Most common 2009 Toyota Corolla problems
Share of the 1,459 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Corolla complaints by model year
Best Corolla years: 2018, 2025, 2023. Years to avoid: 2011, 2012, 2020, 2009, 2010. Compare all years →
2009 Toyota Corolla recalls (13)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U.S.
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag…
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of…
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…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and…
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of…
Visibility › Power window devices and controls
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.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge.
Show 7 more recalls
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…
Remedy: 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.
Visibility › Power window devices and controls
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.
Remedy: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge.
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.
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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
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.
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 highlander, model year 2009-2010 corolla, venza and matrix 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.
Remedy: Toyota will modify or replace the accelerator pedals on the subject vehicles. Floor surface modifications are also being considered and will be included for any model for which it is deemed appropriate.
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 avalon, model year 2007-2010 camry, model year 2009-2010 corolla, corolla matrix, rav4, model year 2010 highlander, model year 2008-2010 sequoia, and model year 2007-2010 tundra vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly. GM will notify owners for the Pontiac vibe please see 10v-018.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Scion xd and my 2009-2010 corolla, and corolla matrix vehicles equipped with 1.8l engine and originally sold in or currently registered in the states of alaska, colorado, idaho, illinois, iowa, kansas, maine, michigan, minnesota, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new…
Remedy: Dealers will install a newly designed intake air connector which will relocate the brake system vacuum port. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on September 21, 2009.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2009 Toyota Corolla:
Steering Wander or Drift
On February 18, 2010, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE10-008 to investigate complaints of steering wander or drift in model year (MY) 2009 and 2010 Toyota Corolla and Matrix vehicles.The complaint descriptions indicated dissatisfaction with the on-center steering feel in the subject vehicles.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Low-speed surging
The Agency received a petition on September 11, 2014 requesting an investigation into, low-speed surging in the 2006-2010 Toyota Corolla [vehicles] with ETCS-i, in which the brakes fail to stop the vehicle in time to prevent a crash.NHTSA conducted a technical review of the material cited and provided by the petitioner, material Toyota submitted in response to a NHTSA formal request, interviews with complainants and…
What 2009 Toyota Corolla owners say
Air bags all 552 →
The contact owned a 2009 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at 5 mph and exiting a parking lot when the vehicle accelerated on its own, veered to the left, and crashed into a gate. No warning lights were illuminated and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injury to the right shoulder, right foot, and right hand, but did not seek medical attention. No police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled and towed to a towing company. Additionally, the contact stated in 2021 while reversing from a parking space, as the vehicle was driving forward, it veered to the left and crashed into a tree. The vehicle was towed to the to be diagnosed and repaired. Per the contact, the dealer offered no diagnosis or reason for the acceleration. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.
I have been sent two different recalls on my cars airbags. I had one repaired. I do not know how to tell what repairs were were not done. They've all been marked as being done yet. Four years later less than four years later my airbag warning light is on. I'm concerned that supposedly the sensor was a rotating and warmer climate and then it was that it would propel shop objects and now I don't have a recall, but I've had a light on, and of course, now other Toyotas of the same group that mine is usually in Corolla Tacoma on and on , I'm having a similar problem with the light being on and I'm very concerned that one are both of those airbags are not properly working. I've tried to explain to Toyota that I need to be able to identify and have problems fixed that are due to their manufacturing issues. my mats were never fixed by Toyota. I had to fix them myself. …
Steering all 382 →
The steering stopped responding, car started spinning hitting both left and right retaining walls. Normal high way driving. Great dry weather. NO WARNING- no shake- no rattle-no lights- no noise-NOTHING
The contact's mother owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that on several occasions while he was driving straight at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle began to drift to the left and right inadvertently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Speed control & acceleration all 197 →
The contact owned a 2009 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at 5 mph and exiting a parking lot when the vehicle accelerated on its own, veered to the left, and crashed into a gate. No warning lights were illuminated and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injury to the right shoulder, right foot, and right hand, but did not seek medical attention. No police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled and towed to a towing company. Additionally, the contact stated in 2021 while reversing from a parking space, as the vehicle was driving forward, it veered to the left and crashed into a tree. The vehicle was towed to the to be diagnosed and repaired. Per the contact, the dealer offered no diagnosis or reason for the acceleration. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.
Vehicle speed control / sudden unintended acceleration. This was NOT a "misapplication of pedal" by driver! It was clearly a mechanical failure-apparently accelerator pedal (not floor mat, which was secured on its pegs). NO warning lamp, msg, symptom prior to crash. Afterward, saw NHTSA rpts others FIXED speed control issue & same prob STILL recurred! My VIN wasn't listed as unrepaired (likely the original owner repaired recall issue/s)-yet car was still dangerous! At slow speed, approx 1-2 mph, I was entering my garage in usual way, turning R. Car abruptly sped up uncontrollably (self-accelerated); couldn't stop it! Crashed thru garage doorpost & wall, then backyard fence. Lucky I'm alive & no one in yard. VERY traumatic! Physical injury (neck/back) helped by ibuprofen. FWIW air bag didn't deploy. AAA said they'd only tow for repair, not inspection. …
2009 Toyota Corolla engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 27 / 35 / 30 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 35 / 30 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Toyota Corolla a good car?
Based on 1,459 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Corolla rates avoid: 6.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the Corolla at the same age. It is one of the Corolla years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Toyota Corolla?
The air bags — 552 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the steering (382) and speed control & acceleration (197).
How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Corolla have?
There are 13 recalls for the 2009 Toyota Corolla, the most recent from October 17, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Corolla?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2025 and 2023. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 2012, 2020, 2009 and 2010. See the full Toyota Corolla years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Toyota Corolla problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 23,000 miles; 69% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.