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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2009 Toyota Tacoma Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
75about this part
Share
14%of 520 total for the year
Median mileage
1,750miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 75 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2009 Toyota Tacoma, 14% of the 520 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 1,750 miles. 1 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.

“As soon as I came to a stop at an intersection, with my foot on the brake pedal, I noticed and felt a thump coming from underneath and towards the rear of the vehicle. It does not do it every time but this has happened several times already... Updated 09/30/15 updated 11/01/2017”

NHTSA complaint #10730898, filed 2015-06, 45,600 miles

“When re-accelerating after a low speed turn my 2009 Toyota Tacoma revs high but does not go anywhere. After a second or so it returns to a normal RPM and then is in gear to drive normally. I feel this is a safety concern because if cars were approaching in a fast manner, the truck would not be able to accelerate properly to get out of the way.”

NHTSA complaint #10289433, filed 2009-10, 7 miles

“I came to a red traffic light and I hit the brakes but the car would not slow down so grabbed the steering wheel and pushed down on the brake petal but the car still would not stop so put the transmission in neutral and the car finally stopped but the engine continued to race the tack was up to 4000, when the light changed to green I put the car into drive and the car jerked forward and after about 4 seconds the tack dropped back to 2000 RPM.”

NHTSA complaint #10561767, filed 2014-01, 34,000 miles

“2009 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 crew pickup truck with auto transmission and v6 engine accelerated unexpectedly to over 80 MPH, then later on the same trip it happened again. I was on a long straight stretch of interstate the second time so I allowed the truck to accelerate to approximately 95 MPH at which time I stopped the truck again. …”

NHTSA complaint #10290758, filed 2009-11, 2,000 miles

“Driveshaft and universal joint problem. Toyota has issued a warranty enhancement - zh2 for this problem, but it should be a full recall, as the condition can lead to sudden driveshaft failure, loss of vehicle control, and death. The problem appears to also extend to the center bearing and possibly the driveshaft itself, as I took my truck in for service under warranty, and still have vibration issues even after the warrantied parts (and center support bearing at significant extra cost) were replaced. This vibration begins around 40 MPH and increases through 60 MPH. …”

NHTSA complaint #11103457, filed 2018-06, 135,150 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026431%
20252219%
20245535%
2023713%
20221017%
20211417%
20201517%
20194018%
20182914%
20176828%
201613642%
201599%
20141314%
20132218%
20123512%
201184%
20102910%
20097514%
2008235%
20076813%
2006567%
2005578%
2004225%
2003185%
2002216%
2001154%
2000115%
1999166%
1998103%
199797%
1996146%
1995127%

Other parts of the 2009 Toyota Tacoma

Suspension
119 complaintsExterior lighting
105 complaintsVehicle speed control
59 complaintsBody and structure
55 complaintsElectrical system
40 complaintsSteering
39 complaintsBrakes
35 complaintsOther or unknown
19 complaintsAir bags
13 complaintsEquipment
11 complaintsEngine
8 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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