What 181 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota Venza

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

NHTSA ODI 11749249

Rear passenger side window exploded (shattered) while driving on the Hardy Toll Road in Houston TX.

NHTSA ODI 11749273

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.

NHTSA ODI 11735141

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

NHTSA ODI 11734838

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 ODI 11729686

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.

NHTSA ODI 11729520

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

NHTSA ODI 11728858

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

NHTSA ODI 11718224

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.

NHTSA ODI 11713374

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.

NHTSA ODI 11699429

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.

NHTSA ODI 11699198

The infotainment system is not consistently working. It is the 12.5 screen-based system that enables the control of numerous features including air conditioning/heating, audio (all radio and satellite radio), backup camera feed, and map/gps display. I see that there is a recall for this system for some Toyota models, however I have not yet received a notification, and I am assuming that it is because my car is a 2021 model. Not having this display makes navigation difficult (as the screen will just turn off suddenly) and control of the cabin environment impossible (i.e. I struggle turning on the AC/Heat as I don't know what the temperature is set to). Why would my vehicle not be included in the recall? What can be done to get this fixed? I view this as a safey concern as all vehicle safety notifications are posted on the screen (which won't work), all of the systems that are controlled from the screen are not available, and the back up camera display won't work at times.

NHTSA ODI 11698720

As I attempted to park in a stall in the parking garage, I turned the steering wheel to the right and aligned the vehicle in preparation to back into the stall. In the split second that I took my foot off the accelerator to put it on the brake pedal in preparation to switch gears, the vehicle surged forward rapidly. I slammed on the brake as hard as I could, fearful that it would hit the car in the stall ahead. Maybe that's an indication that the Emergency Braking System failed, too. I don't know whether it stopped me or me slamming on the brake, but I was within 18 inches of the vehicle in the stall ahead of me. It truly scared me, which is what caused me to search for whether this was a known issue for 2021 Venzas and found that others have had this issue occur.

NHTSA ODI 11694412

The infotainment system has failed. It is the 12.5 screen-based system that enables the control of numerous features including air conditioning/heating, audio (all radio and satellite radio) and map/gps display. This system is the focus of a recall on this model car (newer versions) but the issue is the same for this year. Not having this display make navigation difficult, control of the cabin environment impossible. I wonder why this year vehicle was not included in the recall. I have ordered a replacement at a cost of $3,300. This began in May of 2025.

NHTSA ODI 11690377

I am submitting this complain regarding my 2021 Toyota Venza, which has developed a serious defect involving the fuel system. Although my vehicle is fairly new, I began experiencing problems with the fuel door not opening properly. Initially, I could not access the fuel cap, which left me unable refuel in a timely manner. Soon after, I noticed additional fueling issues: while attempting to refuel, the gas pump would repeatedly shut off and stop the fueling process. After taking the vehicle for inspection, it was determined that the actuator responsible for controlling the fuel door and fueling system required complete replacement. I am concerned this defect represents more than just an inconvenience. Inability to open the fuel door or complete a fueling cycle can create dangerous situations - such as being stranded without fuel or blocking a fueling station. Additionally, if the actuator fails while in use, it could interfere with the proper venting of the fuel system. I have since learned that other Toyota Venza owners are experiencing the same problem with the actuator, suggesting this is not an isolated case but a potential widespread defect. I request that Toyota investigate this issue and that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration evaluate whether a safety recall or service campaign is warranted. 2021 Toyota Venza LE [XXX] 90,0000 Sincerely, [XXX] and [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11688955

The rear tailgate is malfunctioning. I was told by dealer it is not covered under any warranty (even extended) this is something that has been reported by others and should be fixed. As well as having to repeatedly hit the lock or unlock buttons to actually work on the car before it works.

