2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Apr 6, 2026 · VA

While pulling up to a curb to park in residential community, my car suddenly accelerated. It came to a stop after 15’ when I hit the brakes. Fortunately nothing or no one was in front of me. No more incidents have occurred. No warning msgs or lights. No other symptoms. Having dealer diagnose this week.

Filed Nov 13, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · OR

This report covers 2 events for the same problem. The first occurred in the spring of 2025 and I did not document the date or time. The second one occurred on November 10, 2025 @ about 10:15 a.m. (1) Last spring my wife was driving the Venza up the street to our residence going a slow rate of speed. As she approached the house, she took her foot off on the gas and coasted toward the left curb so she could back into our driveway. At that point, car suddenly surged forward and accelerated toward the curb. My wife rapidly applied the brake and averted any problem. (2) The second event occurred on November 10, 2025 @ 10:15 a.m. My wife was starting to park at a parking lot in the Tanasbourne Town Center. She was going to back into a parking spot so she drove forward going slightly left. Then, with the car still in drive, the car surged forward. She quickly stepped on the brake and the car stopped abruptly. (She was angling the car and was about ready to stop and put the car in reverse when this happened) Again, with her quick response braking, she was able to avert hitting person or thing. As to which component or system failed, there appears to be a random malfunction of sensors or perhaps the CPU...something that is calling for full throttle when the gas petal is not pushed. The safety risk is possible harm to the driver, outside property, or the worse situation would be harm to pedestrians that might be in the way of the car. We have not been able to reproduce the problem. The same maneuvers have been repeated 100's of times without incident. As of this writing, the vehicle is being taken to the Toyota dealer to have the oil changed and at that time they will be asked to do a thorough inspection of the systems that might cause this, check for any recorded malfunctions, etc. To the best of our knowledge, there were no warning lamps or messages that appeared.

Filed Oct 19, 2025 · Acceleration · CA

As I attempted to park in a stall in the parking garage, I turned the steering wheel to the right and aligned the vehicle in preparation to back into the stall. In the split second that I took my foot off the accelerator to put it on the brake pedal in preparation to switch gears, the vehicle surged forward rapidly. I slammed on the brake as hard as I could, fearful that it would hit the car in the stall ahead. Maybe that's an indication that the Emergency Braking System failed, too. I don't know whether it stopped me or me slamming on the brake, but I was within 18 inches of the vehicle in the stall ahead of me. It truly scared me, which is what caused me to search for whether this was a known issue for 2021 Venzas and found that others have had this issue occur.

Filed Dec 18, 2023 · Brakes · MA · crash

I was parking my car in a parking lot very slowly (1 mile/hr, or less). My foot was on the break paddle, and I just turned into a parking spot. Suddenly, I heard huge acceleration noise and the car surged forward so rapidly, so powerfully on its own, and totally lost control. Then the break did not work at all. There are bushes in front of the parking spot and it is on top of a retaining wall with side walk road below. The crazy lost controlled car run through the bushes and jumped down from the top of the retaining way onto the side walk road. It hit the railing of the side road and then slowed down. I then gained the control of the car as the break back to work. The car is badly damaged and several parts falling down when it jump down the retaining wall. It was so terrified and I though I will die. And if someone was walk in the side road at that moment, they will be killed. I am still shaking when think about what was happen. Luckily, no one was there. I bought the car in Jan. 2022, brand new, only 8 miles used. Now it has around 14,000 miles on it. *** In Sept. 2022, Someone also posted very similar incidence for Toyota 2021 Venza in Toyatonation.com Discussion starter • #1 • Sep 3, 2022 soshima Has this happened to anyone else who owns a 2021 Venza? As I was slowly pulling in (going about 2 miles or less) to a perpendicular parking spot at my apartment complex, I took my foot off the accelerator, all the sudden my car lunged forward and rapidly accelerated forward on its own. It was completely terrifying to have the car take over. The car jumped the curb and went down a hill and I crashed head on into a two story garage at my apt complex. I saw a "MALFUNCTION" on the dashboard and the air bags did not deploy. I injured my back, neck and right arm. My car that only has 9K miles on it, was completely totaled. Toyota's Product Liability Dept - 3rd party engineers inspected the electronic data recorder. and car I'm awaiting the final report from Toyota.

