2010 Toyota Venza Power Train

94,000 MILES AWD VENZA WITH REAR DIFFERENTIAL TRANSAXLE LEAK. VENT ON THE AXLE MEANT TO RELEASE PRESSURE WHEN OIL HEATS UP, CLOGS WITH DEBRIS AND FAIL. SINCE THE SYSTEM CAN NOT VENT, IT RUINS THE SEALS AND COUPLING. DEALER ESTIMATE OF $3,000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW AND WOULD EXPECT MORE FROM TOYOTA.

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION TOTAL FAILURE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT

OUR 2010 VENZA HAS 80K MILES ON IT (POWERTRAIN WARRANTY IS 60K). AFTER HEARING A "WHIRRING" NOISE FROM THE REAR OF OUR VEHICLE, WE HAD IT INSPECTED. THERE IS A LEAK OF FLUID FROM THE LEFT AXLE SEAL WHERE IT MEETS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS OPENED AND HAD ADEQUATE FLUID BUT THE FLUID HAD METAL FRAGMENTS IN IT, INDICATING THAT THE GEARS ARE GRINDING DOWN. ACCORDING TO OUR MECHANIC HE HAS SEEN THIS IN OTHER 2010 VENZA'S AND ONLINE FORUMS ALSO INDICATE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. WORST CASE SCENARIO - THE GEARS COULD SEIZE WHILE DRIVING AND RESULT IN A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT.

CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHICH IS FAIRLY LEVEL GROUND. VEHICLE IN PARK AND LOCKED. IT ROLLED DOWN HILL AND HIT GATE. TOYOTA HAS AGREED TO DO A EDR BUT NOT UNTIL MARCH 11. I WANT TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS REPORTED THIS ISSUE. *TR

MOVED FROM FLAT INDIANA TO HILLY TENNESSEE. PULLED UP TO TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE CREST OF A HILL AND THE LIGHT WAS RED. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I MOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO THE ACCELERATOR, AND IN THE TIME IT TOOK TO DO THAT, MY VEHICLE WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. THERE SHOULD BE A MECHANISM IN PLACE THAT STOPS A VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS IF IT IS IN THE 'DRIVE' GEAR. THANKFULLY THE BRAKES WERE WORKING QUITE WELL! I HAVE TO USE BOTH FEET WHEN STOPPING ON HILLS- 1 ON THE BRAKE AND 1 ON THE ACCELERATOR - AND 2 HANDS ON THE WHEEL - YIKES! *TR