AI Damage2009 Toyota Tundra: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Toyota Tundra filed 38 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 38
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 29% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 13% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 13% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 8% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 5% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 11 complaints (29% of all).
- Engine: 5 complaints (13% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 5 complaints (13% of all).
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (11% of all).
- Air bags: 3 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 4.7 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 5.7 L · petrol · 8 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- automatic, 5-speed
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 38 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While driving 60 mph and hauling a loaded trailer, according to the estimated capacity, the rear passenger side tire blew out and caused the trailer and the vehicle to lose control. The stability control system engaged and failed to stabilize the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into a ditch.
Frame perforation , front passenger side , bottom part of frame in critical point where weld is , in close distance from rack and pinion . At the dealer while servicing have asked to check the frame as there ben lots of concern from Tundra owners.
The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the tailgate latch to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,889.
The contact stated that the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the TPMS replaced however, the vehicle was not repaired.
Recalls have been issued for faulty spiral cables effecting airbag malfunction on model year 2009-2010 corolla, 2009-2010 matrix, 2008-2010 highlander, 2009-2010 tacoma, 2006-2008 rav4 and 2006-2010 yaris vehicles.
My 2009 toyota tundra frequently stalls after slowing from high way speed for a turn onto a side road or after braking to a slow speed while driving after which I normally reaccerlate. This is a 5.7 l I-force v8, 6 speed automatic trans.
It loses power, my 2009 toyota tundra with less than 90,000 miles , just decelerates and went down to 30 miles per hour in the freeway, I used a carmd reading to give me a code, and it shows that the code was p2442, it will cost me $2,500 or more to fix it. The engine red light, vsc and 4lo will show in the dash.
Brake pedal suddenly turned soft and goes all the way down before it starts to grab. Put in new pads all around, new master cylinder and had system completely bled, problem still there. Checked out toyota tundra forums and this seems to be a problem on these trucks, only has 63,000 miles.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 6,094 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Tundra has 248 complaints (28 years in the data). This year has 38, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
- Tundra 20001,011 sources
- Tundra 2001415 sources
- Tundra 2002482 sources
- Tundra 2003399 sources
- Tundra 2004466 sources
- Tundra 2005377 sources
- Tundra 2006545 sources
- Tundra 2007390 sources
- Tundra 2008327 sources
- Tundra 2010163 sources
- Tundra 2011134 sources
- Tundra 2012156 sources
- Tundra 201385 sources
- Tundra 201493 sources
- Tundra 201551 sources
- Tundra 2016258 sources
- Tundra 2017182 sources
- Tundra 2018219 sources
- Tundra 2019190 sources
- Tundra 2020185 sources
- Tundra 2021158 sources
- Tundra 2022664 sources
- Tundra 2023594 sources
- Tundra 2024500 sources
- Tundra 2025193 sources
- Tundra 202672 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Toyota Tundra?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 38. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (16%), warning lights, check engine (11%), knocking, grinding or other noise (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Toyota Tundra?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 Toyota Tundra from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.