64 of the
623 complaints filed about the Toyota Venza
are about the braking system —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2009.
1) Brakes consistently 'softer' than normal. Sometimes require pumping the pedal to stop at all. Can be difficult to start car, brake pedal may not move at all to get starter button to light up. **Every time after sitting over night, when the car starts the pedal 'mushes' to the floor. It must be pumped to get any resistance. 2) Lack of reliable brakes poses real safety risk for everyone. I just had incident where I had difficulty stopping, nearly in accident. 3) One mechanic experienced lack of brakes when driving it, had to pump pedal to stop. 4) Multiple independent auto repair shops as well as local Toyota Dealer service have charged me thousands to repair, without success. 5) 6/27/23 warning light, 'check ABS', sensor unplugged by mechanic. Once master cylinder replaced, sensor reconnected. 6) I just called Toyota Corporate, was told they couldn't help, I'd have to pay to have it looked at again.
NHTSA complaint #11658926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Since I bought the Venza, the brake has not been working well, so I am trembling with fear and the risk of an accident countless times. I didn't know how to claim this, so I endured it and drove this car until now. Today, after reading an article about Fisker's break issue investigation. I decided to report it to NHTSA. Please investigate this and resolve this issue.
NHTSA complaint #11566021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was at a stop sign and I was on an incline and I let the brake go to press the gas and the car started to go backwards and i almost hit the car behind me and and press the gas to go forward. Now anytime I am on an incline during a stop and if I let go the brake the car goes backwards.
NHTSA complaint #11544974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Major brake problem ; we were saved miraculously I have a Toyota Venza 2011 and I am the only owner ; the car drives smooth , however with major brakes issue My brakes and rotors are still in good condition, however; twice in the highway I wanted to slow down and the brakes don’t work , I freak out and my steering wheel looses control and almost hit cars but after a couple minutes it works The worst one was a couple days ago ; was driving at 30 miles an hour trying yo drop off my daughter for her game , hit the curb , brakes completely Lost Control and the car won’t stop We panicked the car luckily kept going in the direction of the parking lot and I chose to go through bushes to stop the car and put the emergency brake ; the car after a few horror minutes stopped If the car merged a little bit outside the parking lot there is fast traffic and a lake right after I had the car towed right away , I will not touch that car again At the dealership they tried to dismiss the problem saying that brakes are fine I read multiple complaints on forums about the same issue This BRAKE Disaster NEEDS to be recalled People’s lives are in play If this doesn’t get resolved there will be lawyers involved
NHTSA complaint #11428931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PUT MY VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE BRAKES SEEMED TO LOCK, WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT CONTINUED TO BACK UP. NO MATTER WHAT GEAR I PUT IT IN IT STAYED IN REVERSE. I WAS BLOCKING A LANE AT THE MALL ,U MY HUSBAND TRIED TO PUSH IT WHILE IN NEUTRAL BUT HE COULDN'T BUDGE IT, IT WAS STILL IN REVERSE. I THINK IT HAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, AND IT ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. SCARY AND VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #11383791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT THE CAR USED, THE VERY FIRST DAY AFTER PURCHASE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKE AREA. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING ELSE WEIRD, JUST SMOKE. NOW, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THE BRAKES SOMETIMES FEEL AS IF THEY'RE LOCKING UP AND NOT LETTING GO, BUT ALSO NOT STOPPING THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. SMOKE IS ALSO COMING OUT OF THE FRONT BRAKE AREA AGAIN. SEEING AS THIS IS 2019 AND IT'S A 2013 CAR, THERE IS NO WARRANTY LEFT ON THE CAR. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT AN INTERNAL LEAK INSIDE THE MASTER CYLINDER. A PROBLEM THAT IS HARD TO REPLICATE FOR A DEALERSHIP, WARRANTY OR NOT. DECIDED TO LOOK FOR RECALL INFO ABOUT THE BRAKES FOR THIS CAR WHEN I CHOSE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA. I WILL ALSO NOTIFY TOYOTA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I'M HOPING THAT BY REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #11219069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS, ESC, AND BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY DISPLAY UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THEY DISPLAY INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES AFTER 1/4 MILE OF DRIVING, OTHER TIMES AFTER 25 MILES OF DRIVING. THEY DISPLAY ON SMOOTH OR ROUGH ROADS, WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE. WHILE I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN ACCIDENT OR SYSTEM FAIL, IT IS OF CONCERN BECAUSE I TRANSPORT MY DAUGHTER IN THIS VEHICLE. ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT AND OTHER DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS AS WELL, I BELIEVE THIS IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. I AM NOT SURE OF THE CAUSE OR THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN MOTION WHEN THE LIGHTS APPEAR EITHER. THEY APPEAR AT STOP SIGNS OR LIGHTS, WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY, OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I AM UNAWARE IF THE SYSTEMS THEMSELVES STOP WORKING UPON THE INDICATORS ACTIVATION OR NOT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS WARRANTS MORE INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLY A SAFETY RECALL AS ABS AND ESC ARE SAFETY FEATURES AND BRAKES ARE (FROM MY CIVILIAN PERSPECTIVE) A NECESSARY FUNCTION FOR THE VEHICLES SAFE OPERATION.
