Is the 2009 Toyota Venza a bad year?
173 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Venza years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Toyota Venza are in line with other Venza years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 Venza owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 7,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed control | 36 (21%) | 2k–20k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 27 (16%) | 6k–50k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 19 (11%) | 4k–48k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Visibility and wipers | 23 (13%) | 50k–74k miles · ahead | — |
| Electrical system | 20 (12%) | 31k–92k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Seats | 20 (12%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 14 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 13 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 7,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 173 complaints: 18 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 13 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2009 Toyota Venza: 8
The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) wiring may become damaged with regular use of the driver-side door. Damaged wires may cause the air bag sensor to become inoperable, preventing the deployment of the side and curtain air bags on the driver side and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring. Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed. If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position.
During assembly of the contact-type stop lamp switch, silicone grease may have come in contact with the surface of the switch which could cause contact resistance. Inoperative brake lights would not warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.
These vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
These vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. This does not meet the standard requirements.
The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 111
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Toyota Venza. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power…
Some vehicles may exhibit a leak or oil seep from the engine's oil cooler pipes
Neighbouring years
2010 Venza: 79 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota Venza year
2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2021 · 2024 · All Venza years side by side
Other Toyota models: Toyota 4Runner · Toyota Avalon · Toyota C-HR · Toyota Camry · Toyota Camry Hybrid · Toyota Camry Solara · Toyota Celica · Toyota Corolla · Toyota Corolla Cross · Toyota Corolla Matrix · Toyota Echo · Toyota FJ Cruiser · Toyota Grand Highlander · Toyota Highlander · Toyota Highlander Hybrid · Toyota Matrix · Toyota Prius · Toyota Prius c · Toyota Prius v · Toyota RAV4 · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Prime · Toyota Sequoia · Toyota Sienna · Toyota Sienna Hybrid · Toyota Tacoma · Toyota Tundra · Toyota Venza Hybrid · Toyota Yaris. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2009 Toyota Venza a bad year?
173 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Venza years. At 7,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Toyota Venza?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: speed control (36), brakes (27), transmission and drivetrain (19), visibility and wipers (23), electrical system (20).
How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Venza have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-257), Seats (NHTSA 16V-396), Seats (NHTSA 14V-743), Seats (NHTSA 13V-014) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.