2009 Toyota Tacoma Engine Problems
14 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (14)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THEY WERE INFORMED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *DT *DT *JB*JB
THE ORIGINAL WATER BY-P PIPE WAS FAULTY. THE PIPE WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IT WORE OFF AT THE FLANGE. THIS CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK OUT AND CAUSED OVERHEATING, LOSS OF HEAT AND COOLANT. THE NEW PART NUMBER FROM TOYOTA IS 1626875131 WHICH IS NOW MADE OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE STAINLESS STEEL. THE PART FROM THE DEALER LIST 58.04 THE LABOR FROM THE DEALER I WAS QUOTED WAS 6-8 HOURS AND TOTAL PARTS WOULD COST ABOUT $150. WHICH INCLUDED GASKET 1625875021, BOLT W WASHER 90119A0183, GASKET, INTAKE 1717775040, GASKET, THROTTLE 2227175070, AND SUPER LONGLIFE ANTIFREEZE 2 00272SLLC2. I DID THIS WORK MYSELF AND AT THE AGE OF 59 IT WAS BOTH A MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STRAIN. THE INTAKE HAS TO BE TAKEN OFF TO GAIN ACCESS INTO THE VALLEY TO REACH THE WATER BY-P PIPE. I DID THIS WORK IN DEC. 2019. I HAD A HARD TIME SEEING EXACTLY WHERE THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS COMING FROM AND HAD REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE REALIZING THE REAL ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM TOYOTA AS IT COULD CAUSE A CAR TO OVER HEAT AND BLOW A HEAD GASKET BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY PART. IT MUST BE OBVIOUS TO TOYOTA BECAUSE THE PIPE IS NOW STAINLESS STEEL. I'M LUCKY I DIDN'T BREAK ANY INTAKE BOLTS OR FUEL LINES IN THE PROCESS. MY 2009 TOYOTA TRUCK HAS ALMOST 200K AND IS BACK RUNNING WITHOUT LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN GET ANYTHING BACK FOR WHAT I PAID FOR AND MY TIME, BUT PERHAPS THIS WILL HELP OTHERS. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS BEFORE AND DURING THE WORK I PERFORMED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I OR OTHERS CAN DO. THANK YOU. I DID THE WORK IN MY GARAGE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT: P0420 FAULT CODE. ALSO, THERE IS A RATTLING SOUND AND EXHAUST BACK UP TO THE PRESSURE RELEASE MOUNT WHERE THE EXHAUST CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE. DEALER DIAGNOSIS CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS FAILING, REPLACEMENT REQUIRED ALSO THE HEAT SHIELD IS RATTING. I WANT TO KNOW IF I CAN GET MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCK VIN ADDED TO THE 2010-2014 TACOMA 2TR-FE EXHAUST PIPE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARRANTY EXTENSION F0U. HTTPS://WWW.TOYOHEADQUARTERS.COM/THREADS/2010-2014-TACOMA-2TR-FE-EXHAUST-PIPE-CATALYTIC-CONVERTER-WARRANTY-EXTENSION-F0U.474/
ON A INTERMITTENT BASIS THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM RELATED TO THE FLOOR MATS. THE LAST OCCURRENCE TOOK PLACE AS I WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORCING ME TO FORCEFULLY APPLY BRAKES AND PUSHING THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK. I LOOKED AT THE MATS AND THEY WERE IN THERE CORRECT POSITION. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT FOUR TIMES IN ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
THE DIPSTICK HOUSING TUBE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. *TR
FUEL RATIO SENSOR LIGHT DISPLAYED AT 34,000 MILE AND 39 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OR LESS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE BUT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO RESTART IT. THE DEALER REPLACED A COMPUTER CHIP BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD HIM THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE BAD FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,375. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,500.
MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS A DEMENTED MIND OF ITS OWN WHEN IT COMES TO UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. I WILL DESCRIBE WHAT IT HAS DONE AT LEAST 10 TIMES IN THE YEAR AND A HALF SINCE I (UNFORTUNATELY) PURCHASED IT. AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND APPLY IT TO THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE SPEEDS UP TO MORE THAN 7,000 RPM. I CONTINUE PRESSING ON THE BRAKE WHICH STARTS TO SLIP. TO AVOID A CRASH I MUST QUICKLY SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL. AS THE ENGINE REACHES MAXIMUM RPM'S, IT THEN DIES BACK TO AN IDLE. IT IS NOT THE FLOOR MAT OR THE ACCELERATION PEDAL CAUSING THIS. NINE OF THESE TIMES I HAVE BEEN GOING FORWARD, BUT THIS MORNING THIS EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AS I WAS SLOWLY BACKING UP INTO A PARKING SPACE. NOW HERE'S THE EVEN SADDER SITUATION WE HAVE. MY WIFE OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4 AND THE EXACT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED IN THAT VEHICLE ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. (I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT ON HER VEHICLE AS WELL.) THIS IS NOT DRIVER ERROR. IT'S A VERY SCARY SITUATION AND WE ARE BOTH HOPEFUL NOTHING SERIOUS HAPPENS TO US OR THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF US AS WE ARE TRYING TO STOP OUR VEHICLES. *LN
WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA SPORT PICK-UP TRUCK IN A LOWES HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTER PARKING LOT TODAY (11/27/10 AT 2:25 PM), MY TACOMA BEGAN A VERY RAPID ACCELERATION AS I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN ROUNDING AN ISLE TURN IN THE LOT AND PREPARING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. I APPLIED IMMEDIATE HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE SINCE A TOYOTA PRIUS WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND I DID NOT WANT TO HIT IT. DURING MY BRAKING THE REAR TIRE(S) WAS SPINNING AND SCREECHING ON THE PAVEMENT. THE TRUCK MOVED FORWARD ABOUT 5 FEET AND THEN THE MOTOR SHUT OFF AS I WAS REACHING TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. WHEW! THIS HAPPENED IN ALL OF A SPAN OF MAYBE 4 TO 5 SECONDS. THANK GOD I HAD JUST RECENTLY TAKEN THE TRUCK IN FOR A RECALL WHERE THE DEALER CUT BACK THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INSTALLED NEW SOFTWARE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THIS NEW SOFTWARE SAVED MY BUTT AND THAT OF THE PRIUS TOO. WHO KNOWS THE DAMAGE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT IT. THIS IS MY (THE TACOMA'S) 3RD RAPID ACCELERATION INCIDENT AND 3RD TIME I AM REPORTING TO THE NHTSA. FIRST REPORT WAS ON 12/03/09 ID: 174319. THIS TIME I WAS PARKED WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING. UPON MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER FROM P TO N THE MOTOR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. SINCE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL I WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY "FOUND NO PROBLEM". RIGHT! MY SECOND REPORT TO THE NHTSA WAS ON 4/14/10 ODI: 10325627. SAME PROBLEM AS WITH THE FIRST REPORT TO THE NHTSA. I DID NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THIS TIME BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THEY WOULD "NOT FIND ANYTHING." FOR THIS LATEST INCIDENT I AM TAKING THE TRUCK IN ON MONDAY MORNING, 11/29/10 AT THE DEALER'S REQUEST TO ME TODAY. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE DEALER MAY SAY TO ME OR DOES, I AM GETTING RID OF THE TACOMA. IT HAS BECOME TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I AM LUCKY MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING THE TACOMA WHEN THIS LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED. SEE ALSO 10294490 AND 10325627. *DSY *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING IDLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS TO 4000 FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE THEN RESUMED NORMAL IDLING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES BEFORE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,500. SEE ALSO 10288703 *DSY UPDATED 05/19/10 *BF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS RECEIVED UPDATED 06/01/10 ADDITIONAL 06/08/10 *BF UPDATED 06/09/10.*JB
I HAVE 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB 4X4 V6. I ALSO HAD 2008 MODEL OF THE SAME VEHICLE. BOTH THESE VEHICLES SHARED A COMMON NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTIC. THE ENGINES HAVE SUDDEN RPM INCREASES THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO PROPEL THE VEHICLES FORWARD. THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION , AT A RED LIGHT FOR INSTANCE. ADDITIONAL PRESSURE MUST BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKES TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTICAL ON BOTH TACOMAS. *TR
WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND CROSSWALK WAITING FOR TWO PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA SPORT BEGAN TO ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT WAS TO PUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL - WITH THE ENGINE RACING OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL I MANAGED TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF. MY VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 10K MILES ON IT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE BRAKE ON HARD ENOUGH TO PREVENT HITTING THE PEDESTRIANS WHILE MY TIRES WERE SMOKING BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE REVVING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT TURNS THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE REVS VERY LOUDLY. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT A CRASH COULD OCCUR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO COMPUTER FAILURE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A REMEDY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND THEY SENT A TECHNICIAN TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,100. UPDATED 8/18/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE MISSING 1ST GEAR FOR A FEW SECONDS. UPDATED 08/21/09
2009 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH 550 MILES. ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE IN ON 18MAR09;VALVES AND LIFTERS NEED READJUSTING. PICKED VEHICLE UP ON 20MAR09 STILL MAKING NOISE AND LOUDER. BOTH EXHAUST MANIFOLDS WARP AND LEAKING WITH BLUE ON METAL. SUPPOSEDLY FIX BUT ENGINE STILL MAKING NOISE. NOW HEADS AND PISTON HAVE BLUE. TRUCK HAS BEEN IN DEALERSHIPS SERVICE FOR TWO WEEKS NOW. HELP