2021 Toyota Venza Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2021 Toyota Venza has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Windshield cracking without major impact.” Toyota's owner's manual splits service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1 because it covers short trips, extreme temperatures, dusty roads, or heavy idling. The intervals below reflect Schedule 1 — the schedule Toyota recommends for typical real-world use.

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2021 Toyota Venza.

Reported to NHTSA

Windshield cracking without major impact

VISIBILITY/WIPER

70 NHTSA complaints · 2021-06 → 2026-05

Spontaneous crack in the windshield without any external mechanixal force, such as rock, hale, or any other foreign body.
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11661931
With no impact, our windshield cracked. I see many, many other owners of 2021 and later Toyota Venza have had this happen to them. This is clearly a large problem, so I'm hoping that by reporting our incident you will be encouraged to investigate further.
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11627304
Driving at 45MPH alone on a paved road. Outside temperature 85F. Suddenly a crack appeared on the driver side of the windshield (about halfway up from hood). Crack was initially about 3 to 4 inches long. By the time I got home (10 miles - about 15 minutes) the crack was 24…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11525270
Windshield 20 inch crack with no rock impact, no visible impact mark. Multiple other owners reporting same issue. Windshield is soft and cracking due to flex in car, or small projectile impact that should not cause major spidering cracks
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11451674

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No throttle response when accelerating from stop

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

15 NHTSA complaints · 2022-01 → 2025-01

Vehicle was operating as normal. Slowed down to a complete stop as normal. When attempting to accelerate from stop, vehicle had no throttle response and slowly idled into the intersection. Would press pedal down and nothing would happen. About 5 seconds later, vehicle…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11551085
When accelerating from a stopped position, the car fails to go forward. This incident has occurred six times and often seems to be at the worst times, such as pulling into a busy road from a stop sign. The car will start to accelerate and stop with no response from the…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11586267

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Low-beam headlight shadows in driver view

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

9 NHTSA complaints · 2021-06 → 2024-10

The venzas headlights, while on low beam only, have 2 shadows or blobs in the drivers view. It is very distracting especially while turning or cornering. It appears as if things are running out in front of the car. The issue is discussed by Venza owners on the Toyota…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11420205
Both left and right headlights on this car cast a dark "shadow" on the road in front of the car when driving at night. It only occurs when the headlights are on low beam, the high beam headlights are normal. Each headlight casts 2 shadows, for a total of 4, which can…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11495683

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Loss of braking and emergency-brake non-engagement

SERVICE BRAKES

6 NHTSA complaints · 2022-01 → 2026-04

I was on the highway, no ice on the road, in a construction zone, going about 50mph. The cars in front of me stopped completely, and the light to warn me to "Brake" came on the dashboard to engage the brakes, but the emergency braking system failed to engage the brake…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11507719
Pulling into a parking spot (under 5 mpg), brakes did not engage. Car drove up onto the sidewalk. Had to put car into reverse to avoid hitting the building. While in reverse, brakes would not engage as well had to turn off the vehicle to stop it after it hit the curb…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11446530
2021 Toyota Venza while being driven while merging onto the highway, the vehicle lost all braking power causing my wife to almost cash into the car in front of her. The vehicle was moving between 50 to 55 miles per hour. Once the vehicle was pulled over, the dash was…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11484848

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Head unit and touchscreen display failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 NHTSA complaints · 2025-09 → 2025-11

The infotainment system has failed. It is the 12.5 screen-based system that enables the control of numerous features including air conditioning/heating, audio (all radio and satellite radio) and map/gps display. This system is the focus of a recall on this model car…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11690377
Primary Control/Head Unit Failure - I can no longer access any of the electronic functions of the vehicle due to the computer screen failure. The back up camera works, but when the vehicle is in drive, it's nothing but a strobing light trying to connect. It's a safety…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11699429

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Fuel tank fill and capacity discrepancy

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2021-10 → 2025-09

I just purchased the 2021 Venza a week ago. I was not aware of the fuel tank issue with the RAV4. When I filled up my Venza I noticed that it was not filling up to the full 14.5 gallons as stated by Toyota. I would assume that there maybe some reserve gas in the tank.…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11436748
Fuel tank filling issue. Could not fill anywhere close Tank Capacity, dealer claims it has several gallons reserves. Driver does not know what Distance to Empty shows vs what is real, how much gas left in the tank. Supposed 560 Mile range, only showing 420 miles. Even…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11456873

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Vehicle surge while parking at low speed

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

17 NHTSA complaints · 2022-01 → 2026-04

As I attempted to park in a stall in the parking garage, I turned the steering wheel to the right and aligned the vehicle in preparation to back into the stall. In the split second that I took my foot off the accelerator to put it on the brake pedal in preparation to…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11694412
As I was pulling in slowly (going about 2 miles or less) to a perpendicular parking spot at my apartment complex, I took my foot off the accelerator to brake. And all the sudden my car lunged forward and rapidly accelerated forward on its own. It was completely terrify…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11479261

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Airbags not deploying in crash

AIR BAGS

6 NHTSA complaints · 2022-05 → 2025-06

I was involved in a no fault accident when an SUV slammed into the back of my Toyota Venza at full speed and pushed me into the left guardrail of the bridge we were driving on. Neither the front airbags or the driver (left) side airbags deployed.
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11667971
My wife was in involved in a crash where a person ran a red light and she broadsided a truck which flipped over. The front end of our 2021 Toyota Venza was destroyed see photo which I uploaded. The airbags in our car did not deploy at all.
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11471845
Involved in an one-car automobile accident (attempted to avoid hitting deer and hit a cement barrier). Vehicle was subsequently classified as totaled. AIR BAGS never deployed.
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11464170

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Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1, or 10,000 miles under Schedule 2. Toyota covers the first 2 oil changes through ToyotaCare.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends rotation at every oil change to maximize tire life on FWD and AWD models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 5,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends measuring pad thickness at each service.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 36 months. Critical for the integrity of the ABS, VSC, and brake assist systems.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Earlier under Schedule 1 if driven on unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Toyota labels ATF as 'lifetime fill' on most automatics, but recommends inspection and replacement every 60,000 miles under severe service. Use Toyota WS or Type-IV — no substitutes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 120,000 mi

Toyota iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated for 120,000 miles. Earlier replacement reduces fuel economy and can cause misfires on direct-injection engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Super Long Life Coolant (SLLC)

Every 50,000 mi

Toyota SLLC (pink): first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000 miles. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it will damage the cooling system seals.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner in dusty climates. Located behind the glove box on most Toyota and Lexus models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Serpentine / Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect the serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Toyota uses long-life EPDM belts that rarely fail before 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Timing Chain — No Replacement

On condition / lifetime

Toyota's 2AR-FE, 2GR-FKS, A25A-FKS, and most Toyota engines built since 2010 use a timing chain rated for the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

14 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

0

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2021 Toyota Venza reflects Toyota's published service intervals and the Maintenance Required Light system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.