2012 Toyota Venza
The Verdict
The 2012 Toyota Venza has 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (12 complaints) and electrical (9 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 94/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Toyota Venza, consider the 2023 model year which has 20% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2023 has 20% fewer complaints
View the 2023 Toyota Venza dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
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Worst Problems
Complaints
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.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Venza. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the airbags warning light illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V257000 (Air Bags) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The dealer advised the contact that the recalls repair had been completed; however, upon picking up the vehicle, the contact noticed that the airbags warning light remained illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The dealer advised the contact that they would need to remove the driver’s and passenger’s side front door panels, and the carpet to repair the vehicle. The contact was also informed that the repair would be completed at her expense. The contact declined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Venza. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V257000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owned a 2012 TOYOTA VENZA. The contact stated while her husband was driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle traveling in front of them came to an abrupt stop. In an effort to avoid the vehicle, the contact's husband jumped a curb and hit a light post. The front driver and passenger airbags deployed upon impact; however, the side curtain airbags failed to deploy. The authorities arrived at the scene and a police report was filed. Both the contact and her husband were transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact's husband was treated for soreness and bruising to his chest and back. The contact had trouble breathing upon arrival and was given oxygen. She was then transferred to another hospital where she was treated for a broken sternum, a fractured back, chest contusions, and swelling to her chest area. Due to the accident, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The contact then received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V257000 (AIRBAGS) which she linked to her injuries. The dealer nor the manufacturer have yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had been destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Venza. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V257000 (Air Bags) however, the part for the repair was unavailable. The dealer had been notified of the issue and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
SUN VISORS, (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) HAVE BROKEN AND WILL NOT HOLD THE VISORS IN PLACE.THEY BOTH FALL AT RANDOM CAUSING DISTRACTIONS. THE VISORS HAVE NOT BEEN ABUSED IN ANY WAY AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
THE PASSENGER SIDE WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THAT AIR BAG IS OFF WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS SEATED IN IT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION WITH THE SEAT IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THIS MAY PREVENT THE AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING PROPERLY IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS A 2013 RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT IT DOES NOT SHOW UP UNDER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WHEN SEARCHED, NHTSA RECALL BULLETIN REFERENCE NUMBER 13V014000.
THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. IT KEEPS FALLING DOWN MAKING IT HARD TO SEE.
VISOR FLIP DOWN SPONTANEOUSLY AND HINGE BREAKS AFTER SOME TIME EVEN AFTER DEALER REPLACED WITHIN WARRANTY NOW THEY WONT REPLACE. VISOR WILL HANG DOWN AND BLOCK VIEW OF ROAD. THIS OCCURS WHILE IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. THIS CAUSES A BLOCKED VIEW AND IS UNSAFE AS IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR VISIBILITY.
BRIEF ENGINE KNOCK/RATTLE NOISE AT COLD STARTUP. WHEN IN MOTION VEHICLE WILL MAKE RATTLING NOISE.
IN MY 2012 TOYOTA VENZA THE SUNVISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DROPS DOWN AND OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW. THIS HAPPENS WHILE I AM DRIVING AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD, IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND NOW NO LONGER STAYS UP.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA VENZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG BURST OPEN AND BLACK SMOKE AND FRAGMENTS FLEW OUT. THE FRAGMENTS SEVERELY INJURED BOTH OF THE DRIVER'S LEGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT EXAMINER WHO CONCLUDED THAT THE AIR BAG FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY WATER DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. ...UPDATED 03/13/17 *BF *CN
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.
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.
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