AI Damage2009 Toyota Yaris: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Toyota Yaris filed 92 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 92
- involving a crash
- 21
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 48% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 3 Seats 11% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 8% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 4% of all complaints
- Air bags: 44 complaints (48% of all), 16 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 10 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seats: 10 complaints (11% of all).
- Service brakes: 10 complaints (11% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 9 complaints (10% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 92 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 44 | 16 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The driver was wearing a seatbelt but the driver airbag did not deploy after being rear-ended. After the accident, the dashboard airbag indicator warning light turned on. The vehicle did not show any airbag issues or warnings prior to the accident.
35 mph when my front driverside tire blew out, sent car in to a right turning motion in to cement dividers. Airbag deployed but did not air up. Airbag came out like tube right into my chest. Was taken to hospital from accident. Where they concluded that I had 3 broken ribs.
My concern is that my airbags never deployed. I slammed very hard into the median resulting in some lingering back soreness and truthfully a fear of driving in the rain. I received a mailer last week notifying me that this vehicle is now part of an airbag recall.
It is a basic model vehicle with manual roll down windows. I was informed by the sales representative at the time, that after a year I can go to a traditional auto dealer and trade the vehicle mentioned above; for a lower interest rate.
The air bags did not deploy and the contact sustained injuries to the knees and hands. A police report was available. The contact called the manufacturer and was advised that there were no recalls for the vehicle. No further assistance was offered.
I was behind another vehicle on a ramp leading from one roadway to another and now realize that I had experienced unintended acceleration as I was slowly following the vehicle in front of me on this uphill ramp and my vehicle lunged forward striking the other vehicle.
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the driver's side front door. The dealer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an appointment for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota yaris. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, the driver's side rear axle fractured making the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not determined.
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 3,758 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Yaris has 43 complaints (19 years in the data). This year has 92, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
- Yaris 20065 sources
- Yaris 2007258 sources
- Yaris 2008218 sources
- Yaris 201090 sources
- Yaris 201125 sources
- Yaris 201235 sources
- Yaris 20139 sources
- Yaris 20143 sources
- Yaris 201515 sources
- Yaris 2016113 sources
- Yaris 2017114 sources
- Yaris 201888 sources
- Yaris 2019110 sources
- Yaris 202077 sources
- Yaris 202313 sources
- Yaris 20243 sources
- Yaris 20253 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Toyota Yaris?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, seats. Total complaints: 92. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbags did not deploy (13%), warning lights, check engine (5%), windows, sunroof (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Toyota Yaris?
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 Yaris 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.