2009 Toyota Venza

The 2009 Toyota Venza has 4 recalls, the most serious being a fire risk from aftermarket heated seat elements that can short circuit, and an unsecured floor mat that can slide forward and jam the accelerator pedal.

Both fire and floor mat concerns deserve attention on their own terms. The heated seat issue affects vehicles fitted with certain aftermarket seat heaters: the copper heating element can short circuit and ignite, creating a fire inside the cabin. The floor mat concern applies when the all-weather mat is not clipped in place or is stacked on top of another mat, allowing it to shift toward the pedals and trap the accelerator in an open position, making it difficult or impossible to slow the vehicle normally.

The remaining two recalls both address the same underlying problem with the driver-side door wiring. With regular door use over time, the wiring routed through the driver's door can wear and become damaged, disabling the sensor that triggers the side and curtain airbags on the driver's side. In a crash where a side impact occurs, those airbags may not deploy at all, leaving the driver without that layer of protection. The instrument cluster's airbag warning light may turn on as a sign that the wiring has been compromised, though the light does not always appear before the damage is severe enough to affect deployment.