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Toyota YarisModel year report

2009 Toyota Yaris Problems

Compared with other Toyota Yaris years

More complaints than typical for this model

78/100 1.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2011, 2012

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
92filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
39,200miles, 53 complaints with mileage
Recalls
10campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
32 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 29 city / 36 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Toyota Yaris (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Yaris most often write about airbags that did not deploy in crashes, along with a large number of Takata airbag-recall notices and difficulty getting the free repair parts. The remaining reports cluster around brakes that feel weak in wet or uneven conditions, sudden unintended acceleration or low-speed stalling, and broken seat rails and suspension bolts noticed at higher mileages.

  1. Air bags

    Airbags did not deploy in a crash

    • 22 complaints (24%)
    • median 56,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (14 state mileage)
    • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2009–2022

    Complaints describe frontal, side and rollover crashes in which the front or side airbags did not inflate, and occupants were treated for injury afterward. Several owners say the dealer or manufacturer told them the impact was not severe enough to trigger deployment, and some only learned of the Takata inflator recall after their crash. A separate complaint describes an airbag that deployed but did not fill properly. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well past 100,000 miles, and most often after a collision.

    Recall 16V340000Recall 19V741000Recall 18V024000Recall 17V006000Recall 14V1680003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the Takata inflator recalls (passenger and driver side) were completed and get the repair paperwork; a dealer can look up open campaigns by VIN. Pay attention to any airbag or SRS warning light and have it diagnosed before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was traveling on hwy 58 turning onto hwy99 . Construction had it down to 1 lane. Was going approx. 35 MPH when my front driverside tire blew out, sent car in to a right turning motion in to cement dividers. Airbag deployed but did not air up. Airbag came out like tube right into my chest. Was taken to hospital from accident. Where they concluded that I had 3 broken ribs.”

    NHTSA complaint #11282757, filed 2019-11, 150,000 miles

    “I was in an accident going 55 MPH in the process my car clipped a curb and it snapped my axel causing the car to go head on into an object across the road my car also flipped none of the airbags deployed.”

    NHTSA complaint #11289919, filed 2019-12, 110,000 miles
  2. Vehicle speed control

    Unintended acceleration or stalling at low speed

    • 9 complaints (10%)
    • median 5,000 mi at 1.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2010–2012

    Owners describe the car surging forward from a stop or while parking, sometimes with the brake applied, and in some cases nudging another vehicle or a wall. Others report the engine stalling or dropping in power from first to second gear or when cold, and one complaint notes cruise control that only releases with a hard push on the brake. Mostly reported at very low mileage, often under about 16,000 miles, and several owners describe the behavior when the engine is cold.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the throttle body and engine ECU have been cleaned or reflashed under any service bulletin, and take a test drive from cold, including slow parking-lot maneuvers and a stop-start sequence.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was behind another vehicle on a ramp leading from one roadway to another and now realize that I had experienced unintended acceleration as I was slowly following the vehicle in front of me on this uphill ramp and my vehicle lunged forward striking the other vehicle. This vehicle was a loaner from galaxy Toyota, eatontown,nj., a 2009 Yaris. It was towed back to Toyota.”

    NHTSA complaint #10308168, filed 2010-02, 904 miles

    “My 2009 Yaris )manual transmission) sedan stalls randomly when I move from low to second gear, but I have noticed an increase with the onset of warmer weather. I bought the car in early may, 2009. I wrote to Toyota to complain about the problem and shortly received a call from the dealer, middletown Toyota, to arrange a visit to evaluate the problem. The head of the repair department and I took a long ride during which both of us drove, and there were no stalling incidents. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10320819, filed 2010-03, 35 miles
  3. Air bags

    Airbag recall parts not available / notice not honored

    • 25 complaints (27%)
    • median 71,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2023

    Owners describe receiving recall notices but being told by the dealer that the replacement part was not in stock or that the vehicle was not covered, sometimes after being placed on a waiting list. A few report being turned away when asking about the recall at the dealership. Filed mostly from 2015 through 2020, and reported regardless of mileage.

