Problems · by component

2009 Toyota Tacoma power train problems

75 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Tacoma cite power train, 14% of all 520 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
75
14% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“ODI #11516361 I bought this 2009 Toyota Tacoma with 20,990 miles on it on 11/22/2019. Then the pandemic hit the USA and the truck sat for many months. Then in April 2023 I brought the truck in for repairs and the mechanic told me the frame was rusted real bad and that the recall was past the deadline. I brought it to Toyota of Watertown Dealership on 4/07/2023 with 33,348 miles on it and they said there was nothing they could do because the truck was over the 12 years of manufacturing recall date. My truck was manufactured on 8/20/2009, so my recall ended on 8/20/2021. I owned the truck for 19 months during the recall and I never received a recall notice from Toyota. If I had known I would have had it inspected before the 12 years were up and Toyota would have been responsible for the rusted out frame. Toyota is negligent and liable for not informing me of the recall. Now I am stuck with a rusted out dangerous vehicle.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2023Steering, Suspension, Power trainODI 11537275
“The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while pulling into the driveway, the transmission suddenly disengaged causing the vehicle to stall. The contact turned off the vehicle and noticed that transmission fluid was leaking underneath the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission line had rusted through causing the transmission failure. The transmission line was replaced; however, the forward gears remained inoperable. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2022Power trainODI 11485867
“AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, IT FEELS LIKE A "THUD" UNDER THE VEHICLE AND/OR GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND. I NOTICED THIS ON A RARE OCCASION STARTING ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BUT IT SEEMS TO NOW HAPPEN MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2021Power trainODI 11397853
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD MOMENTARILY AND THEN STARTED WORKING AGAIN. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CLEANED THE BRAKES AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE FAILURE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM REGULAR GEAR INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ON ITS OWN. ALSO, THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JOEL CONFER TOYOTA (814-237-5713, LOCATED AT 120 CLINTON AVE, STATE COLLEGE, PA 16803) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADDED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND REMOVED A METAL PIECE THAT BROKE OFF THE FUEL TANK COVER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. AND CONTACT WAS TOLD UNINTENDED ACCERLATION TEMPLATE WAS THE PROBLEM, HAPPEN FOR 4 DAYS. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,899. *BF 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 27, 2019Power train, Traction control system, Service brakesODI 11222887
“DRIVESHAFT AND UNIVERSAL JOINT PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT - ZH2" FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL, AS THE CONDITION CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN DRIVESHAFT FAILURE, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND DEATH. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO ALSO EXTEND TO THE CENTER BEARING AND POSSIBLY THE DRIVESHAFT ITSELF, AS I TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE UNDER WARRANTY, AND STILL HAVE VIBRATION ISSUES EVEN AFTER THE WARRANTIED PARTS (AND CENTER SUPPORT BEARING AT SIGNIFICANT EXTRA COST) WERE REPLACED. THIS VIBRATION BEGINS AROUND 40 MPH AND INCREASES THROUGH 60 MPH. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND MAY SUSTAIN A SUDDEN DRIVESHAFT FAILURE FROM IMPROPER REMEDIATION OF THIS ISSUE UNDER THE ZH2 CAMPAIGN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2018Power trainODI 11103457
“I HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM WITH READ LEAF SPRINGS AS EVERYBODY ELSE- THE REAR IS SAGGING AND AND THE FRONT END IS STARTING TO RISE(EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR) MY TRUCK HAS 66,000 MILES AND IT ONLY CARRIES A 210LB VINTAGE DIRTBIKE 5 OR 6 TIMES A YEAR. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO START DYING LIKE GM'S IGNITION SWITCH BEFORE SOMEONE IN THE FEDERAL GOVT GETS OFF THEIR REAR END AND ACTUALLY DOES THEIR JOB? ALSO SPIRAL CABLE RECALL THAT COULD DAMAGE DRIVER'S AIRBAG(COB (C1B) I HAVE PAPERWORK FROM TOYOTA AND DEALER STATING THE RECALL AND NOW THEY ARE DENYING THAT ONE EXISTS OR EVER EXISTED. ALSO, WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AT LOW SPEEDS(USUALLY DOWNSHIFTING, CLUNK IS HEARD IN DRIVE SHAFT) TOO MUCH LASH IN REAREND OR JUNK U-JOINTS. I HAVE AN AAS IN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLGY AND OVER 105 CREDITS IN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING . I'M NOT JUST BLOWING SMOKE. WHEN I LIVED IN NYS, I HAD A VEHICLE INSPECTION LICENSE AND I WOULD DEFINITELY FAIL MANY TOYOTAS WITH THESE PROBLEMS. NO INSPECTION STICKER-NO DRIVING OF VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2016Suspension, Power train, Air bagsODI 10849923

Showing 6 of 75 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.