Recall 11V306 affects 50 2011 Toyota Sienna and Venza vehicles for a front right drive shaft defect. Repair is free at any franchised Toyota dealer.
Toyota is recalling 50 2011 Sienna and Venza passenger cars under recall 11V306 because the front right drive shaft did not receive enough heat treatment and can break. If the drive shaft breaks while the vehicle is moving, the vehicle will lose power without warning and raise crash risk; the Toyota dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The front right drive shaft on the 2011 Toyota Sienna and Venza is a solid rotating shaft in the driveline. It carries engine power from the transmission toward the front wheel so the wheel can pull the vehicle down the road. The shaft has to stay straight and strong while it turns under load.
On affected vehicles, the drive shaft did not receive enough heat treatment during manufacturing. Heat treatment hardens the metal so it can handle normal driving forces. Without enough hardening, the shaft can weaken and break instead of transferring power as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. Toyota did not identify a specific sound, dashboard light, or change in driving feel for owners to watch for before the front right drive shaft breaks.
Who's affected?
Covers the Sienna and Venza under the same driveline component, so the VIN check matters within the same model year.
| 2011 Toyota Sienna | driveline |
|---|---|
| 2011 Toyota Venza | driveline |
| Units affected | 50 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the drive shaft breaks during operation, the vehicle loses motive power without warning. That loss of power can increase crash risk because the driver has less ability to keep moving with traffic. There is no warning sign before failure. Schedule the inspection and drive with extra care until the dealer checks the shaft. Repair will be free at any franchised Toyota dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011 Toyota Sienna or Venza is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Toyota dealer to ask about the free drive-shaft inspection and replacement.
- Schedule the drive-shaft inspection and replacement that fixes the front right drive shaft defect tied to sudden power loss.
- Bring the recall notice if Toyota mailed one, and reference recall number 11V306 when you call.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete. Avoid long trips and move out of traffic if the vehicle loses power without warning.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Toyota technician inspects the front right drive shaft. If the shaft is an incorrectly manufactured part, the technician replaces it with a new drive shaft at no charge. Toyota's recall notice lists the repair process as an inspection followed by replacement only when the affected drive shaft is found. Because this input does not give a current remedy status, confirm the VIN and repair availability with a Toyota dealer before planning service.
Timeline
| June 1, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 22, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V306?
Recall 11V306 covers 50 2011 Toyota Sienna and Venza vehicles with a right front drive shaft that was not heat treated correctly. If the shaft breaks while driving, the vehicle loses motive power without warning, increasing crash risk.
What should I do if my 2011 Toyota Sienna or Venza is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 11V306. If it is, contact a franchised Toyota dealer and ask for the drive shaft inspection. Toyota dealers inspect the part and replace the affected drive shaft at no charge.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Toyota dealers inspect the right front drive shaft for free and replace it with a new one at no charge if it is one of the incorrectly manufactured parts.
What is the safety risk in recall 11V306?
The safety risk is sudden loss of motive power while driving. Toyota reported that the right front drive shaft can break without warning if it received insufficient heat treatment, and that loss of power without warning increases the risk of a crash.
What if I bought my Toyota Sienna or Venza used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2011 Toyota Sienna or Venza is included, then reference recall number 11V306 when you call a Toyota dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V306000 |
|---|---|
| Toyota customer service | 1-800-331-4331 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V306 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V306000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →