2021 Toyota VENZA HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
188 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
5,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 74 of 188 complaints (39.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 12.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 3.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 74 |
| Unknown Or Other | 42 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
Visibility/Wiper: 74; Unknown Or Other: 42; Electrical System: 15; Exterior Lighting: 15; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14; Engine: 11; Service Brakes: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 173 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 34 |
| 2022 | 74 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 10 |
2020: 1; 2021: 34; 2022: 74; 2023: 25; 2024: 26; 2025: 18; 2026: 10
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11407404 · 2021-04-10 (April 10, 2021)
OUR CAR IMPACTED WITH ANOTHER AS WE TRIED TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY FROM A SHORT MERGE LANE. THE OTHER CAR ENTERED IN FRONT OF US FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER WE PASSED A STOP SIGN IN THE MERGE LANE; THE OTHER CAR THEN STOPPED SHORT BEFORE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, JUST AS WE WERE SPEEDING UP THE ENTER THE HIGHWAY. A SENSOR SOUNDED IN OUR CAR, WE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, AND THE TWO CARES COLLIDED. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT OF OUR VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED; THE REAR DRIVE SIDE OF THE OTHER CAR WAS DAMAGED. DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT IN OUR CAR OPERATED NORMALLY. PA…
Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 11407404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11446530 · 2022-01-06 (January 6, 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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11446530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11427625 · 2021-08-03 (August 3, 2021)
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Venza. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to open or start. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle with some assistance and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that there was an error in the firmware of the vehicle that caused the vehicle to constantly communicate the status to the manufacturer leading to the battery failure. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was related to a TSB. The vehicle was repair…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11427625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11459034 · 2022-03-30 (March 30, 2022)
The connection to the starter is loose, makes ticking sounds on start. Bad connection to the battery car won't start.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11459034 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11437077 · 2021-10-17 (October 17, 2021)
2021 Toyota Venza Steering assist feature creates a safety hazard. The steering assist works with the cruise control and lane departure. When on, it appears that the steering assist picks up its position or centers the vehicle in the lane from the nearest white line on the right side. It positions the vehicle approximately 12 to 18 inches from the right line position thus positioning the vehicle slightly right of the center of the lane. One is forced to fight the pull of the wheel to maintain a center lane position. This Steering Assist functi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11437077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11474581 · 2022-07-18 (July 18, 2022)
While driving, vehicle suddenly lost all engine and electrical power and steering locked up. Fortunately I was stopped at a light at the time. Car restarted after I shifted into park and started in normal manner.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11474581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11376424 · 2020-11-26 (November 26, 2020)
MY 2021 TOYOTA VENZA HYBRID LE CLAIMS TO HAVE A 14.5 FUEL TANK CAPACITY BY TOYOTA BUT MINE WILL ONLY FILL UP TO AROUND 11 GALLONS WHEN IT GETS TO EMPTY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TWICE TO TOYOTA'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY CONFIRMED MY VEHICLE WAS ONLY FILING UP TO 11 GALLONS BUT THAT THIS WAS 'NORMAL AND PART OF THE DESIGN SINCE IT HAS A RESERVE OF GAS.' HOWEVER, THE NEW TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRIDS ARE REPORTING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE WHICH TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED. BOTH VEHICLES SHARE THE SAME ENGINE, HYBRID SYSTEM, AND SAME 14.5 FUEL TANK AND ARE ALMOST …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,192 miles reported. Look up ODI 11376424 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11399703 · 2021-03-08 (March 8, 2021)
FUEL GAUGE AND FUEL TANK DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY, LIKE THE 2020 RAV 4 GAS TANK PROBLEM. ON 2/8/21 WHEN THE GAUGE INDICATED 1/2 TANK, I PUT IN 9.997 GAL OF GAS, SINCE THIS CAR ONLY HAS A 14 1/2 GAL TANK THE TANK MUST NOT HAVE BEEN 1/2 FULL. ON 2/14/21 THE GAUGE READ 2/3 , I PUMPED GAS AND THE PUMP SHUT OFF AT 1.1 GAL, I SLOWLY ADDED GAS AS THE PUMP KEPT CLINKING OFF TILL I GOT A TOTAL OF 1.743 GAL OF GAS INTO THE TANK. I STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE GAS GAUGE STILL READ 2/3, SO I STARTED THE GAS PUMP AGAIN SLOWLY ADDED ANOTHER 1.287 GAL OF GAS. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,504 miles reported. Look up ODI 11399703 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11694412 · 2025-10-19 (October 19, 2025)
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 brak…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11694412 at NHTSA ↗