Toyota Venza Forum

Tried hitting up a couple of dealers on this issue and they were lost.. as I am...

On occasion, I have gotten into the wife's 2009 Venza (V6 2wd) and had the below issue, either going into reverse or drive. She has never had it happen and I have no clue what I have done to cause it (only on occasions)... I have tried to duplicate it and had no luck, only happens randomly

- When getting in and putting the vehicle in drive or reverse, on occasion, I get a ding and also a caution display in the center info area (up in the middle of the dash above the radio) The display is the same one you get when the tires spin, the symbol of a vehicle with skid marks behind it
- When I get this, the vehicle does not want to go. (at an idle speed) I have also tried to accelerate slightly but it will not move then either...
- This only lasts a few seconds (if that) and then everything is fine.
- I have read about hill assist, but this happens on flat ground, and no, the tires did not spin.
I have taking it to two dealers and they have no clue...

The vehicle runs and drives fine, this only seems to happen right when I get in and try and take off. I thought maybe it is because my butt position was not correct in the seat (does the driver seat have a sensor like the passenger seat?)

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Sounds as if you've stepped on the brake pedal as you were getting in and actuated Hill Start Assist. Dings twice, the car with the swervy lines shows up on the center info area and it won't move for a couple of seconds.

You don't have to be on a hill to actuate the feature...go out into your garage right now and press hard on the brake pedal for a couple of seconds...you'll hear and see what you're describing.

My wife have the same problem, she bring it back to the dealership twise, and the third will coming, she will use the lemon law, and see what the dealership can do....

That is one thing I did not think about... I told the dealer I thought it may have been the hill assist but how was it being actuated...

This is very possible since I seldom drive the Venza and when I do, I try to be nice and not move the seat if I'm only going a short distance...(I'm 5'9" and the wife 5'2") so this would make sense... I will check it out and get back to ya... will be a little while.... she is visiting her folks....will test it once she gets back into town..

Questions I do have though... you have to press the brake to start it... and to get into gear.. so how would hitting the brake pedal cause this issue.... How do you turn on hill assist... I was told by the dealer it does it automatically. I do not have the owners manual to look it up at this time....I'll try google...lol

I kind of thought the same thing.... especially with all the recall stuff going.. We love the Venza and are not sweating the recall (too much)... but when you got things going on that no one can really explain... makes you wonder

Update....

The vehicle is working as advertised. It is the Hill Start Assist feature... It all depends on how much pressure you put on the brake pedal when shifting into gear. Fwd or Rev.... I did read on this and thought this was the issue but needed more information on the how's and why's...this feature was not describe in great detail in our owners manual. Some 2009 do have a more in detail write up on it.. and 2010 should all have it...

Questions have been answered....

Yep.... pilot error - car doing as designed..... be better or worse??

IF you want to avoid this altogether - press the TC switch on dash for 3 seconds while stopped and the TC and VCS will be turned off..... no more hesitation or lock up for inadvetently dperesing the brake pedal "too hard"

TO turn it back on - depress switch again or it will reset on next start-up.....

Glad you got it answered to your satisfaction

I have had the same issue with my 09. I have the AWD 6 cyl. I have taken it to the dealer 4 times with this issue and they can find nothing wrong with it. It has happened to me and my husband several times. I am hoping someone will have an answer for this issue