Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Toyota Venza owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
1) Brakes consistently 'softer' than normal. Sometimes require pumping the pedal to stop at all. Can be difficult to start car, brake pedal may not move at all to get starter button to light up. **Every time after sitting over night, when the car starts the pedal 'mushes' to the floor. It must be pumped to get any resistance. 2) Lack of reliable brakes poses real safety risk for everyone. I just had incident where I had difficulty stopping, nearly in accident. 3) One mechanic experienced lack of brakes when driving it, had to pump pedal to stop. 4) Multiple independent auto repair shops as well as local Toyota Dealer service have charged me thousands to repair, without success. 5) 6/27/23 warning light, 'check ABS', sensor unplugged by mechanic. Once master cylinder replaced, sensor reconnected. …
I was at a stop sign and I was on an incline and I let the brake go to press the gas and the car started to go backwards and i almost hit the car behind me and and press the gas to go forward. Now anytime I am on an incline during a stop and if I let go the brake the car goes backwards.
Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Toyota Venza. While driving 50 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes failed to function properly. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags deployed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. A police report was filed. Three occupants sustained minor injuries that required medical attention. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.
ABS, ESC, and brake indicator lights randomly display upon driving the vehicle. They display intermittently, sometimes after 1/4 mile of driving, other times after 25 miles of driving. They display on smooth or rough roads, with no apparent cause. While I have not yet had an accident or system fail, it is of concern because I transport my daughter in this vehicle. On a vehicle that has 50,000 miles on it and other documented cases of this as well, I believe this is a cause for concern. I am not sure of the cause or the solution to this problem as of yet. The vehicle does not have to be in motion when the lights appear either. They appear at stop signs or lights, when driving slowly, or at highway speeds. I am unaware if the systems themselves stop working upon the indicators activation or not. …
On January 8th,2015 I had the right front wheel speed sensor replaced on our vehicle. An internet check revealed that a technical service bulletin ref: TSB 0031-12 was issued. NHTSA ref: 10052153 for the 2009 Venza was also issued due to numerous complaints of faulty wheel speed sensors.the faulty wheel speed sensor caused 3 warning lights to come on. The ABS, vsc and brake system warning lights could you please include this VIN if a recall is announced. Thank you.
I put my vehicle in reverse and the brakes seemed to lock, when I put it in drive it continued to back up. No matter what gear I put it in it stayed in reverse. I was blocking a lane at the mall ,u my husband tried to push it while in neutral but he couldn't budge it, it was still in reverse. I think it has a defective transmission, and it only has 40,000 miles on it. Scary and very dangerous situation.
While driving in city ABS vsc brake warning lights came on with message to immediately take to dealer. Turned out to be speed sensor on right rear wheel. I have removed sensor and while there is no physical damage it appears to be an open circuit. Clearly a defect in product since the car is garaged and I live in a high desert environment. Effectively the ABS and vsc systems are disabled.
While trying to brake, my car accelerated and I almost hit the cars infront of me. I was getting off the highway to the rotary and there was cars stopped in front of me and I tried to brake and the car accelerated instead.
We own a 2009 Toyota Venza 4 cylinder a/t FWD vehicle. One of the safety features in this vehicle is hill-start assist. On 7/20/09 while I was at a red light on an uphill slope, the light turned green and upon releasing the brakes, the vehicle immediately started rolling backwards, almost colliding with a vehicle behind us. On 7/24/09 I took the vehicle to wolfchase Toyota in memphis, tn. To have the vehicle inspected. I was told four different stories from the dealership and Toyota U.S. Headquarters: that a: the Venza did not have the hill-start assist feature, b: it did have the feature and was working fine, c: only all wheel drive models had the feature, and d: my car had the feature but it doesn't activate automatically-you have to manually activate the feature by fully stepping on the brake pedal until a beep is heard and the traction control light comes on, and then you have two …
Toyota 2009 Venza systemic speed sensor failures: right rear speed sensor 1/17/2015: left rear speed sensor May 2013: left front speed sensor April 2012 in each case, the antilock brake system (ABS) and the vehicle stability control (vsc) systems were disabled, creating hazardous vehicle operation, especially in snow/ice. Researching, I determined that no recall had been issued, but that knowledge of the defective speed sensors and that their failure disabled the ABS and traction control systems were common knowledge. I notified Toyota customer assistance center of my concern, on January 22, 2015 (Toyota case # [redacted]), and made formal request for full reimbursement of the charges for the third repair on the basis that Venza speed sensor failures are a systemic, recognized issue causing hazardous driving conditions, and clearly should have been the subject of a recall long past. …
Brake complaints in other Venza years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2009 Toyota Venza?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the brakes of the 2009 Toyota Venza, 16% of the model year's 173 complaints. The component named most often is pedals and linkages (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Toyota Venza brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2009 Toyota Venza, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Toyota Venza brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 33,000 miles, and 36% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.