The Lemon Index
201120131st generation
One of the most reliable · most complaints: airbags
Fewest complaints of its generation (1st generation).
6 owner complaints, first 3 years 21–23 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2012 Mazda CX-9 2012012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport2012 Mitsubishi Outlander
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 6 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 21V257000 (airbags), 13V442000 (electrical) and 13V123000 (equipment) done? It has 4 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Any rust or damage underneath, or doors and hatches that don't close right?
- Do the wipers, washers, defrost and mirrors all work?
- Toyota sent dealers 253 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Condition in which there are one or two holes”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Toyota's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 6 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 11K to 26K miles (18K to 42K km) on the car (6 of all 6 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 8.5M views · 2009–2015 Toyota Venza
- Gauges, lights & wiring266K views
HOW TO RESET 2009-2015 TOYOTA VENZA MAINTENANCE REQUIRED LIGHT ENGINE OIL RESETGeorge Melnik · 266K views - Oil changes & service124K views
2013 Toyota Venza Oil Change High Definition!!Johnathan's World · 124K views - Steering & suspension82K views
Replacing the struts in a 2010 Toyota VenzaLab Coat Paul · 61K views · 4 videos - Brakes & ABS76K views
Toyota Parking Brake Not Working Grabbing or Clicking Properly Venza Model 2012 and Other ModelsAl Young Cuda · 39K views · 3 videos
Show 4 more
- Spark plugs & ignition coils68K views
2012 Toyota Venza 3.5 V6 Spark Plug Change remove and replaceAl Young Cuda · 55K views · 3 videos - Timing chain & engine46K views
Misfire MYSTERY...Intermittent P0301? ('12 Toyota Venza 4-Cyl, 160k miles)Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics · 46K views - Heat, A/C & blend door46K views
How to replace Blower Motor 2009–2015 Toyota Venza, Camry, Sienna, RAV4Vue Auto · 27K views · 2 videos - Starter, alternator & belts39K views
2012 Toyota Venza Limited 3.5 V6 belt changeAl Young Cuda · 39K views
Before you buy, watch
Toyota Venza (Gen1, 2009–2015) - Common problems, Reliability, Pros and ConsMaxTheCarGuy · 129K views
Toyota Venza TRUE COST! (2008 - 2015) | Cost of maintenance, Spare Parts & Common problems234 DRIVE · 23K views
2015 Toyota Venza should you buy it in 2022?Nazarettos · 14K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2012 is the same generation.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 253 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Condition in which there are one or two holes
- REVISION NOTICE November 22, 2017 Rev1: ?
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 4
- Airbags · recall issued 2021
The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) wiring may become damaged with regular use of the driver-side door.
- Electrical · recall issued 2013
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.
- Equipment · recall issued 2013
These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight ad.
Show all 4 recalls
- Airbags · recall issued 2013
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…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Venza SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Venza SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,600–$2,850 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.7L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
Every Toyota Venza year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 11 Toyota Venza years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2012 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/toyota-venza/?y=2012" title="Toyota Venza reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="468" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/toyota-venza/2012/">Lemon Index</a> (2012 Toyota Venza reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2012 Toyota Venza reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew less than a sixth as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 13; 100 is average, lower is better).
What are the most common 2012 Toyota Venza problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (33%), body structure (33%) and visibility (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Venza have?
4 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Venza get?
21 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Toyota Venza safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2012 Toyota Venza have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 17% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Toyota Venza cost in fuel a year?
About $2,600 to $2,850 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Toyota Venza have?
2.7L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
Is there a better Toyota Venza year than the 2012?
Not nearby: the 2012 drew the fewest complaints per car sold of the Toyota Venza years within 3 model years of it.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works