2012 Toyota VENZA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Toyota VENZA has 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: my car was hit from the rear at a high rate of speed, pushing car into concrete barrier, did a 360 and bounced back to other concrete barrier. passenger air bag did not open. drivers air bag opened but did not inflate. no other air bags opened. *tr.

9 crash reports 8 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

9 complaints

26%

• MY CAR WAS HIT FROM THE REAR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, PUSHING CAR INTO CONCRETE BARRIER, DID A 360 AND BOUNCED BACK TO OTHER CONCRETE BARRIER. PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN. DRIVERS AIR BAG OPENED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. NO OTHER AIR BAGS OPENED. *TR
• NO INCIDENT, JUST A SAFETY QUESTION. I PURCHASED THIS 2012 VENZA A FEW DAYS AGO AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THE FRONTAL PASSENGER CRASH TEST WAS 2 STARS (OUT OF 5). FOR 2013 IT WAS 4 STARS FOR THE SAME TEST. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS CAR (VIN NUMBER) WAS MADE BEFORE OR AFTER TOYOTA
• 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 VEH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“MY CAR WAS HIT FROM THE REAR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, PUSHING CAR INTO CONCRETE BARRIER, DID A 360 AND BOUNCED BACK TO OTHER CONCRETE BARRIER. PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN. DRIVERS AIR BAG OPENED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. NO OTHER AIR BAGS OPENED. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

7 complaints

21%

• I PURCHASED THE 2012 VENZA IN JUNE OF 2012 WITH HIGH HOPES. THE OPTIONS AND LOOK WERE PHENOMENAL. HOWEVER, THERE IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. IN OCT. OF 2012 THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW BURST WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. TODAY, 05/13/13, I STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND
• 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
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I PURCHASED THE 2012 VENZA IN JUNE OF 2012 WITH HIGH HOPES. THE OPTIONS AND LOOK WERE PHENOMENAL. HOWEVER, THERE IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. IN OCT. OF 2012 THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW BURST WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. TODAY, 05/13/13, I STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

6 complaints

18%

• THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT; JUST A QUESTION. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I PURCHASED THIS 2012 TOYOTA VENZA FROM A DEALER WHO CLAIMED EXCELLENT SAFETY RATINGS. BUT I SEE THAT THE 2012 VENZA PASSENGER FRONTAL CRASH RATING IS ONLY 2 STAR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD M
• NO INCIDENT, JUST A SAFETY QUESTION. I PURCHASED THIS 2012 VENZA A FEW DAYS AGO AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THE FRONTAL PASSENGER CRASH TEST WAS 2 STARS (OUT OF 5). FOR 2013 IT WAS 4 STARS FOR THE SAME TEST. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS CAR (VIN NUMBER) WAS MADE BEFORE OR AFTER TOYOTA
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT; JUST A QUESTION. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I PURCHASED THIS 2012 TOYOTA VENZA FROM A DEALER WHO CLAIMED EXCELLENT SAFETY RATINGS. BUT I SEE THAT THE 2012 VENZA PASSENGER FRONTAL CRASH RATING IS ONLY 2 STAR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD M”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

5 complaints

15%

• THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT; JUST A QUESTION. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I PURCHASED THIS 2012 TOYOTA VENZA FROM A DEALER WHO CLAIMED EXCELLENT SAFETY RATINGS. BUT I SEE THAT THE 2012 VENZA PASSENGER FRONTAL CRASH RATING IS ONLY 2 STAR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD M
• ON A BRAND NEW 2012 TOYOTA VENZA, PURCHASED NEW WITH 12 MILES ON IT, IN MARCH OF 2012, THERE IS COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF RUST ON TOP OF THE PAINT ON THE HOOD, FRONT BUMPER, AND SURROUNDING SIDE PANELS, DOORS, HATCH, AND BACK BUMPER. NOTE, THE MAJORITY OF THE RUST IS EVOLVING ON TOP OF THE PAINT, WHE
• 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 CONTAC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

1 complaints

• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 34 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: MY CAR WAS HIT FROM THE REAR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, PUSHING CAR INTO CONCRETE BARRIER, DID A 360 AND BOUNCED BACK TO OTHER CONCRETE BARRIER. PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN. DRIVERS AIR BAG OPENED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. NO OTHER AIR BAGS OPENED. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: I PURCHASED THE 2012 VENZA IN JUNE OF 2012 WITH HIGH HOPES. THE OPTIONS AND LOOK WERE PHENOMENAL. HOWEVER, THERE IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. IN OCT. OF 2012 THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW BURST WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. TODAY, 05/13/13, I STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT; JUST A QUESTION. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I PURCHASED THIS 2012 TOYOTA VENZA FROM A DEALER WHO CLAIMED EXCELLENT SAFETY RATINGS. BUT I SEE THAT THE 2012 VENZA PASSENGER FRONTAL CRASH RATING IS ONLY 2 STAR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD M
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT; JUST A QUESTION. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I PURCHASED THIS 2012 TOYOTA VENZA FROM A DEALER WHO CLAIMED EXCELLENT SAFETY RATINGS. BUT I SEE THAT THE 2012 VENZA PASSENGER FRONTAL CRASH RATING IS ONLY 2 STAR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD M
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)