10K Miles Update - My Amazing Toyota Hybrid Experience Gets Better and Better, Due in Part to Outstanding Dealer Support

When I purchased a Toyota last March, I knew it would be a hybrid-electric vehicle. I just didn’t know what model. It turned out that the Venza fit my needs best, and after 10,000 miles, I love the Venza Hybrid more and more as time passes. This update to my long-term review will focus on a problem with the infotainment system and how the dealer resolved it for me. I have also changed the tires, and I can give my impressions of the Goodyear WeatherReady2 tires now that I’ve driven on them for a while.

See the Initial Review Here:

See the 5K Update Here:

Venza Infotainment System Problem and Resolution

One of the Venza Limited's best features is its outstanding infotainment setup. I use Apple CarPlay on every trip. It’s wireless and seamless. I’m team Apple through and through and would not even consider a vehicle without wireless CarPlay. However, during my last few months, a problem came up.

The infotainment screen began showing me numerous error-type messages. I’d have to hit a small x to remove the messages from the screen. It was a hazard and an annoyance. At the suggestion of a fellow car tester, I called the dealer from which I purchased the Venza, Acton Toyota of Littleton, MA. I started with the service department, but they turned me over to the sales department when they heard I had an infotainment screen issue. That seemed odd, but I played along. The sales associate who took my call was not my salesperson (he was out of the office). Despite never having met me, this person took all the time I needed on the phone to listen closely to what I was struggling with. After which, he said he understood the issue and had a possible fix.

The problem turned out to be that my Toyota phone app had a security code, and I simply needed to refresh the app and input the code. Once I did so, all of the many problems instantly went away and I have driven issue-free now for many weeks. I’m as high-tech as the next woman and understand that once in a blue moon, there are such minor issues to deal with. What impressed me most was that the team at Acton Toyota was ready, willing, and able to resolve this for me with one quick phone call. No service visit was needed. If you read my prior reviews, you will note that Acton Toyota impressed me with pick-up and delivery when it was time for my first scheduled service visit. I’ve never experienced this level of great service, though I will say Mazda took very good care of me and even offered free service to me and my fellow healthcare workers during COVID.

New All-Weather Tires For Venza

In my household, we conduct tire testing involving many different testers. I am a part of this, though I will not pretend to have a passion for it. When Goodyear brought out the new WeatherReady2 all-weather tire, we opted to be among the first to test and review it. The big plusses are a smooth, quiet ride with excellent wet weather and snow/ice grip. The downside is my mileage dropped from around 40 MPG to around 35 MPG. We’ve been doing a bit of snooping in the social media clubs, asking fellow owners of this tire if they have seen a similar drop, and it is proving to be universal. I’m not thrilled with the lower MPG mainly because I drive a lot and want the most range between stops I can get. We will have to think about whether these tires will be our 4-season Venza tires or if we will swap them out in spring and then put them back on next winter.

Toyota Venza Hybrid 10K Conclusion

Opting for a Venza was a move I’m happy to have made. The vehicle is outstanding in many ways. The unexpected bonus has been the hassle-free dealer support. Watch for more updates in late winter.

Hande Tuncer, MD, is a contributing writer to Torque News and publications related to medical topics. When she is not submitting a guest story or working as a clinician and researcher, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. You can follow Hande on Tiktok at @handehayirlioglut.