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ProblemsByVinFile / 2009-TOYOTA-TUNDRANHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Toyota
2009 Toyota Tundra problems
The 2009 Toyota Tundra has 1 critical safety recall on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 38 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2009 Toyota Tundra has 38 NHTSA owner complaints and 13 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 8 complaints, typically surfacing around 34,758 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Below average for the segment. Multiple systems have recurring complaints.
1
Critical
11
Severe
1
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2009 Tundra?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 5.4/10 — around the segment average
13 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2009 Toyota Tundra? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
powertrain — 8 owner reports
· tends to show around 34,758 mi · ~$2,500 to fix
cruise control — 4 owner reports
· tends to show around 13,500 mi · ~$600 to fix
engine — 4 owner reports
· tends to show around 81,912 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
airbags — 3 owner reports
· tends to show around 98,566 mi · ~$1,100 to fix
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 13 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
engine (~$3,100) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2009 Tundra· suspension
Truck has extreme vibration, bounce and overall shake at freeway speeds as felt throughout the vehicle. This combined with the very light steering and accelerator effort leads to a very unstable feeling of not being in control of the vehicle. It is difficult to maintain even and…
Letter regarding problems he having with 2009 Toyota tundra (since march 2009 to now), he has taken it to 2 different dealerships 3 times and is still having problems *tgw the transmission was not shifting properly. The consumer stated the transmission had to search for the…
I was the operator of the vehicle on my driveway when the engine suddenly accelerated. The accelerator was wide open while I was hard on the brakes. I was able to put the gear shift into park, and once I did the engine stopped its acceleration. I was on hard concrete, thus the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota tundra. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle decelerated independently to approximately 15 MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle switched to limp mode. The vehicle was taken to lithia Toyota of missoula (located at 4001 brooks st, missoula, mt…
Had a problem with your 2009 Toyota Tundra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles
A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine Toyota or Lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous mats from owners who do not want the new ones. Additionally, software modifications will be installed on camry, avalon and Lexus es 350, is 350 and is 250 models that will ensure that the brake overrides the accelerator in the event both brake and accelerator pedals are applied. Toyota will begin mailing letters to owners on december 31, 2009. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331, Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121
An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 17, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TH01.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles
An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.4 out of 10 based on 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Toyota Tundra has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2009 Toyota Tundra?
The 2009 Toyota Tundra is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 5.4/10 — around the segment average; 13 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2009 Toyota Tundra?
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 8 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 34,758 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2009 Toyota Tundra a good used car to buy?
It scores 5.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 38 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 34,758 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2009 Toyota Tundra?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 8 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 34,758 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 34,758 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Toyota Tundra has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2009 Toyota Tundra?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 38 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Toyota/Tundra.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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