CSR

Toyota · NHTSA safety record

2011 Toyota Venza

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

59

Complaints

5

Crashes

2

Fires

7

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Toyota Venza have filed 59 safety complaints with NHTSA between September 2011 and July 2025. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 15 of them (25%). The typical failure was reported at 45,300 miles, the median across the 45 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 6 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (6)

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN

21V257000 · April 13, 2021

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2009-2015 Venza vehicles. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) wiring may become damaged with regular use of the driver-side door.
The risk
Damaged wires may cause the air bag sensor to become inoperable, preventing the deployment of the side and curtain air bags on the driver side and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver-side front door wire harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TB01/21TA01.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 279,040 vehicles across all model years covered

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

14V743000 · November 19, 2014

The defect
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
The risk
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.
The remedy
SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC · up to 3,233 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

13V123000 · April 9, 2013

The defect
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The risk
An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
The remedy
Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC · up to 7,525 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

13V014000 · January 16, 2013

The defect
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
The risk
If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
The remedy
Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC · up to 3,235 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

12V091000 · March 7, 2012

The defect
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 CAMRY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2008, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2009, AND MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 VENZA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 20, 2008, THROUGH JANUARY 4, 2011. DURING ASSEMBLY OF THE CONTACT-TYPE STOP LAMP SWITCH, SILICONE GREASE MAY HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE OF THE SWITCH WHICH COULD CAUSE CONTACT RESISTANCE. IF THIS OCCURS, WARNING LAMPS COULD ILLUMINATE, A NO START CONDITION COULD RESULT, THE SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT SHIFT FROM THE “PARK” POSITION, OR THE VEHICLE’S BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE.
The risk
INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WARN OTHER DRIVERS THAT THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING OR STOPPING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 186,798 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

11V306000 · June 1, 2011

The defect
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VENZA AND SIENNA PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 7, THROUGH MARCH 10, 2011. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE FRONT, RIGHT, DRIVE SHAFT MAY BREAK DUE TO INSUFFICIENT HEAT TREATMENT.
The risk
SHOULD THE DRIVE SHAFT BREAK DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVE SHAFT, AND, IF THE DRIVE SHAFT IS IDENTIFIED AS ONE THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CORRECTLY MANUFACTURED, IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 50 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 59.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15 25%
SEATS 8 14%
SERVICE BRAKES 8 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8 14%
AIR BAGS 5 8%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 5 8%
STRUCTURE 5 8%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 5 8%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 7%
STEERING 4 7%
SUSPENSION 4 7%
ENGINE 3 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2015 at 8.

2011 2015 2025
2011 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STRUCTURE:BODY

2 injured · 146,000 miles

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 complaint 11051651. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured · fire · 7,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT END, BURNING THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSE BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A DISLOCATED SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 7,000.

NHTSA complaint 10467658. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 injured · crash · towed · 31,000 miles

ON APRIL 11, 2016, A COMPLAIN WAS SUBMITTED UNDER TARAKA: COMPLAINT NUM: 10854818 FOR A TOYOTA VENZA 2011.WHILE CAR IN MOTION AT AROUND 55MPH, ON A HIGHWAY, NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND EXCELLENT CAR MAINTENANCE A LOUD EXPLOSION BURST OCCURRED IN THE CAR. WITH NO VISIBILITY AT ALL, I MANAGED TO CONTROL THE CAR AND STOPPED IT. THEN, I NOTICED THAT THE HOOD SUDDENLY HAD POP-UP WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF ALERT OF FLASHLIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WAS NO HOOD VIBRATION THAT WOULD SUGGEST IT WAS OPENED. I DID A PANIC STOP AND TRIED TO CONTROL THE CAR AVOIDING A COLLISION; THE AIRBAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED AT A POTENTIAL COLLISION. THE BURST COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE FRONT GLASS; BUMPERS WERE MOVED OUT

NHTSA complaint 10908230, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 140,000 miles

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 complaint 11309894. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 complaint 11673809. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 complaint 11635843. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
See attached document for complaint

NHTSA complaint 11576057. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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

NHTSA complaint 11555299, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
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 complaint 11549925. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

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

NHTSA complaint 11547229. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Toyota Venza

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 23 1
2023 20 1
2022 40 1
2021 182 1
2015 27 1
2014 31 1
2013 59 4
2012 25 4
2010 79 9

Other 2011 Toyota models

Every Toyota on this site — 272 vehicles, 370 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst