2009 Toyota Prius Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 19about this part
- Share
- 4%of 502 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 68,440miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 19 complaints about the body and structure of the 2009 Toyota Prius, 4% of the 502 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 68,440 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The rubber cover to the outside truck latch has melted completely in hot florida weather and has become gooey to the point of dripping onto my license plate. The truck is very difficult to open and sometimes I am unable to lock or open the car because the trunk is not all the way closed. This is a safety issue because if I needed to get into the trunk to get a spare tire I may not be able to. …”
NHTSA complaint #10629342, filed 2014-08, 102,000 miles“The rubber cover on my touring model Prius's hatch locking assembly - the hidden area you grab to open the hatch - has deteriorated to the point that it is gummy like tar. There are dozens of online complaints about this happening to 2007 and 2008 models, which like my Prius, were manufactured in japan. I've owned several hatchbacks and never seen this problem on much older hatch locks. …”
NHTSA complaint #10534602, filed 2013-08, 25,000 miles“Since a couple of weeks ago the left back door won't open from the inside. It can only be opened from the outside. Since thursday, feb. 28, 2019 the right back door also can't be opened from the inside, only from the outside. That door hardly ever is used. The passenger was trapped inside. I had to open it from the outside to let him out. This has never happened before to any car I ever drove or was a passenger in. It's very dangerous to be trapped inside. Something is seriously wrong with how the door was manufactured.”
NHTSA complaint #11183846, filed 2019-03, 60,000 miles“I was turning left and was hit by an oncoming car. Most damage done to the front right. The car was totaled. I was going about 5-10mph though the oncoming car was going approximately 40mph. The firemen, police and insurance adjuster were all very concerned that the airbags did not deploy. My babies were safe in the backseat thanks to their car seats. I had to go to the hospital and suffered a concussion. We just had our car tuned up at our local Toyota dealership not even 6 mos ago. They did not say anything about a concern with the airbags.”
NHTSA complaint #11268210, filed 2019-10, 103,000 miles“Maybe related to takata recall: we did not receive a recall, however our car skid into a tree and had significant front end damage, however no airbags deployed. Was going 25 MPH on a suburban residential st during a mixed snow/sleet storm. Slight curve and slightly downhill. The brakes were not applied as they could have made it worse. Car sped up into the skid totalling the car with $11,000 damage. We have been given several opinions that the velocity necessary to cause the damage should have triggered the airbag sensors. Car hit the middle of the bumper and perhaps missed the sensors? …”
NHTSA complaint #11154396, filed 2018-11, 128,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11012744Dec 6, 2024The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic…
- 11012743Dec 6, 2024To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film…
- 11012742Dec 6, 2024Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an…
- 11012735Dec 5, 2024Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental…
- 11012727Dec 3, 2024Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding…
- 11007455Jul 29, 2024Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate…
- 11006161Jul 29, 2024Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate…
- 11007445Jul 12, 2024The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic…
- 11007444Jul 12, 2024To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film…
- 11007443Jul 12, 2024Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 6% |
| 2024 | 2 | 7% |
| 2023 | 3 | 14% |
| 2022 | 1 | 4% |
| 2020 | 1 | 7% |
| 2018 | 3 | 8% |
| 2017 | 7 | 8% |
| 2016 | 11 | 7% |
| 2015 | 6 | 4% |
| 2014 | 9 | 4% |
| 2013 | 13 | 3% |
| 2012 | 23 | 5% |
| 2011 | 9 | 2% |
| 2010 | 35 | 1% |
| 2009 | 19 | 4% |
| 2008 | 68 | 5% |
| 2007 | 184 | 9% |
| 2006 | 15 | 1% |
| 2005 | 11 | 1% |
| 2004 | 2 | 0% |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% |
| 2002 | 1 | 1% |
| 2001 | 3 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2009 Toyota Prius
199 complaintsExterior lighting
111 complaintsVehicle speed control
71 complaintsElectrical system
60 complaintsOther or unknown
36 complaintsFuel system
24 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
22 complaintsEngine
19 complaintsAir bags
17 complaintsSteering
13 complaintsElectronic stability control
12 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Toyota Prius
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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