MotorDeets

2012 Toyota Venza: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 2012 Toyota Venza: 4 recalls, 25 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.

4vehicle recalls
25owner complaints
6mention a crash
23best combined mpg
2012 Toyota Venza
Photo: LukaCali · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Recalls

4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Seats, Airbags Vehicle recall #13V014000 · 2013 · 3,235 vehicles

What's wrong: During modification by set to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest dvd systems, these vehicles May not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system May not operate as designed.

Why it matters: 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 of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag…

The fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013.

Equipment Vehicle recall #13V123000 · 2013 · 7,525 vehicles

What's wrong: These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 110, "tire selection and rims."

Why it matters: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which May result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

The fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013.

Equipment, Airbags Vehicle recall #13V442000 · 2013 · 802,769 vehicles

What's wrong: 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. The accumulated water May then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.

Why it matters: A short circuit May cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become…

The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014.

Airbags Vehicle recall #21V257000 · 2021 · 279,040 vehicles

What's wrong: The supplemental restraint system (SRS) wiring May become damaged with regular use of the driver-side door.

Why it matters: Damaged wires May cause the air bag sensor to become inoperable, preventing the deployment of the side and curtain air bags on the driver side and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver-side front door wire harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2021.

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 6 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.

Airbags9
Other / unknown6
Visibility/Wiper6
Body & structure5
Visibility (wipers, glass)1
Transmission & drivetrain1
Brakes1
Speed control / throttle1

What owners describe

The 2012 Toyota Venza has 25 owner complaints, ranking #7 of 7 Venza model years for complaints (well below the 65 average). Complaints peaked in 2021 (5 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 47,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (59 complaints, 6 recalls), 2013 (59 complaints, 4 recalls).

Engines & fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyComb.Fuel
2.7 L 4-cylAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel Drive212723Regular
3.5 L 6-cylAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel Drive192621Regular

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Toyota Venza.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
Check 2012 Toyota Venza manual
Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
Check 2012 Toyota Venza manual
ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
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Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check 2012 Toyota Venza manual

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FAQ

Does the 2012 Toyota Venza have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Toyota Venza. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2012 Toyota Venza problems?

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (9), other / unknown (6), visibility/wiper (6).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Venza get?

EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (2.7 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.

Where can I get a 2012 Toyota Venza repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other Venza years

2009201020112012201320142015