NHTSA vehicle safety data

2011 Toyota Venza Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2011 Toyota Venza has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 59 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2011 Toyota Venza, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2011 Toyota Venza owner complaints

Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Toyota Venza, describing incidents dated February 22, 2011 to July 13, 2025.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 15 complaints
Service Brakes 9 complaints
Seats 8 complaints
Unknown or Other 8 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 7 complaints
Air Bags 5 complaints

Of the 59 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 59 complaints, owners report 7 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11673809 · Filed July 15, 2025
Purchased a 2011 toyota venza almost 28 days ago. I haven't even made my first payment for my car loan. The rain here in florida has shown that it is raining inside my vehicle. I have contacted the dealer, I have contacted my insurance company. I have done research and it's a known issue with this…
ODI #11635843 · Filed January 14, 2025
My horn no longer works. My mechanic informed me that it is the part that sits behind the airbag in the steering wheel. I was also informed that this happens to a lot of Toyota's. It is very expensive to repair and have not had it repaired. Since it is a common problem, does this issue fall under a…
ODI #11576057 · Filed March 7, 2024
See attached document for complaint

Read all 59 complaints

Side Curtain Air Bags May Not Deploy

NHTSA #21V257000 · Air Bags — Side/Window — Curtain · NHTSA notice

Reported April 13, 2021 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 279,040 vehicles

Repair completion: 56.46% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Toyota campaign 21TB01 / 21TA01 · Owners notified October 19, 2021

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Seat Heater Electrical Wiring

NHTSA #14V743000 · Seats — Front Assembly — Seat Heater/Cooler · NHTSA notice

Reported November 19, 2014 · Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

Potentially affected: 3,233 vehicles

Repair completion: 26.94% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified January 29, 2015 · Vehicles built June 1, 2008 – September 30, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Inaccurate Load Carrying Capacity Labels

NHTSA #13V123000 · Equipment — Other — Labels · NHTSA notice

Reported April 9, 2013 · Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

Potentially affected: 7,525 vehicles

Owners notified May 28, 2013

Defect description

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."

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Occupant Sensing System Calibration

NHTSA #13V014000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Sensor/Control Module-Inactive · NHTSA notice

Reported January 16, 2013 · Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

Potentially affected: 3,235 vehicles

Owners notified March 21, 2013

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

STOP LAMP SWITCH

NHTSA #12V091000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported March 7, 2012 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 186,798 vehicles

Owners notified April 12, 2012 · Vehicles built October 20, 2008 – January 4, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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 VEHICLES BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

DRIVE SHAFT BREAKS

NHTSA #11V306000 · Power Train — Driveline — Driveshaft · NHTSA notice

Reported June 1, 2011 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 50 vehicles

Owners notified June 22, 2011 · Vehicles built March 7, 2011 – March 10, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

2011 Toyota Venza SUV FWD

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Frontal Crash

Driver: 4, Passenger: 2

Side Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Rollover

16% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

2011 Toyota Venza SUV AWD

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Frontal Crash

Driver: 4, Passenger: 2

Side Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Rollover

14% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

59 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Toyota Venza.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting; Visibility/Wiper

ODI #11673809

Incident: July 13, 2025 · Filed: July 15, 2025

Purchased a 2011 toyota venza almost 28 days ago. I haven't even made my first payment for my car loan. The rain here in florida has shown that it is raining inside my vehicle. I have contacted the dealer, I have contacted my insurance company. I have done research and it's a known issue with this vehicle. I need help in correcting this. I am not driving the vehicle because it was shorting out the electric in the car. I have a tarp over it now. Can you point me in the direction of where to turn?

Unknown or Other

ODI #11635843

Incident: May 10, 2024 · Filed: January 14, 2025

My horn no longer works. My mechanic informed me that it is the part that sits behind the airbag in the steering wheel. I was also informed that this happens to a lot of Toyota's. It is very expensive to repair and have not had it repaired. Since it is a common problem, does this issue fall under a recall? I don't feel safe driving without a horn. You don't realize how often you need/use it until you can't.

