2009 Toyota Tacoma Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma. Part of Generation 2 — 2005–2015.

20082010
Complaints
609
per 10K Sold
54.5
US Sales
111,824
Crashes
26
Fires
19
Injuries
2
Fatalities
Recalls
11

Worst 2009 Toyota Tacoma Problems

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

#1114 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:78,363 mi
#2105 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:48,925 mi
Fires:16
#357 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:29,796 mi
Crash-related:15
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma.

Suspension Failures
114
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
78,363
Headlight/Taillight Failures
105
complaints
Crashes
Fires
16
Avg Miles
48,925
Unintended Acceleration
57
complaints
Crashes
15
Fires
Avg Miles
29,796
Automatic Transmission
44
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
2,600
Electrical Faults
39
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
40,500
Steering Defects
37
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
82,238
Body Structure
36
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
69,260
Transmission / Drivetrain
26
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
39,617
Brakes
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
184,005
Hydraulic Brakes
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
11,122
Airbags
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
71,985
Engine Problems
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
55,180
Other Equipment
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
12,942
Structural Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
97,200
Structure:Frame And Members
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
85,667
Suspension:Rear
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
42,483
Wheel Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
90,312
Seat Belt Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
7,125
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Manual Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

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

Recalls for 2009 Toyota Tacoma

11 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,516,097 vehicles.

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.

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.

14V604000Suspension:rear:springs:leaf Spring Assembly:leaf
~710,711 affected

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.

14V475000Equipment:other:labels
~20,000 affected

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."

14V168000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~1,486,413 affected

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.

13V337000Seat Belts
~342,451 affected

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.

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.

12V092000Air Bags:frontal
~495,470 affected

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 DRIVER’S AIR BAG MODULE. IF DAMAGE OCCURS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR BAG MAY BECOME DEACTIVATED.

11V148000Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
~22,000 affected

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.

10V035000Equipment:other:labels
~271,417 affected

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.

+ 1 more recalls

Other Toyota Tacoma Years

2009 Toyota Tacoma — FAQ

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

Is the 2009 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2009 Toyota Tacoma has 609 NHTSA complaints, 26 crash-related, and 11 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Suspension Failures with 114 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Toyota Tacoma?
Top reported problems: Suspension Failures (114 complaints, avg 78,363 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (105 complaints, avg 48,925 mi); Unintended Acceleration (57 complaints, avg 29,796 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 Tacoma?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 55,899 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 Tacoma?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma include 26 crash-related reports, 19 fire reports, 2 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 Tacoma have any recalls?
Yes — 11 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,516,097 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 Tacoma?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

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

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

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