged issue leads to clock spring failure, subsequently triggering the activation of the airbag light. It has come to my attention that Toyota is aware of this concern, yet no remedial action has been taken, purportedly due to the relatively low sales volume of the Venza. It is notable that this noise issue is widespread among used Venzas, signifying a systemic problem that necessitates prompt attention. In circumstances where vital airbag components are intricately connected to sensitive elements like the clock spring, the presence of abnormal noises should be considered a cause for concern. Given the critical role of these components in ensuring the efficacy of the airbag system, I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter thoroughly. The safety and well-being of vehicle occupants should always be of paramount importance, irrespective of sales figures. Your intervention in addressing and rectifying this potential safety issue would undoubtedly contribute to enhancing the overall safety standards of the affected Toyota Venza Models.

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Venza. The contact stated when starting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the passenger’s side seat belt warning light remained illuminated with a passenger in the seat. The contact stated that the driver’s side and passenger’s side air bags seat belts warning lights recently started to remain illuminated. The local dealer was contacted about inspecting the vehicle however, the contact declined after being provided a cost to do the diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Sunroof/moonroof assembly leaks heavily in rain, makes cracking sound over bumps Dealer/manufacturer will not fix, they want $4600 to repair

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA VENZA. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, WATER WAS DISCOVERED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOORMAT. THE CONTACT HEARD WATER SWISHING AROUND UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER (BREDEMANN TOYOTA, 1301 W DEMPSTER ST, PARK RIDGE, IL 60068, (847) 655-1435) ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

BOUGHT THE CAR USED, THE VERY FIRST DAY AFTER PURCHASE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKE AREA. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING ELSE WEIRD, JUST SMOKE. NOW, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THE BRAKES SOMETIMES FEEL AS IF THEY'RE LOCKING UP AND NOT LETTING GO, BUT ALSO NOT STOPPING THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. SMOKE IS ALSO COMING OUT OF THE FRONT BRAKE AREA AGAIN. SEEING AS THIS IS 2019 AND IT'S A 2013 CAR, THERE IS NO WARRANTY LEFT ON THE CAR. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT AN INTERNAL LEAK INSIDE THE MASTER CYLINDER. A PROBLEM THAT IS HARD TO REPLICATE FOR A DEALERSHIP, WARRANTY OR NOT. DECIDED TO LOOK FOR RECALL INFO ABOUT THE BRAKES FOR THIS CAR WHEN I CHOSE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA. I WILL ALSO NOTIFY TOYOTA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I'M HOPING THAT BY REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED.

ON HWY VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP OR STEER, LOST ALL POWER AND CONTROL. CAME TO STOP IN THE MEDIAN, HAD TO HAVE TOWED, CAUSE IS LISTED AS :173600410, C1201, C1241, C1441 TOYOTA OF IRVING CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

Upon approaching my vehicle and unlocking it, the drivers side mirror courtesy light wire caught on fire and started smoking. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk because had I not been there my entire car could have caught on fire as well as any thing or anyone around or in my vehicle. No one has inspected the vehicle at this time. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure. They first appeared the moment it happened.

I complained to a Toyota Dealer about this problem in 6-2017. The took it for a road test and the car did not do it and it did not record a code. So they could not find a solution. Intermittently and without warning the electronic link between the gas pedal and the engine is inoperative for 3-5 seconds. During this period the car is not under power, it is coasting and depressing the gas pedal has no effect on the engine speed. After this period the electronic link is automatically restored and the engine is again responsive to pressure on the gas pedal. I have been dealing with this scenario ever since I purchased this car in 8-2013. It seems to be happening more frequently. Needless to say, it is a very dangerous situation. I no longer feel safe driving this car. .

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Venza. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a distorted image. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not under recall. In addition, the contact stated that due to the failure, the contact was concerned about crashing into any objects behind the vehicle while reversing. The contact stated that the rear-view display was not viewable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was unknown.

I complained to a Toyota Dealer about this problem in 6-2017. The took it for a road test and the car did not do it and it did not record a code. So they could not find a solution. Intermittently and without warning the electronic link between the gas pedal and the engine is inoperative for 3-5 seconds. During this period the car is not under power, it is coasting and depressing the gas pedal has no effect on the engine speed. After this period the electronic link is automatically restored and the engine is again responsive to pressure on the gas pedal. I have been dealing with this scenario ever since I purchased this car in 8-2013. It seems to be happening more frequently. Needless to say, it is a very dangerous situation. I no longer feel safe driving this car. .

I complained to a Toyota Dealer about this problem in 6-2017. The took it for a road test and the car did not do it and it did not record a code. So they could not find a solution. Intermittently and without warning the electronic link between the gas pedal and the engine is inoperative for 3-5 seconds. During this period the car is not under power, it is coasting and depressing the gas pedal has no effect on the engine speed. After this period the electronic link is automatically restored and the engine is again responsive to pressure on the gas pedal. I have been dealing with this scenario ever since I purchased this car in 8-2013. It seems to be happening more frequently. Needless to say, it is a very dangerous situation. I no longer feel safe driving this car. .

THIS CAR HAS 166000 MILES ON IT AND ALWAYS HAD A DEALER OIL CHANGES. IT NOW IS USING A QUART OFF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES OR LESS. THERE ARE NO OIL LEAKS TO BE FOUND AND THE DEALER ADMITS THAT THAT IS TO MUCH OIL CONSUMPTION BUT CANNOT HELP ME WITH ANY KIND OF FACTORY REPAIRS. FOR A MODERN ENGINE THIS IS WAY TO MUCH OIL USE. I HAVE A 1990 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 522000 MILES AND USES LESS THAN 1/2 A QUART BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. TOYOTA HAS REALLY GONE DOWN HILL ON THIS ENGINE DESIGN.

