2012 Toyota Venza Owner Complaints

MY CAR WAS HIT FROM THE REAR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, PUSHING CAR INTO CONCRETE BARRIER, DID A 360 AND BOUNCED BACK TO OTHER CONCRETE BARRIER. PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN. DRIVERS AIR BAG OPENED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. NO OTHER AIR BAGS OPENED. *TR

10/9/2013

NO INCIDENT, JUST A SAFETY QUESTION. I PURCHASED THIS 2012 VENZA A FEW DAYS AGO AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THE FRONTAL PASSENGER CRASH TEST WAS 2 STARS (OUT OF 5). FOR 2013 IT WAS 4 STARS FOR THE SAME TEST. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS CAR (VIN NUMBER) WAS MADE BEFORE OR AFTER TOYOTA MADE SAFETY MODIFICATIONS THAT LED TO THE 4 STAR FRONTAL PASSENGER RATING. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOT HELPFUL AND SUGGESTED CONTACTING NHTSA. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR ME AS I CARRY MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS CAR AND IF THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN IT WILL HAVE TO BE RETURNED. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. PS - I SENT THIS NOTE YESTERDAY BUT INCLUDED THE WRONG VIN. THE VIN ENTERED ABOVE IS NOW CORRECT. *TR

1/2/2014

THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT; JUST A QUESTION. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I PURCHASED THIS 2012 TOYOTA VENZA FROM A DEALER WHO CLAIMED EXCELLENT SAFETY RATINGS. BUT I SEE THAT THE 2012 VENZA PASSENGER FRONTAL CRASH RATING IS ONLY 2 STAR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS MADE AFTER THE SAFETY WAS IMPROVED (IT IS LISTED AS 4 STAR FOR THE 2013 MODEL), BUT COULD NOT SUPPORT HIS CLAIM THAT MY CAR WAS 4 STAR RATHER THAN 2 STAR. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME AS I CARRY MY GRANDCHILDREN AND WOULD NOT ACCEPT A 2 STAR RATING. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE TO FIND OUT IF THIS VIN WAS BEFORE OR AFTER THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE AND THEY COULD NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION, AND WOULD NOT REFER ME ON TO SOMEONE WHO COULD. CAN YOU DETERMINE IF THIS CAR HAS A 2 STAR OR A 4 STAR FRONTAL PASSENGER SIDE CRASH RATING (OR REFER ME TO SOMEONE WHO COULD FIND OUT)? I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THIS HELP - OTHERWISE I WILL BE FORCED TO SELL THIS CAR. MY THANKS IN ADVANCE. *TR

1/1/2014

NO INCIDENT, JUST A SAFETY QUESTION. I PURCHASED THIS 2012 VENZA A FEW DAYS AGO AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THE FRONTAL PASSENGER CRASH TEST WAS 2 STARS (OUT OF 5). FOR 2013 IT WAS 4 STARS FOR THE SAME TEST. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS CAR (VIN NUMBER) WAS MADE BEFORE OR AFTER TOYOTA MADE SAFETY MODIFICATIONS THAT LED TO THE 4 STAR FRONTAL PASSENGER RATING. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOT HELPFUL AND SUGGESTED CONTACTING NHTSA. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR ME AS I CARRY MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS CAR AND IF THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN IT WILL HAVE TO BE RETURNED. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. PS - I SENT THIS NOTE YESTERDAY BUT INCLUDED THE WRONG VIN. THE VIN ENTERED ABOVE IS NOW CORRECT. *TR

1/2/2014

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FLOPS DOWN INTO THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. IT WILL NOT STAY OUT OF THE LINE OF SIGHT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED FOR TOYOTA CAMRYS AND TOYOTA ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENSION TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS THE SAME PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA VENZAS.

