2009 Toyota Corolla problems
The 2009 Toyota Corolla has 1,770 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (31%) concerns air bags. Next are steering (22%) and cruise control (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,770 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 31% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 276 and 16
- Injuries and deaths
- 161 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 24,000 miles 1,079 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 485 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 183 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 120 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 93 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 79 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 41 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 28 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 27 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 11 |
What the data shows
Of the 1,079 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 24,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 80,000 miles (118 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 276 complaints mention a crash; 16 complaints mention a fire; 161 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2009 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 37 model years of the Toyota Corolla with enough data (1,078 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 13 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Side curtain airbags failed to deploy in side impact. Car even rolled over without the deployment of airbags. Passenger front airbag never deployed with front impact with safety belt on. Driver ejected due to no deployment of curtians
The air bags were part of recall and when I called was told there was no solution to the problem. My car was involved in accident on oct 7th and was totaled and the air bags never went off despite the driver hitting their head right where the side air bag was.....updated 11/03/17 updated 9/12/18
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota corolla. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact was cut off by another vehicle and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact and three passengers sustained severe injuries to the head, a concussion, a broken pelvis, and broken ribs. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was impounded and towed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.
I was involved in a rollover crash and not a single airbag deployed. I honestly think it's a defect from all the issues that toyota has had with airbags. I was ran off the road going around a curve and I hit a ditch and my car flipped end over end. The front of my car was severely damaged, I was going about 50MPH, every air bag should have deployed.
I have a 2009 toyota corolla xrs and living in northern canada. During extreme temperatures in the -30 and above while driving at 50 km/hr or higher clutch pedal will stiffen to the point that at sometimes it will hesitate to return to position and will pop back and clutch not engaging right away causing slippage at that point. I have also noticed that the brake pedal stiffens during this time, I know that the clutch and brake are on the same hydraulic system.