2009 Toyota TACOMA - Ratings, Complaints and Recalls

The 2009 Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab w/SAB has received high ratings for front crash protection with a score of 5 for both the driver and passenger sides. The side crash protection for the driver side also scored a 5. The rollover rating is 4 out of 5, indicating a moderate risk of rollover. Additionally, this car is equipped with standard electronic stability control, which is a crucial safety feature that helps drivers maintain control in challenging situations.

Unfortunately, the vehicle does not have forward collision warning or lane departure warning systems. This means that it may not provide advanced warning to drivers in potential collision or lane departure situations.

On the downside, there have been 501 complaints filed about this vehicle, which is a relatively high number. Additionally, there have been 13 recalls issued for various reasons, highlighting potential safety concerns that may require attention. Overall, while the Toyota Tacoma has performed well in crash tests and comes with stability control, the higher number of complaints and recalls are areas of concern that potential buyers should be aware of.

Top stats at a glance

Complaint Count

501

Recall Count

13

Investigation Count

0

Safety Rating

Not Rated

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Safety Features

2009 Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab w/SAB Safety Features

Here are the safety features that come as standard on the 2009 Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab w/SAB

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ESC is an advanced safety feature in vehicles designed to help drivers maintain control during challenging driving conditions. By continuously monitoring various factors such as steering angle, vehicle speed, and individual wheel speeds, ESC can detect and reduce the risk of skidding or loss of control. It achieves this by automatically applying brakes to specific wheels to stabilize the vehicle.

Standard
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is a safety feature in vehicles that helps prevent frontal collisions by alerting the driver of an imminent collision with a vehicle or obstacle ahead. Using sensors such as radar or cameras, FCW monitors the distance and speed of vehicles in front, and if it detects a potential collision, it provides visual and/or auditory warnings to prompt the driver to take evasive action.

No
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is a safety feature in vehicles that alerts drivers when their vehicle unintentionally drifts out of its lane without signaling. Utilizing cameras or sensors to monitor lane markings on the road, LDW detects when the vehicle crosses these lines and triggers visual, auditory, or haptic alerts to notify the driver of potential lane departure.

No

2009 Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab w/SAB Safety Ratings

Here we have the crash and rollover ratings for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab w/SAB Where possible we've included the ratings for the oldest and latest models of this car so you can compare how the safety ratings have changed over time.

Frontal Crash Ratings

Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.

Test 2005 Score 2009 Score 2024 Score
Overall Front Crash Rating Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated
Front Crash Driver Side Rating 5 5 Not Rated
Front Crash Passenger Side Rating 5 5 Not Rated

Side Crash Ratings

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Test 2005 Score 2009 Score 2024 Score
Overall Side Crash Rating Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated
Side Crash Drivers Side Rating 5 5 Not Rated
Side Crash Passenger Side Rating Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated
Combined Side Barrier Pole Rating - Front Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated
Combined Side Barrier Pole Rating - Rear Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated
Overall Side Barrier Rating Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated

Rollover Ratings

The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.

Test 2005 Score 2009 Score 2024 Score
Rollover Rating Not Rated 4 Not Rated
Rollover Possibility % 0% 0% 0%
Dynamic Tip Result No Tip
Side Pole Crash Rating Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated

Complaints for the 2009 Toyota TACOMA

This chart show the number of complaints for each car component. A Higher number of complaints could indicate that this car might have a common fault. Something to look out for when purchasing one.

Component Complaints

Choose a component to see what complaints people have made about them.

Complaint:
"frame is rusted out under engine above axle housing."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION
Date of incident: 2024-10-10

Complaint:
"i have a 2009 toyota tacoma that has a significant amount of frame rust. i have recently learned that toyota lost a class action lawsuit on this model of tacoma because the frames would rot quickly. i was not aware of this recall, nor was i notified and because of that i missed the 12-year windows for toyota to replace the frame. toyota's owner app made no mention of this either. the only recall that i received was an issue with leaf springs which i had corrected when the parts came in. i'd like to know what i can do to have my truck's frame replaced, or something comparable."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION
Date of incident: 2023-01-08

Complaint:
"frame and leaf spring rusting badly. if the frame or leaf spring brakes while driving will cause accident and possible fire from hitting by fuel tank putting my life and the lives of others in truck as well as persons near truck. i had truck in for tire rotation in 8/2022 problem was reported. frame starting to rust badly will not be able to lift vehicle from the frame soon. no warning has been reported. vehicle has been recalled. no recall was sent to me about problem now the company will not fix"
Components Involved: SUSPENSION
Date of incident: 2022-06-12

Complaint:
"the contact owns a 2009 toyota tacoma. the contact stated while the vehicle was at a local dealer they informed the contact that their vehicle frame was rusted and needed to be replaced. upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with, nhtsa campaign number: 14v604000 (suspension) however the vin was not included. the manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact that they were unable to assist. the failure mileage was approximately 75,000."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION
Date of incident: 2021-12-07

