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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 1
Average Mileage:
47,314 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Toyota Corolla miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2009 Toyota Corolla Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #36

May 212022

Corolla

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle speed control / sudden unintended acceleration. This was NOT a "misapplication of pedal" by driver! It was clearly a mechanical failure-?"apparently accelerator pedal (not floor mat, which was secured on its pegs). NO warning lamp, msg, symptom prior to crash. Afterward, saw NHTSA rpts others FIXED speed control issue & same prob STILL recurred! My VIN wasn't listed as unrepaired (likely the original owner repaired recall issue/s)-?"yet car was still dangerous! At slow speed, approx 1-2 mph, I was entering my garage in usual way, turning R. Car abruptly sped up uncontrollably (self-accelerated); couldn't stop it! Crashed thru garage doorpost & wall, then backyard fence. Lucky I'm alive & no one in yard. VERY traumatic! Physical injury (neck/back) helped by ibuprofen. FWIW air bag didn't deploy. AAA said they'd only tow for repair, not inspection. I wasn't going to repair; I'd NEVER trust driving that car again & wouldn't sell to ANYONE to drive, due to grave concern same issue'd recur! Available for inspection at PickNPull, Moss Landing, CA. PnP corp agreed they'd haul away ONLY for its OTHER parts-?"order taker understood it had UNTRUSTED accelerator pedal / vehicle speed control. They also promised me they wouldn't let anyone drive it! Of 2009 Corolla NHTSA's 1,523 rpts, "vehicle speed control" is 3rd highest, far > nearly all other rpts. Below, a few of MANY related examples. (Note: dates may be either report or incident dates.) 10/26/21 NHTSA #11438174; 5/31/17 #10992371; 7/16/16 #10885246 ("CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL...STILL AN ISSUE WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.); 6/3/16, #10872355; 10/2/14 #10640760 ("VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT FAILURE RECURRED"); 9/30/14 #10640098; 9/25/14 #10639073; 11/16/13 #10552563; 3/4/12 #10450183; 2/10/12 #10450183 ("ALREADY HAD ALL OF TOYOTA'S "RECALL" REMEDIES";) 1/29/12 #10447756; 6/22/10 #10343426 (recall work had been done); 6/23/10 #10340943 (work had been done); 6/6/10 #10339969; 5/18/10 #10330952.

- Monterey, CA, USA

problem #35

Sep 152021

Corolla

  • miles
My driver-??s side window controls are slowly falling into the doors. I read where there was a recall online, but I have never received any paperwork. I am the original owner and have had all work done at various Toyota-??s for 13 years now. Will I be able to have a dealer fix this? Thank you,

- West Wendover , NV, USA

problem #34

Feb 142022

Corolla

  • miles
El auto muestra en el panel el simbolo de la bolsa de aire.Fui a un taller autorizado Toyota y le hicieron el diagnostigo y me imformaron que la computadora de las bolsas de aire no sirve y que hay que cambiarla por una nueva y habia que ordenarlas porque no la tenian en inventario.

- Caguas, PR, USA

problem #33

Apr 172021

Corolla

  • 514,330 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Rumbling noise under the hood coming from the engine, check engine light is on, at a slowing down speed the car starts vibrating and makes the rumbling noise under the hood!! unsafe to drive !! car went to the dealer williams Honda - several times back to check the code and to fix the problems!! we had to bring this complaint with the management and better business bureau, we are requested a compensation from a dealer for selling unsafe vehicle to us, we complained about this whole matter in details to better business bureau, we requested a monetary compensation $500. We are requesting from New York state department of motor vehicles: To help and assist us to collect compensation of $500 from a dealer williams Honda that is in elmira New York.

- Elmira, NY, USA

problem #32

Jan 012019

Corolla

  • 0 miles
Nada

- San Diego, CA, USA

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problem #31

Mar 112019

Corolla 4-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
Vehicle stops running while on the street, freeway & at stops. Has to turn off engine & then it restarts. Have taken several times to Toyota dealer in cerritos, ca & to our mechanic & nothing is found at the time they check it out.

