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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Toyota Yaris cruise control problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
3crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 11 cruise control complaints filed for the 2009 Toyota Yaris, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Among the 5 model years of Toyota Yaris in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TOYOTA: ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY INFORMATION REGARDING THE INSPECTION, REMOVAL, AND INSTALLATION, IF LUBRICATION OR OIL, IS APPLIED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TOYOTA SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. A RADIO UNDER A CERTAIN FREQUENCY CAN ALTER ENGINE SPEED BRIEFLY. 2006-2009 YARIS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of this 2009 Yaris describe two main failure categories: unintended acceleration and brake/throttle control loss. The accelerator failures range from sudden floor-pedal lockout at highway speed (hitting 80+ mph) to complete throttle unresponsiveness followed by erratic response recovery. One owner experienced this twice on the same vehicle and had to shift to neutral to regain control; another reported crash damage and broken ribs.
Brake-related complaints focus on pedal unresponsiveness—drivers pressing hard or repeatedly without effect, forcing vehicles off roads or through traffic signals. One collision caused airbag deployment and totaled the vehicle. Cold-start conditions trigger a separate stutter-and-lurch cycle that repeats until warm-up, happening three to four times per week in cold weather.
Cruise-control issues appear as slow disengagement requiring a hard brake stomp instead of light pressure. One owner noted unintended acceleration immediately after cruise disengagement.
Low-mileage occurrences (as early as 2,200 miles) and recurrence after repair (one sensor replacement failed within 6 months, same error code P2121) suggest systemic electronics or mechanical design problems. Toyota's responses ranged from finding nothing on initial inspection, to charging owners for diagnostics, to offering no further support when no recall was identified.
Same Toyota Yaris cruise control reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration—floor-pedal lockout
Accelerator pedal suddenly goes to floor with throttle unresponsive to driver input; vehicle accelerates to 80+ mph. Occurs during passing maneuvers or normal highway driving. Owners report pedal floor-wedging followed by delayed response to braking.
When: Various speeds from 5 mph to 60 mph; earliest report at 2,200 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal goes to floor without driver input; Vehicle accelerates uncontrollably to 80+ mph; Delayed throttle response; Braking requires extremely hard pedal pressure to regain control; Multiple occurrences on same vehicle
Codes mentioned: P2121
Repairs/costs cited: Accelerator pedal assembly and position sensors replaced in at least one case; no fix confirmed after replacement on second failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota referred owners to dealer diagnostics (charged to owner), found no fault on initial inspection, no recall issued despite reports
Brake-pedal unresponsiveness during deceleration demand
Brake pedal fails to slow or stop vehicle even under hard pressure. Vehicle continues accelerating or maintains high speed through traffic signals. One incident resulted in collision with another vehicle and airbag deployment.
When: Around 16,000 miles; one repeat incident one year apart
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal does not respond to application; Vehicle continues at speed despite hard braking; Repeated pressing of brake pedal ineffective; Vehicle drifts off road or through signals to stop
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle driven into ditch to stop; salvage hold placed for inspection in collision case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no diagnosis or repair performed; no recall issued
Unintended acceleration during parking and low-speed maneuvers
Vehicle accelerates abnormally at 5 mph while attempting to park, resulting in collision with wall. No prior diagnosis or repair. Airbags did not deploy despite impact.
When: 2,200 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal acceleration at low speed (5 mph); Vehicle crashes into fixed object; Operator unable to prevent acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised no recalls; no further assistance offered
Cold-start stutter and unintended acceleration cycle
When vehicle is cold (overnight sit, temps in 30s), engine experiences repeating cycles of near-stall followed by sudden acceleration jump. Repeatable three to four times weekly until engine warms. Not observed on warm vehicle.
When: Cold start condition; repeats during warm-up period
Symptoms owners cite: Engine feels like it will stall, then jerks forward; Cycle repeats multiple times; Occurs only when engine cold; Stops after sufficient warm-up
Cruise-control slow-to-disengage response
Cruise control does not deactivate with light brake-pedal pressure; requires hard stomp on brake to disengage. One instance of unintended acceleration occurred immediately after cruise-control disengagement.
When: Throughout vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control remains engaged despite light brake application; Only hard brake pressure disengages cruise; Unintended acceleration during or after cruise disengagement
Accelerator position sensor intermittency—loss of throttle control
Accelerator becomes unresponsive at highway speed; check engine light illuminates. Pressing accelerator to floor produces no response; vehicle rapidly decelerates. Throttle response becomes inconsistent before returning. Error code P2121 indicates accelerator pedal position sensor fault.
When: Second occurrence within 6 months of purchase; first at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator does not respond at 60 mph; Check engine light comes on; Vehicle rapid deceleration despite throttle input; Throttle response erratic after resumption; Recurrence of same fault after sensor/pedal replacement
Codes mentioned: P2121
Repairs/costs cited: Accelerator pedal assembly and position sensors replaced on first occurrence; problem recurred within 6 months
High-RPM idle rev without pedal input
Vehicle revs aggressively while parked (engine in Park, foot off accelerator). Engine sounds like it will take off on its own. Occurs at low mileage.
When: 5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs high without accelerator pedal contact; Sensation that vehicle will move despite Park engagement; Unusual noise and vibration
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer advised diagnosis required; no diagnosis performed
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota yaris. The contact was driving 5 MPH and attempting to park when the vehicle abnormally accelerated and crashed into a wall. The air bags did not deploy and the contact sustained injuries to the knees and hands. A police report was available. The contact called the manufacturer and was advised that there were no recalls for the vehicle. No further assistance was…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2009 Toyota Yaris?
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 cruise control problem on the 2009 Toyota Yaris?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 6,200 and 38,000 miles, with the median around 16,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,200; a quarter make it past 38,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/Yaris.
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.