Vehicle Data Hub

2009 Toyota Corolla electrical system problems

89 complaints about electrical system have been filed for the 2009 Toyota Corolla, which is 5% of all its NHTSA complaints.

At a glance

Complaints
89 5% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
55,000 miles 73 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
8 and 7
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When electrical system problems show up

Electrical system complaints by mileage, 2009 Toyota Corolla Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 55,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 19 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 9 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 11 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 13 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 11 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 5 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 3 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 2 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 55,000 miles
Based on 73 complaints that include mileage. 53% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles19
20k to 40k miles9
40k to 60k miles11
60k to 80k miles13
80k to 100k miles11
100k to 120k miles5
120k to 140k miles3
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles2

What the data shows

Of the 73 electrical system complaints that report mileage, the median is about 55,000 miles, and 53% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 8 crashes, 7 fires, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

I was driving on ca hwy 101 at 7:30pm when I smelled, then saw smoke and flames coming from the driver-side door. Luckily, I had a gallon of drinking water within reach. I poured it on the fire while swerving to the margin so as to avoid collision. I extinguished the fire and disconnected the windows-switch panel. Apparently, a short-circuit in the window switches ignited the sound-insulation material that should have been fire-proof to begin with.

Reported at 68,000 miles, May 2012 Fire

The radio shuts down for seconds at a time - obvious power failure. When the power is restored (seconds later) radio returns to same station. When it happens radio light only goes off then comes back on. Usually happens after car is driven about 15 to 20 minutes, then it happens non stop even with the volume down. Sounds like a rock is hitting the windshield. It is a very loud, very startling noise.

Reported at 27,500 miles, October 2010

Other problems reported for the 2009 Toyota Corolla

Electrical system problems in other years

Electrical system problems across all Toyota models