    Recall 16V340000Recall 15V689000Recall 19V7410002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Confirm with a dealer that every open recall was actually remedied, not just notified, and keep the completion documents with the car's records.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I've had several recall notices mailed to me regarding airbag recall. I've called the Toyota dealer several times asking when I could get in to get it fixed. Always some excuse about parts are on the way and I'm on the waiting list , whatever that means. Please advise. Thank you.”

    NHTSA complaint #10748610, filed 2015-08, 40,400 miles

    “Takata recall. I was issued a recall that has yet to be remedied that may result in serious injury or death to myself or a passenger in my car. How am I supposed to drive in a dangerous vehicle that I depend on to get to work every day? I think it is extremely necessary to at least provide a timeline for the remedy, or at the very least allow all owners at serious risk to use rental cars at no cost from Toyota.”

    NHTSA complaint #10899201, filed 2016-08
  4. Brakes

    Brakes feel weak or slow to stop

    • 9 complaints (10%)
    • median 25,127 mi at 1.5 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2009–2016

    Complaints describe the pedal going hard or the car not stopping as expected when braking hard, in rain, on icy or uneven pavement, or coming off an exit ramp at speed, with an unusual grinding or squealing sound. Some describe the brakes as momentarily letting go over leaves or snow, while others were told by a shop that the brakes were normal. Reported from a few thousand miles up to around 130,000 miles, often in wet, icy or downhill braking situations.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test the brakes on a wet or loose surface if possible, listen for grinding or squealing, and have the pads, rotors and ABS function checked by an independent shop before purchase.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I braked to avoid hitting an animal which emerged from the ditch. The car fishtailed, lost control and flipped once landing on it's top. The driver's side was damaged and the insurance company totaled the car. I did hit my head against the driver's side window, but the blow was not severe. My concern is that the side airbag did not deploy. The anti-lock brakes did not work either and have only worked intermittently for quite some time.”

    NHTSA complaint #10654200, filed 2014-11, 65,000 miles

    “Fortunately I have not had an accident. My concern is with the brakes of my 2009 Toyota Yaris. They disengage while braking. This has happened a few times since I purchased my car july 30, 2009. At first I was concerned that the brakes my fail while driving on the highway to work. However it appears that items on the road (snow, leaves) get in the brakes and they stop working for a moment. I will be braking and feel the brakes disengage. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10313617, filed 2010-02, 2,000 miles
  5. Suspension

    Suspension and axle bolt or control arm failure

    Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe clunking, popping and scraping noises from the front end, and in some cases a broken lower control-arm bolt that let the wheel move in and out. Other complaints mention a fractured rear axle and a car that pulled to one side despite alignment work. Reported mainly between roughly 65,000 and 185,000 miles.

    What to check: Have the front control arms, bolts and rear axle inspected on a lift, and listen for clunks over bumps or when reversing during a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I noticed that my car would not brake properly if I happened to be breaking over an uneven service years ago. So, I drive to avoid having to do so. But, then recently it started making a squealing noise along with breaking. It comes and goes. Then, a clunking noise started when reversing. Now, the clunking noise comes in either direction. The squealing has graduated to scratching and scraping when I accelerate or decelerate. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11281480, filed 2019-11, 133,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Yaris. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, the driver's side rear axle fractured making the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not determined. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 185,000.”

    NHTSA complaint #11329509, filed 2020-06, 185,000 miles

Buying note. This car is old enough that recall history and maintenance records matter more than the badge: confirm every airbag and seat-rail campaign was completed, and budget for a brake and suspension inspection. A pre-purchase check by an independent mechanic is worthwhile on any example with high mileage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 92 consumer complaints for the 2009 Toyota Yaris. 53 of the complaints include a mileage, and 60% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 39,200 miles. Of all complaints, 21 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 15 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns and 151 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 5 Toyota Yaris model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 78 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Wheels (4), Engine (3), Transmission and drivetrain (3), Engine cooling (2), Tires (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Electronic stability control (1), Equipment (1), Exterior lighting (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seat belts (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall. On january 12,2018 I was involved in an accident. A vehicle cut me off and I hydroplaned when braking. There were massive storms occurring. My concern is that my airbags never deployed. I slammed very hard into the median resulting in some lingering back soreness and truthfully a fear of driving in the rain. I received a mailer last week notifying me that this vehicle is now part of an airbag recall. Seen by the photos below, there is no reason why these airbags did not deploy. Something was not right here.”

