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Toyota · NHTSA safety record

2012 Toyota Venza

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

25

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Toyota Venza have filed 25 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2013 and August 2025. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 9 of them (36%). The typical failure was reported at 47,000 miles, the median across the 19 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

13V442000 · October 17, 2013

The defect
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.
The risk
A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.
The remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 802,769 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

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 25.

AIR BAGS 9 36%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 6 24%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 6 24%
STRUCTURE 5 20%
ENGINE 1 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 4%
POWER TRAIN 1 4%
SEAT BELTS 1 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 4%
STEERING 1 4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 4%
VISIBILITY 1 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2021 at 5.

2013 2021 2025
2013 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.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 104,000 miles

The contact owned a 2012 TOYOTA VENZA. The contact stated while her husband was driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle traveling in front of them came to an abrupt stop. In an effort to avoid the vehicle, the contact's husband jumped a curb and hit a light post. The front driver and passenger airbags deployed upon impact; however, the side curtain airbags failed to deploy. The authorities arrived at the scene and a police report was filed. Both the contact and her husband were transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact's husband was treated for soreness and bruising to his chest and back. The contact had trouble breathing upon arrival and was given oxygen. She was then transferred to

NHTSA complaint 11421009, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · 11,000 miles

MY CAR WAS HIT FROM THE REAR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, PUSHING CAR INTO CONCRETE BARRIER, DID A 360 AND BOUNCED BACK TO OTHER CONCRETE BARRIER. PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN. DRIVERS AIR BAG OPENED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. NO OTHER AIR BAGS OPENED. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10547409. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 60,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA VENZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG BURST OPEN AND BLACK SMOKE AND FRAGMENTS FLEW OUT. THE FRAGMENTS SEVERELY INJURED BOTH OF THE DRIVER'S LEGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT EXAMINER WHO CONCLUDED THAT THE AIR BAG FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY WATER DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. ...UPDATED 03/13/17 *BF *CN

NHTSA complaint 10944376. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 10,588 miles

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS HIY AT A HIGH SPEED ON DRIVERS DIDE FRONT WHEEL. I WAS IN MOYION WHIL A TRUCK HIT ME GOING AT A HIGH SPEED AND WAS DRAGGED WHEN WHEELS GOT STUCK

NHTSA complaint 11072513. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

crash · towed

On Dec. 17, 2023, shortly after 12:00 p.m.,I was driving my Toyota Venza on the highway under normal when the STEERING KNUCKLE suddenly fractured. This unexpected failure caused the vehicle to lose steering control, leading to a serious traffic accident. I inspected that part and found that the STEERIN KNUCKLE had broken abnormally, as the break showed no signs of any impact.

NHTSA complaint 11684157. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

100,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Venza. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the airbags warning light illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V257000 (Air Bags) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The dealer advised the contact that the recalls repair had been completed; however, upon picking up the vehicle, the contact noticed that the airbags warning light remained illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The dealer advised the contact that they would need to remove the driver’s and passenger’s side front door panels, and the carpet to repair the

NHTSA complaint 11446013, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Venza. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V257000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA complaint 11439963. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Venza. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V257000 (Air Bags) however, the part for the repair was unavailable. The dealer had been notified of the issue and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA complaint 11420096. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

150,000 miles

SUN VISORS, (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) HAVE BROKEN AND WILL NOT HOLD THE VISORS IN PLACE.THEY BOTH FALL AT RANDOM CAUSING DISTRACTIONS. THE VISORS HAVE NOT BEEN ABUSED IN ANY WAY AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint 11413886. 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
2011 59 6
2010 79 9

Other 2012 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.

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