2021 Toyota Venza Complaints

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 07/09/2026

The center console has cracked and has sharp corners causing an increased risk of injury. Also may cause one to jerk the wheel if placing their elbow down and not expecting the sharp corner. No accident occurred as of yet, but could if someone else were to be driving my car and place their arm down on the center console. I have to place my arm down a certain way to avoid getting poked. Just wanted to report this as I am not sure if other owners have reported similar issue with their center console developing sharp edges. Would probably be similar to NHTSA campaign number 26V368000

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 07/08/2026

Rear passenger side window exploded (shattered) while driving on the Hardy Toll Road in [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/01/2026

My 2021 VENZA has had an issue with the airbag light coming on. The SRS Airbag Malfunction notification is on when starting the vehicle. Within the first year of having the car I paid to have the system checked and the tensioner and airbag replaced. Three months later the light came back on. I was told the seatbelt got twisted again. Other vehicles under Toyota have active recalls on Airbag issues currently with this manufacturer. I believe this make and model should be included. I am currently having to pay another diagnostic fee in 2026 after only having the preowned vehicle two years to figure out why the SRS malfunction notification has come back on. Of course the light has come on when the vehicle is out of warranty. My safety is at risk if the airbag malfunctions so of course I am taking this notification very seriously. I don't ignore issues like this. Consistent failure in the airbag system is scary. I don't want to have an accident in which the airbag fails. This make and model is not longer being produced but it should be included in Toyota's current airbag recall.

LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION — Filed 04/18/2026

This just showed in my 2021 Toyota Venza. I heard that this is is common issue for all Toyota but was not corrected .

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 03/19/2026

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.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 03/17/2026

While pulling up to a curb to park in residential community, my car suddenly accelerated. It came to a stop after 15’ when I hit the brakes. Fortunately nothing or no one was in front of me. No more incidents have occurred. No warning msgs or lights. No other symptoms. Having dealer diagnose this week.

VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 05/01/2024

Windshield suddenly cracked, making two large arcs several feet long. Driving on paved road at 20 mph, no gravel, no other traffic.

STEERING — Filed 02/15/2026

Left side of my heated steering overheated and burned through the leather.

VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 11/03/2025

A large crack appeared on the windshield of my 2021 Toyota Venza. Due to this being a safety issue when driving the vehicle, so I looked into having it repaired by a local shop. When the Venza was taken to the repaired, the repair shop notified me that the issue didn't originate from a rock/chip. The issue was with the windshield or the windshield installation. After a quick Google search, it came to my attention that this is a frequent issue with this year and make. There are class action lawsuits about this issue. This needs to be addressed by Toyota.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 07/07/2025

Primary Control/Head Unit Failure - I can no longer access any of the electronic functions of the vehicle due to the computer screen failure. The back up camera works, but when the vehicle is in drive, it's nothing but a strobing light trying to connect. It's a safety concern most at night due to the constant strobe effect coming across the screen every 3 seconds. It draws your attention from the road and/or gives you the impression that something is coming to hit you from the passenger side. Yes, the vehicle has been inspected and diagnosed by Toyota. Toyota is unwilling to admit their head unit is faulty and want me, the consumer, to pay out of pocket for the parts and the labor. No, the failure happened without warning. One day it was working fine and the next it was frozen and then "dead" with this strobe effect.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — Filed 11/10/2025

This report covers 2 events for the same problem. The first occurred in the spring of 2025 and I did not document the date or time. The second one occurred on November 10, 2025 @ about 10:15 a.m. (1) Last spring my wife was driving the Venza up the street to our residence going a slow rate of speed. As she approached the house, she took her foot off on the gas and coasted toward the left curb so she could back into our driveway. At that point, car suddenly surged forward and accelerated toward the curb. My wife rapidly applied the brake and averted any problem. (2) The second event occurred on November 10, 2025 @ 10:15 a.m. My wife was starting to park at a parking lot in the Tanasbourne Town Center. She was going to back into a parking spot so she drove forward going slightly left. Then, with the car still in drive, the car surged forward. She quickly stepped on the brake and the car stopped abruptly. (She was angling the car and was about ready to stop and put the car in reverse when this happened) Again, with her quick response braking, she was able to avert hitting person or thing. As to which component or system failed, there appears to be a random malfunction of sensors or perhaps the CPU...something that is calling for full throttle when the gas petal is not pushed. The safety risk is possible harm to the driver, outside property, or the worse situation would be harm to pedestrians that might be in the way of the car. We have not been able to reproduce the problem. The same maneuvers have been repeated 100's of times without incident. As of this writing, the vehicle is being taken to the Toyota dealer to have the oil changed and at that time they will be asked to do a thorough inspection of the systems that might cause this, check for any recorded malfunctions, etc. To the best of our knowledge, there were no warning lamps or messages that appeared.

