2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report windshield glass that cracks or splits with little or no visible impact, sometimes while the vehicle is parked. A smaller but consistent group of complaints describes unexpected acceleration, a brief loss of throttle response from a stop, and brake pedal feel that did not slow the vehicle as expected. Reports are spread across the first few years of ownership, and many come from relatively low mileage vehicles.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield cracks with little or no impact

   • 89 complaints (47%)
   • median 8,250 mi at 1.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the front windshield developing a long crack, often arched from the passenger side lower corner toward the driver's side, with no obvious stone strike. Several say a small chip or light debris contact grew into a foot-long or longer crack within minutes or overnight, and some report repeat replacements on the same vehicle. Complaints describe the glass as noticeably easy to chip compared with other vehicles the owners have driven, and several note the crack continues to spread while parked. Where dealers were involved, complaints describe photo documentation sent to the manufacturer and, in some cases, a replacement windshield. Reports appear across a wide mileage range, frequently within the first several thousand miles and in some cases on vehicles parked overnight or driven in ordinary conditions.

   What to check: Inspect the windshield carefully in low sun and from inside the cabin for chips, sand-blast pitting, or repaired cracks, and ask whether the glass has ever been replaced. Confirm what glass coverage the buyer's insurance carries, since replacements are reported repeatedly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on the freeway I heard what sounded like a tiny pebble hit the front windshield. Shortly after while driving I noticed a crack in the shape of an arc appeared from the passenger side bottom of the windshield towards the upper center of the windshield. This crack continues to grow as I drove. Even parked, the crack has expanded slightly.”

   NHTSA complaint #11433531, filed 2021-09

   “I came out to get in my vehicle and observed a large crack beginning in the heat band along the bottom of the windshield. I was not aware of anything that hit my windshield to cause such a significant crack. After observing where the crack begins, it appears to have just split and cracked. A clear point of impact is not apparent.”

   NHTSA complaint #11476307, filed 2022-07
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration and brief loss of throttle response

   • 20 complaints (11%)
   • median 36,173 mi at 1.4 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe two related behaviors: the vehicle lunging or surging forward when the driver is braking at low speed, and the opposite case where the accelerator produces no response for several seconds when pulling away from a stop, leaving the car rolling slowly into an intersection. Some owners describe pressing the pedal to the floor before power returns suddenly. Where dealers examined the vehicle, complaints state the issue could not be reproduced, and in one case the dealer attributed the event to driver input rather than a fault. Reported at low speeds in parking lots, driveways and intersections, on vehicles ranging from a few thousand to about 18,000 miles.

   Recall 22V2390003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any dealer visit has been logged for throttle or brake response concerns, and request the service history. During a test drive, try several slow pull-aways from a stop and low-speed parking maneuvers to feel for hesitation or surging.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While pulling up to a curb to park in residential community, my car suddenly accelerated. It came to a stop after 15’ when I hit the brakes. Fortunately nothing or no one was in front of me. No more incidents have occurred. No warning msgs or lights. No other symptoms. Having dealer diagnose this week.”

   NHTSA complaint #11729520, filed 2026-04

   “I was at an intersection. Right turn lane, waiting for a green or a hole in traffic to turn right. The light turned green and I lifted up on the brake, turned the wheel to the right, and tried to accelerate into the turn. The car started rolling, and I heard an electric noise (hybrid car), but the car did not accelerate normally. I applied more 'gas' on the pedal, and nothing happened; the car continued to lightly roll. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11506144, filed 2023-02
3. 3
   Other or unknown

   Front airbags not deploying in a collision

   • 7 complaints (4%)
   • typically at 1.8 yrs old
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Several complaints describe front-end or rear-end collisions in which the front and side airbags did not deploy, including a case with substantial front-end damage. A separate complaint reports the SRS airbag warning light staying on and a tensioner and airbag replacement that did not resolve it. Owners in these reports describe being surprised the airbags stayed stowed given the severity of the impact. Described in collisions at highway and surface-street speeds, plus one warning-light report on a vehicle still in its first year.

   What to check: Turn the ignition on and confirm the SRS airbag light goes out after the bulb check; a light that stays on warrants a diagnostic scan. Ask whether the vehicle has any recorded collision history and whether airbag components have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11667971, filed 2025-06

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11471845, filed 2022-06
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Dark shadow in low-beam headlight pattern

   • 16 complaints (9%)
   • median 3,000 mi at 0.6 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners report a visible dark band or shadow in the low-beam pattern projecting to the left of the field of view, distracting on dark roads because it resembles an object approaching. Complaints state the shadow is present whether the vehicle is moving or stationary and does not appear with high beams. A separate set of complaints concerns the rear turn signal lights, including dim exterior lighting and a recall for water intrusion into the rear turn signal units. Noted within the first few hundred to few thousand miles, typically on new vehicles at night.

   Recall 22V033000

   What to check: Check with the dealer whether the rear turn signal recall has been completed, and drive the car after dark to judge whether the low-beam pattern suits you before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Left and right headlights, in 'low beam' setting, have a visible 'dark shadow' that projects slightly off to the left of the field of view. When driving on dark freeways, you are constantly distracted, thinking there is a moving object approaching from the left. High beam setting does not have this situation.”

   NHTSA complaint #11414886, filed 2021-05, 3,000 miles

   “Just purchased new 2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid. With low beam headlights on, have black shadows in top portion of illuminated field on both sides. Very distracting esp. On dark, curvy road. These shadows do not appear with high beams on...nothing on headlight lens to cause these black areas. Low beam shadows apparent when vehicle is stationary as well as moving. Previously had a 2019 Toyota rav4 hybrid without this issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11414986, filed 2021-05, 40 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Door locks and 12-volt battery electrical faults

   • 6 complaints (3%)
   • median 5,500 mi at 0.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2025

   Complaints describe door lock actuators failing so that the fob and automatic locking no longer work, leaving owners unsure whether the car is locked. Others report the vehicle failing to start or open and needing a jump start, with a dealer diagnosis pointing to a firmware issue that kept the vehicle communicating and drained the battery. One complaint describes the panoramic glass roof shorting and buzzing when operated. Reported from a few thousand miles into the tens of thousands, with the battery drain case around 5,500 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test every door lock with the fob and the interior switch, and ask whether any battery drain or software update work has been performed. If the car has the panoramic roof, cycle it through clear and dark modes and listen for buzzing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have an issues with the door on drivers side that won't unlock as much as I press the key fob it won't open its 2021 toyota Venza. I am physically disabled and I unable to stand for long. So that means I have to use my key to unlock my doors and I can't stand for too long I can tired and fall. And toyota knows of this issues and they refuse to fix and I don't think I should pay for something that they know has a defect. It's not fair.”

   NHTSA complaint #11671296, filed 2025-07

   “The Door lock actuators have all systematically failed on the car, so I can lock the doors manually, but anytime an electrical signal is sent to the lock (key fob, putting the car in drive, etc), the door locks do not operate. It is my understanding this is a known problem by Toyota across many SUV models. I have left my car unlocked on many occassions thinking it is locked, and I don't like driving with passengers in the car due to the safety issue of being able to open a door while the car is in motion when I think it is locked”

   NHTSA complaint #11629442, filed 2024-12

Buying note. The windshield is the item most worth inspecting closely on this model year, since owners report repeated cracking and replacement. Ask for the full dealer service history and confirm whether the rear turn signal recall and any software updates have been completed before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.