What year Toyota Venza should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2009 and 2010 Toyota Venza rank worst, with complaint index scores of 100 and 83, the highest complaint counts (173 and 79), and 8 and 9 recall campaigns respectively.

What are the best Toyota Venza years?

The 2012 and 2014 Venza rate Best, with complaint index scores of 17 and 0, the lowest complaint counts among all years, and only 4 and 1 recall campaigns. The 2015 Venza rates Good with a complaint index of 33.

Is the 2009 Toyota Venza reliable?

The 2009 Venza has the worst record among Venza years based on NHTSA data, with 173 complaints, a complaint index of 100, 18 crashes, 3 fires, 16 injuries, 1 death, and 8 recall campaigns, mostly tied to the Engine.

What is the most common problem area for the Toyota Venza?

Across all model years, Engine problems account for 20% of complaints (92 total), followed by Structure & Body at 19% (86) and Brakes at 16% (74), according to NHTSA data.

How many recalls does the Toyota Venza have?

Across the 2009-2015 Venza, NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns total, with 8 affecting the 2009 model and 9 affecting the 2010 model, the highest counts of any year.

Toyota Venza Best and Worst Years (2009–2015)

The 2009 and 2010 Toyota Venza rank worst, with complaint index scores of 100 and 83 and 8 and 9 recall campaigns each, led by Engine problems. The 2012 and 2014 Venza score lowest (17 and 0) and rate Best, while 2015 rates Good.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2009 Avoid 2010 Best 2012 Best 2014

Model years: 7; 2009–2015
NHTSA complaints: 453
Recall campaigns: 11
Crashes reported: 66
Fires reported: 9
Top problem area: Engine

Venza Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Toyota Venza problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2009	Avoid	100	173	18	3	8	Engine	22.5	—
2010	Avoid	83	79	10	3	9	Engine	22.5	—
2011	Caution	50	59	5	2	6	Electrical System	21.5	4★
2012	Best	17	25	6	0	4	Airbags	21.5	4★
2013	Caution	67	59	13	1	4	Structure & Body	21.5	5★
2014	Best	0	31	6	0	1	Airbags	21.5	5★
2015	Good	33	27	8	0	1	Airbags	21.5	5★

Venza years to avoid: what went wrong

2009 Toyota Venza Index 100 · 173 complaints · 8 recalls

The 2009 Venza has the highest complaint index (100) and the most complaints (173) of any year, with 18 crashes, 3 fires, 16 injuries and 1 death reported. Engine issues make up 26% of complaints for this year, with a median failure mileage of 13,000 miles, followed by brakes (17%) and structure & body (16%). NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this year, including an airbag wiring recall affecting the driver-side door and seat heater and door heater recalls shared with other Toyota models. Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration, engine stalling while coasting or parking, and airbags failing to deploy in low-speed crashes.

2009 engine problems →2009 brakes problems →2009 structure & body problems →

2010 Toyota Venza Index 83 · 79 complaints · 9 recalls

The 2010 Venza carries a complaint index of 83, the second-worst of any year, with 79 complaints, 10 crashes, 3 fires and 7 injuries. Engine and structure & body issues each account for 24% of complaints, with a median engine failure mileage of 13,350 miles; electrical system problems follow at 22%, with a median mileage of 62,350. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for this year, including the same airbag wiring and door/seat heater recalls that cover the 2009 model. Owners report engine compartment fires shortly after parking, brake failures at stops, and airbags that did not deploy in collisions.

2010 engine problems →2010 structure & body problems →2010 electrical system problems →

Most common Toyota Venza problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

Engine92 (20%)
Structure & Body86 (19%)
Other76 (17%)
Brakes74 (16%)
Electrical System69 (15%)
Airbags57 (13%)
Visibility & Wipers47 (10%)
Transmission & Powertrain31 (7%)
Steering30 (7%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires19 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

What year Toyota Venza should I avoid?: Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2009 and 2010 Toyota Venza rank worst, with complaint index scores of 100 and 83, the highest complaint counts (173 and 79), and 8 and 9 recall campaigns respectively.
What are the best Toyota Venza years?: The 2012 and 2014 Venza rate Best, with complaint index scores of 17 and 0, the lowest complaint counts among all years, and only 4 and 1 recall campaigns. The 2015 Venza rates Good with a complaint index of 33.
Is the 2009 Toyota Venza reliable?: The 2009 Venza has the worst record among Venza years based on NHTSA data, with 173 complaints, a complaint index of 100, 18 crashes, 3 fires, 16 injuries, 1 death, and 8 recall campaigns, mostly tied to the Engine.
What is the most common problem area for the Toyota Venza?: Across all model years, Engine problems account for 20% of complaints (92 total), followed by Structure & Body at 19% (86) and Brakes at 16% (74), according to NHTSA data.
How many recalls does the Toyota Venza have?: Across the 2009-2015 Venza, NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns total, with 8 affecting the 2009 model and 9 affecting the 2010 model, the highest counts of any year.