2021 Toyota Venza — Known Issues & Recalls

A large crack developed on your windshield without being caused by road debris like rocks. The repair shop determined the crack resulted from a defect in the windshield itself or how it was installed at the factory. This appears to be a recurring problem affecting multiple 2021 Toyota Venza models. Fixing this will require having the windshield replaced or professionally repaired by an authorized technician.

Your windshield developed a crack on its own without being hit by rocks, hail, or any other object. This happened without any external impact or force causing it.

Your Venza's windshield may be prone to cracking from road debris like rocks, even from minor impacts that wouldn't typically damage other vehicles. You might notice small star-shaped cracks that grow longer over time, sometimes extending from the top of the windshield downward. Several other Venza owners have reported similar windshield cracking issues since the vehicle's launch. Replacement typically involves removing and reinstalling the windshield.

Your windshield developed a crack while your car was parked outside in cold weather, with no apparent cause or impact. This may indicate a potential issue with how Toyota windshields handle temperature changes. You'll likely need to have the windshield replaced or repaired by a glass repair specialist.

Your driver's side door won't unlock when you press the key fob, even repeatedly. Since you're physically disabled and need to use the key fob to access your vehicle, this creates a significant accessibility problem for you. Toyota has been made aware of this issue but has refused to repair it under warranty. A fix would likely involve diagnosing and repairing the door lock actuator or the key fob receiver module.

Your rear tailgate isn't working properly, and the dealer says it's not covered under warranty. Additionally, you have to press the lock or unlock buttons multiple times before they respond. This appears to be a recurring issue that Toyota should address.

Your rear tailgate makes a constant squeaking noise. The dealer says this isn't covered under warranty, but many other owners report the same issue online. Some dealerships estimate repairs could cost over $1,000. The fix likely involves lubricating hinges or replacing worn tailgate components.

Your windshield cracked on the passenger side near the bottom edge while driving normally on the highway, with the crack extending upward and toward the driver's side. The crack started in an area protected by the hood and windshield wipers, with no clear cause. Toyota stated that glass damage is not covered under warranty and there is no recall for this issue. Your insurance company may be able to help cover the cost of windshield replacement or repair.

Your vehicle's touchscreen and infotainment system has stopped working, leaving you unable to access electronic functions. The backup camera operates but displays a strobing light effect every 3 seconds when driving, which is distracting and could be a safety concern, especially at night. A Toyota dealership has diagnosed the issue but is refusing to cover the repair under warranty and wants you to pay for parts and labor out of pocket. Fixing this will likely require replacing the head unit/infotainment display screen.

Your 12.5-inch infotainment touchscreen has stopped working, which controls your air conditioning, heating, radio, satellite radio, and GPS navigation. Without this display, you can't adjust your cabin temperature or navigate easily. A replacement unit costs $3,300.

All of your door lock actuators have failed, so while you can lock the doors manually, they won't respond to electrical signals from your key fob or when you put the car in drive. This means you may think your doors are locked when they're actually not, creating a safety risk — especially with passengers, since doors could open while the car is moving.

Your Venza has experienced two separate incidents where the car suddenly surged forward and accelerated on its own while coasting or preparing to park, even though the gas pedal was not being pressed. Both times, quick braking prevented a collision. The problem hasn't occurred again despite repeating the same driving maneuvers many times, and no warning lights appeared. The dealer will need to inspect the engine control systems, sensors, and computer for any stored fault codes or malfunctions that could cause unintended acceleration.

While attempting to park, you lifted your foot off the accelerator to apply the brakes, but your vehicle suddenly surged forward rapidly instead of slowing down. You had to slam on the brakes hard to avoid hitting the car ahead of you, stopping within 18 inches. You're concerned that the emergency braking system may have failed to prevent the surge.

During a rear-end collision at full speed that pushed your Venza into a guardrail, neither the front airbags nor the driver-side airbags deployed when they should have. This is a serious safety concern that needs immediate investigation, as airbags are critical protection during crashes.

When you press the accelerator to move forward from a stop, your vehicle experiences a complete loss of power for about 5 seconds before responding normally. This has happened multiple times in different locations, forcing you to press the pedal all the way to the floor before the engine finally engages. No warning lights or messages appear, making it difficult to predict when this will happen.

Your 12.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system isn't working reliably—it turns off suddenly and won't consistently display the backup camera, navigation, or climate controls. This makes it difficult to adjust your AC/heat and navigate, and you're concerned because important safety notifications and backup camera feeds also display on this screen. The fix will likely involve software updates, screen replacement, or electrical repairs to the infotainment system.

Your 2021 Toyota Venza's fuel door won't open properly, and when you try to refuel, the gas pump repeatedly shuts off before the tank is full. A mechanic determined that the fuel door actuator — the component that controls the fuel door and fueling system — needs to be replaced. This problem prevents you from refueling normally and could leave you stranded. The fix will involve replacing the fuel door actuator assembly.

Your 2021 Venza's front door won't open using the keyless entry system or key fob — both failed to unlock the door when you tried them. This is particularly concerning because you rely on a scooter lift to enter the vehicle, and the inability to open the door safely creates a fall risk and limits your mobility. The dealer estimates the repair at around $800. The fix will likely involve diagnosing and repairing the door latch mechanism and/or the keyless entry and key fob receiver systems.

Your 2021 Venza experienced multiple electrical system failures starting around 57,346 miles. The steering wheel became hard to turn, your gas and brake pedals froze up, and warning lights appeared unexpectedly — though restarting the vehicle temporarily fixed these issues. Your fuel gauge stopped working properly, steering wheel buttons and infotainment controls became unresponsive, and the dealer eventually determined your battery needed replacement. The fix involved replacing the battery, though the root cause of the cascading electrical failures wasn't fully explained.

The left side of your heated steering wheel became excessively hot and burned through the leather cover. This indicates a malfunction in the heating element control or thermostat. The fix will likely involve replacing the heating element or control module in the steering wheel.