2009 Toyota Corolla Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 91about this part
- Share
- 6%of 1,459 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 77,798miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 91 complaints about the engine of the 2009 Toyota Corolla, 6% of the 1,459 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 77,798 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My car has 91,414 miles and has had multiple cylinder misfires with my normal daily commute of six miles each way. In three years on a 4 cylinder engine I have had three ignition coils replaced, twice within two and a half years and 10,468 miles on the #2 coil. All repairs have been completed by Toyota certified repair facilities with Toyota oem parts. This is not normal for a low mileage vehicle maintained with regular service.”
NHTSA complaint #11307935, filed 2020-02, 91,267 miles“I do believe the engine is faulty, since I've had my Corolla it's always used sooo much oil and it's not leaking a drip. I have several coworkers that have a Corolla s and they have the same problem. It's gotten worse to we're it used to much oil it was below the dip stick and before I could catch it, it has messed my motor up. My car still runs but has a very loud rattle in the motor now when it starts because of the oil consumption.”
NHTSA complaint #11228445, filed 2019-06, 130,000 miles“The water pump seized up while driving and shot the remains of the serpentine belt out of the bottom of the car. The change in the handling was immediate, and I am thankful I was not on the highway. The car is not high mileage and is just out of the warranty period. No injuries, it happened late at night, thankfully no one was around, the jolt did cause me to jerk the wheel a bit.”
NHTSA complaint #10507480, filed 2013-04, 68,041 miles“My 2009 Toyota Corolla has over heat problem so I take it to mechanic and they found water pump issue, I replace it. Problem still continue and take it to dealer place and they diagnostic vehicle and came up with few problem which cost me $1187, after they fixed they further diagnostic and said engine needs to be replace and they also said transition could failure down the road and they estimate me another $4500 to replace engine from different car which is has 75000 miles on it.”
NHTSA complaint #11083545, filed 2018-04, 152,000 miles“Takata airbags-this is third time that I am filling this out. This website is difficult and I could not check all the boxes that I needed. This car had so many problems. It is the worst car that I have even owned. All of the paint was peeling off. I had to have the engine rebuilt. The lights kept blowing out. I had an accident and I hit the steering with my face. The airbag never deployed. I knocked myself out. I had facial contusion and almost knocked my teeth out.”
NHTSA complaint #11021394, filed 2017-09, 150,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11005119Jun 19, 2024This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
- 11005061Jun 19, 2024This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10146510Nov 9, 2017Warranty Policy Bulletin: Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption. Toyota is now announcing the part replacement phase of…
- 10119410Sep 11, 2017TSB: Some 2009 ? 2017 model year Corolla vehicles equipped with the 2ZR-FE or 2ZR-FAE engines may exhibit a condition in which engine oil leaks between the engine block and…
- 10132857Oct 11, 2016Warranty Policy Bulletin: Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption. Toyota is now announcing the part replacement phase of…
- 10149217Sep 14, 2016TSB: Supersession Notice. Flash reprogramming allows the ECU software to be updated without replacing the ECU. Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ECUs are…
- 10150414Sep 8, 2016Technical Instructions: In our continuing effort to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota has converted Limited Service Campaign (LSC) BST into Special Service…
- 10150413Sep 8, 2016Dealer Package: In our continuing effort to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota has converted Limited Service Campaign (LSC) BST into Special Service Campaign (SSC)…
- 10150412Sep 8, 2016Dealer Package email: In our continuing effort to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota has converted Limited Service Campaign (LSC) BST into Special Service Campaign…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 6% |
| 2025 | 2 | 6% |
| 2024 | 6 | 9% |
| 2023 | 13 | 18% |
| 2022 | 14 | 14% |
| 2021 | 41 | 22% |
| 2020 | 111 | 36% |
| 2019 | 39 | 19% |
| 2018 | 16 | 12% |
| 2017 | 10 | 6% |
| 2016 | 13 | 6% |
| 2015 | 17 | 8% |
| 2014 | 18 | 7% |
| 2013 | 16 | 8% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 19 | 3% |
| 2010 | 33 | 3% |
| 2009 | 91 | 6% |
| 2008 | 21 | 7% |
| 2007 | 33 | 4% |
| 2006 | 24 | 3% |
| 2005 | 29 | 3% |
| 2004 | 9 | 2% |
| 2003 | 16 | 2% |
| 2002 | 5 | 4% |
| 2001 | 2 | 2% |
| 2000 | 3 | 2% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% |
| 1998 | 2 | 1% |
| 1988 | 1 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2009 Toyota Corolla
552 complaintsSteering
382 complaintsVehicle speed control
197 complaintsBrakes
120 complaintsElectrical system
89 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
45 complaintsEngine cooling
42 complaintsBody and structure
42 complaintsOther or unknown
40 complaintsSuspension
31 complaintsFuel system
24 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
22 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Toyota Corolla
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology