2009 Toyota RAV4 Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Toyota RAV4. Part of Generation 3 — 2006–2012.

20082010
Complaints
391
per 10K Sold
26.2
US Sales
149,108
Crashes
69
Fires
5
Injuries
24
Fatalities
Recalls
14

Worst 2009 Toyota RAV4 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#191 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:24,183 mi
Crash-related:28
#252 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:59,366 mi
#326 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:69,230 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Toyota RAV4.

Unintended Acceleration
91
complaints
Crashes
28
Fires
Avg Miles
24,183
Suspension Failures
52
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,366
Engine Problems
26
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
69,230
Steering Defects
24
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
57,374
Electrical Faults
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
34,279
Transmission / Drivetrain
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
76,829
Hydraulic Brakes
17
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
15,449
Body Structure
14
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
56,786
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
Avg Miles
67,066
Brakes
12
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
89,248
Wheel Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
97,668
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
8
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
9,301
Fuel System
7
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
102,744
Automatic Transmission
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
73,613
Seat Belt Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
82,834
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
11,312
Seat-Related Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Child Seat
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Toyota RAV4. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2009 Toyota RAV4

14 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~11,812,490 vehicles.

16V596000Suspension:rear
~337,449 affected

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2005, to September 7, 2010, and 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured July 6, 2009, to August 26, 2010. The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing. As a result of being loose, the arm may have thread damage and may rust, possibly leading to the failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

16V396000Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
~7,749 affected

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.

16V096000Seat Belts:rear/other
~1,123,752 affected

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame.

15V689000Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
~1,814,284 affected

Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.

15V577000Wipers & Visibility
~423,456 affected

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.

14V743000Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
~3,233 affected

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.

13V383000Suspension:rear
~780,584 affected

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

13V014000Seats · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive
~3,235 affected

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.

12V491000Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
~2,519,424 affected

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.

12V373000Suspension:rear
~780,584 affected

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust, leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

+ 4 more recalls

Other Toyota RAV4 Years

2009 Toyota RAV4 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2009 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2009 Toyota RAV4 has 391 NHTSA complaints, 69 crash-related, and 14 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 91 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Toyota RAV4?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (91 complaints, avg 24,183 mi); Suspension Failures (52 complaints, avg 59,366 mi); Engine Problems (26 complaints, avg 69,230 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Toyota RAV4?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 49,610 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2009 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Toyota RAV4 include 69 crash-related reports, 5 fire reports, 24 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2009 Toyota RAV4 have any recalls?
Yes — 14 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 11,812,490 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2009 Toyota RAV4?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Toyota RAV4 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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