AIR BAGS — Filed 06/17/2025

I was involved in a no fault accident when an SUV slammed into the back of my Toyota Venza at full speed and pushed me into the left guardrail of the bridge we were driving on. Neither the front airbags or the driver (left) side airbags deployed.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 01/10/2024

The crash occurred at 2:50 PM on January 10, 2024 while pulling our 2021 Toyota Venza into a diagonal parking space on a slight upgrade. The vehicle surged over the curb, across the sidewalk and into a brick wall with gas pipelines attached to it. As this was happening, the driver yelled, “I don’t know what’s happening.” The car then rebounded onto the sidewalk and was turned off quickly because of a gas smell. We exited the vehicle and tried to keep people away from the scene because of the smell. The passenger had great difficulty getting out of the car because the passenger side door was blocked by a tree in the median. The Fire Department cleared the area, the police interviewed both the driver and the passenger and the gas company arrived to repair the meters and pipes. No citation was issued. During a call on January 12, 2024 to cancel a pre-paid service agreement, we were referred to the Toyota Brand Engagement Center who interviewed us before forwarding information on to the Toyota Liability Team. Toyota sent a contractual employee to download the information from the vehicle’s computer modules for further analysis by Toyota. On February 20, 2024, Toyota issued a report that stated the vehicle had no defects related to the accident and that the accelerator pedal had been fully depressed prior to impact. The report did not address other information that was provided to individuals investigating the incident, including information about the incident itself, information about a delayed acceleration event several days prior to the incident and notification from the local Toyota dealer the next day that a check engine light had come on around 2:50 the day of the incident followed a minute later by alarms indicating “airbag failure to deploy” and “hybrid system failure.” The report also did not address the possibility of a problem with the throttle system, specifically the accelerator sensor.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 12/15/2023

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.

ENGINE — Filed 05/30/2023

On May 30, 2023 at approx. 11:30am I was leaving the car wash located at 2330 Olympic Hwy. N. Shelton Washington. The automatic bar pushed me through the car wash to the end where it left you. There was a slight grade downwards to the highway (Olympic Hwy. N.) I touched the gas peddle slightly and the car surged forward across the SB lane where a car traveling SB had to slam on its brakes to avoid a collision. My car continued across to the NB lane where it struck a vehicle in the drivers side rear quarter panel. I had slammed on the brakes but not quick enough to avoid the collision. The brake was slow to respond when I applied them. I'm thinking what may have happened as this is a gas electric hybrid that the gas engine kicked in instead of the battery when I gently applied the gas peddle which caused it to surge forward.

AIR BAGS — Filed 06/17/2023

On 17th June 2023, while returning home on the WA-9/SR-9 NB, I stopped at the red light where WA-2 was crossing. My wife was sitting with me in the car. One Subaru rammed me from behind. This road has a speed limit of 55 Miles per hour and is a single-lane state highway. The rear was damaged heavily. I lost control of the vehicle, went into the SB lane, and saw a car approaching me from the opposite direction. I looked right and saw a little space between the car ahead of me and the vehicle ahead of it. I turned right without hitting those two cars and entered the roadside ditch damaging the front. In both cases, the airbag was not deployed, first the ramming from behind and then going into the ditch. Is this normal? Later my insurance declared my car as the "Total Loss."

STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 01/19/2023

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.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 01/19/2023

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Venza. The contact stated that upon entering her garage at a low rate of speed, her brake pedal failed to operate as needed. The vehicle independently accelerated and crashed through the garage drywall and struck a water line. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. There were two unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact suffered back, head, and neck pain and sought medical attention from her doctor. A police report was filed. The contact's dry wall and water line were damaged as a result of the failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it remained in their possession and had yet to be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and an inspection was performed on the vehicle; however, the results of the inspection were unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 02/13/2023

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.

AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/28/2022

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.

STEERING,AIR BAGS — Filed 05/07/2022

It was raining, I was driving in the far left lane next to the center divider. I noticed the car in front of me drive through a significant collection of water that was the width of the entire lane. I was unable to switch lanes, so I slowed down and went through the water as well. As soon as my Venza came to the collection of water, my steering wheel locked up. I was unable to direct the car in the opposite direction of the pull. I was not able to move the steering wheel at all. The car continued to go in it’s own direction, despite me pumping the brakes. The Venza spun out, hit another car before it crashed into the concrete center divider. As a result I smashed my head on the driver’s side window. My driver’s side air bags NEVER deployed. No air bags in the entire car deployed. After hitting the center divider my car ended up in the car right lane. My car was towed from the scene of the accident, it was not drivable. The insurance adjuster originally totaled the car, then they changed their minds and said the car can be fixed. It’s been 3 months and my car is still in the shop. There were no warning lights, it was a brand new car, I had it less than 6 months. I could have died, other people could have died. If the steering wheel didn’t lock up I could have easily maneuvered through the water, like the car did I front of me and like I have done many times in the past with my previous vehicles. If the driver’s side air bag deployed I wouldn’t have suffered such a bad concussion requiring medical attention, neurologist, loss of work and loss of pay.

SEATS — Filed 04/16/2021

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Venza. The contact stated there was a default in the driver's seat and the lumbar function needed to be adjusted numerous times. The contact stated the bottom of the driver seat was not aligned properly with the steering column. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were pains in the driver's body that caused it to be pinned to the right while driving. The contact received medical treatments for the pains. The vehicle was not diagnosed and it was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/14/2022

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.

AIR BAGS — Filed 06/30/2022

My wife was in involved in a crash where a person ran a red light and she broadsided a truck which flipped over. The front end of our 2021 Toyota Venza was destroyed see photo which I uploaded. The airbags in our car did not deploy at all.

AIR BAGS — Filed 11/04/2021

Involved in an one-car automobile accident (attempted to avoid hitting deer and hit a cement barrier). Vehicle was subsequently classified as totaled. AIR BAGS never deployed.