Problems · by component
2009 Toyota Tacoma electrical system problems
40 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Tacoma cite electrical system, 8% of all 520 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
40
8% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2009 Toyota Tacoma. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 127,619. It was later discovered through Carfax in August 2025 that the mileage on the Title was 297,651.”
“CRUISE CONTROL BECAME FINICKY SPRING/SUMMER 2019. I FOUND ARTICLES STATING THAT IT COULD BE THE CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CABLE. I REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING AND THAT FIXED THE CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE, BUT IT CAUSED MY AIRBAG LIGHT TO TURN ON. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. OVER THAT TIME, THE RADIO CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAVE QUIT WORKING (FIRST THE VOLUME, THEN THE CHANNEL, AND THE MODE BUTTONS). THESE HAVEN'T BEEN WORKING FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS NOW. JUST YESTERDAY, THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT COMPLETELY. NO WARNING SIGNS OR ACTING UP. IT JUST QUIT. FROM WHAT RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THIS ISSUE WAS HANDLED UNDER A RECALL, BUT THE RECALL ONLY APPLIES TO THE TACOMA MODELS WITHOUT AUDIO CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. HAS THAT CHANGED AT ALL? WHY WERE NOT ALL VERSIONS/CONFIGURATIONS COVERED?”
“BOTH HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SHOW INNER RUNNING LIGHT/TURNSIGNAL LENS HAVE BUBBLING, BURNING AND NOW THE RIGHT ONE HAS CRACKED WITH THE INNER LENS SEPARATING. I HAVE CHECKED BOTH BULBS AND THEY ARE THE PROPER, LISTED BULBS, 4157NA”
“ENTERING MY COMPLAINT AS ELECTRICAL AS IT INVOLVED THE DOOR ACTUATOR MECHANISMS AND FOB FOR LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE DOOR LOCKS - FOB GETS EASILY "UN PROGRAMMED" AND CANNOT BE REPROGRAMMED. DOOR ACTUATORS ARE FAULTY WITH LIGHT DUTY DC MOTORS THAT OPERATE THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM - THE DC MOTORS ARE PRONE TO CARBON BUILD-UP INSIDE, ETC. REAR DOORS (AND POSSIBLY FRONT DOORS, AS WELL) HAVE INTERIOR FAILURE OF DOOR EXIT HANDLE WHICH IS A LIFE-SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT ONE MUST EXIT THE VEHICLE. AND, THIS IS A NUISANCE SIMPLY WISHING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN THERE IS NO EMERGENCY. THIS IS A FAILED COMPONENT OF NOT JUST THE TOYOTA TACOMA, BUT NUMEROUS OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES. I HAVE ENTERED TODAY'S DATE AS TO WHEN THIS OCCURRED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING THE PROBLEM MENTIONED ABOVE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT SYSTEM FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE LENS TO FRACTURE AND THE BULBS TO BURN. THE TURNING SIGNALS THAT ARE CONNECT TO THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULBS SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT SYSTEM WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000. *TR”
“BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT DTRL LENSES ARE MELTED FROM HEAT FROM THE BULB, I AM WORRIED ABOUT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, OR FIRE. DEALER SAYS IT IS COSMETIC AND DOES NOT WANT TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES SINCE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD ADDRESS WITH URGENCY. *TR”
Showing 6 of 40 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.