2011 Toyota VENZA: complaints, problems and recalls

I LOVE THE VENZA BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN ROAD CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS TO BOUNCE REPEATEDLY. IT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS PORPOISING. IF YOU CAN VISUALIZE A SEMI-TRUCK DRIVER BOUNCING UP AND DOWN IN HIS SEAT, THIS IS WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING. AS I EXPERIENCE THIS BOUNCING I OBSERVE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS IN CARS NEXT TO ME OR IN FRONT OF ME AND DO NOT SEE THEM BOUNCING LIKE I AM AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BOUNCING IN MY FORMER TOYOTA AVALON OR MY RECENT CHEVROLET MALIBU. HOPEFULLY, TOYOTA WILL RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE AND FIN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10423228 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEAD REST FOR THE FRONT SEATS ON THE VENZA MAKES THESE SEATS THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE I HAVE EVER SAT IN, LET ALONE DRIVE. I AM ONLY 5' 4" TALL AND THE WAY THE HEAD REST LANDS, IT PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD WHEN I DRIVE. I END UP WITH BOTH A HEAD ACHE AND A NECK ACHE WHENEVER I DRIVE. IT APPEARS THIS VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED FOR SOMEONE TALLER, PERHAPS A MAN. THE HEAD REST NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED FOR SOMEONE OF MY STATURE. I WOULD GLADLY PAY FOR ANOTHER HEADREST IF ONE WAS AVAILABLE. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT ONCE AGAIN THE NEEDS OF WOMEN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10435080 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

UNDER ALMOST ALL ROAD CONDITIONS MY NEW 2011 TOYOTA VENZA HAS A VERY BOUNCY RIDE AND TENDS TO BE MOST ANNOYING AT LOWER SPEEDS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR 3 MONTHS AS OF THIS REPORT AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE TOYOTA DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT IT IS NOT A NORMAL SITUATION AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE OFFICE IN DECEMBER 2011 AND REGISTERED MY COMPLAINT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10439787 at NHTSA ↗

I NOTICED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THAT MY VENZA HAS A VERY BOUNCY RIDE, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER BUT AFTER THEY CHECKED IT OUT I WAS TOLD THAT'S THE WAY THAT SUSPENSION WAS SET UP. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO FINE TUNE THE SUSPENSION TO GIVE IT A MUCH SMOOTHER RIDE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444027 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HANDLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HOOD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHO ADVISED THAT THE HANDLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE HANDLE WAS REPLACED BUT FRACTURED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, IN WHICH THE HANDLE WAS FIRST REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HANDLE WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE HE WAS DISABLED AND USED THE HANDLE TO ENTER AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470438 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2011-06-01 (June 1, 2011)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VENZA AND SIENNA PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 7, THROUGH MARCH 10, 2011. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE FRONT, RIGHT, DRIVE SHAFT MAY BREAK DUE TO INSUFFICIENT HEAT TREATMENT.

Consequence: SHOULD THE DRIVE SHAFT BREAK DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVE SHAFT, AND, IF THE DRIVE SHAFT IS IDENTIFIED AS ONE THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CORRECTLY MANUFACTURED, IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2012-03-07 (March 7, 2012)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 CAMRY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2008, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2009, AND MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 VENZA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 20, 2008, THROUGH JANUARY 4, 2011. DURING ASSEMBLY OF THE CONTACT-TYPE STOP LAMP SWITCH, SILICONE GREASE MAY HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE OF THE SWITCH WHICH COULD CAUSE CONTACT RESISTANCE. IF THIS OCCURS, WARNING LAMPS COULD ILLUMINATE, A NO START CONDITION COULD RESULT, THE SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT SHIFT FROM THE “PARK” POSITION, OR THE VEHICLE’S BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence: INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WARN OTHER DRIVERS THAT THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING OR STOPPING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2013-01-16 (January 16, 2013)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 2013-04-09 (April 9, 2013)

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."

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 2014-11-19 (November 19, 2014)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

Consequence: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Reported: 2021-04-13 (April 13, 2021)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.