The Lemon Index
2015
20222nd generation
160 owner complaints, first 3 years 39 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2021 Kia Telluride 2042021 Mazda CX-9 932021 Subaru Ascent 127
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 14 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 22V239000 (stability control) and 22V033000 (lights) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do the wipers, washers, defrost and mirrors all work?
- Do all the headlights, taillights and turn signals work?
- Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
- Toyota sent dealers 157 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “All 2021 model year Toyota vehicles are equipped with driver side floor mat retainers to secure”?
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 160 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 1K to 18K miles (2K to 29K km) on the car (14 of all 160 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.
In owners' words
Windshield cracked along drivers side with no known rock impact and no evidence of a rock hit. It appears the windshield just cracked. The crack was about 2 feet long. Car was only a few weeks old when this happened.
2021 Toyota Venza owner · NHTSA complaint 11444877
More owner reports
Windshield cracked on passenger side while driving. No rock or pebble was heard hitting glass. This is the second time in 3 months
NHTSA complaint 11456458
Hit by a very small rock. Started with a small fracture about 8 inches long and after 8 hours the crack has multiplied to be about 16-18 inches.
NHTSA complaint 11593580
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 15.4M views · 2021–2024 Toyota Venza
- Infotainment, battery & electrical84K views
2021 Toyota Venza Limited - CarTech Infotainment How ToTwo Guys and a Ride · 84K views - Heat, A/C & blend door51K views
Toyota Venza Cabin Air Filter Replacement ( 2021 2022 )Undercar Experts · 31K views · 3 videos - Oil changes & service32K views
Oil Change: 2021 Toyota VenzaAdrian Navarrette · 26K views · 2 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring28K views
How to reset a maintenance light on a 2021 toyota venzaPonyo Tran · 28K views
Before you buy, watch
2022 Toyota Venza VS Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | Which Hybrid SUV Should You Buy?Car Help Corner · 153K views
2023 Toyota Venza VS Lexus NX 350h || Which Hybrid SUV Should You Buy?Car Help Corner · 146K views
2021 Toyota Venza Review! | MotorTrend Buyer's GuideMotorTrend Channel · 27K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2021 is the same generation.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 157 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- All 2021 model year Toyota vehicles are equipped with driver side floor mat retainers to secure
- A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and…
- 2021 model year Toyota vehicles are equipped with driver side floor mat retainers to secure…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 2
- Stability control · recall issued 2022
The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system.
- Lights · recall issued 2022 Hybrid only
Water may enter the rear turn signal LED lights, allowing condensation to form on the circuit board, and causing a short circuit.
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
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota VENZA HYBRID SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1,550 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl.
Every Toyota Venza year. 2021 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 2021 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/toyota-venza/?y=2021" 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/2021/">Lemon Index</a> (2021 Toyota Venza reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2021 Toyota Venza reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew about twice the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 220; 100 is average, lower is better). 2021 is one of the weaker years of a model that usually draws somewhat fewer complaints than the average car. The Toyota Venza year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2012.
What are the most common 2021 Toyota Venza problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wipers & visibility (43%), lights (9%) and fuel system (8%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Venza have?
2 safety recalls (latest: stability control). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Toyota Venza get?
39 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2021 Toyota Venza safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 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 2021 Toyota Venza have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2021 Toyota Venza cost in fuel a year?
About $1,550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2021 Toyota Venza have?
2.5L 4-cyl.
What Toyota Venza year is better than the 2021?
Nearby, the 2022 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about two-thirds as many complaints as the average car). Across every year, 2012 drew the fewest.
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