TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ?Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Toyota Venza steering problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 13 steering complaints filed for the 2009 Toyota Venza, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 6 model years of Toyota Venza we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 13.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty to pair the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ? Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The vehicle will not start or ready-on and the steering wheel lock is engaged so that the steering wheel may only be turned very little from side-to-side.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2009 ? 2013 model year Venza vehicles may exhibit a ?pop? noise from the steering column when turning the steering wheel sharply during low speed maneuvers. Perform the repair procedure outlined in this bulletin to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2009 Toyota Venza models report two main steering problems. The first involves the steering column itself—clicking, rattling, and clunking noises during turns or over bumpy roads, often traced to a faulty intermediate shaft or U-joint failure. A dealer references TSB 0005-11 for this condition as a "common issue," with repair costs around $2,000 cited. The second issue is uncontrolled steering veering or pulling to one side without warning while driving, sometimes combined with stiffness in turns. One owner experienced veering at highway speed (60 mph) multiple times; a dealership alignment and later a calibration update did not resolve it. Another reports constant leftward pulling and dangerous drifting during braking or on uneven surfaces, with three dealership visits yielding no fix. A third complaint involves stiff steering feel with vibration and shakiness during control. Dashboard warning lights (check braking, ABS, VCS system alerts) appear in at least one case during steering anomalies. Owners contacting Toyota say the manufacturer acknowledges no recall and claims no problem exists, despite the TSB documentation and multiple reports.
Failure modes owners describe
Steering column noise (clicking/rattling)
Clicking, rattling, or clunking noise emanating from steering column assembly, particularly during turns or impact with road imperfections. Dealers attribute to faulty intermediate shaft or U-joint failure within the steering column.
When: At 40,000 miles and earlier; present from purchase in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking noise behind driver-side airbag area; Rattling noise from steering column on turns; Rattle on small road imperfections (bumps, cracks); Internal noise on turns (U-joint issue)
Repairs/costs cited: Steering column assembly replacement; repair cost cited as approximately $2,000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 0005-11 issued for steering column noise; classified by dealer as 'annoying' but non-safety-risk; no recall issued
Uncontrolled steering veering/pulling
Steering wheel pulls or veers left or right without driver input during normal driving, highway speeds, or specific driving conditions (braking, bumpy roads). Multiple alignment checks and calibration updates fail to resolve.
When: At 85,000 miles and earlier; some owners report since purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel veers left or right independently at highway speed (60 mph); Vehicle constantly pulls to left; Veering on bumpy roads to either side; Drifting when braking applied; Stiffness in right turns while steering veers left
Repairs/costs cited: Alignment performed by tire shop and dealer; calibration update performed at dealer; failures persisted unresolved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; unable to locate cause; no recall or fix provided; manufacturer claims no problem exists when contacted by owners
Steering wheel stiffness and vibration
Steering wheel difficult to control, feels stiff, and exhibits shaking or vibration during steering inputs. Owner reports almost unable to stop during recent incidents.
When: Timing not specified by owner
Symptoms owners cite: Hard to control steering wheel; Shaky feel during steering; Vibration in steering wheel; Difficulty with vehicle control and braking response
Repairs/costs cited: Service bulletin exists but manufacturer refuses to cover repair under warranty or recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service bulletin documented (owner states); manufacturer declined to fix despite bulletin existence
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I have this car for about 3 years now. I complain about the noise on my steering while I'm turning the steering or driving. I called the manufacturer if there was a recall or defect on my car and they ask me to bring my car to any dealership to diagnose the car and the result is to change the steering column assembly and my factory warranty expires at 60k miles. My concern is why they recalled…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota venza. While driving 60 MPH, the steering wheel independently veered to the left or right without warning. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a tire mechanic on the assumption that the vehicle had experienced a tire failure. The technician replaced the tires and performed an alignment, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was then…
Had steering trouble with your 2009 Toyota Venza?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Toyota Venza?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 40,000 and 85,000 miles, with the median around 69,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 85,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Toyota/Venza.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.