2011 Toyota Venza Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2011 Toyota Venza has a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 4th worst of 7 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 59 complaints, 6 recalls, and 2 fire reports, with Electrical System issues topping the list at 29% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #4 of 7 Venza years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 59
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 7
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21.5
- 19.5 city / 25.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 7 / 0
Top 2011 Toyota Venza problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System17 (29%)
- Structure & Body14 (24%)
- Brakes13 (22%)
- Other11 (19%)
- Visibility & Wipers7 (12%)
- Engine6 (10%)
- Airbags5 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (8%)
- Steering4 (7%)
- Fuel System3 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report electrical shorts in the engine compartment that produced smoke and flames while driving.
- A seat warmer module connection melted inside the vehicle, going unrepaired and unreported to Toyota.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in head-on and guard-rail collisions despite significant front-end damage.
- Some drivers describe sudden engine revving and loss of braking control while parking, resulting in a collision.
- Brakes reportedly failed to slow the vehicle on the highway, with the steering wheel losing control briefly afterward.
- Multiple owners describe a bouncy, porpoising ride quality at low speeds and on certain road conditions.
2011 Toyota Venza recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V257000Apr 13, 2021Airbags279,040 vehicles
Air bags:side/window:curtain
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.
Risk: 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.
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.
- NHTSA 14V743000Nov 19, 2014Structure & Body3,233 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
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.
Risk: 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.
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.
- NHTSA 13V123000Apr 9, 2013Other7,525 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
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."
Risk: 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.
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.
2011 Toyota Venza fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19.5 MPG
- Highway
- 25.5 MPG
- Combined
- 21.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,025
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2011 compared with other Venza years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Toyota Venza reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2011 Venza a Complaint Index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking 4th worst out of 7 model years for this model. It has fewer complaints than the 2009 and 2010 Venza but more than the 2012, 2014, and 2015 model years.
- What problems does the 2011 Toyota Venza have?
- NHTSA lists 59 complaints for the 2011 Venza, led by the Electrical System (29% of complaints), Structure & Body (24%), and Brakes (22%). There were 5 crashes, 2 fires, and 7 injuries reported, with a median failure mileage of 45,300 miles.
- Does the 2011 Toyota Venza have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2011 Venza, covering airbags, structure and body, electrical system, and a transmission and powertrain issue involving a front-right drive shaft that could break due to insufficient heat treatment.
- What year Toyota Venza should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA data, the 2009 and 2010 Venza are the years to avoid, with Complaint Index scores of 100 and 83. The 2011 Venza is rated Caution, while 2012, 2014, and 2015 earn Best or Good verdicts.
- Did the 2011 Venza have airbag deployment problems?
- NHTSA complaint records include reports of airbags failing to deploy in crashes, including a 65 mph head-on collision and a guard-rail collision at 25 mph. Airbags account for 8% of complaints on this model year.