2009–2015 Toyota Venza: Water pump grinding noise or coolant leak (3.5L V6)
Likely causes, ranked
- Water pump bearing or seal failureShop
- Timing cover oil leak (separate issue)Shop
Real-owner fix counts will appear here as reports come in.
DIY or shop: See DIY or shop section
Parts to check
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Symptom: A grinding or rattling from the front of the engine, or coolant crust near the pump.
Likely causes
- Water pump. Venza owners on Toyota Nation report pump replacements across a wide mileage range.
- Timing cover. A separate, slower oil seep from the timing cover is also common on the 2GR-FE.
DIY or shop?
Shop or DIY-capable.
Useful steps
- Check the pump weep hole.
- Use an OEM pump.
Vehicle focus: 2009–2015 Toyota Venza.
Safety / mechanic note
Overheating can damage the engine.
Recalls & service bulletins
No recalls or service bulletins are listed for this page yet.
NHTSA complaints: 3 keyword-matched complaints (of 453 unique complaints filed under NHTSA model names VENZA, 2009–2015; NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-15).
Always check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Sources
What actually fixed it?
Had this problem? Tell other owners what the real fix was. Reports are counted above; we never show made-up numbers.