Filed Aug 15, 2023 · Engine · WA · crash

On May 30, 2023 at approx. 11:30am I was leaving the car wash located at 2330 Olympic Hwy. N. Shelton Washington. The automatic bar pushed me through the car wash to the end where it left you. There was a slight grade downwards to the highway (Olympic Hwy. N.) I touched the gas peddle slightly and the car surged forward across the SB lane where a car traveling SB had to slam on its brakes to avoid a collision. My car continued across to the NB lane where it struck a vehicle in the drivers side rear quarter panel. I had slammed on the brakes but not quick enough to avoid the collision. The brake was slow to respond when I applied them. I'm thinking what may have happened as this is a gas electric hybrid that the gas engine kicked in instead of the battery when I gently applied the gas peddle which caused it to surge forward.

Filed Sep 1, 2022 · Acceleration, Brakes · 15,000 miles · CA

The contact's mother owns a 2021 Toyota Venza. The contact stated that while she was driving in traffic and slowing down to 10 MPH with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated with a jolt. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The unintended acceleration had occurred on several occasions. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the failure was caused by driver error. The dealer stated that the vehicle information showed that both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal had been depressed simultaneously. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

Filed Aug 14, 2022 · Acceleration, Airbags · CA · crash · 1 injury

As I was pulling in slowly (going about 2 miles or less) to a perpendicular parking spot at my apartment complex, I took my foot off the accelerator to brake. And all the sudden my car lunged forward and rapidly accelerated forward on its own. It was completely terrifying to have the car take over. The car jumped the curb and went over a hill. I couldn't stop the car and I crashed head on into a two story garage. I saw a "MALFUNCTION" on the dashboard and the air bags did not deploy. I injured my back, neck and right arm. My new car that only has 9K miles on it was completely totaled. Vehicle is scheduled to be inspected by Toyota's Product Liability Department - 3rd Party Engineer. The only other time I was concerned about the vehicle was about 5 months ago, I was at a stop sign and when I pushed on the gas, the car felt like it lost acceleration power, but then it was fine after that so I didn't think anything of it. Vehicle is available for inspection for a very limited time (probably within 1-2 weeks of this post), after Toyota inspects it, it will be going to the salvage yard. If you want to inspect it, please contact me ASAP.

Filed Jul 16, 2022 · Acceleration, Brakes · MI · crash · 2 injuries

as I attempted to turn left in the parking lot of a strip mall with several restaurants, my engine suddenly revved and accelerated and despite pumping the brakes several times I could not slow it down or stop it. As a result I slammed into a concrete berm, kept going and crashed through the glass doors of a coffee shop/restaurant, continued on and the car did not stop until it hit a metal counter. Fortunately I was not hurt, nor did I kill anyone, although I was told two workers went to the hospital with bruises and lacerations on their legs. Since I was unable to stop the car, not only was my life at risk, but anyone who crossed my path or who was in the coffee shop could have been crushed. The police came, made a report and had my car towed to their impound lot. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center as of yet. . My insurer will have the car towed to a preferred repairer and they will inspect the car to determine whether it's repairable. I have asked them to check what made the car suddenly accelerate. I was informed at the police lot that they expect the car will be towed and inspected on Monday, 7/18/22. The accident occurred on 7/14/22. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representative or others. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

Filed Feb 1, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · WA

While steadily accelerating on a freeway onramp, the vehicle suddenly accelerated, surged and gained speed rapidly without my control. I took action by braking and slowing the vehicle to a safe freeway speed. Thankfully no one in my vehicle was hurt and no other vehicle was near during the incident. There were no warning messages. The first time I experienced this unintended acceleration was the first month when this brand new vehicle was purchased from a local Toyota dealer. I was turning into my driveway from a residential street , the car suddenly accelerated while I was in the middle of turn. I immediately/emergently stopped by stepping on the brake, I could have crashed into the power pole if I did not stop. Because this was a new car, I convinced myself I was unfamiliar with its controls. But since the second occurrence, I am greatly concerned about this random "unintended acceleration". The Toyota Venza had been dropped off at our local Toyota dealer for inspection and hopefully repair.