Toyota Venza Reliability and Common Problems

Boasting the best traits of station wagons and sports utility vehicles, the Toyota Venza is a great pick for a daily driver. Its strong points include easy access to its quiet cabin and rear cargo area, a powerful engine that offers good mileage for an SUV, and decent handling. No wonder Toyota restarted its production as a hybrid SUV in 2021. Older Venza models aren’t too far behind, and their resale value is excellent, only depreciating 38% after five years, according to CarEdge.com.

Are Toyota Venzas Reliable SUVs?

The Toyota Venza is considered above average in terms of reliability. RepairPal gave it a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0, putting the midsize SUV in 3rd place out of 26 models evaluated. It also has excellent ownership costs and requires less severe repair jobs compared to the other SUV in its segment. These qualities make the Venza a very affordable vehicle to drive and maintain.

The new 2021 Toyota Venza is a hybrid vehicle, so it has the best fuel economy out of all the model years. Meanwhile, earlier Venzas are still considered decent in terms of fuel efficiency for a crossover SUV built during the first half of the 2010s.

Many drivers will attest to first-generation Toyota Venza reliability. There are many units on the used car market with 100,000 miles or more on the odometer. Some owners drive Venzas that have logged 200,000 miles or more, and most were pleased with their vehicle’s performance.

The Toyota Venza lives up to the legendary Toyota reliability. Follow its recommended maintenance schedule, drive carefully, and replace faulty parts immediately, and your Venza can easily reach the 100,000-mile mark.

Top Toyota Venza Problems

First produced in 2009, the first-generation Toyota Venza ceased production in 2015. It came back in 2021 with a hybrid powertrain. Both generations boast a reliable line-up, but some of their models developed problems over time.

Some Venza model years proved more vulnerable to issues compared to others. According to CarComplaints.com, the 2009 Venza had the highest number of complaints. However, the 2013 Venza is considered the worst model year because of the severity of its problems.

Here are the most common Toyota Venza problems reported by owners of various model years:

Interior Accessories Problems

One of the options for customizing the Toyota Venza is a moonroof or sunroof. Both are body panels on the roof that allow fresh air and light to enter the vehicle from above. The sunroof is a metal panel that is manually raised or removed, while the moonroof consists of transparent tinted glass that slides back and forth.

While the material used in the Toyota Venza moonroof is tough, it could shatter abruptly. Some 2013 Venza owners have reported that the body panel imploded without warning while they were driving with the moonroof open. Both sides of the broken panel sported 45-degree tears.

Several 2012 Toyota Venza owners have aired similar complaints. In most cases, the panel imploded fairly early in the SUV’s service life. One of them reported that the body panel imploded and rained broken glass abruptly. The driver suffered slight injuries but managed to steer his vehicle into the emergency lane.

Other problems with Toyota Venza interior accessories include static from the 2013 Venza radio and broken seat adjustment levers in the 2010 Venza. While these issues won’t affect the SUV’s drivability, they can ruin your driving experience if your Venza develops them.

Brake Problems

There aren’t many complaints about Toyota Venza brakes, but most of them go to the 2010 Venza. Indeed, two of this model year’s three most serious problems involve its brakes.

Many owners of the 2010 Toyota Venza had to repair and replace their brake rotors and brake pads multiple times. Most of them reported that the front and rear brake rotors had worn out early. Some of them resurfaced their rotors to restore the parts’ performance, but they eventually needed replacement.

The 2010 Venza’s brakes could also malfunction and put its passengers in peril. They can stop the car before releasing without prompting. This forces the driver to pump the brakes repeatedly, which can wear out brake parts faster. The ABS light may also activate because of faulty rear ABS sensors.

Steering Problems

The 2009 Toyota Venza is the oldest model year, and it introduced many of the great things associated with later years. However, some units aren’t perfect and came with teething problems like any new vehicle. Their steering drew the highest number of complaints for any model year, and the worst problem involved rattling.

Several 2009 Venza drivers have complained about a rattling noise coming from the steering. Most of them heard the unpleasant noise while driving or going over a speedbump. Reports indicate that the problem could show up in brand new or low-mileage vehicles. The repair job typically involved replacing either the steering column or the intermediate shop.

In addition to the unnerving rattle, the 2009 Venza could develop other steering problems. The SUV could drift to one side or make whining noises during turns. Steering-related issues are expensive to fix, and they can get frustrating to deal with when they appear early on.

Whether you already own a Venza or plan to buy one, you can’t go wrong with this reliable SUV. Provided that you’re aware of the potential issues that your Venza may develop over time, buying or driving this model comes with little risk. Both old and new Venzas will give you good returns on your initial investment as long as you take good care of your vehicle.