Total Complaints
226 filings
TOYOTA VENZA · model year
226 NHTSA complaints, 24 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2021TOYOTAVENZA carries 226 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 24 crashes, 0 fires, 22 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2021 VENZA is visibility/wiper with 73 filings, followed by unknown or other (38) and electrical system (13). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 2021 VENZA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
226 filings
Crashes Reported
24 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 73 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 38 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 13 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 12 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 11 |
| ENGINE | 10 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 10 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 10 |
| POWER TRAIN | 9 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 7 |
| AIR BAGS | 6 |
| STEERING | 5 |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING | 4 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 3 |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS | 2 |
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the
Left side of my heated steering overheated and burned through the leather.
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.
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.
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.
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 ca
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 ca
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 hav
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.
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
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
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
Mileage: 57,346
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
Mileage: 57,346
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
Mileage: 57,346
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.
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.