- Bellflower, CA, USA

problem #30

Jan 012009

Corolla

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The manufacturer's supplied car tire jack does not safely engage its center notch to the ( "pinch welded" metal sheets edge ) designated jack point positions ( for the four wheel locations) as indicated in the owners manual. Only " one side", the inner half of the jack, makes contact with the vehicle, thus making lifting the car very unstable and unsafe. In other words, the notch of the supplied tire jack does not even make contact with the jack point. I am afraid this could cause the car to fall off the jack while it is being lifted to change a flat tire with the spare tire. ( I have tried to lift my car with the jack at all four corners, and the supplied jack's center notch did not even contact the jack point, but instead left indentations of the inner half of the jack's "saddle" on my car's underbody. In addition, I have read complaints (online) of 2009 Toyota Corolla owners whose car actually fell of the jack when it was being used to lift/support the vehicle. I assume this is a potential danger to subsequent owners of later Corolla model years of the same design platform (2009 to 2013) if Toyota has not already supplied new vehicles with an appropriately-designed tire jack or otherwise made it safer to lift the car with the jack. Note that I lifted my vehicle on a flat, hard concrete garage floor. In addition, I believe I've filed a complaint with Toyota several years ago; I called their customer service number, and they documented my concerns. Toyota has not responded to me since. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

problem #29

Jan 212019

Corolla

  • 77,000 miles
The rubber seal from the wind sheald is flying off also the back window same problem.

- Saint Cloud, FL, USA

problem #28

Oct 242017

Corolla

  • miles
Takada recall. I received a notice about this recall monthes ago but Toyota has not offered a remedy yet. All indications are that my car has dangerous airbags and I need this car and drive it daily. Please help.

- Hermitage, PA, USA

problem #27

Sep 252017

Corolla

  • miles
I received a letter in the mail concerning Toyota recalls. I went to the website given and searched my VIN number and it says there are five recalls on my vehicle. I will contact the number so that I can have the issues resolved.

- Cleveland, MS, USA

problem #26

May 082017

Corolla

  • 35,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

A 2009 car that was regularly maintained (including regular oil changes) with less than 35,000 miles allegedly needs a new drive train"!?!?!"!!!!

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #25

Jun 012016

Corolla

  • 148,000 miles
Takata recall - dealer was contacted but no parts available June/1/2015 unintended acceleration at a security gate when braking to approach gate arm. 04/24/2017

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #24

Jul 052016

Corolla

  • miles
I had no problems with my vehicle after driving it for about 110K miles to the work and leisure, but it suddenly started "jerking" I took it to a transmission shop where no results came back after connecting it to a diagnosis computer. The jerking problem increased, and the transmission solenoids were replaced as well as an oil change was done. Problem was not fixed. I've been doing some research, and seems the transmission for this specific car model has been failing. Very expensive fix, and I guess to replace to another "faulty" transmission for this model of vehicle.

- Deming, NM, USA

problem #23

May 072016

Corolla

  • 111,750 miles
I was in the parking lot trying to turn around when my car accelerators and crashes into mi rancho restaurant in silver spring, Maryland. This is the second incident with this type of issue. The first time was December 4, 2011 in giant parking lot as I was parking it accelerated and hit the pole. Please there is a issue with this car and it is very unsafe because I have two granddaughter who could have be in the car with me at the time of this accident.

