2009 Toyota Tacoma

No clear pattern

12.5% of complaints about the 2009 Toyota Tacoma arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2009 vehicle, but with only 562 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is suspension (119 complaints), typically at 6.3 yr or about 78,700 miles.

Complaints: 562
Median age at failure: 5.2 yr
Median mileage: 41,000 n=408
Crash / fire / tow: 8.5% of reports
Safety recalls: 10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System

0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y

Suspension

119 reports · 78,700 mi

6.3 yr

0.8%

Exterior lighting

105 reports · 45,000 mi

4.1 yr

15.2%

Power train

66 reports · 1,500 mi

1.0 yr

4.5%

Structure

54 reports · 75,000 mi

11.9 yr

Speed control

42 reports · 11,176 mi

1.6 yr

31%

Electrical system

38 reports · 40,000 mi

4.0 yr

5.3%

Steering

38 reports · 85,000 mi

8.6 yr

10.5%

Other

17 reports · 93,545 mi

13.0 yr

Service brakes

16 reports · 90,000 mi

5.9 yr

12.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

16V396000 2016-06-02

Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

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.

If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

14V743000 2014-11-19

Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

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.

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.

14V604000 2014-09-29

Suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:leaf

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.

If the fuel tank leaks fuel from being punctured, there is an increased risk of a fire.

14V475000 2014-08-04

Equipment:other:labels

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."

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.

14V168000 2014-04-09

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

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.

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.

13V337000 2013-08-07

Seat belts

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.

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.

13V014000 2013-01-16

Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive

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 se

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.

12V092000 2012-03-07

Air bags:frontal

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

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

11V148000 2011-03-04

Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems

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.

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.

10V035000 2010-02-03

Equipment:other:labels

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.

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 1,379 mi 6 mo in service

VIC. 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA PU ,JBL RADIO FACTORY SYS. RADIO COMES ON AND OFF AT WILL , SHAKES YOU UP TO THE POINT ALL MOST REAR ENDED TRAFFIC IN FRONT, FIRST TIME TO DEALER WITH NO RESPONSE, SECOND TIME SUNSHINE TREATMENT BUT TOLD ONE ON ORDER. MAYBE FIX ON 4/15/2009. *TR

Electrical system 3,100 mi 11 mo in service

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 95 MPH WITHOUT INTENTION. HE HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO DECELERATE. HE THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. A TECHNICIAN SPECULATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS EITHER A COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM RESET OR A FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 3,100. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. BL

Electrical system 4,600 mi 1.0 yr in service

ON THREE OCCASIONS MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. *TR

Power train 400 mi 1 mo in service

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE ACTS AS IF IT IS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. AFTERWARDS, THE RPMS SLIGHTLY INCREASE ACCOMPANIED WITH SUDDEN SCREECHING NOISES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER MODULE. SOON AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED, AND IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 700.

Other Tacoma model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.