NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 103 owner complaints for the 2009 Toyota Yaris. Most complaints involve air bags (48) and vehicle speed control (13). The EPA rates it 31–32 mpg combined.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles.
These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U.S. VI or "Zone A."
Toyota is also recalling certain 2010 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, ES350, IS-F, GX460, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B."
Toyota is also recalling certain 2009 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Lexus IS250, IS350, ES350, IS-F, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C."
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."
Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B."
Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component
Air bags
48 reports18 crashes
“Vehicle was rear-ended on November 4, 2022. The driver was wearing a seatbelt but the driver airbag did not deploy after being rear-ended. After the accident, the dashboard airbag indicator warning light turned on. The vehicle did not show any airbag issues or warnings prior to the accident. The emergency parking brake does not properly engage after the accident.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Nov 30, 2022·Air bags, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11495526
Vehicle speed control
13 reports4 crashes
“I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE NOW WHERE I TRY TO PASS SOMEONE ON INTERSTATE 79 NORTHBOUND FROM PITTSBURGH TO CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP PA AND PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND ONCE I GET TO SPEED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR GOES TO 80 + PER HOUR BEFORE I CAN GET IT TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. LUCKILY BOTH TIMES THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OR BEHIND ME THAT I COULD GET CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME I ENDED UP PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO GET CAR TO STOP. TODAY SIMILAR SITUATION EXCEPT I WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKES VERY HARD UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO RESPOND AND SLOW DOWN BACK TO THE CORRECT SPEED. I WAS ASKED BY TOYOTA IF THE MATS ON THE FLOOR WERE OBSTRUCTING THE PEDAL, AND THIS WASN'T THE CASE IN EITHER INSTANCE. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICE THEY WERE REFERRING BACK TO MY DEALER TO RUN DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH WILL COST ME TO HAVE DONE. I HAD THIS IN FOR SERVICE THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED AD WAS TOLD THEY FOUND NOTHING AND THAT THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED TO CALL SO THEY COULD HOOK UP TO A COMPUTER AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. TODAY WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY WOULDN'T EVEN SCHEDULE MY CAR FOR SERVICE, GAVE ME CORPORATE TO CALL AND IF CORPORATE WANTED…”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed May 11, 2016·Vehicle speed controlODI 10864470
Electrical system
12 reports1 crash2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS DEFECTIVE AND FAILED TO DISPLAY THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DCH TOYOTA OF OXNARD (1631 AUTO CENTER DR., OXNARD, CA 93036) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.”
10 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
What are the most common 2009 Toyota Yaris problems?
Owners filed 103 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (48), vehicle speed control (13), electrical system (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
What MPG does the 2009 Toyota Yaris get?
The EPA rates the 2009 Toyota Yaris at 31–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).