On Dec. 17, 2023, shortly after 12:00 p.m.,I was driving my Toyota Venza on the highway under normal when the STEERING KNUCKLE suddenly fractured. This unexpected failure caused the vehicle to lose steering control, leading to a serious traffic accident. I inspected that part and found that the STEERIN KNUCKLE had broken abnormally, as the break showed no signs of any impact.
The worst 2012 Toyota Venza problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Airbags9
- Visibility7
- Body5
- Acceleration1
- Brakes1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags9
- Visibility7
- Body5
- Acceleration1
- Brakes1
- Engine1
- Fuel system1
- Seat belts1
- Steering1
- Transmission1
Recalls 4
Air bags: side/window: curtain
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 21V257000 · Recall details
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner
- What is wrong
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.
- Risk
- A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331.
Recall number 13V442000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 13V123000 · Recall details
Seats
- What is wrong
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
- Risk
- If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
- Remedy
- Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1‑800‑301‑6859.
Recall number 13V014000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2012 Toyota Venza 253
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Condition in which a musty odor is present
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical...
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used...
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix...
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal...
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad...
- Condition in which a musty odor is present
- This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for...
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal...
- This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life...
2012 Toyota Venza fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L 4‑cyl | FWD | 21 | 27 | 23 |
| 2.7L 4‑cyl | AWD | 20 | 25 | 22 |
| 3.5L 6‑cyl | FWD | 19 | 26 | 21 |
| 3.5L 6‑cyl | AWD | 18 | 25 | 21 |
What 2012 Toyota Venza owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Venza. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the airbags warning light illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The contact received a recall notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V257000 (Air Bags) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The dealer advised the contact that the recalls repair had been completed; however, upon picking up the vehicle, the contact noticed that the airbags warning light remained illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The dealer advised the contact that they would need to remove the driver’s and passenger’s side front door panels, and the carpet to repair the vehicle. The contact was also informed that the repair would be completed at her expense. The contact declined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Venza. The contact received a recall notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V257000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owned a 2012 TOYOTA VENZA. The contact stated while her husband was driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle traveling in front of them came to an abrupt stop. In an effort to avoid the vehicle, the contact's husband jumped a curb and hit a light post. The front driver and passenger airbags deployed upon impact; however, the side curtain airbags failed to deploy. The authorities arrived at the scene and a police report was filed. Both the contact and her husband were transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact's husband was treated for soreness and bruising to his chest and back. The contact had trouble breathing upon arrival and was given oxygen. She was then transferred to another hospital where she was treated for a broken sternum, a fractured back, chest contusions, and swelling to her chest area. Due to the accident, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The contact then received a recall notice for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V257000 (AIRBAGS) which she linked to her injuries. The dealer nor the manufacturer have yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had been destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Venza. The contact received a recall notice for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V257000 (Air Bags) however, the part for the repair was unavailable. The dealer had been notified of the issue and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Sun visors, (driver and passenger sides) have broken and will not hold the visors in place.they both fall at random causing distractions. The visors have not been abused in any way and seems to be a common problem for the owners of these vehicles.
The passenger side warning light indicates that air bag is off when an adult passenger is seated in it when the vehicle is stationary and in motion with the seat in the upright position. This may prevent the airbag from deploying properly in an accident. There is a 2013 recall for this issue, but it does not show up under the vehicle identification number when searched, the federal safety agency recall bulletin reference number 13v014000.
The drivers side sun visor will not stay up. It keeps falling down making it hard to see.
Visor flip down spontaneously and hinge breaks after some time even after dealer replaced within warranty now they wont replace. Visor will hang down and block view of road. This occurs while in motion or stationary. This causes a blocked view and is unsafe as it does not allow for visibility.
Brief engine knock/rattle noise at cold startup. When in motion vehicle will make rattling noise.
Compare the 2012 Toyota Venza
Other model years
Questions about the 2012 Toyota Venza
Is the 2012 Toyota Venza reliable?
Owners have filed 25 complaints about the 2012 Toyota Venza, fewer than a typical Venza model year.
What is the 2012 Toyota Venza year score?
The 2012 Toyota Venza scores 83 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Toyota Venza: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Toyota Venza?
Airbags, with 9 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles. Next is visibility (7).
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Venza have?
4 recalls, covering air bags, equipment and seats.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Toyota Venza airbags?
Yes, 1 recall: 21V257000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Toyota Venza have bad airbags?
The Toyota Venza model years with the most airbags complaints are 2009 (14 complaints) and 2013 (12 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Venza get?
Official estimates for the 2012 Toyota Venza range from 21 to 23 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.7L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 21 city and 27 highway.
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