Most common 2009 Toyota Yaris problems
Share of the 103 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Yaris complaints by model year
Best Yaris years: 2006, 2016, 2013. Years to avoid: 2008, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012. Compare all years →
2009 Toyota Yaris recalls (10)
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…
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.
Seats
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Yaris vehicles manufactured August 22, 2005, through May 12, 2010, and 2008-2010 Scion xD vehicles manufactured April 4, 2007, through May 12, 2010.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat rail, and replace it with a new one, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on July 3, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Show 4 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.
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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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."
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2009 Toyota Yaris:
Power Window Master Switch Fire
ODI has identified certain Toyota vehicles experiencing a higher rate of fire and thermal event incidents among all Toyota vehicles that use the same power window master switch design.They include a total of approximately 1.4 million model year (MY) 2007 through 2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4 and Yaris vehicles built from approximately September 2006 through August 2008, as well as all MY 2008 Highlander Hybrid…
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.
What 2009 Toyota Yaris owners say
Air bags all 48 →
Vehicle was rear-ended on November 4, 2022. The driver was wearing a seatbelt but the driver airbag did not deploy after being rear-ended. After the accident, the dashboard airbag indicator warning light turned on. The vehicle did not show any airbag issues or warnings prior to the accident. The emergency parking brake does not properly engage after the accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota Yaris. While depressing the brake pedal at 35 MPH, the vehicle failed to respond and the ABS warning light illuminated. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a concussion and upper back pain that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed; however, the body damage was repaired. In addition, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V168000 (air bags) and 14V169000 (seats). The parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 71,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Speed control & acceleration
I have had this happen twice now where I try to pass someone on interstate 79 northbound from pittsburgh to cranberry township pa and press the gas pedal and once I get to speed the pedal goes to the floor and the car goes to 80 + per hour before I can get it to slow down or stop. Luckily both times there were no cars in front or behind me that I could get control of the car. The first time I ended up putting the car in neutral to get car to stop. Today similar situation except I was able to pump the brakes very hard until I was able to get it to respond and slow down back to the correct speed. I was asked by Toyota if the mats on the floor were obstructing the pedal, and this wasn't the case in either instance. When I called Toyota corporate office they were referring back to my dealer to run diagnostic test which will cost me to have done. …
I was driving at the regular speed limit and when the car in front of me was stopping to make a left hand turn. I stepped on my brake and the car would not stop. I was practically standing on the brake pedal and the car would not stop and I hit the car in front of me. The airbags deployed. I remember that a policeman told me to put on the emergency brake because the car was still sliding. I know I tried to stop and the car wouldn't stop. Based on their reports of Toyota's sticking accelerator, I thought this should be reported and investigated. I just came home last week. I broke 4 ribs in the accident and the car is totaled. I was in rehabilitation for 2 1/2 weeks. I would like to see this accident investigated. I have a clean driving record and I believe there May have been some type of mechanical issue that would not let me stop the car. …
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota Yaris. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the driver noticed smoke around the front driver side door window. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and turned off the engine. A certified independent mechanic came out to inspect the vehicle and noticed that the circuit board was smoking. The mechanic disconnected the circuit board to prevent the vehicle from catching on fire. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V689000 (visibility). The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 70,185.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota Yaris. The contact stated that the fuel gauge was defective and failed to display the correct amount of fuel in the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated before or after the failure. The vehicle was taken to dch Toyota of oxnard (1631 auto center dr., oxnard, ca 93036) for diagnostic testing, but the failure was unable to be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000. The VIN was not provided.
2009 Toyota Yaris engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 29 / 36 / 32 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 29 / 35 / 31 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Toyota Yaris a good car?
Based on 103 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Yaris rates avoid: 4.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Yaris at the same age. It is one of the Yaris 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 Yaris?
The air bags — 48 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the speed control & acceleration (13) and electrical system (12).
How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Yaris have?
There are 10 recalls for the 2009 Toyota Yaris, 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 Yaris?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2016 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012. See the full Toyota Yaris years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Toyota Yaris problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 37,000 miles; 62% 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.