Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Toyota Corolla owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On, March 7, 2010 around 6:30 pm, going on the highway, without any warning. The 2009 Toyota Corolla model le, went totally out of control. I was on the far right lane, heading from toa baja to mayaguez on pr-22. Reaching arecibo, by highway mark (km 74.2) the car steering went totally to the left and in fractions of seconds my car invaded the left lane doing a 180 degree turn, had cars coming my way and just when I tough the other car was going to hit me. The steering on the car went completely the opposite direction and the car rolled again and I was going over the green area crazy fast. No control, spinning again over the grass area on the middle of the highway, heading right into the opposite side of the highway, cars coming at 65 MPH or more. Then the car hit a street sign that changed the car trajectory and then came to a stop on the green area on the middle of the highway. …
We bought a 2009 Toyota Corolla in oct of 2008. Noticed the touchy steering, but was told that was normal by the Toyota dealership. My daughter was driving it on a side street in huntington, wv when she hit a pot hole or a manhole traveling at about 15 to 20 MPH. The steering locked up and she hit a parked car. It broke the ABS wiring harness and caused $10,994.79 damage to car. We then found out that the tires were bald at 15,000 miles and the brakes were very thin. Toyota had just service the car at 13,000 miles and did not tell me the tires or the brakes were bad. We do not know exactly what caused the steering to lock up. The repair shop could not tell us either due to the extensive damage.
2009 Toyota Corolla with 9000 miles purchased new. Had routine oil change and tires rotated May 2009. Inspector advised that all 4 Firestone tires showed only 4/32 tread depth and all should be replaced soon. Notified Toyota online and they declined any adjustment. They indicated that neither Toyota nor Firestone guaranteed the tire would last for any months at all with respect to OEM tires on new cars. I returned to Toyota dealer in elmira ny---kent brown--and service manager called Toyota hq via phone. Somebody approved replacement of all 4 tires at no cost to me. Tires were replaced by dealer kent brown and they also performed an alignment check which dealer said was fine. I also talked to Firestone dealer prior to kent brown adjustment and that dealer advised me that their tire was probably the wrong tire for that year and make of Toyota. …
2009 Toyota Corolla s. Special ordered and purchased in 2008. We returned the vehicle to the dealership quickly after purchase complaining about the straight-line driveablity of the car. The problem was more noticeable on the interstate. The car has to be constantly corrected left and right just to be kept straight on a straight stretch of road. My wife and I both are scared of this car. I just feel like I'm going to lose control of this car at a high rate of speed. It's worse when there's a cross wind on the interstate. It happens everytime we drive this car. We work on opposite shifts at the same place, in the next county. So she drives it back and forth the first half of the day and I do the same the second half of the day. It's almost all on the interstate. It's very stressful getting this car down the road. …
Driving north on an urban interstate highway at about 60 MPH the car experienced random movement similar to a strong crosswind or low tire pressure. Tire pressure sensors did indicate low pressure and next morning tire pressure was checked with a gauge and were at the recommended pressure. There was a moderate to strong wind from the west but the car movement even occurred when driving in a depressed roadway with no observable wind. My wife mentioned that this had happened to her recently. After a few miles the car returned to normal. Later that evening when going south, this same symptoms occurred on and off over a 20 + mile period. An hour or so later, when driving east on a rural interstate the motion began again with the wind behind us. At all times when dropping the speed tp below 50 MPH the problem ceased. …
Event: high frequency noise from front wheels while on the freeway. Details: occurs on the freeway and only when speed is between 60 and 80 MPH. But goes off once pressed on the brake. Noise will not come right after you go over 60 MPH on the freeway, but after 10 to 15 min, on the freeway, it will start producing the noise. Once the noise starts, if we go any speed between 60 and 80 MPH, it will continue, and stop as soon as we engage the brakes slightly, but will reappear within few more mins of driving on the freeway. Resolution: went 3 times to the dealer for the same issue. Dealer had no idea of what caused the issue, and simply said that it was fixed 2 times with minimal investigation. 3rd time they had the vehicle for 2 weeks in the last attempt and test drove it for a total of 2000 miles identify the problem. No service tech at dealers location was able to get it. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. The contacted stated she noticed while the car was parked that the front and rear wheels all around were rusted as seen through the hub caps, which have cut out divisions that allow the wheels to be viewed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was purchased. Their only response was it was not covered by warranty. The contact wrote to the manufacturer and they offered to sell the contact new wheels for $700 and give her $300 back. Deteriorating, defective rusting wheels are a safety hazard and are the responsibility of the manufacturer. The contact lives in florida and keeps the vehicle in a garage. At 68,000 miles, the contact noticed this defect. Updated 02/11/13
I noticed while washing the vehicle that all 4 wheels are have rusting areas on them. The vehicle is only 2 years and 3 months. I brought the vehicle back to where I purchased it at boch Toyota in norwood ma. The service manager saw the issue and told me that he had to talk to his Toyota representative about the issue. A week later, I called back and they said that Toyota doesn't believe that it is defective materials. That it is caused because of the area in which I live in the northeast. Upon visiting a different Toyota dealership they all have rusting issues on the same year vehicles. As years past I believe it will become a safety issue ! The warranty is over in less than 3,000 miles. Please help.
Tire indicator light comes on after driving 20 -40 miles. Replaced front passenger tire in January 2010 to see if that remedied situation though did not. Dealership has evaluated car three times before installing new sensors. After new sensors replaced February 2010, tire indicator light resumes to light March 2010 vehicle seen yesterday at dealership, dealership states all tires at 20 pounds, readjusted to 32. Dealership states someone is tampering with tire pressure though due to my situation I have only allowed the dealership to look at my vehicle as it is under warranty. Light comes on again 3/12/10. Notified dealership of light malfunction again.
The original equipment alloy wheels on my 2009 Toyota Corolla are showing signs of excessive corrosion. The finish on the wheels is bubbling and chipping away. The Toyota dealership says the problem is caused by road salt and brake dust, therefore not covered under the manufacturer's corrosion warranty. The vehicle is driven very little in the winter and is cleaned at least weekly. After researching online it appears that a large number of Toyota owners are experiencing the same issue. I fear that if the wheels are not repaired or replaced they could begin to leak air or fail structurally and cause an accident.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Corolla years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2009 Toyota Corolla?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2009 Toyota Corolla, 2% of the model year's 1,459 complaints. The component named most often is pressure monitoring and regulating systems (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Toyota Corolla wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 2009 Toyota Corolla, though it has 13 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Toyota Corolla wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 20,000 miles, and 63% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to wheels & tires problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.