KnownCarProblems2009 Toyota Tacoma Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 519 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Tacoma, most often about the suspension (23% of complaints, typically around 78,500 miles). It is 4th of 27 Tacoma model years by number of complaints and has 13 recalls.
Most common 2009 Toyota Tacoma problems
Suspension
119 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 78,500 miles. Parts named most often: rear.
Tl contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tacoma. The contact heard a rattling noise while driving. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who inspected the vehicle and stated the failure was within the rear axle right leaf spring near the gas line which was corroded and had broke in half. The manufacturer stated the failure…
I heard a rattling noise from the right rear of the truck while driving on a bumpy side road. I investigated and discovered the bottom leaf spring had broken in half. Doing some online research I discovered that this is a very common problem with Tacoma's. I contacted the dealer and it is not a covered item (no tbs)…
Lights
105 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles.
On the headlight assembly of my vehicle both of the running light lenses are melting. They first started to bubble and I noticed it at approximately 40,000 miles. I took it into the dealership to have it checked out and they said that the warranty would not cover it and offered no fix. Recently, I looked at the lenses…
Daytime running lights are melting the plastic lamp housing. All components are factory stock: bulbs, housings, wiring, etc. Melted plastic housing has changed the turn signal beam geometry resulting in reduced visibility and risk of accident. Also, melted material indicates a possible fire hazard.
Transmission
75 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 2,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, manual transmission, clutch assembly.
'09 Toyota Tacoma. Transmission shifts erratically at slower speeds. Drops into first gear and lurches when turning a corner. Truck transmission feels out of control at apex of turn in an intersection. Not safe for foot traffic or other vehicles in the intersection. Dealership says transmission is ok. Many other…
Automatic transmission fails to engage upon accelerating out of a turn or after coasting down a hill. The rpms race but transmission does not engage unless accelerator is released and vehicle slows. In a pullout situation, this could be hazardous with oncoming traffic.
Speed control
59 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 8,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Tl contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tacoma. The contact attempted to shift gear into neutral and the rpms suddenly increased to 4500. The vehicle is currently being diagnosed by the dealer and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 8636. Updated 1/4/10 the consumer stated he had the truck…
Tl contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tacoma. While driving 60 MPH the vehicle accelerated without a warning. The contact was able to control the speed and stop the acceleration by depressing the brake pedal. On a separate occasion, while driving in reverse from a driveway with the brakes depressed, the vehicle independently…
Body and structure
54 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the frame was rusted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (joseph airport Toyota in vandalia, ohio, [phone]) where the technician offered to spraypaint over the rust, but the contact declined the offer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and…
I had a rusty frame recall which I took in on feb. 2018 and had they supposedly repaired this by rustproofing. Since then all the new rustproofing applied for this fix has deteriorated. This truck has only been driven less than 10,000 miles since that time and is housed in a garage. This recall ends on july 28th of…
Electrical
40 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 39,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel.
I have a 09 Tacoma and the drl's have actually burned, melted and popped the lens in front of them. Also, the bulbs themselves, upon examination, have burned the socket in which they are held. You can see black around the base of them. Took it to Toyota at 59k miles and I have the platinum 7year/100000mi warranty and…
The drl (daylight running lights) bulbs were designed to close to the lens cover and the bulb is to hot. It burnt / melted the lens on both the right and left headlights. It leaves a dark spot ( approx 2.5 inches in diameter) . It happened when the outside temp was hot (greater than 105 deg f) and the running lights…
Steering
39 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 83,500 miles. Parts named most often: linkages.
Vehicle steering is unsafe, the steering wheel sometimes doesn't return back to center on turns and steers very hard . When I inspected the vehicle the universal joint on the steering shaft is binding. The part is called intermediate steering shaft #2. This is very dangerous due to unpredictable steering and also if…
Stiff steering. Steering shaft knuckle is exposed and corrodes resulting in the stiff steering. Starts outs as intermittent. Occurs at any speed, turning right or left, all environmental conditions. Very unsafe. Widely known issue
Brakes
34 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 21,500 miles. Parts named most often: pedals and linkages.
This vehicle has what I consider to be a break problem. The pressure and length of pedal depression required to stop the vehicle is dangerous. I have to depress the pedal to the floor in order to stop under average driving conditions. It actually feels as though the pedal has not fully engaged the braking system when…
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH around a curve, the ABS engaged without the brakes being depressed. The electronic stability control warning indicator illuminated with a chime and then turned off. The failure recurred nine times. The vehicle had not…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2009 Toyota Tacoma recalls
Seats: seat heater/cooler
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on july 14, 2016. Owners may contact set customer service at 1-866-405-4226. Set number for this recall is set16b.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4runner, highlander, sequoia, and sienna, 2005-2010 avalon and tundra, 2006-2008 camry solara, 2006-2010 highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 rav4 and tacoma, 2007-2010 fj cruiser, 2007-2011 camry hybrid, 2009-2010 venza, 2010-2012 prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Seats: seat heater/cooler
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in january 2015. Owners may contact set customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 prius and corolla, 2009-2011 venza, 2006-2010 avalon, 2007-2010 fj cruiser, 2005-2011 sienna and sequoia, 2006-2011 tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, camry, highlander, tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 rav4 and 4runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Suspension: leaf
Risk: If the fuel tank leaks fuel from being punctured, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will install new rear leaf spring assemblies. The recall began on january 29, 2016. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 toyota tacoma pre-runner and 4x4 vehicles manufactured september 14, 2009, to october 11, 2010. In the affected vehicles, one of the leaf springs may fracture due to stress or corrosion. While being driven, the broken leaf could move out of position and contact surrounding components including the fuel tank, possibly puncturing the tank and causing a fuel leak.