Both front lower control arms were cracked. Dealer kept old parts. These parts help control the steering to the wheels. The cracks were confirmed by the Dealer only. The car was not inspected by any other entities. There were no warning indicators, the problem was founded during a routine multipoint inspection.

THE EPS (ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING) WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE NAVIGATION SCREEN GOES BLANK AND THE SATELLITE RADIO TURNS OFF AND THEN IT STARTS BACK UP. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY.

Fuel pump fail causing the car to stall out going 75 miles an hour on the highway

Internal Fault of fuel pump assembly. With NO prior warnings of messages or warning lights from the dash, nor any poor performance issues of starting or running of the engine the fuel pump failed all at once while driving on an expressway at 65 mph and the engine shut down leaving me without any control of my vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who confirmed that the fuel pump had an internal failure and the vehicle is disabled. No Recall has been issues by Toyota for this model year. An extremely dangerous situation that Toyota is not properly addressing.

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Venza. The contact stated when starting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the passenger’s side seat belt warning light remained illuminated with a passenger in the seat. The contact stated that the driver’s side and passenger’s side air bags seat belts warning lights recently started to remain illuminated. The local dealer was contacted about inspecting the vehicle however, the contact declined after being provided a cost to do the diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

2013 TOYOTA VENZA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HEAD REST. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD REST DID NOT REMAIN IN A SET POSITION, BUT EXTENDED ITSELF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL. *JB

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY 2014 AND WITH LESS THAN 40K MILES THE DOOR ACTUATOR ALREADY FAILED (DRIVER DOOR AND REAR DOOR PASSENGER SIDE). I JUST GOT IT FIXED AND TOYOTA DID NOT CHARGE ME FOR THE PARTS BUT I WAS CHARGED FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS AND THE LABOR. NOW ANOTHER DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED (PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR). I COULDN'T SEE ANY RECALLS ABOUT THE DOOR ACTUATOR BUT HAVING 3 OF THEM FAILED IS JUST NOT NORMAL. I'M NOT SURE IF I'M THE ONLY ONE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS.

THE HEAD RESTRAINT OR HEAD REST IS POSITIONED SO THAT IT PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD IN AN UNNATURAL ANGLE. IT APPLIES PRESSURE THAT CAUSES A SEVERE HEADACHE AFTER DRIVING 15 TO 20 MINUTES WITH MY HEAD PUSHED FORWARD SO FAR. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT OF THE HEAD RESTRAINT ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE ANGLE OF THE BACK SUPPORT TO CORRECT THE UNNATURAL ANGLE. THE DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM SAYING THAT THEY HAD CONTACTED THE INDIVIDUAL THEY DEAL WITH AT TOYOTA BALTIMORE AREA SALES WHO SAID: THAT IS THE WAY THE HEAD RESTRAINT IS DESIGNED AND THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE HEAD REST COULD BE REVERSED WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM BUT THAT THEY COULD NOT TELL ME TO DO THIS BECAUSE THIS NEGATED THE CRASH TESTING DONE FOR GOVERNMENT APPROVALS. THEY INDICATED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND HAD REVERSED THE HEAD RESTRAINT, BUT THAT THEY COULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS. HOWEVER WHEN THE HEAD REST IS REVERSED, THERE IS A LARGE GAP BETWEEN THE RESTRAINT AND MY HEAD THAT IS NOT SAFE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION. THE FACT THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE, HAVE REVERSED THE RESTRAINT IN STRONG EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

TURNED ON ENGINE WENT TO PUSH UP THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR IT WOULD NOT CLICK INTO PLACE I TRIED AGAIN AND THE VISOR JUST DROPPED AND WOULD NOT GO UP AGAIN. IT APPEARS THAT THE MECHANISM TO HOLD THE VISOR UP IS PULLING THE FABRIC OUT FROM UNDER THE MIRROR TOO. THIS HAPPENED 8/27/2020. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN SINCE THIS CAR IS CARED FOR BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER.

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE WITH MOON ROOF/SUN ROOF OPEN, THE MOON ROOF/SUN ROOF SHATTERED INTO A GAZILLION PIECES. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF A ROCK OR OTHER PROJECTILE HITTING THE MOON ROOF/SUN ROOF. IT JUST RAINED GLASS DOWN ON US WITHOUT WARNING. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS WEARING A BALL CAP THAT PROTECTED HIS EYES, BUT IT COULD HAVE BLINDED SOMEONE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I CUT STAINED GLASS SO AM FAMILIAR WITH HOW GLASS BREAKS. I BELIEVE THE PANORAMIC MOON ROOF/SUN ROOF IS A DESIGN DEFECT, WHICH RESULTED IN A STRESS FRACTURE. I HAVE PICTURES THAT CLEARLY SHOW BOTH SIDES OF THE MOON/SUN ROOF TORE SIMULTANEOUSLY. ALL THIS FROM AN ALLEGED "ROCK". I DON'T THINK SO. *TR

Upon approaching my vehicle and unlocking it, the drivers side mirror courtesy light wire caught on fire and started smoking. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk because had I not been there my entire car could have caught on fire as well as any thing or anyone around or in my vehicle. No one has inspected the vehicle at this time. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure. They first appeared the moment it happened.

PARK THE CAR GOT OUT TOOK THE KEYS OUT,WENT TO THE BACK OF CAR TO OPEN TRUNK CAR RUN BACK ON ME HIT ME AND RAN INTO A FENCE. *TR