2009 Toyota Corolla Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2009 Toyota Corolla ranks worst of all 21 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 1,459 complaints. Airbags (38% of complaints) and steering (26%) dominate owner reports, backed by 13 recall campaigns.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 21 Corolla years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 1,459
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 13
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 186
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 12
- Injuries
- 110
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 27.5
- 24 city / 32.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 110 / 2
Top 2009 Toyota Corolla problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags552 (38%)
- Steering382 (26%)
- Engine320 (22%)
- Brakes139 (10%)
- Electrical System93 (6%)
- Other52 (4%)
- Structure & Body52 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires51 (3%)
- Transmission & Powertrain45 (3%)
- Fuel System24 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe airbags that failed to deploy in crashes, including a side airbag that stayed inactive after a driver hit their head near it.
- Some drivers report sudden loss of steering control, with the wheel feeling locked or the car veering right on its own during turns.
- Several complaints describe the steering wheel locking up entirely, sometimes after hitting a pot hole, leading to loss of control and collisions.
- On manual transmission cars, owners report the vehicle creeping forward or backward on an incline while in gear, even when parked and unoccupied.
- One owner described unintended acceleration from 50 mph to 74 mph followed by unexplained deceleration, which the dealer could not reproduce.
- A driver's seat back reportedly broke in half during a rear-end collision.
2009 Toyota Corolla recalls
13 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V741000Oct 17, 2019Airbags928,220 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
- NHTSA 18V024000Jan 9, 2018Airbags628,018 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U.S. VI or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, ES350, IS-F, GX460, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2009 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Lexus IS250, IS350, ES350, IS-F, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
- NHTSA 17V006000Jan 9, 2017Airbags577,875 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).
2009 Toyota Corolla fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 24 MPG
- Highway
- 32.5 MPG
- Combined
- 27.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,375
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2009 compared with other Corolla years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Toyota Corolla reliable?
- Among Corolla model years, 2009 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst overall, with 1,459 NHTSA complaints and 13 recall campaigns, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2009 Toyota Corolla?
- Airbags are the top complaint area, making up 38% of all complaints (552 reports) and linked to 61 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 80,250 miles.
- Does the 2009 Toyota Corolla have steering problems?
- Yes. Steering accounts for 26% of complaints (382 reports) and 45 crashes, with a low median failure mileage of 9,500 miles, and one recall addressed steering issues on this model year.
- How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Corolla have?
- NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for the 2009 Corolla, most involving airbags, along with recalls for visibility/wiper switches and structure & body seat heaters.
- Which Corolla years are better than 2009?
- Every other tracked year performs better; for example 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 all carry a Best verdict with complaint indexes at or near zero, far below 2009's index of 100.