Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Tundra, and it carries 13 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 7 | 18% |
| Air bags | 3 | 8% |
| Engine | 3 | 8% |
| Tires | 2 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 5% |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary, the tailgate door failed to open. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the tail
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tundra. 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
NHTSA complaint: Tires
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 2
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 SPEE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
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 W
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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 A
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SWITCHED TO LIMP MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LITHIA T
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for the 2009 Toyota Tundra. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorr
Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 17, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-33
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affec
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected
Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vib
Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The
| Reliability raw | 66 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 74 | good |
| Depreciation | 91 | excellent |
| Performance | 74 | good |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 7 of them (18%). There are 13 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 66/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.