6/15/2018

MY DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY UP AND IT BROKE OFF. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE FROM THE SUN GLARE

12/11/2018

THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT; JUST A QUESTION. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I PURCHASED THIS 2012 TOYOTA VENZA FROM A DEALER WHO CLAIMED EXCELLENT SAFETY RATINGS. BUT I SEE THAT THE 2012 VENZA PASSENGER FRONTAL CRASH RATING IS ONLY 2 STAR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS MADE AFTER THE SAFETY WAS IMPROVED (IT IS LISTED AS 4 STAR FOR THE 2013 MODEL), BUT COULD NOT SUPPORT HIS CLAIM THAT MY CAR WAS 4 STAR RATHER THAN 2 STAR. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME AS I CARRY MY GRANDCHILDREN AND WOULD NOT ACCEPT A 2 STAR RATING. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE TO FIND OUT IF THIS VIN WAS BEFORE OR AFTER THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE AND THEY COULD NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION, AND WOULD NOT REFER ME ON TO SOMEONE WHO COULD. CAN YOU DETERMINE IF THIS CAR HAS A 2 STAR OR A 4 STAR FRONTAL PASSENGER SIDE CRASH RATING (OR REFER ME TO SOMEONE WHO COULD FIND OUT)? I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THIS HELP - OTHERWISE I WILL BE FORCED TO SELL THIS CAR. MY THANKS IN ADVANCE. *TR

1/1/2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN IT RAINED, WATER WOULD ACCUMULATE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,272.

9/28/2017

ON A BRAND NEW 2012 TOYOTA VENZA, PURCHASED NEW WITH 12 MILES ON IT, IN MARCH OF 2012, THERE IS COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF RUST ON TOP OF THE PAINT ON THE HOOD, FRONT BUMPER, AND SURROUNDING SIDE PANELS, DOORS, HATCH, AND BACK BUMPER. NOTE, THE MAJORITY OF THE RUST IS EVOLVING ON TOP OF THE PAINT, WHERE NO BARE METAL IS EXPOSED. IT CAN BE BUFFED OFF, BUT THIS ONLY TEMPORARILY SOLVES THE PROBLEM, AS THE RUST CONTINUES TO GROW, EVEN AFTER REMOVAL. ON THE FRONT BUMPER AND HOOD, THERE ARE LARGE RUSTING SPOTS WHERE SMALL CHIPS EXPOSING METAL, LESS THAN 1CM (CONSIDERED TO BE FROM GRAVEL) EXIST. FOR VISUAL AFFECT, IT LOOKS AT THOUGH SOMEONE DIPPED A LARGE PAINT BRUSH IN ORANGE PAINT AND SPLATTERED/SPECKLED IT OVER THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. *TR

5/23/2014

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS HIY AT A HIGH SPEED ON DRIVERS DIDE FRONT WHEEL. I WAS IN MOYION WHIL A TRUCK HIT ME GOING AT A HIGH SPEED AND WAS DRAGGED WHEN WHEELS GOT STUCK

2/13/2018

I PURCHASED THE 2012 VENZA IN JUNE OF 2012 WITH HIGH HOPES. THE OPTIONS AND LOOK WERE PHENOMENAL. HOWEVER, THERE IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. IN OCT. OF 2012 THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW BURST WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. TODAY, 05/13/13, I STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. MY CONCERN NOW - I HAVE A SUNROOF AND PANORAMIC WINDOW WHICH I AM CONCERNED WILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. TOYOTA NEEDS TO UP THEIR EXPECTATIONS - JUST BECAUSE THEY PURCHASED GM DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN LOWER THE STANDARDS. *TR

5/13/2013

THIS TOYOTA VENZA ROLLS BACK ON A HILL OR SLIGHT INCLINE WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. DRIVER NEEDS TO KEEP THEIR FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACK INTO A CAR BEHIND THEM. THIS DEFECT WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA AND TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL.

6/22/2015

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY TO PARK IN DRIVEWAY BEHIND MY LEAF. DURING ACCELERATION I COULD NOT BRAKE AND CRASHED INTO MY LEAF WHICH WENT FORWARD INTO THE BEAM IN MY GARAGE AND STOPPED BOTH THE CARS.

7/13/2016

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY TO PARK IN DRIVEWAY BEHIND MY LEAF. DURING ACCELERATION I COULD NOT BRAKE AND CRASHED INTO MY LEAF WHICH WENT FORWARD INTO THE BEAM IN MY GARAGE AND STOPPED BOTH THE CARS.

