2009 Toyota Venza Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE CONTACT STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A HIGHER SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE IN A SCHOOL ZONE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED A TRAGEDY IN A SCHOOL ZONE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 300.

I ACCELERATED TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE,VEHICLE TOOK OFF TO INCREASING ACCELERATION I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND. LUCKILY NO TRAFFIC WAS AHEAD OF ME. FINALLY CAR MANAGED TO STOP. I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD. I HAD TO PRACTICALLY STAND ON BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS ASSUMING SOME HOW THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INADVERTENTLY PRESSED BUT NO IT WAS NOT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. HE STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A TREE. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON; HOWEVER, HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND PUSHED IT INTO THE GARAGE FOR FEAR THAT THE FAILURE WOULD REOCCUR. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LARGE LACERATION TO HIS HEAD. HE WAS REQUIRED TO GET STAPLES FOR HIS HEAD INJURY. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE; YET, THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ADVISE HIM OF THE DIAGNOSIS AFTER THEY RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE AND INSPECT IT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 230. UPDATE 12/14/09 *CN UPDATED 12/16/09*JB

DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL AREA, 20-25 MPH, MADE TURN, AND WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. IT WAS AS IF THE CAR HAD SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL, BUT IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK IN DRIVE AND IT STILL WOULD NOT GO. THE CAR, HOWEVER, WOULD GO IN REVERSE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS MADE SHIFTING FROM OTHER GEARS TO DRIVE (INCLUDING THE SEQUENTIAL SHIFT) WITHOUT SUCCESS. FINALLY DROVE THE CAR IN REVERSE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, THEN PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE GEAR ENGAGED AND IT WENT FORWARD. CONTACTED DEALER AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SHOP. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ERROR AND SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL AN ERROR CODE WAS FOUND OR THE PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED. CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY REFERRED US BACK TO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED, BUT IF IT HAPPENED ONCE IT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN. NEXT TIME, I COULD BE IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

THE SUNROOF OF THE NEWLY PURCHASED TOYOTA VENZA FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING--THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT... *TR

I WAS COASTING THE ENGINE REVVED UP , I APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET AND HIT STOP VEHICLE IT SOUND LIKE A PERSON APPLYING PRESSURE TO GAS PEDAL BUT BOTH MY FEET WERE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL... I HAVE 2009 TOYOTA VENZA THAT WAS TOTALED LUCKILY THE PERSON IN FRONT WAS NOT INJURED AND ONLY HAD FENDER BENDER AS THE TRUCK HE HIT . *TR

I OWN A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA AND ON SEPT 24 , 2009 MY CAR ACCELERATED THROUGH A CHINESE RESTAURANT IN MY TOWN 2 PEOPLE IN THE RESTAURANT WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED AND I WAS NOT INJURED AND THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRAG FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN BOLT FORWARD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRONIC IMPULSE IN THE NEW ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR THE VEHICLE THAT CAUSED A SLIGHT DELAY WHEN ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,100.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY BEGAN TO HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY PAUSED BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,813.

THE "LURCH" OR "BRAKE RELEASE" THAT PRIUS OWNERS DESCRIBE HAPPENS - INCONSISTENTLY - IN MY 2009 VENZA WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. TOYOTA JUST BLOWS IT OFF AS IF MY WIFE AND I ARE LYING ABOUT IT. THERE WERE SOME ALIGNMENT ISSUES WITH IT ALSO AND TOYOTA HAS WORKED ON AND/OR "INSPECTED' IT SEVERAL TIMES.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A HANDICAP SIGN. THE DEALER INSPECTED AND TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY HAPPENED AT SLOW SPEEDS, BUT THE DEALER DID NOT TEST THE VEHICLE TO CONFIRM THAT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2400.