Equipment: labels
Risk: If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in september 2014. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 fj cruiser and tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims for passenger cars."
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: If the ffc is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically necessitates deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota vehicle owners, and general motors will notify the pontiac vibe owners. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in may 2014 to advise owners of the recall. Toyota will mail owners a second letter when remedy parts are available. General motors sent pontiac vibe owners an interim letter on june 20, 2014 notifying them that parts are currently unavailable. General motors sent notices to the pontiac vibe owners on september 15, 2014, that a remedy is available. The recall began on october 27, 2014. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Owners may con
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 rav4, 2006-2010 yaris, 2008-2010 highlander, and 2009-2010 tacoma, corolla, corolla matrix and general motors pontiac vibe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a flexible flat cable (ffc). Due to the shape and location of the ffc's retainer, the ffc could become damaged when the steering wheel is turned.
Seat belts
Risk: If the seat belt pre-tensioner detaches from the seat belt assembly, the seat belt pre-tensioner will not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in a severe crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt assemblies. Based on the inspection, the seat belt assembly will be replaced or new pre-tensioner screws will be installed with thread-locking sealant and a retractor spring cover with stopper ribs to prevent loosening of the screws. These services will be provided at no cost to the owner. The recall began during february 2014. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 tacoma access cab vehicles manufactured september 14, 2004, through march 29, 2010; and model year 2011 tacoma access cab vehicles manufactured july 1, 2010, through september 7, 2011. If the access doors are repeatedly and forcefully closed, the screws that attach the seat belt pre-tensioner to the seat belt retractor can loosen over time. If the screws loosen completely, the seat belt pre-tensioner and the retractor spring cover could detach from the seat belt retractor.
Seats
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Fix: Southeast toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on march 21, 2013. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 tacoma, 4runner, camry, camry hybrid, prius, and rav4; model year 2009-2010 avalon, fj cruiser, and highlander hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year corolla, sienna and tundra; model year 2009-2013 highlander and venza; model year 2012 prius v; and model year 2010-2012 sequoia. During modification by set to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest dvd systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: In the event of a crash, the driverâs side air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spiral cable assembly, free of charge. An interim letter is expected to be mailed to owners during april 2012. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 tacoma vehicles, manufactured from september 14, 2004, through august 29, 2008. Over time, steering wheel vibration may damage the spiral cable assembly (clockspring) that powers the driverâs air bag module. If damage occurs, the air bag warning lamp will illuminate and the air bag may become deactivated.
Wheels and tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Risk: Failure to warn of tire deflations is a non-compliance with fmvss 138 and could lead to tire failure increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: For the land cruiser, sequoia, tacoma and tundra vehicles, the dealer will re-calibrate the tire pressure monitoring system on affected vehicles and install an updated tire and loading information label at no charge. For the fj cruiser vehicles, the TPMS cannot be reset so the electronic control unit (ecu) for the TPMS will be replaced. Toyota is currently developing the remedy ecu. If an owner is not certain whether his or her vehicle is equipped with these accessories, please contact any toyota dealer for an inspection at no charge. The safety recall began on march 31, 2011. Owners may conta
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 fj cruiser, land cruiser, tacoma, sequoia and tundra vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 138, "tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)." when factory-installed wheels and tires were replaced with toyota authorized accessory wheels and lt tires prior to first sale, the tire pressure monitoring systems were not re-calibrated correctly and therefore do not start illuminating the low tire pressure warning telltale at the required minimum activation pressure.
Equipment: labels
Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.
Full defect summary
Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Equipment: labels
Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine toyota or lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous mats from owners who do
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on august 18, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling 27,080 model year 2005 through 2010 passenger cars built from september 1, 2005 to may 4, 2009. These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2009 Toyota Tacoma
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Toyota Tacoma?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: suspension (119 complaints, typically around 78,500 miles); lights (105 complaints, typically around 45,000 miles); transmission (75 complaints, typically around 2,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Tacoma have?
- 13 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 2, 2016 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2009 a bad year for the Toyota Tacoma?
- It is 4th of 27 Tacoma model years by number of complaints, with 519 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.