Last updated: 2026-10-10
2021 Toyota Venza Reliability Report
The 2021 Toyota Venza has good reliability and few complaints, but owners report low-beam headlight shadows and a fuel tank that fills short.
Recalls
1
Complaints
7
Complaint Rate
1.1per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$444
Annual Fuel Cost
$1,550
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Weakest of four scored Venza years, yet still well above average for 2021 SUVs, with headlight shadow and short-fill fuel tank complaints and one lighting recall.
Top Issues to Watch
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING (2)
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2)
- VISIBILITY (1)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2021 is the first model year of the Second generation (XU80).
- First-year models may have unresolved issues from the new design.
- Redesigned for the 2021 model year.
- Refreshed in 2023, 2024.
- 2nd generation Venza (US).
What this means for buyers
First-year models carry more risk — early production issues are common. Consider waiting for the second year if reliability is a priority.
Compare 2021 pricing and recall counts against 2022+ before deciding.
2021: Second generation (XU80) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2023: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2024: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
Should You Buy the 2021 Toyota Venza?
Good, with one caveat. Owner complaints run well below average for 2021 SUVs, and the federal crash-test rating is 5 of 5 stars. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs for the model at $444, against $573 for its class. Still, this is the weakest of the four scored Venza years. The 2022 rates excellent, with 2 complaints and no recalls.
Two problems stand out. On the headlights, owners say the low beams throw dark shadows into the top of the lit area on both sides. They show up parked or moving and vanish on high beams. Drivers find them most distracting on dark, curvy roads. The car also has one recall in exterior lighting. On fuel, owners say the tank takes less than its rated 14.5 gallons and the gauge gives misleading readings. One owner reports about 11 gallons going in at empty. A dealer called that normal.
Ask for proof that the lighting recall was completed, and check the low beams on a night drive. Plan on a shorter range than the rated tank suggests. Shoppers who want fewer complaints should price a 2022.
Compared to the 2022 Toyota Venza, which scored 1 points higher.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +$129 cheaper to maintain than avg midsize SUVs
- +Low major repair risk (10%)
- +Low recall count
Cons
- −EXTERIOR LIGHTING: Low beam headlights throw dark shadows into the top of the lit area on both... (2 complaints)
- −FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM: Tank takes less fuel than its rated 14.5 gallons, and the fuel gauge gives... (2 complaints)
Compare 2021 Toyota Venza With
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability: 69/100
2021 Ford Explorer
Reliability: 62/100
2021 Lexus RX
Reliability: 86/100
2021 Kia Telluride
Reliability: 63/100
2021 Honda Passport
Reliability: 68/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 1 manufacturer recall issued
Other
HIGH RISK- EXTERIOR LIGHTING (2)
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2)
Recall Overview
1
recall on record
The 2021 Toyota Venza carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
1.1
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 16.7
Safety Incidents
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2021 Toyota Venza Recall Details
1 recall has been issued for the 2021 Toyota Venza. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021 Venza Hybrid vehicles. Water may enter the rear turn signal LED lights, allowing condensation to form on the circuit board, and causing a short circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence
A short circuit can cause dimming or failure of the rear turn signals and hazard lights, reducing the vehicle's visibility to other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace both rear turn signal LED bulbs and replace the rear turn signal light assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 18, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available by June 30, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TB01/22TA01.
Buying a used 2021 Toyota Venza? Check its history first
Exterior lighting problems lead owner complaints about the 2021 Toyota Venza, and 1 recall was issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2021 Toyota Venza NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
HEV Powertrain
Rollover risk: 15.5%
Safety Technologies
Toyota VenzaRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$444
vs $573 avg for midsize SUVs
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.5
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
10%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
MPG & Annual Running Costs
Hybrid
39 MPG
Running cost: $2,000/yr
Fuel + repair
40 city / 37 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2021 EPA label cycle.
Hybrid trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venza AWD 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 40 | 37 | 39 | $1,550 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2021 Toyota Venza.
At night, aim the low beams at a wall or dark road and look for black shadows near the top of the beam.
Switch between low and high beams on a dark road and check whether shadows appear only on low beams.
Fill the tank once the gauge reads near empty and compare the gallons pumped with the rated 14.5 gallons.
While refueling, watch for a nozzle that keeps clicking off before the tank should be full.
Check the fuel gauge right after filling up, then again after a few miles, to see if the reading jumps late.
Ask for service records of dealer visits about fuel tank capacity or fuel gauge accuracy.
