Frame has been excessively rotted like many other tacomas in this year. There is no remedy being given by a Toyota rep.
2009 Toyota Tacoma suspension problems
moderate 114 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
114
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
When does it fail?
Of the 114 suspension complaints filed for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 114 suspension complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Suspension accounts for 22% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2009 Tacoma has a well-documented rear leaf spring defect that causes fractures from corrosion and stress, potentially creating a fire hazard if the broken leaf contacts the fuel tank. Before buying, have an independent mechanic inspect the rear suspension closely; if you see signs of leaf spring damage or rusting, walk away or get a deep discount to cover a full aftermarket replacement.
The 2009 Tacoma's rear leaf springs fail repeatedly from corrosion and stress, often at 50,000–123,000 miles. Owners hear loud clunking from the rear over bumps, feel the truck bottoming out, or notice the rear sagging with excessive tire wear. Some springs break outright; others weaken gradually. When a leaf fractures, it can move out of position and rub the tire, brake lines, fuel tank, or axle—creating a serious fire and safety hazard.
Toyota issued recall 14V604 in September 2014, promising replacement springs. But the replacement parts never materialized in meaningful quantities. Owners waited years—some through 2016–2017—while dealers reported parts unavailable with no delivery date. Toyota repeatedly told owners "we are working on it" with no timeline. Those who paid $500–$1,800 to fix the problem at independent shops before the recall remedy arrived often couldn't get reimbursement; Toyota created case files but demanded endless documentation or outright denied claims. The recall became a paper exercise: owners held recall notices but couldn't use them.
Meanwhile, the truck's frame is also rusting badly on many examples. Secondary components—wheel bearings, U-joints, subframe, brake lines—are being damaged by the failed leaf springs. One owner reports Toyota won a class-action lawsuit on this model's frame rot, yet many owners were never notified and missed a 12-year recall window. The combination of suspension failure, corrosion risk, and parts unavailability adds up to a significant reliability and safety liability.
Same Toyota Tacoma suspension reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Rear leaf spring fracture and corrosion
Leaf springs fracture due to stress and corrosion, often becoming weak or breaking completely. The fracture can occur on the main leaf or intermediate leaves. When broken, the leaf can move out of position and contact the fuel tank, brake lines, or axle components.
When: Typically 50,000-123,000 miles; some owners report initial weakness around 50,000 miles that worsens over time
Symptoms owners cite: Loud metallic clunking or clanking noise from rear, especially when going over bumps or at speed; Rattling noise from rear chassis area; Vehicle bottoming out when over bumps or dips; Clunk when braking and brake pedal depressed; Rear end sagging with front end rising (excessive tire wear); Abnormal noise from rear when vehicle is at low speed or moving slowly; Metal leaf spring rubbing against tire
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement leaf springs quoted at $800–$1,800 at dealers; independent mechanics charged $500–$700. Some owners report Toyota would not pay labor if owner installed parts. Dealers initially claimed no TSB and it was not a warranty issue before the recall was issued.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V604 (NHTSA) issued September 29, 2014. Manufacturer recall number E02. Toyota stated remedy would be replacement with newly designed leaf springs. However, replacement parts remained unavailable for extended periods (reports of 6-month to 2+ year waits). Many owners who paid for repairs before the recall was finalized requested reimbursement; Toyota created case numbers but reimbursement processing was prolonged and sometimes denied or required excessive documentation. Some dealers refused to perform the recall on vehicles with aftermarket suspension modifications.
Recall remedy parts unavailability and delays
The recall remedy itself became a failure mode: replacement leaf spring parts were not manufactured or distributed in time to meet demand. From September 2014 through at least 2016–2017, owners reported dealers had no parts on hand and could not provide estimated arrival dates, creating a situation where owners had to continue driving vehicles known to have a safety defect.
When: Recall issued September 2014; parts unavailable through at least mid-2016 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Dealer unable to provide specific date for when remedy parts would arrive; Multiple months or years of waiting with no update; Dealers stating Toyota has not designed or manufactured a fix; No answer from Toyota customer service on remedy availability; Owners forced to drive vehicles with broken or weakened leaf springs awaiting recall parts
Codes mentioned: 14V604, E02
Repairs/costs cited: Some owners paid for repairs at independent shops ($500–$700) while waiting for the free recall remedy, incurring out-of-pocket costs. Others continued to drive with known defects because they could not get a repair appointment.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V604 issued September 2014 with interim notice. Toyota stated remedy was in development. Successive recall notices (2014, 2015, 2016) promised remedy availability but it repeatedly did not materialize. Toyota's customer service repeatedly told owners 'we are working on it' with no timeline. Some owners were told remedy would be ready in 'early 2016' but waited into 2017 without parts availability.
Frame rust and corrosion
Owners report severe frame rust and corrosion, exacerbated by the same environment that corrodes leaf springs. Some owners state the frame is rusting through and becoming structurally unsound. One owner notes Toyota lost a class-action lawsuit regarding frame rot on this model year.
When: Reported at 75,000–108,000+ miles; appears accelerated in some geographic areas
Symptoms owners cite: Significant frame rust visible; Frame rusting through; Frame unable to support vehicle lift soon; Leaf springs rusted and corroded alongside frame deterioration
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported being told a frame replacement was needed but the repair was not completed. Another owner was informed of a recall on chassis rust that expired in 2019 and was extended to 2021, but was denied eligibility by the manufacturer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota issued a frame rust recall with a 12-year window. One owner reports not being notified and missing the eligibility window. Another states Toyota claimed they were ineligible despite learning of the issue through a dealer and having the recall extended.
Secondary suspension component damage from leaf spring failure
When leaf springs fracture or move out of position, they contact and damage nearby components including the fuel tank, brake lines, rear axle, subframe, U-joints, and wheel bearings. A broken leaf can rub the tire and puncture the fuel tank, creating a fire hazard.
When: Occurs after or concurrent with leaf spring fracture
Symptoms owners cite: Broken leaf rubbing against tire; Fuel tank contact or puncture risk; Brake line rubbing; Rear axle contact and clunking; Subframe corrosion and fracture; Bad wheel bearings (possibly resulting from stress caused by leaf spring failure); Driveshaft clunk when shifting at low speeds due to excessive U-joint lash
Repairs/costs cited: Subframe replacement, U-joint service, and wheel bearing replacement all mentioned but not always completed. Parts labor not reimbursed by Toyota in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers acknowledged the risk (one stated broken leaf could cause brakes to fail or fuel tank to be punctured and cause fire) but repair of secondary components was not addressed in the recall remedy.
Synthesized from 114 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota tacoma. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v604000 (suspension) but the manufacturer had not supplied the remedy parts for an extended period. The manufacturer was contacted and had been unable to specify a reasonable time frame to supply the part to the dealer. The VIN was not available. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the subframe and the braces for the rear panel were corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14v604000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 25,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota tacoma. The contact noticed that the rear leaf spring fractured. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v604000 (suspension); however, the part to the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for…
Noticed rattle in rear chassie area .inspect found both rear leaf spring broken rubbing near brake lines.asked dealer about issue said not defective.had to immediately order install new springs at great inconvenience and expense. This july 2014 . Oct,2014 news release declares 640,000 vehicles defective contact Toyota they say submit invoice parts labor will reimburse. Nov 2014 no word contact…
Had suspension trouble with your 2009 Toyota Tacoma?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2009 Toyota Tacoma?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 114 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 47 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 50,500 and 102,984 miles, with the median around 79,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,500; a quarter make it past 102,984. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Toyota/Tacoma.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.