NHTSA complaint #11119798, filed 2018-08, 100,000 miles

Brakes: “I was decelerating on a downhill shortened exit ramp, going from 70 MPH to a stop within approximately 500 feet . When I applied the brakes, it felt as if the brakes were metal to metal and the vehicle barely stopped before hitting the vehicle in front of me. Since that time, the same type of incident has occurred 3 more times, always when decelerating rapidly. (when decelerating at a slow rate of speed, they work fine.) I have had the brakes checked, but they said they were normal . They certainly are not!”

NHTSA complaint #10502644, filed 2013-03, 5,000 miles

Electrical system: “Takata recall my Toyota Yaris has had recalls on: 1) the front passenger airbag inflator 2) power window master switch 3) driver side seat track assembly & passenger seat track assembly 4) safety recall e0m - remedy notice various models - spiral cable basically, the driver's airbag is damaged and can possibly fail to deploy. The passenger airbag is a bomb, the windows can cause smoke and fire in my car and both driver and passenger seats can snap off the railing causing people in the vehicle to slide forward or backwards (with no airbag protection) in the case of an accident. …”

NHTSA complaint #10955249, filed 2017-02

Seats: “Received interim notice of urgent recall for driver side seat rails. Several months later received notice that fix was ready and we should contact dealer for repairs. We have been told several times since then that parts are not available and we will be notified when repairs are possible. We have no idea when urgent repairs will be performed.”

NHTSA complaint #10632578, filed 2014-09, 12,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

60% of the 53 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 6,200 and 80,000 miles.

26%0–108%10–2526%25–5013%50–756%75–10013%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (53 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 39,200 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’10’13’1614’19’22’25
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Toyota Yaris. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Yaris · sedan FWDnot rated4 / 4———
Yaris Liftback · coupe FWDnot rated5 / 4———
Yaris Liftback · hatchback FWDnot rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Toyota Yaris version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Yaris FWD1.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual293632$2,100
Yaris FWD1.5L 4-cyl4-speed automatic293531$2,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 10 recalls for the 2009 Toyota Yaris → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 151 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 151 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Yaris

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2020106,0001535—Not enough data
20192613,516353413 · FewerFalling
20171516,7503433—Falling
2016534,2502433—Not enough data
20151535,0004433—Falling
2013935,0001433—Not enough data
20123566,500543311 · FewerFalling
20112553,3713—310 · FewerStable
20109030,7669—3270 · MoreFalling
20099239,20010—3278 · MoreFalling
200821856,95010—3288 · MoreStable
200725868,00010—32Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2006511,0805———Not enough data

All Toyota Yaris model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Toyota Yaris?

Owners of the 2009 Yaris most often write about airbags that did not deploy in crashes, along with a large number of Takata airbag-recall notices and difficulty getting the free repair parts. The issues reported most often: Airbags did not deploy in a crash; Unintended acceleration or stalling at low speed; Airbag recall parts not available / notice not honored.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Toyota Yaris have?

NHTSA recorded 92 consumer complaints for the 2009 Toyota Yaris as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Toyota Yaris is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 44 complaints (48% of the total), followed by brakes with 10.

Has the 2009 Toyota Yaris been recalled?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Toyota Yaris get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Toyota Yaris (Yaris, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 32 mpg combined, 29 city and 36 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Toyota Yaris reported?

Among the 53 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 39,200 miles and the middle half falls between 6,200 and 80,000 miles; 60% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.