VehicleVerdict

2012 Toyota Venza problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

A typical year for this model

The 2012 Toyota Venza sits mid-pack among Venza years: 34 NHTSA complaints against a model median of roughly 72, with 4 recalls and no defect investigations.

Airbags leads the complaint categories with 9 reports (27% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

34

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

0

Investigations

10

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

8

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2012 compare to other Venza years?

Venza NHTSA complaints by model year, 2012 highlighted234 complaints2009: 228 complaints2010: 110 complaints2011: 89 complaints2012: 34 complaints2013: 87 complaints2014: 38 complaints2015: 34 complaints2021: 234 complaints2022: 73 complaints2023: 29 complaints2024: 32 complaints
Venza NHTSA complaints by model year, 2012 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Venza years to avoid →

What are the most common 2012 Toyota Venza problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags926%
Visibility & Wipers721%
Other618%
Body & Structure515%
Seat Belts13%
Speed Control13%
Steering13%
Transmission13%
Engine13%
Brakes13%
Fuel System13%

Does the 2012 Toyota Venza have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21V257000AirbagsApril 13, 2021 · 279,040 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

13V442000Climate Control (A/C & Heat)October 17, 2013 · 802,769 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

13V123000OtherApril 9, 2013 · 7,525 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

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.

13V014000SeatsJanuary 16, 2013 · 3,235 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

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

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · September 20, 2013 · crash

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · May 10, 2018

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · December 17, 2023 · crash

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS HIY AT A HIGH SPEED ON DRIVERS DIDE FRONT WHEEL. I WAS IN MOYION WHIL A TRUCK HIT ME GOING AT A HIGH SPEED AND WAS DRAGGED WHEN WHEELS GOT STUCK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · January 25, 2018 · crash

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS HIY AT A HIGH SPEED ON DRIVERS DIDE FRONT WHEEL. I WAS IN MOYION WHIL A TRUCK HIT ME GOING AT A HIGH SPEED AND WAS DRAGGED WHEN WHEELS GOT STUCK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seat Belts · January 25, 2018 · crash

2012 Toyota Venza — common questions

Is the 2012 Toyota Venza reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 34 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Venza year, with 4 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2012 Venza problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (9 complaints), visibility & wipers (7 complaints), other (6 complaints).

Does the 2012 Toyota Venza have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2012 Toyota Venza. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Toyota Venza years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Venza years to avoid are 2021, 2009, 2010. The cleanest record among Venza years belongs to 2023.

How safe is the 2012 Toyota Venza?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2012 Toyota Venza earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.