7/13/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA VENZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE HATCHBACK FAILED TO CLOSE WHEN USING THE REMOTE ACCESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK NEEDED TO BE MANUALLY CLOSED. INITIALLY, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE HATCHBACK FAILING TO OPEN USING THE REMOTE ACCESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND A GRINDING SOUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

4/3/2017

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS HIY AT A HIGH SPEED ON DRIVERS DIDE FRONT WHEEL. I WAS IN MOYION WHIL A TRUCK HIT ME GOING AT A HIGH SPEED AND WAS DRAGGED WHEN WHEELS GOT STUCK

2/13/2018

MFR CASE #'S 1805171831 & 181490595. CAR IN YOUR SHOP 5/23/2018 THRU 5/30/2018. IF YOU ACCELERATE QUICKLY TAKING THE ENGINE PAST 3000 RPM'S YOU START TO GET A STRONG ROTTEN EGG TYPE SMELL IN THE CAR. WE DROPPED THE CAR OFF THE COMPLAINT WASN'T WRITTEN RIGHT FORCING THEM TO CALL US TO EXPLAIN. WHICH I DID AND GAVE EXAMPLES TO DRIVE IT SO IT COULD BE DUPLICATED. A FEW HOURS LATER JOE CALLS WITH THEY COULD ONLY GET BRAKE SMELL FROM THE CAR BECAUSE IT HAS AFTERMARKET BRAKES ON IT. LIKE I DID SOMETHING WRONG WHEN I SPENT $900 INSTEAD OF $2000.00 FOR TOYOTA. THEN I WAS ASKED WHAT KIND OF FUEL DO I USE. NOW WE USE FUEL FROM WAWA, SUNOCO, COSTCO, BJ'S IN THE LAST 5 YEARS. THE ONLY THING I WAS TOLD THEY DID WAS A HEALTH REPORT FROM A CODE SCANNER TO FIND OUT IT HAS NO CODES IN THE COMPUTER. I HAVE FOUND IN GOOGLE SEARCHS 309,000 HITS WITH THE WORDS "TOYOTA ROTTEN EGG SMELL" SO I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AND ASKED THE SERVICE MANGER ON DUTY IF I COULD QUICKLY DUPLICATE THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AS THEY WERE UNABLE TO. RAN THE ENGINE AT 4000RPMS FOR AROUND 2 TO 3 MINS. THE CAR BEGAN TO SMELL. THE SERVICE MANAGER ON DUTY TRULY SEEMED TO WANT TO HELP TO FIX THIS SAID SHE WOULD ADVISE THE TOYOTA FIELD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHEN HE CAME IN ON THE 30TH OF MAY. I RECEIVED A CALL & WAS TOLD THAT THE FIELD REP COULDNT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS OPERATED EXCESSIVELY AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING TO THE CAR. A CAR WITH 268HP AND A TACHOMETER WITH AN OVER 6000RPM WHICH THE CAR HAS NEVER SEEN AND HAS NEVER BEEN PAST 80MPH IN ITS LIFE OF SERVICE. I HAVE A PROBLEM BELIEVING THEY DROVE THE CAR OTHER THAN CRUISED AROUND. THEY BLAMED THE FUEL I USED AND MY DRIVING. A CAR DESIGNED TO RUN ON 87 OCTANE IN THEIR MANUAL ABOVE HORSEPOWER AND ENGINE RPM LIMITS. I HAD TO DUPLICATE THE COMPLAINT QUICKLY FOR THEM WHICH THEY CHARGED ME FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. NOW A REFUSAL BY THE MFR. RIDICULOUS

6/1/2018

BRIEF ENGINE KNOCK/RATTLE NOISE AT COLD STARTUP. WHEN IN MOTION VEHICLE WILL MAKE RATTLING NOISE.

1/2/2020

On Dec. 17, 2023, shortly after 12:00 p.m.,I was driving my Toyota Venza on the highway under normal when the STEERING KNUCKLE suddenly fractured. This unexpected failure caused the vehicle to lose steering control, leading to a serious traffic accident. I inspected that part and found that the STEERIN KNUCKLE had broken abnormally, as the break showed no signs of any impact.

8/31/2025