Vehicle Data Hub

2009 Toyota Tacoma lighting problems

Owners reported lighting problems in 105 complaints for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma, 17% of the complaints on file. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
105 17% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
45,000 miles 89 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
0 and 16
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When lighting problems show up

Lighting complaints by mileage, 2009 Toyota Tacoma Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 45,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 6 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 28 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 32 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 14 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 5 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 2 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 2 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 45,000 miles
Based on 89 complaints that include mileage. 74% 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 miles6
20k to 40k miles28
40k to 60k miles32
60k to 80k miles14
80k to 100k miles5
100k to 120k miles2
120k to 140k miles2
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 89 lighting complaints that report mileage, the median is about 45,000 miles, and 74% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 16 fires.

What owners wrote

My 09 toyota tacoma drl (daylight running light/turn signal) lens burned/melted/broke. I have exceeded my warranty but I feel toyota should stand behind their product and replace my light lens. My local dealer did do a 50/50 split on the cost of replacement, but this is a design problem. Light lens should never burn/melt/break regardless of how old or how many miles the vehicle has on it. Not all tacoma's have drl , this is an option, my local dealer did not know this but I pointed this out to him.

Reported at 137,000 miles, August 2011 Fire

Air bag light on, toyota found DTC s b1785 occupant classification sensor front left collision detection, b1650 occupant system malfunction, zero point calibration and sensitivity check done but toyota hawaii says we need to replace front right seat sensor mat assy. Is that a safety issue and is this a manufacture defect? Took to toyota 3 times now for the same issue of the air bag light coming on. Please advise, thank you! Both lens bulbs melt inner side of plastic parts on the headlights.

Reported at 55,046 miles, July 2014

Other problems reported for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma

Lighting problems in other years

  • 2026
  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
  • 2000
  • 1999
  • 1998
  • 1997
  • 1996
  • 1995

Lighting problems across all Toyota models