2009 Toyota Venza: fire, smoke or burning smell

7 of the 173 complaints about the 2009 Toyota Venza describe fire, smoke or burning smell.

owner complaints: 7
of this car's complaints: 4%
typical mileage: 80,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 22 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year

2013
2
2011
3
2010
3
2009
7

What owners say

Filed Jan 9, 2020 · Seats · 146,000 miles · IL

The seat heaters in the vehicle don't work like they should. Sometimes there is a burning smell to them. The drivers side one went out completely about 2 years ago and we had it fixed now the passenger one isn't working at all. The drivers side seat heater gets pretty hot too and has to be shut off.

Filed Nov 17, 2018 · Seats · 56,135 miles · IL

Vehicle is 9 years old, but with only 56,135 miles and very well maintained. Driven by a small female, which is relevant. Experienced an acrid, burning smell which caused gagging and coughing. No smoke visible. Dealer found problems with heated seats, wiring and connectors. Entire heated seat system needs replaced at cost of $1130.30 for each seat. Many complaints of this issue online. There is no way that a small framed female's weight caused damage to the wiring within the seat heaters. This is obviously a manufacturing defect and should be covered by toyota regardless of the mileage, due to this being a safety hazard. Could easily cause a catastrophic fire.

Filed Apr 16, 2018 · Electrical · 63,000 miles · WA

Faulty wiring of the driver's side seat heater causing a burning smell and the potential for harm to the occupant.

Filed Jan 30, 2018 · Seats · 103,000 miles · WI

Heated seat temperature controller (#875010t010) fails resulting in heated seat failure. In our case, the controller failed melting the wire harness plug to the controller. This could have started the seat on fire with our 17 year old daughter driving the vehicle. Toyota has discontinued this part for 2009-2014 venza's and has not offered a replacement.

Filed Nov 13, 2017 · Electrical, Seats · 80,000 miles · WY

The driver's side seat heater in the leather seat worked fine until a couple of months ago, approximately 80,000 miles. Now when it is turned to the on position there is a smell of burning electrical wiring. Seat heater was turned off, then on again a couple of times to test it. This happens whether the car is stationery or on the road, just any time the seat heater is turned on. Now the seat heater is off and will not be turned on because of the fear of an electrical fire. This VIN number is not under the current seat heater recalls. It appears from the other complaints, there are many other cars of this make with the same problem and not under the current recalls. There should be more recalls, and there should be a repair, not just a disconnect the wiring. People pay good money for the comfort features and this should not be ignored.

Filed Jun 1, 2017 · Seats · 40,000 miles · MO

When driver-side seat warmer is activated there is a strong wire burning smell that fills the vehicle. I noticed that several other models, around the same year, were recalled for the same issue. It appears the 2009 venza also has the same issue and should be included in the recall.

Filed Feb 17, 2015 · Seats · NJ

The heated leather factory installed seats in our 2009 toyota venza start to smell like electric wires melting after about 10 minutes after turning them on. I have called my toyota dealer and toyota corporation and they said there is no recall on my model and VIN. I have 140,000 miles only car and they are telling me to take it to my dealer to get a diagnosis which I will have to pay for since I am out of the warranty periods there is a recall on after market components with this same issue but mine is factory install. How do I get this placed on a recall list. I am afraid my seats will catch on fire if this is not repaired.