2021 Toyota Venza Brakes Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11729686

Incident

Mar 19, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11680955

Incident

Sep 15, 2021

Mileage

57,346 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11563852

Incident

Nov 24, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11560798

Incident

Dec 15, 2023

Forward collision avoidance; automatic emergency braking; adaptive cruise control; I pulled into a straight-ahead handicapped parking slot to park, going about 1-3mph . There was a handicapped sign in front of me on a newly installed steel pole. I pulled in within inches of the pole. When I tried to engage the brakes, the braking system failed to engage the brakes and slow down the car. The car instead accelerated and would have broken through a store front had the pole not stopped it. I also pushed on the brakes, but nothing happened, the car did not seem to slow down at all, like I had no brakes. It's like the brakes did not work and the automatic braking did not work either. There was a complete system brake failure. Also, the air bags did not deploy, which I'm surprised with so much front end damage to my car. So, in a panic to stop the forward acceleration, I put the car in reverse; after which the vehicle accelerated in reverse out of my control and crashed into a 3-foot concrete wall and another vehicle next to the wall. This crash stopped the vehicle. I had no control over speed of the acceleration, steering of the vehicle, or stopping. I am concerned about a defect in the brakes and the PKBS braking system. I could have been killed or backed into another person or car killing someone else. The car has been repaired. I did receive a msg about the raider cruise system being on days prior; I didn't know what it meant; it went away and I did not pursue why cruise control was on because I didn't engage it. I am seeking inspection by Toyota and my AAA Insurance rep.

NHTSA ID

11509304

Incident

Jan 19, 2023

I was on the highway, no ice on the road, in a construction zone, going about 50mph. The cars in front of me stopped completely, and the light to warn me to "Brake" came on the dashboard to engage the brakes, but the emergency braking system failed to engage the brakes and slow down the car. I also pushed on the brakes, but nothing happened, the car did not seem to slow down at all, like I had no brakes. I kept going and crashed into the vehicle in front of me. It's like the brakes did not work and the automatic braking did not work either. There was a complete system brake failure. Also, the air bags did not deploy, which I'm surprised with so much front end damage to my car. The brakes also did this last year, and I collided with a vehicle the same way, but there was ice on the road, so at that time, I attributed it to the icy road. Now since these two accidents are so similar, I am concerned about a defect in the brakes and automatic emergency braking system. I am also worried to own a vehicle with the Automatic Emergency Braking System. I am having the vehicle towed to the dealership to have the brakes looked at.

NHTSA ID

11507719

Incident

Feb 13, 2023

Sometimes when I'm driving the Toyota Venza 2021 downhill and press the brakes they freeze and sound weird without control to stop the car. I think is very dangerous. I reported two times in the dealership but nothing happened.

NHTSA ID

11494309

Incident

Oct 14, 2021

2021 Toyota Venza while being driven while merging onto the highway, the vehicle lost all braking power causing my wife to almost cash into the car in front of her. The vehicle was moving between 50 to 55 miles per hour. Once the vehicle was pulled over, the dash was displaying these error messages: Pre-Collision System Malfunction; Braking Power Low/Visit your Dealer; Check Engine; and Secondary Collision Brake System Malfunction. This caused my wife to be stranded on the side of the highway. The vehicle has 24,811 miles on it. The vehicle had to be towed to the Toyota dealership. This is the second time this happened. The first time this happened was about 20 months ago when I had just bought the vehicle new and put about 400 miles on it. The first time the dealership said they could not find anything wrong with it.

NHTSA ID

11484848

Incident

Sep 16, 2022

The contact's mother owns a 2021 Toyota Venza. The contact stated that while she was driving in traffic and slowing down to 10 MPH with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated with a jolt. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The unintended acceleration had occurred on several occasions. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the failure was caused by driver error. The dealer stated that the vehicle information showed that both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal had been depressed simultaneously. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

NHTSA ID

11482440

Incident

Aug 19, 2022

Mileage

15,000 mi

After Traction Control recall firmware update was completed, my vehicle now turns on the parking break randomly when coming to a stop while still in drive. The vehicle says time for maitenance with aprox 5,500 miles before service required. Remote services no longer connecting. The firmware update to correct traction control not turning on automatically at vehicle startup has caused other electrical features to fail/malfunction.

NHTSA ID

11481780

Incident

Aug 29, 2022

As I was pulling in slowly (going about 2 miles or less) to a perpendicular parking spot at my apartment complex, I took my foot off the accelerator to brake. And 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 over a hill. I couldn't stop the car and I crashed head on into a two story garage. I saw a "MALFUNCTION" on the dashboard and the air bags did not deploy. I injured my back, neck and right arm. My new car that only has 9K miles on it was completely totaled. Vehicle is scheduled to be inspected by Toyota's Product Liability Department - 3rd Party Engineer. The only other time I was concerned about the vehicle was about 5 months ago, I was at a stop sign and when I pushed on the gas, the car felt like it lost acceleration power, but then it was fine after that so I didn't think anything of it. Vehicle is available for inspection for a very limited time (probably within 1-2 weeks of this post), after Toyota inspects it, it will be going to the salvage yard. If you want to inspect it, please contact me ASAP.

NHTSA ID

11479261

Incident

Jul 28, 2022

as I attempted to turn left in the parking lot of a strip mall with several restaurants, my engine suddenly revved and accelerated and despite pumping the brakes several times I could not slow it down or stop it. As a result I slammed into a concrete berm, kept going and crashed through the glass doors of a coffee shop/restaurant, continued on and the car did not stop until it hit a metal counter. Fortunately I was not hurt, nor did I kill anyone, although I was told two workers went to the hospital with bruises and lacerations on their legs. Since I was unable to stop the car, not only was my life at risk, but anyone who crossed my path or who was in the coffee shop could have been crushed. The police came, made a report and had my car towed to their impound lot. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center as of yet. . My insurer will have the car towed to a preferred repairer and they will inspect the car to determine whether it's repairable. I have asked them to check what made the car suddenly accelerate. I was informed at the police lot that they expect the car will be towed and inspected on Monday, 7/18/22. The accident occurred on 7/14/22. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representative or others. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ID

11474269

Incident

Jul 14, 2022

Pulling into a parking spot (under 5 mpg), brakes did not engage. Car drove up onto the sidewalk. Had to put car into reverse to avoid hitting the building. While in reverse, brakes would not engage as well had to turn off the vehicle to stop it after it hit the curb 20ft behind the vehicle. Had vehicle towed to the dealership. They could see where the brakes were engaged 3x, but could not replicate the issue. Although there was snow, ground was not icy or slippery.

NHTSA ID

11446530

Incident

Dec 31, 2021