NHTSA ODI 11688001

Indeed, I recently encountered a concerning issue with my 2021 Toyota Venza. The problem manifested in mid-July, during the process of preparing to enter my vehicle. To my dismay, the door refused to open. Despite my repeated attempts to use the keyless entry system, the door stubbornly remained closed. Consequently, I was compelled to resort to using my key fob, which presented its own challenges. While I would not typically express such frustration, the safety implications of this issue are significant and have become quite inconvenient for me. As a physically disabled individual, I rely on a scooter lift in the rear of my vehicle to facilitate my mobility. This lift allows me to walk to the front of the car while holding onto the side for stability, preventing potential falls. On the day in question, I slipped my hand behind the handle of the door to open it and it didn't work. When I attempted to activate the unlock button on my key fob, it failed to respond. Despite my repeated attempts to press the button at least ten times, it remained unresponsive. By this point, my legs had become increasingly weak, to the extent that I felt a slight loss of balance when using the key. As a physically disabled individual and of an advanced age, I am unable to stand for extended periods. Therefore, this issue has caused me considerable stress and emotional distress. Upon visiting my local Toyota dealer, I was informed that the repair would incur a cost of approximately $800, which I unfortunately lack the financial means to cover. Consequently, I contacted Toyota’s 800 number to inquire about any special financial hardship programs that might assist me in paying for this repair. Regrettably, I was informed that such programs were not available. This situation has become increasingly frustrating for me. I find it difficult to reconcile the fact that Toyota has a history of encountering numerous issues with various of its models.

NHTSA ODI 11685220

The rear tailgate squeaking is non stop. Dealer says not covered under warranty however MANY people online complaint of the same issue. This should be fixed by the manufacturer . Manu dealerships say it will cost upwards of 1 thousand dollars

NHTSA ODI 11683461

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 ODI 11680955

I have an issues with the door on drivers side that won't unlock as much as I press the key fob it won't open its 2021 toyota Venza. I am physically disabled and I unable to stand for long. So that means I have to use my key to unlock my doors and I can't stand for too long I can tired and fall. And toyota knows of this issues and they refuse to fix and I don't think I should pay for something that they know has a defect. It's not fair.

NHTSA ODI 11671296

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.

NHTSA ODI 11667971

Spontaneous crack in the windshield without any external mechanixal force, such as rock, hale, or any other foreign body.

NHTSA ODI 11661931

I bought this vehicle when new in 2021 and I started to see people complain about the quality of the windshield and how they were getting cracks from rocks on it. I’m [XXX] , and never had a windshield replaced in my life. After seeing people post this, I added windshield coverage to my car. Last year I had a rock hit my windshield and it cause a small star like crack. Right away I called the insurance company and was able to take care of it that day. Few days ago I hear another rock ding. Had nobody in front of me but think it was from the car on the side of me kicked it up. Some time passed and I saw the crack coming down the middle of the next morning it was even longer. From the top of the window down past my camera. I have an appointment for replacement this week. What I was reading seems to be true. Never in my life had I have this happen, had plenty of rocks hit my vehicles over the year. Never had one crack. I know they exist but seeing it form a lot of Venza owners tells you something. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11647211

This morning, I noticed a crack on the windshield of my 2021 Toyota Venza. The car was parked outside in the cold, and it seems like there’s some issue with the Toyota windshields, as it cracked for no apparent reason.

NHTSA ODI 11637838

Vehicle at operating temperature, running, in gear and at a stop. Making a left turn into traffic. I release the brake and apply the accelerator, the car rolls out into traffic but no power, I press more and more until it is 100% throttle, all the way to the floor. Then after about 5 seconds the vehicle moves forward. Complete loss of response/power for 5 seconds. Thankfully no traffic coming. This happens a second time with the same circumstances, different location. Press the accelerator, no response, sudden loss of all power, then after 5 seconds it responds. This time there is traffic coming to my driver's side at 50 MPH, I was trying to press harder but it wouldn't respond. There were no warning lights, MIL, sounds or messages. Toyota wants $169.99/hr plus tax to investigate.

NHTSA ODI 11634640