2021 Toyota Venza Common Problems by Component
7 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2 complaintsLow beam headlights throw dark shadows into the top of the lit area on both sides. The shadows appear whether the car is parked or moving, and they vanish when the high beams are on. Nothing on the lens explains them. Drivers say the effect is most distracting on dark, curvy roads and unlit freeways, where a shadow drifting off to the left can look like an object approaching. Only 2 complaints are on file, and none gives a mileage. Both describe the problem on cars bought new.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2 complaintsThe tank takes less fuel than its rated 14.5 gallons, and the fuel gauge gives misleading readings. Owners describe the pump nozzle clicking off early and the gauge staying put after fueling, then jumping higher a few miles later. One owner says the car takes only about 11 gallons when the gauge reads empty. A dealer confirmed the low fill but called it normal, saying the tank holds a reserve. Owners compare it to a similar fuel tank problem on the RAV4 Hybrid. Expect a shorter real-world range than the rated capacity suggests. There are 2 complaints, and neither mentions mileage.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaintI was stopped at an intersection. When I pressed the accelerator to try to pull across the intersection, the vehicle initially began to move forward but almost immediately all acceleration power was lost. The accelerator pedal could be pushed to the floor with no response from the vehicle. It took several seconds of feathering the accelerator for the vehicle to regain the ability to move forward and I was able to clear the intersection. This is the fourth time that I have experienced the same issue with this vehicle over the past two years. The problem cannot be replicated by the dealer. There are no warning lights on in the vehicle. I don’t know if warnings appear during this few seconds of power failure because it happens very quickly and my focus is trying to get out of the way of oncoming traffic. This is a serious safety concern because it has occurred while trying to move through an intersection or pull onto the road. The vehicle losing power and stopping in these moments could result in a collision with an oncoming vehicle.
VISIBILITY (1 complaints)
VISIBILITY
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid. The contact stated that the windshield had developed a crack that formed from the front passenger’s side corner to approximately 2-feet towards the front driver’s side. An undisclosed dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to contact the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.
SEAT BELTS (1 complaints)
SEAT BELTS
1 complaintSafety-relatedOUR CAR IMPACTED WITH ANOTHER AS WE TRIED TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY FROM A SHORT MERGE LANE. THE OTHER CAR ENTERED IN FRONT OF US FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER WE PASSED A STOP SIGN IN THE MERGE LANE; THE OTHER CAR THEN STOPPED SHORT BEFORE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, JUST AS WE WERE SPEEDING UP THE ENTER THE HIGHWAY. A SENSOR SOUNDED IN OUR CAR, WE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, AND THE TWO CARES COLLIDED. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT OF OUR VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED; THE REAR DRIVE SIDE OF THE OTHER CAR WAS DAMAGED. DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT IN OUR CAR OPERATED NORMALLY. PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT IN OUR CAR LOOSENED INSTEAD OF TIGHTENED; PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON DASHBOARD AS BRAKES WERE HIT OR IMPACT HAPPENED (WE WERE GOING APPROX. 15 MPH. UPON IMPACT). SAID PASSENGER OBSERVED UPON IMPACT OF HEAD ON DASH THAT HER SEAT BELT WAS HANGING SLACK AWAY FROM HER CHEST BY APPROX. SIX TO EIGHT INCHES. TOYOTA PRODUCT LIABILITY DEPT. WAS INFORMED (CASE NUMBER 210409002008) BETWEEN 6:15 AND 7:30 PM ON FRIDAY, APRIL 9TH, 2021. THEY SAY THEY WILL DOWNLOAD THE "BLACK BOX" INFORMATION, BUT THEY HAVEN'T COMMITTED TO A PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF THE SEATBELT, WHICH SEEMS CRITICAL (I.E., THAT A SEATBELT ENGINEER PHYSICALLY INVESTIGATE).*DT
Best & Worst Toyota Venza Years
Best Toyota Venza Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreToyota Venza Years to Avoid
No Toyota Venza years are statistical outliers in our data.
Scores stay between 79 and 80 across 4 scored model years.
Toyota Venza Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 80/100 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 80/100 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 80/100 | Excellent |
Toyota Venza Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2021 Toyota Venza reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Venza?
Does the 2021 Toyota Venza have headlight problems?
Why does the 2021 Toyota Venza fuel tank hold less than rated?
Is the 2022 Toyota Venza more reliable than the 2021?
Don’t buy a 2021 Toyota Venza without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2021 Toyota Venza
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Toyota Venza does best on recall impact (88/100) and worst on complaint severity (74/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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