Toyota Venza: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Toyota Venza problems by model year, from 281 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
No Toyota Venza year we score has an elevated engine or transmission signal. The highest is the 2013 at 22%, under the 33% line.
Best years on this measure: 2014 (12%), 2011 (12%) and 2015 (14%). 2014, 2011 and 2015 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2010 drew the most drivetrain complaints (11 of 36 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Toyota Venza year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Venza | no elevated signal | 15% | 11 | 79 | 3/6 | 9 |
| 2011 Venza | no elevated signal | 12% | 6 | 59 | 5/6 | 6 |
| 2012 Venza | no elevated signal | 19% | 3 | 25 | 2/6 | 4 |
| 2013 Venza | no elevated signal | 22% | 10 | 59 | 1/6 | 4 |
| 2014 Venza | no elevated signal | 12% | 3 | 31 | 6/6 | 1 |
| 2015 Venza | no elevated signal | 14% | 3 | 27 | 4/6 | 1 |
| 2021 Venza | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Toyota Venza years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Toyota Venza powertrain recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Toyota Venza involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2011 | 11V306000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2011 |
10 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2010 | 10V023000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V035000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V036000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Mar 2012 | 12V091000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2010–2011 |
| Jan 2013 | 13V014000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2010–2013 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V123000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010–2013 |
| Oct 2013 | 13V442000 | electrical system | 2012–2013 |
| Nov 2014 | 14V743000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010–2011 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V396000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V257000 | air bags: side/window: curtain | 2010–2015 |
What the free pages leave out on the Toyota Venza
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Toyota Venza
What are the worst years for the Toyota Venza?
None stands out. No Toyota Venza year we score has an elevated engine or transmission share; the highest is the 2013 (22%).
What are the best years for the Toyota Venza?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Toyota Venza years are the 2014 (12%), the 2011 (12%) and the 2015 (14%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Toyota Venza have engine problems?
Not as a pattern. Across the 6 scored years, 36 of 246 relevant NHTSA complaints (15%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine.
Is the Toyota Venza reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 0 of 6 Toyota Venza years we score have an elevated complaint share and 6 do not. Pooled across those years, 15% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Toyota Venza?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Toyota Venza years we track, out of 11 in total: 11V306000 (Jun 2011, 2011). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.