WE OWN A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA 4 CYLINDER A/T FWD VEHICLE. ONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES IN THIS VEHICLE IS HILL-START ASSIST. ON 7/20/09 WHILE I WAS AT A RED LIGHT ON AN UPHILL SLOPE, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND UPON RELEASING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS, ALMOST COLLIDING WITH A VEHICLE BEHIND US. ON 7/24/09 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WOLFCHASE TOYOTA IN MEMPHIS, TN. TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD FOUR DIFFERENT STORIES FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA U.S. HEADQUARTERS: THAT A: THE VENZA DID NOT HAVE THE HILL-START ASSIST FEATURE, B: IT DID HAVE THE FEATURE AND WAS WORKING FINE, C: ONLY ALL WHEEL DRIVE MODELS HAD THE FEATURE, AND D: MY CAR HAD THE FEATURE BUT IT DOESN'T ACTIVATE AUTOMATICALLY-YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY ACTIVATE THE FEATURE BY FULLY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL A BEEP IS HEARD AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON, AND THEN YOU HAVE TWO SECONDS TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL BEFORE THE FEATURE TURNS OFF. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THE VEHICLE HAS THE HILL-START ASSIST FEATURE BUT DOES NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT ACTIVATING IT MANUALLY. WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE MANUAL ACTIVATION BY THE DEALER UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE OR BY TOYOTA WHEN THE SAFETY CONCERN WAS FIRST BROUGHT UP. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD IMMEDIATELY SEND OUT A SAFETY NOTICE REQUIRING ALL EMPLOYEES BE BRIEFED ABOUT THE HILL-START ASSIST FEATURE, HOW IT DOESN'T ACTIVATE AUTOMATICALLY, AND HOW TO ACTIVATE THE FEATURE WHEN STOPPED ON AN UPHILL SLOPE. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE SURGE PROBLEM WITH MY 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. IN MY CASE, IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, AND HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IN ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS, I WAS ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER CAR OR TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WHEN THE ENGINE SURGED, CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE MUCH FASTER THAN I HAD INTENDED. IN THE FIRST CASE OF PASSING, THE SURGE NEARLY CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR BECAUSE TORQUE PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL BEYOND WHERE I INTENDED TO TURN. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER, THE CUSTOMER HANDLER TOLD ME THE CAR WAS DESIGNED TO DO THIS, AND EVENTUALLY HE WORKED HIS WAY AROUND TO, "ONCE THE CAR'S COMPUTER GETS USED TO THE WAY YOU DRIVE, IT WON'T HAPPEN ANY MORE." MORE RECENTLY, THE DEALER HAS SAID THE VENZA IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, SO I CAN'T EVEN GET THE SHIM'WHICH DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY TO SOLVE AN ENGINE SURGE PROBLEM, BUT WOULD AT LEAST HELP TO DISPROVE THE STICKING PEDAL STORY. *TR

MY TOYOTA VENZA 2009 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN "DRIVE" THE CAR ROLLS BACK EVEN ON RELATIVELY MILD SLOPES. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 40% OF THE TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS OR DURING BRAKE ACTIVATION THE TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATES. USUALLY AFTER 30 SECONDS THE TRACTION CONTROL MODE IS DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. HE THEN ADDED THAT ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR HIS MODEL TYPE, THEY HAVE NOT DEVELOPED A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1300.

2009 TOYOTA VENZA (MANUFACTURED -OCT./08), 6 CYLINDER. WAS IN PARK,ABOUT TO GO IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF LEVEL DRIVEWAY, FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE! FOOT BRAKE PEDAL FELT TENSE AND INFLEXIBLE. IE. WOULD NOT MOVE EVEN WITH APPLIED FOOT PRESSURE. FLASHING TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED OFF CAR THEN RESTARTED AND REPEATED EFFORT TO BACK OUT. SAME THING! AGAIN REPEAT STEPS, REPEATED SAME RESPONSE. TRIED TURNING OFF TRACTION CONTROL AND TURNING BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES. NO IDEA WHAT DID IT, BUT FINALLY WAS ABLE TO BACK OUT. *TR

