2021 Toyota Venza: What to check before buying

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the exterior lights and fuel system. The 7 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.

2021

Owner complaints: 7
Recalls: 1
Crashes reported: 1; 1 injury
Reliability: Good; 79/100 on Auto Reliability Index

Your inspection sheet

Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.

0/7 checked

Paperwork and questions

Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2

01Confirm the other recall listed below shows as completed for this VIN. A Toyota dealer can look it up for free.
02Ask for service records of dealer visits about fuel tank capacity or fuel gauge accuracy.

Walk-around and cabin

Engine off, key in hand0/2

03Fill the tank once the gauge reads near empty and compare the gallons pumped with the rated 14.5 gallons.
04While refueling, watch for a nozzle that keeps clicking off before the tank should be full.

Cold start, engine bay, and underside

Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1

05Check the fuel gauge right after filling up, then again after a few miles, to see if the reading jumps late.

Test drive

At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2

06At night, aim the low beams at a wall or dark road and look for black shadows near the top of the beam.
07Switch between low and high beams on a dark road and check whether shadows appear only on low beams.

These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.

Which Venza is it?

EPA figures for each version of the 2021 Toyota Venza. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.

Version	Drive	EPA rating
2.5L 4-cyl	AWD	39 mpg

On the hybrid, watch for the car moving off on electric power at low speed and for any hybrid system warning on the dash.
Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Venza that averages well under the EPA 39 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.

Why these checks: what owners reported

NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Toyota Venza, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.

Exterior lights2No crashes
Low 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 system2No crashes
The 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.

How the 2021 compares with other Venza years

Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.

The 2021 has the most owner complaints of the 2 Venza years we cover, about 3.5 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.

2021 Average of other years

Exterior lights20
Fuel system20

Where the 2021 fits in the Venza's history

Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.

The 2021 is the first model year of the Venza's second generation (2021–2024). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Toyota fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.

Toyota updated the Venza for 2023, so a 2021 does not have those changes.

What changed for 2023 (not on a 2021)

Nightshade package added for XLE model
Updated instrument cluster for Limited grade

Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.

Recalls to confirm (1)

Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.

22V033000Exterior lightsJan 2022
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.".
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Also looking at these instead of a Venza?

Cars shoppers compare with the Toyota Venza, with their own 2021 checklists.

2021 owner complaints, side by side