NHTSA complaint #11163188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES VIBRATED AND THEN SEIZED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GOSCH TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 350 CARRIAGE CIR, HEMET, CA 92545, (951) 808-3134) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #11142475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE MOVING, THE VENZA SEEMS TO JERK, AS IF IT'S ABOUT TO STOP, W/OUT ME APPLYING A FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL (MY FOOT IS ON THE GAS). THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THIS YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #11124186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY BRAKES FAILED AT A LOW SPEED AT A MCDONALDS AND I HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY SON AND GRANDAUGHER WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME. I COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO STOP NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PUSHED ON THE BRAKES. MY WIFE CALLED TOYATO BUT WAS TOLD TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR IT WOULD SEEM TO BE DANGEROUS TO DO SO.THIS IS ARE ONLY CAR. DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY URGENCY ON TOYATOS PART. ANY HELP TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOME HAS TO DIE.
NHTSA complaint #11066127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERMITTANT PROBLEM COMMON TO MANY THOUSANDS OR MORE OF TOYOTA VEHICLES. >THIS PROBLEM IS OF MOST URGENCY BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW IF WE CAN SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR. BRAKES>#1 SAFETY CONCERN. >THE EXACT PROBLEM IS THAT 3 "INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATOR SYMBOLS" LIGHT, ALL 3 AT THE SAME TIME. >THE INDICATOR SYMBOLS ARE 1.) THE "BRAKE" (EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT), 2.) THE "ABS" (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT) AND 3.) THE "SLIP INDICATOR" (ICON LIGHT). >WE HAVE FOUND NO ACTION OF TURNING ON THE CAR, CHANGING GEARS, BRAKING, TEMPERATURE, EMERGENCY BRAKE DISENGAGED OR ENGAGED, LIGHTS, HILL BRAKING...IN OTHER WORDS...NOTHING THAT SHOWS ANY CAUSE AND EFFECT OF THESE 3 LIGHTS COMING ON TOGETHER. >THE 3 LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTANTLY, TIMING IS RANDOM. MOST OF THE TIME THEY ARE ALL ON. >THE CAR "SEEMS" TO DRIVE AS NORMAL BUT WE DO NOT KNOW IF THE ABS OR ANTI SKID ARE WORKING OR DISABLED. >THIS PROBLEM STARTED A SHORT TIME AFTER THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP 355 TOYOTA ON ROCKVILLE PIKE IN ROCKVILLE MARYLAND OVERFILLED THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE FLUID WELL ABOVE THE "MAX" LINE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CAP SO THAT YOU COULD NOT SEE ANY AIR. >MECHANICS AT ROCKVILLE TIRE AND AUTO REMOVED THE EXCESS BRAKE FLUID TO THE CORRECT MAX LINE USING A POLYETHYLENE (NON MELTING) SYRINGE THAT I SUPPLIED. THE SYRINGE WAS CLEAN AND NEVER USED. >THE LIGHTS ALWAYS COME ON TOGETHER. >THE BRAKE LIGHT STILL STAYS ON WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS MECHANICALLY RELEASED. (AND ALL 3 LIGHTS ARE ON OR LIT TO BE EXACT) >WHEN ROCKVILLE TIRE AND AUTO CHECKED THE PCM? FOR CODES THERE WERE NO CODES EVEN REMOTELY RELATED TO BRAKES OR WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. HE GAVE ME A PRINTOUT OF THE CONTENTS OF THE PCM CODES WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY ABSENT OF ERROR CODES. HE ALSO CHECKED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR ANYTHING RELATED TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND FOUND IT TO BE PERFECT. >STATIONARY, IN MOTION, TURNING OR STRAIGHT AHEAD.