FIRST HIGHWAY TRIP WITH A BRAND NEW 2009 TOYOTA VENZA AUTOMATIC 4 CYLINDER AWD. MAINTAINED SPEED LIMIT 100 KILOS/HR. WENT TO PASS A SEMI AND GAS PEDAL STUCK AT 120 KILOMETERS ON NARROW TWO WAY HIGHWAY WITH SOFT SHOULDERS POST MAJOR SNOW FALL LAST FRIDAY(NORMALLY NOT SPEED). WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND APPLY FULL PRESSURE ON BRAKES.THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. FINALLY WAS ABLE TO PUT TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL, STILL WITH FULL BRAKES BARELY WORKING WITH RACING ENGINE . ENGINE SMELLS BEGAN, ABLE TO WRESTLE CAR TO GRAVEL SHOULDER,THROW INTO PARK AND IMMEDIATELY KILLED ENGINE. ONCE SEMI CALMED DOWN, TRIED TO INSPECT GAS PEDAL. YANKED OUT TOYOTA MANUFACTURED INSTALLED RUBBER MAT WHICH HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ON TOP OF EXISTING FACTORY CARPET MATT WHICH WAS CLIPPED IN PLACE. READ ABOUT THIS BEING IMPROPER - IN CAR MANUAL WHILE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM DEALERSHIP FOR SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN SYSTEM WARNING THAT MAJOR BRAKE FAILURE MAY HAVE ALSO OCCURRED. CAREFULLY DID SOME CHECKS OF BRAKES. HARD PRESSURE ON PEDAL RESULTED IN TRACTION SIGNAL REAPPEARING. SOFT PRESSURE THERE WAS NO TRACTION SIGN. VERY CAUTIOUSLY AND SLOWLY 90 - 95 KILOMETERS/HR. CONTINUED HOME ON LAST LEG OF TRIP WITH NO PASSING. ONCE HOME, RE-INSPECTED GAS PEDAL AREA AND NOTED A CORRESPONDING LINE INDENT TO WHERE RUBBER MATT MAY HAVE DUG INTO CARPET ON RIGHT SIDE OF GAS PEDAL. THOUGH NOT A MECHANIC, DEDUCTIVELY, RUBBER MAT IMPROPER INSTALL MAY LIKELY HAVE CAUSED GAS PEDAL STICK. RUBBER MAT CLEARLY WARNED NOT TO INSTALL ON TOP OF CARPET MAT ! WHY DEALER DID. NO IDEA! WHY BRAKING SYSTEM NOT WORK WHILE ENGINE RACED IN DRIVE... I HAVE NO IDEA.! FEEL VERY VERY VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE! COULD HAVE EASILY ENDED IN DEATH BUT FOR MY MANY YEARS OF SPORT CAR DRIVING WITH STANDARDS TRANSMISSION, AND HIGHWAY DRIVING SKILLS! MARKED ON THE MAT "DO NOT INSTALL." *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES HE NOTICED THAT IT TOOK MORE THAN NORMAL PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL PEDAL WAS INITIALLY DEPRESSED. HOWEVER, AFTER RELEASING THE PEDAL AND APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL A SECOND TIME, THE BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1100.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD RESTS ON BOTH FRONT SEATS WERE MOVED UP TOO CLOSE TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE HEAD RESTS MAKE THE OCCUPANTS HEADS BEND DOWN, WHICH MAKES DRIVING UNCOMFORTABLE. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY MOVED THE HEAD RESTS FOR SAFETY PURPOSE IN NEW VEHICLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD RESTS POSE AN ISSUE FOR THOSE WHO ARE TALLER THAN FIVE FEET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 800. UPDATED 8/28/09 *CN UPDATED 09/09/09*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A KNOCK IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE PISTON SLAP. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

2009 TOYOTA VENZA. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE UNEXPECTED MOMENTAY SURGE USUALLY HAPPENED WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO COAST OR SLOW DOWN WITHOUT BRAKING. WHEN SHE PUT HER FOOT BACK ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE. SOMETIMES, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT HARSHLY AFTER THE ACCELERATION SURGE. THE SURGE ONLAY LASTED 1-2 SECONDS.