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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Toyota VENZA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

59 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

45,300 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 45 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 59 complaints (25.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1322.0%
Electrical and battery issues813.6%
Steering behavior610.2%
Engine operation23.4%
Transmission and shifting11.7%
Fuel system concerns11.7%

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.

Electrical System
15
Service Brakes
8
Unknown Or Other
8
Seats
7
Air Bags
5
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
5
Structure:Body
5
Visibility/Wiper
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System15
Service Brakes8
Unknown Or Other8
Seats7
Air Bags5
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)5
Structure:Body5
Visibility/Wiper5

Electrical System: 15; Service Brakes: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Seats: 7; Air Bags: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 5; Structure:Body: 5; Visibility/Wiper: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
12
25,000 to 49,999
11
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
8
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00012
25,000 to 49,99911
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9998
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 14 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.

2011
4
2012
4
2013
4
2014
4
2015
8
2016
7
2017
5
2018
8
2019
5
2020
1
2021
2
2023
4
2024
1
2025
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20114
20124
20134
20144
20158
20167
20175
20188
20195
20201
20212
20234
20241
20252

2011: 4; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 8; 2016: 7; 2017: 5; 2018: 8; 2019: 5; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 1; 2025: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10489411 · 2012-12-20 (December 20, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 330.

Owner-reported narrative. 330 miles reported. Look up ODI 10489411 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10525653 · 2013-07-18 (July 18, 2013)

THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, WHEN I MAKE A STOP AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL A LOUD NOISE (THUMP) OCCURS. THIS HAPPENS AT EVERY STOP I MAKE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO LOCAL DEALERS. ONE MADE AN INSPECTION THE OTHER DID NOT AND BOTH RESPONDED WITH THE SAME COMMENT "WE DON'T KNOW". ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE THOUGHT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED ON THE "BREAK PEDAL SUPPORT ASSEMBLY". I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE THE RECALL IF IT EXIST. I …

Owner-reported narrative. 17,232 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525653 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10467658 · 2012-07-25 (July 25, 2012)

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 A…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467658 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10514222 · 2013-06-03 (June 3, 2013)

2011 TOYOTA VENZA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DEFECTIVE STEREO/RADIO EQUIPMENT AND ELECTRICAL WIRING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS DRIVING AND LISTENING TO THE RADIO, A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND EMANATED FROM THE RIGHT REAR DOOR SPEAKER. SHE TURNED OFF THE RADIO, BUT THE SCREECHING SOUND CONTINUED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A BURNING SMELL FILLED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION, WHICH REVEALED THE AMPLIFIER HAD SHORTED OUT INTERNALLY AND CAUSED THE SPEAKER TO MELT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10514222 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10543494 · 2013-09-13 (September 13, 2013)

MY 2011 TOYOTA VENZA WITH ONLY 10,000 MILEAGE HAD A ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE AS I EXITED I695 TOWARDS TOWSON, MARYLAND. AS I TURNED ONTO THE EXIT I LOST MY ABILITY TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL. HAD THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 MINUTES EARLIER ON THE SHARP CURVE FROM I95 TO I695, I MAY HAVE CRASHED. FORTUNATELY I DROVE STRAIGHT TO SAFETY TO A PARKING LOT. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THE POWER STEERING ECU FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND I WILL PICK UP MY VEHICLE TONIGHT, 9/13/13. SINCE MY VENZA WAS STILL UNDER MAN…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543494 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10915070 · 2016-10-10 (October 10, 2016)

WHILE I WAS TRYING TO TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF A RELATIVE APARTMENT, THE STEERING WHEEL GOT REALLY TIGHT AND EVENTUALLY LOCKED UP GIVING VERY LITTLE TO NO TIME TO PULL OVER FOR SAFETY. THE ENGINE THEN SHUTS DOWN. I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW DANGEROUS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH PLUS ON A FREEWAY. I'VE HAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME BEFORE WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND ENGINE OFF, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT UNLOCKED BY MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. HOWEVER, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME AND A SCARY ONE WHERE …

Owner-reported narrative. 85,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10915070 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11019780 · 2017-08-25 (August 25, 2017)

THE TOYOTA VENZA 2011 HAS PROBLEMS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE CAR IS AT HIGH. THE ABS LIGHT TURN ON MAKING IT HARD TO STEER. THE TRACTION LOST CONTROL LIGHT ALSO TURNS ON. A RED STEERING WHEEL LIGHT TURNS ON. ONCE ALL THESE LIGHTS ARE ON, THEN THE AC DOES NOT WORK AND THE HEAT DOESN'T WORK EITHER. IN THE WINTER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS AT HIGH, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. IN THE SUMMER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ONLY THE SUN HEATS UP THE CAR CAUSING THE SAME WARNING LIGHT COME ON AND THEN I CAN'T GET ANY AIR CONDITIONING AGAIN. I'VE HAD THIS PRO…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019780 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11192187 · 2019-03-28 (March 28, 2019)

WHEN MY CAR HIT 100,000 MILES IT STARTED HAVING A ISSUE WHEN STARTING UP, I WOULD HEAR LIKE A GRINDING, WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL I HAD FOUND OUT THERE WAS MINIMAL OIL IN MY CAR, I ADDED OIL AND TOOK BY MY SHOP THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER TOYOTAS THAT HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. OIL CONSUMPTION, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, REPLACED THE OIL HOUSING, THE TUBING, HAD THEM RUNNING OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS, AND THEM TELLING ME THAT MY CAR PASSED AND CHARGING ME FOR ALL TEST. MY CAR NOW, IS EATING ABOUT 15 Q OF OIL EVERY 5000 M…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11192187 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10435087 · 2011-11-09 (November 9, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WOULD SHIFT INTO PARK, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTART FOR THE VEHICLE TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE ANY DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435087 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10883409 · 2016-07-07 (July 7, 2016)

I AM WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW OF A SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING BY TOYOTA VEHICLE. I CAME HOME FROM WORK ON JUNE 28, 2016 AND PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE. AS I WAS LEAVING I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED UNDER MY CAR AND SAW A SIGNIFICANT LEAK OF GASOLINE FROM MY GAS TANK. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE TOWING COMPANY AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. AFTER AN ASSESSMENT, THE TOYOTA'S SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT MY GAS TANK WAS PIERCED. I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING ON THE ROAD. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR, THEIR INV…

Owner-reported narrative. 87,440 miles reported. Look up ODI 10883409 at NHTSA ↗