- Gaithersburg, MD, USA

problem #22

Mar 302016

Corolla

  • 128,650 miles
My 2009 Corolla experienced issues identical to a prior recall circa 2010 for '05-'08 Corolla & matrix models regarding engine control modules (ECM) that may have been improperly manufactured. On 3/30/16, the check engine light turned on and my vehicle experienced harsh shifting and struggled for gas. Vehicle was in motion with over a 1/4 tank of gas on a residential street at the time. On 3/31/16, I had the vehicle towed to my local Toyota dealership. Diagnostics were run and ECM fault codes were identified. Service associates working on my Corolla addressed their concerns and were repeatedly denied requests for a replacement ECM. At one point, I was advised by Toyota dealership staff to personally order an ECM unit through the parts dept., insisting that the request coming directly from a customer would not be denied. I attempted to place an order with parts, and that request later was denied. After several re-tests and denied requests for a replacement ECM, my vehicle received a replacement tail light bulb (what I refer to as a "band-aid" fix) and was released back to me on 4/5/16. The very next morning (4/6/16), check engine light came back on and vehicle was brought in. Once again, codes tied to the ECM were identified. After another week of tests, denied ECM fix requests, and another band-aid repair, the vehicle was released back to me on 4/14/16. During this two-week ordeal, I incurred over $540 in rental car expenses and $186 in "band-aid" repairs, despite the fact that ECM issues were identified from the beginning. I have opened 2 cases with Toyota customer experience center to address this ECM issue with my 2009 Corolla, the prior 2010 recall, and have requested that my VIN be incorporated into the recall. So far, Toyota has denied any responsibility, insisting that their ecms don't fail, offering no assistance for issues they deem off-warranty/off-recall.

- Mission Viejo, CA, USA

problem #21

Feb 192016

Corolla

  • 120,000 miles
Vehicle was in motion when the driver's side door started smoking and eventually burst into flames. Fire rescue was called but we managed to put out the fire with water before they arrived. This happened on 2/19/16 and to date Toyota is yet to send someone to look at the vehicle. I am at my wits end with Toyota.

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #20

Feb 222016

Corolla

  • 90,000 miles
Car was taken in for oil change at mileage due and Toyota dealership stated oil dipstick was totally dry and to check it at halfway mark of miles. Car is not due yet for oil change until about 95,000 miles and at halfway mark oil was already down to last mark on dipstick. Car was taken to Toyota and they stated 2009 Corolla was not part of limited service campaign of other vehicles exhibiting same problems as my car. Dealer said to just add oil in between changes and I explained that car should not be consuming oil at this stage and they agreed but stated I would have to cover repairs which might cost between $2,000-3,000 because of car not being part of campaign with other makes which were also having same problem with excessive oil consumption at around same mileage. I started oil consumption test so that it would be on record. If other owners are having same problem, 2009 Toyota Corolla should be included in limited service campaign of excessive oil consumption as it was included for most of the other recalls and campaigns. I have looked online and seen many others with same make model and year with same complaints and dealer does nothing to fix problem.

- Allentown, PA, USA

problem #19

Feb 222016

Corolla

  • 90,000 miles
Car was taken in for oil change at mileage due and Toyota dealership stated oil dipstick was totally dry and to check it at halfway mark of miles. Car is not due yet for oil change until about 95,000 miles and at halfway mark oil was already down to last mark on dipstick. Car was taken to Toyota and they stated 2009 Corolla was not part of limited service campaign of other vehicles exhibiting same problems as my car. Dealer said to just add oil in between changes and I explained that car should not be consuming oil at this stage and they agreed but stated I would have to cover repairs which might cost between $2,000-3,000 because of car not being part of campaign with other makes which were also having same problem with excessive oil consumption at around same mileage. I started oil consumption test so that it would be on record. If other owners are having same problem, 2009 Toyota Corolla should be included in limited service campaign of excessive oil consumption as it was included for most of the other recalls and campaigns.

- Allentown, PA, USA

problem #18

Jan 142015

Corolla

  • miles
2 recalls that I have received through the mail. Im afraid driving on the freeway as they mention that when the light show on airbags 6 sections we can get into an accident due to airbags bursting out.

- Gardena, CA, USA

problem #17

Dec 172015

Corolla

  • 70,000 miles
Started engine, then while idling a loud squealing noise appearing to sound from the power steering, upon close observation notice coolant fluid all over the serpentine belts and the alternator. The battery would die and water residual all over the place all indication points to a busted water pump from the mechanics. The car only got 70,000 miles. Have 5 months left on car loan and no money for repairs and don't know if engine still works.

- South Ozone Park, NY, USA

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