Air Bags

ODI #11576057

Incident: September 13, 2023 · Filed: March 7, 2024

See attached document for complaint

Engine

ODI #11555299

Incident: October 20, 2023 · Filed: November 15, 2023

I had a 2011 Toyota Venza. Notice oil leakage. Took for oil and filter change and a check. Nothing was found, however four months later car began rattling and driving rough - I took to dealership and was told the Water Pump needed to be replaced. I have since found out that Toyota has had a many issues with the VVT-i Oil line failures AND Water Pump failures- Both that lead to a Failed Engine!! They fixed the water pump, however 45days later, my vehicles just stopped running as I was driving down the road. I checked oil - it was empty! Car would not start. I had car towed to dealer. I was then told 3days later that I needed a New Engine! That the Compressors were bad. In my research I found that when the compressor is starting to go out- the vehicle begins to run rough! This is what was told to the Dealership. I believe they failed to properly diagnosed my vehicle. And they wanted me to pay $9400 to Repair!!!! $5500 for a used Engine!! If Toyota knows they have the issue with the oil line... they should have checked for this... and checked the Engine when they KNOW THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILURE EFFECTS THE ENGINE!!!!!! I AM NOT THE MECHANIC!! The service guy at the dealership had his head down the entire time ... he knows they screwed up!! Of Course taking NO OWNERSHIP. I asked him why wouldn't they check for Engine compression when I told them it was driving rough - he says they just don't check for that!!! NOT MY FAULT.... This is NOT what I expect from a Toyota- has anyone else had this issues??? Vehicle had 168,000 miles. I had a Toyota Landcruiser with well over 220,000 miles and NEVER an engine issue!

Visibility/Wiper

ODI #11549925

Incident: September 22, 2023 · Filed: October 14, 2023

The roof panoramic glass shattered for no apparent reason. Passengers in the car could have been harmed Insurance has approved the repair. There was no warning or indication of failure.

Electrical System

ODI #11547229

Incident: September 28, 2023 · Filed: September 28, 2023

The headlight housing prongs are incorrect. The bulbs are H11, but the housing does not fit h11. I have tried 4 different brands.

Air Bags; Seats

ODI #11532247

Incident: June 22, 2023 · Filed: July 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Venza. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated, and the check SRS (Supplement Restraint System) message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the error messages were cleared; however, upon placing her purse on the passenger seat, the messages again became displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that the driver’s side harness needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V014000 (Air Bags, Seat). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 137,945.

Service Brakes

ODI #11428931

Crash

Incident: August 11, 2021 · Filed: August 13, 2021

Major brake problem ; we were saved miraculously I have a Toyota Venza 2011 and I am the only owner ; the car drives smooth , however with major brakes issue My brakes and rotors are still in good condition, however; twice in the highway I wanted to slow down and the brakes don’t work , I freak out and my steering wheel looses control and almost hit cars but after a couple minutes it works The worst one was a couple days ago ; was driving at 30 miles an hour trying yo drop off my daughter for her game , hit the curb , brakes completely Lost Control and the car won’t stop We panicked the car luckily kept going in the direction of the parking lot and I chose to go through bushes to stop the car and put the emergency brake ; the car after a few horror minutes stopped If the car merged a little bit outside the parking lot there is fast traffic and a lake right after I had the car towed right away , I will not touch that car again At the dealership they tried to dismiss the problem saying that brakes are fine I read multiple complaints on forums about the same issue This BRAKE Disaster NEEDS to be recalled People’s lives are in play If this doesn’t get resolved there will be lawyers involved

Seats

ODI #11408309

Incident: May 31, 2016 · Filed: April 15, 2021

HEATED LIGHTS ON BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT NOT WARMING UP. BOUGHT THIS CAR SECOND HAND FROM A SMALL AUTO DEALER (BUYACAR.COM IN GREENSBORO NC). BUT I DID TAKE MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIRS, THEY DID NOT TELL ME THAT THERE'S A RECALL ABOUT SEATS FOR THIS MODEL AND I DID COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WARMING SEAT NOT WORKING. SO RECALL WAS ABOUT, WIRING OF SEAT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT CHECK BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE CHARGED$500 FOR A REPAIR THAT IS PART OF A RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER.

Air Bags

ODI #11309894

Crash 1 injury

Incident: January 4, 2020 · Filed: February 18, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH IN THE RAIN AND FOG WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL ON A CURVE COLLIDING INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AS THE FRONT AND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Other Toyota Venza model years

Check your 2011 Toyota Venza VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Toyota Venza at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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