Complaint:
"frame has been excessively rotted like many other tacomas in this year. there is no remedy being given by a toyota rep."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION
Date of incident: 2022-06-12

Complaint:
"tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota tacoma. while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic undergoing regular maintenance, the contact's husband was informed that the leaf spring was rusted. the vehicle was taken to frankfort toyota (1001 leestown rd, frankfort, ky 40601, (502) 695-1500), but the dealer could not assist. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. the failure mileage was 108,000. the vin was unknown."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION
Date of incident: 2020-10-08

Complaint:
"front lower ball joints early signs of failure could lead to major accident. clunking sounds from front end. grease already leaking. fear of joint failure."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION
Date of incident: 2018-02-10

Complaint:
"tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota tacoma. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v604000 (suspension); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer was not contacted. the manufacturer was notified of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. the contact had not experienced a failure. vin tool confirms parts not available."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION
Date of incident: 2016-05-09

Complaint:
"2005-2011 toyota tacoma rear leaf spring recall - nhtsa recall - 14v-604. purchased replacement springs and paid dealership to install in aug. 2013 because my vehicle was out of warranty and springs broken. when recall announced in 2016, i requested reimbursement for parts & installation from toyota motor sales. i have submitted over 10 responses with requested documentation and toyota motor sales refuses to reimburse stating they need documentation from the dealership which has been provided more than once. i filed a bbb complaint and the dealership's response was to contact the manufacturer."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION
Date of incident: 2015-02-08

Complaint:
"tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota tacoma. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v604000 (suspension); however, the part needed for the repair was not available. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the vehicle was taken to manhattan toyota dealer (located at 1500 n del sepulveda blvd, manhattan beach, ca 90266) where the contact was informed that the part was on backorder and would be ordered. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure. parts distribution disconnect."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION
Date of incident: 2017-05-04

Recalls for the 2009 Toyota TACOMA

Component Recalls

Choose a component to see what recalls people have made about them.

Recall:
"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.""
Consequence:
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.
Remedy:

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.

Component(s) Involved: EQUIPMENT > OTHER > LABELS
Date of incident: 2014-08-04

Recall:
"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.""
Consequence:
INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:

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.

Component(s) Involved: EQUIPMENT > OTHER > LABELS
Date of incident: 2009-06-15

Recall:
"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."
Consequence:
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy:

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.

Component(s) Involved: EQUIPMENT > OTHER > LABELS
Date of incident: 2010-02-03

Recall:
"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."
Consequence:
A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:

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.

Component(s) Involved: EQUIPMENT > OTHER > LABELS
Date of incident: 2010-02-03

TOYOTA Overall Complaint Ranking

This table shows the ranking of car manufacturers when it comes to most complaints and recalls. The manufacturer with the most complaints is at the top. However this doesn't necassarily mean they should be avoided. Some manufacturers might just have more popular or affordable cars which a lot of people have bought. Which means there's more scope for a complaint to be made. Use the ranking table below as a part your wider research into buying a car.

TOYOTA ranks 3 out of 44 in the complaints ranking table.

Manufacturer Complaint Count Recall Count Ranking
FORD 208,358 3,259 1
CHEVROLET 111,306 2,082 2
TOYOTA 81,019 1,852 3
HONDA 61,937 1,268 4
NISSAN 56,226 930 5
DODGE 45,756 827 6
HYUNDAI 44,150 649 7
GMC 34,441 1,410 8
KIA 29,832 501 9
CHRYSLER 27,698 254 10
TESLA 26,230 730 11
BMW 24,890 1,877 12
VOLKSWAGEN 23,125 829 13
MERCEDES-BENZ 19,066 2,925 14
SUBARU 18,513 703 15
MAZDA 10,599 364 16
PONTIAC 10,430 138 17
CADILLAC 9,434 444 18
AUDI 7,865 1,093 19
BUICK 7,851 279 20
SATURN 7,672 84 21
MERCURY 7,374 135 22
LEXUS 6,373 408 23
LINCOLN 5,897 423 24
ACURA 5,722 382 25
MINI 5,585 366 26
INFINITI 4,000 187 27
MITSUBISHI 3,912 397 28
VOLVO 3,875 727 29
PORSCHE 2,646 1,231 30
SUZUKI 2,272 123 31
FIAT 2,205 80 32
SAAB 1,536 76 33
JAGUAR 1,195 198 34
SMART 528 17 35
GENESIS 436 42 36
ISUZU 249 37 37
ALFA ROMEO 161 37 38
MASERATI 76 46 39
BENTLEY 46 159 40
POLESTAR 42 2 41
LUCID 14 6 42
CODA 4 2 43
MAYBACH 0 0 44

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