Problems · by component

2009 Toyota Corolla suspension problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Corolla cite suspension, 2% of all 1,533 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
32
2% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“2009 COROLLA IS DRIFTING LEFT AND RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. SOME VIBRATION. RECENTLY HAD NEW TIRES AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND STILL VERY UNSTABLE, FEELS LIKE DRIVING A BOAT AND CAN MOVE LEFT OR RIGHT AT ANY TIME. IT HAS ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING NOT HYDROLOGIC. I'M THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED TWICE ON CAR WHICH IS UNUSUAL. ANY RECALL OF THE ELECTRICAL RACK AND PINION FOR THIS VEHICLE? MY MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX BESIDES REPLACING THE WHOLE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2020Steering, SuspensionODI 11317746
“HI, I HAVE REPLACED MY BRAKES LATE LAST YEAR BECAUSE THE BRAKES DON'T ENGAGE RIGHT. EVEN AFTER I REPLACED MY BRAKES, I STILL HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES. LAST WEEK, I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WITH MY SON IN MY CAR AND SOMEONE CUT ME OFF WITH A TURN INTO A SCHOOL. I HIT MY BRAKES REALLY HARD, BUT IT WAS SKIDDING/SLIDING. I TOOK MY CAR IN AGAIN FOR BRAKES CHECK AND LIKE LAST TIME, I WAS TOLD MY BRAKES WERE FINE. I ASKED THE MECHANIC WHY WAS MY CAR SLIDING/SKIDDING. MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SHOCK/SUSPENSION ISSUE. WHICH I HAVE HAD ALL ALONG, BUT DIDN'T KNOW IT CAUSED MY BRAKES TO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DRIVE VERY SHORT DISTANT TO WORK AND HOME AND I DO NOT ABUSE MY CAR, HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE, IT IS SAFETY SINCE THE CAR DOESN'T BRAKE PROPERLY. BEST, [XXX] ' *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 24, 2015SuspensionODI 10730221
“THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE WATER PUMP GO OUT THE BRAKES THE ALTERNATOR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES THE AIR BAG HAS HAD THE STRUTS REPLACED THE GAS LEVER STOPPED WORKING AND NOW THE TRUNK RELEASE WON'T WORK I HAVE REPLACED NOW 5 TIRES BECAUSE ONE BLOW RIGHT AFTER I GOT THE CAR AND NOW MY CAR HAS JUST 85 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. I HAVE HEARD SO MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT TOYOTA BUT THIS IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER OWN I WILL NEVER BUY OR ADVISE ANYONE TO BUY A TOYOTA AGAIN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2014Suspension, Electrical system, Structure, Service brakesODI 10616049
“2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WATER PUMP PULLEY DISENGAGEMENT AND NEED FOR THIRD SET OF TIRES ON VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY A SOUND OF SOMETHING HITTING THE HIGHWAY. HE GRADUALLY SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RAISED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE FLYWHEEL FOR THE WATER PUMP SITTING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. HE WALKED BACK UP THE HIGHWAY IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE WHAT FELL FROM THE VEHICLE. HE GATHERED WHAT HE FOUND AND WAS LOOSE UNDER THE HOOD, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER AND HAD A NEW WATER PUMP INSTALLED. WHILE AT THE SERVICE CENTER, THE BRAKES WERE SERVICED AND A NEW SET OF TIRES WERE RECOMMENDED BECAUSE THEY WERE CUPPING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT TO HAVE THE TIRES INSPECTED. FIRESTONE, INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE LEFT FRONT AND REAR TOW WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND THEY ADJUSTED THE LEFT FRONT TO CORRECT IT, BUT INFORMED HIM, THEY COULD NOT MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENT FOR THE REAR, AS THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE GIVEN THAT THE ALIGNMENT ISSUE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CUPPING. WITHIN A WEEK OF HAVING THE NEW WATER PUMP INSTALLED,…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2013Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Tires, EquipmentODI 10553424
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE LEFT SIDE HUB, BEARING ASSEMBLY AND THE SKID CONTROL WIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1,000 MILES THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE HUB, BEARING ASSEMBLY AND SKID CONTROL WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,583 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,322.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2011Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10381428
“2009 COROLLA SEEMS TO FLOAT ALL OVER THE ROAD AND CANT KEEP IT STRAIGHT. HAPPEN 3 TIMES TO ME. ALMOST LOST IT HAD TO STOP. I EXPERIENCE THIS AT SPEED 40 TO 50 MIL . HAVE 25000 MIL ON IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2011SuspensionODI 10376448

Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.