Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Toyota Tacoma
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Toyota Tacoma has 13 NHTSA recall campaigns and 520 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V396000 Seat Heater Electrical Wiring NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V743000 Seat Heater Electrical Wiring NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V604000 Leaf Spring may Fracture and Puncture Tank NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V475000 Incorrect Tire Placard Information/FMVSS 110 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V168000 Driver's Air Bag may not Deploy NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V337000 Seat Belt Screws May Loosen NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V014000 Occupant Sensing System Calibration NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V092000 AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING SPIRAL CABLES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V148000 TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM/FMVSS 138 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V035000 LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V036000 LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V388000 PEDAL ENTRAPMENT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V223000 INCORRECT GVWR LABELS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 119 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 105 complaints
- Power Train 75 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 59 complaints
- Structure 55 complaints
- Electrical System 40 complaints
Of the 520 complaints on file, 25 report a crash and 18 a fire; across all 520 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Toyota Tacoma is plagued by multiple recalls involving seat heaters, leaf springs, and airbags, among others. Owner complaints frequently highlight suspension, exterior lighting, and power train issues, indicating ongoing reliability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 60,000–100,000 miles | $300–$700 | very common |
| power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| exterior lighting | 50,000–80,000 miles | $100–$300 | common |
| steering | 70,000–110,000 miles | $200–$600 | occasional |
| airbags | 60,000–100,000 miles | $400–$1,000 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake system inspection
- Tire rotations and alignments
- Transmission fluid check
- Cooling system service
- Suspension inspection
- Battery testing and replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual vibrations
- Suspension noise
- Engine warning lights
- Steering play
- Sluggish acceleration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.