YearToAvoid

2009 Toyota Prius Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 22 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2009 Toyota Prius, 4% of all 502 complaints for this model year. That is #6 highest transmission complaint count among 21 Prius model years. These complaints report 2 crashes. Median mileage at failure: 19,985 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
22
4% of 502
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
19,985 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2009 Toyota Prius transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 4, 2009, latest Jan 3, 2022.

2009 Toyota Prius transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month5Dec 2009Mar 2010May 2011Dec 2012Nov 2014Mar 2018Apr 2020
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2009 to Jan 2022; peak Feb 2010 (5).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2009 Toyota Prius

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Prius model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200541 (4%)
  2. 200622 (2%)
  3. 200741 (2%)
  4. 200854 (4%)
  5. 200922 (4%)
  6. 201079 (3%)
  7. 201118 (3%)
  8. 201221 (5%)
  9. 201314 (3%)
  10. 20146 (3%)
  11. 201513 (8%)
  12. 201614 (9%)
  13. 20174 (4%)
  14. 20182 (6%)
  15. 20192 (7%)
  16. 20201 (7%)
  17. 20210 (0%)
  18. 20221 (4%)
  19. 20232 (11%)
  20. 20241 (4%)
  21. 20252 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Toyota Prius have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 22 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2009 Toyota Prius, 4% of all complaints for this model year, including 2 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 19,985 miles.
Which Toyota Prius year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2010 Toyota Prius has the most transmission complaints (79), compared with 22 for the 2009.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2009 Toyota Prius?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 Toyota Prius is classified under transmission & powertrain. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.