NHTSA complaint #11061474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON HWY VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP OR STEER, LOST ALL POWER AND CONTROL. CAME TO STOP IN THE MEDIAN, HAD TO HAVE TOWED, CAUSE IS LISTED AS :173600410, C1201, C1241, C1441 TOYOTA OF IRVING CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #11057224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 WAS IN DRIVE. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IN REVERSE AND BACK UP AND PARK SAFELY. I SHUT THE CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY.
NHTSA complaint #11011417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TWO FAILURES OF COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. FIRST TIME, MAYBE A MONTH AGO TRAVELLING 5-10 MPH, APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SAME TIME AS TRYING TO BRAKE SAW A FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT ON DASHBOARD. SLOWED VEHICLE WITH PARKING BRAKE, STOPPED AND STARTED VEHICLE MOVING AGAIN AND HAD NORMAL BRAKES, TRIED TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND NO LUCK. TUESDAY, JUNE 6, DRIVING 45 MPH AND APPROACHING CONSTRUCTION ZONE WITH MAYBE 40-50 CARS BACKED UP HAD NO BRAKES WITH THREE PASSENGERS IN CAR. WHEN I HOLLERED I HAD NO BRAKES, WIFE HEARD A BELL GO OFF AND SAW A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD BUT I SAW NOTHING. I SWERVED RIGHT ONTO THE DIRT SHOULDER, PRESSED DOWN ON PARKING BRAKE WITH LEFT FOOT, PASSED MAYBE 30 CARS AND AT LESS THAN 5 MPH HAD NORMAL BRAKING AGAIN, AND NO LIGHTS OR BELLS RINGING. TOYOTA DEALER FLUSHED BRAKE SYSTEM, FOUND NO DEBRIS, CANNOT DUPLICATE OR SOLVE PROBLEM. WE WILL TRADE VEHICLE IN WITHIN A FEW WEEKS AND TELL THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM ? APPRECIATE A REPLY.
NHTSA complaint #10995224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING IN CITY ABS VSC BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WITH MESSAGE TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE TO DEALER. TURNED OUT TO BE SPEED SENSOR ON RIGHT REAR WHEEL. I HAVE REMOVED SENSOR AND WHILE THERE IS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE IT APPEARS TO BE AN OPEN CIRCUIT. CLEARLY A DEFECT IN PRODUCT SINCE THE CAR IS GARAGED AND I LIVE IN A HIGH DESERT ENVIRONMENT. EFFECTIVELY THE ABS AND VSC SYSTEMS ARE DISABLED.
NHTSA complaint #10993419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA VENZA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE RIGHT LEG AND CHEST AREA THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,112. UPDATED 05/16/17*LJ UPDATED 12/04/2017
NHTSA complaint #10966505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I TURNED FROM A STOP ON A CITY STREET INTO A SMALL PARKING LOT. WHILE BRAKING IN THE PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELARATED. I HIT THE BRAKES HARDER AND THE VEHICLE WENT FASTER, JUMPING THE CONCRETE BUMPER, ONLY STOPPING WHEN I HIT A PARKED CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10947030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS UNABLE TO STOP MY CAR BY DEPRESSING MY BRAKE PEDAL AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT IN TULSA OKLAHOMA. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR A VEHICLE INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10934823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THREE OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10928849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.