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Toyota VenzaModel year report

2012 Toyota Venza Problems

Compared with other Toyota Venza years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

5/100 0.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
25filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
47,000miles, 19 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 2.7L 4-cyl FWD · 21 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Toyota Venza (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2012 Toyota Venza. The part named most often is air bags, with 9 complaints (36% of the total), followed by visibility (7) and other or unknown (6). 19 of the complaints include a mileage, and 53% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 47,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 253 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the curtain and 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Visibility complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 6 Toyota Venza model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 5 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Air bags did not deploy when I was in an accident. I was hiy at a high speed on drivers dide front wheel. I was in moyion whil a truck hit me going at a high speed and was dragged when wheels got stuck”

NHTSA complaint #11072513, filed 2018-02, 10,588 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “I purchased the 2012 Venza in june of 2012 with high hopes. The options and look were phenomenal. However, there is definitely a safety issue with this vehicle. In oct. Of 2012 the rear passenger window burst while driving down a highway. Today, 05/13/13, I started the car and put it in reverse and the rear window shattered. My concern now - I have a sunroof and panoramic window which I am concerned will have the same issues. Toyota needs to up their expectations - just because they purchased GM doesn't mean they can lower the standards.”

NHTSA complaint #10511626, filed 2013-05, 25,000 miles

Other or unknown: “This is not a complaint; just a question. I hope that you can point me in the right direction. I purchased this 2012 Toyota Venza from a dealer who claimed excellent safety ratings. But I see that the 2012 Venza passenger frontal crash rating is only 2 star. I returned to the dealer who told me that my car was made after the safety was improved (it is listed as 4 star for the 2013 model), but could not support his claim that my car was 4 star rather than 2 star. This is important to me as I carry my grandchildren and would not accept a 2 star rating. …”

NHTSA complaint #10558089, filed 2014-01, 26,000 miles

Body and structure: “On a brand new 2012 Toyota Venza, purchased new with 12 miles on it, in march of 2012, there is copious amounts of rust on top of the paint on the hood, front bumper, and surrounding side panels, doors, hatch, and back bumper. Note, the majority of the rust is evolving on top of the paint, where no bare metal is exposed. It can be buffed off, but this only temporarily solves the problem, as the rust continues to grow, even after removal. On the front bumper and hood, there are large rusting spots where small chips exposing metal, less than 1cm (considered to be from gravel) exist. …”

NHTSA complaint #10593641, filed 2014-05, 30,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

53% of the 19 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 26,000 and 98,466 miles.

5%0–1011%10–2537%25–5011%50–7516%75–10016%100–1505%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (19 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 47,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2013201520172019202152025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Toyota Venza. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Venza · SUV AWD★★★★☆4 / 2554 · 14.3% risk
Venza · SUV FWD★★★★☆4 / 2554 · 15.5% risk

Neighbouring years: 2011: same overall rating; 2013: 5 stars overall. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Toyota Venza version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Venza FWD2.7L 4-cyl6-speed automatic212723$2,900
Venza FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic192621$3,200
Venza AWD2.7L 4-cyl6-speed automatic202522$3,050
Venza AWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182521$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Toyota Venza → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 253 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 253 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Venza

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20152823,50015236 · FewerFalling
2014318,00015239 · FewerRising
20135936,895452354 · TypicalFalling
20122547,00044235 · FewerFalling
20115945,300642350 · TypicalRising
20107937,0009—2475 · MoreFalling
200917340,0008—24100 · MoreFalling

All Toyota Venza model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Toyota Venza have?

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2012 Toyota Venza as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Toyota Venza is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 9 complaints (36% of the total), followed by visibility with 7.

Has the 2012 Toyota Venza been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2012 Toyota Venza do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2012 Toyota Venza 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Venza get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Toyota Venza (Venza, 2.7L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 21 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Toyota Venza reported?

Among the 19 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 47,000 miles and the middle half falls between 26,000 and 98,466 miles; 53% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.