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2011 Toyota Venza problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
12%
6 of 59 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2011 Toyota Venza. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 12% of relevant complaints.

Better than 96% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2011 Toyota Venza have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 59 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Toyota Venza concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (12%). For comparison, the 2010 scores 15% and the 2012 scores 19%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
6
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
59
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
6
5 crashes · 7 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15 · 25%
SERVICE BRAKES9 · 15%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8 · 14%
SEATS8 · 14%
VISIBILITY/WIPER5 · 8%
AIR BAGS5 · 8%

The years either side

2010
15%
11 of 79
2011
12%
6 of 59
2012
19%
3 of 25
2013
22%
10 of 59
2014
12%
3 of 31
2015
14%
3 of 27
2016
no data
2017
no data
2018
no data
2019
no data
2020
no data
2021
too few complaints
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

ENGINE11/15/2023
I had a 2011 Toyota Venza. Notice oil leakage. Took for oil and filter change and a check. Nothing was found, however four months later car began rattling and driving rough - I took to dealership and was told the Water Pump needed to be replaced. I have since found out that Toyota has had a many issues with the VVT-i O…
ENGINE03/28/2019
WHEN MY CAR HIT 100,000 MILES IT STARTED HAVING A ISSUE WHEN STARTING UP, I WOULD HEAR LIKE A GRINDING, WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL I HAD FOUND OUT THERE WAS MINIMAL OIL IN MY CAR, I ADDED OIL AND TOOK BY MY SHOP THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER TOYOTAS THAT HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. OIL CONSUMPTION, I TOOK IT TO THE DE…
STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE07/29/2017CRASH
CAR WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT REVVED ITS ENGINE AND ACCELARATED. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND IT WOULD NOT STOP. THE REVVING NOISE WAS LOUD. I HIT A LARGE TREE THAT WAS LUCKILY AT THE END OF THE PARKING SPOT. THE TREE IS WHAT STOPPED THE CAR. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED, I LOOKED AND SAW …

Three of 6 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2011 Toyota Venza (6)

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 S…
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 CAMRY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2008, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2009, AND MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 VENZA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED…
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, …

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2011 Toyota Venza

Questions people ask about the 2011 Toyota Venza

Does the 2011 Toyota Venza have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 59 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Toyota Venza concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (12%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Toyota Venza?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2011 Toyota Venza. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Toyota Venza years are better?

The 2011 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Toyota Venza years we track (12%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2011 Toyota Venza?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2011 Toyota Venza shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.