general problems of the 2009 Toyota Tacoma

26 problems related to steering have been reported for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2009 Toyota Tacoma based on all problems reported for the 2009 Tacoma.

1 Steering problem

Failure Date: 04/07/2023

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.

2 Steering problem

Failure Date: 01/03/2023

Excessive play in steering wheel.

3 Steering problem

Failure Date: 02/05/2019

It juss started a week or so ago. The power steering is intermittent goin out. It's very scary. I'm not sure what the problem is but it gets stiff like there's no power steering. Than it will come back.

4 Steering problem

Failure Date: 10/08/2018

Power steering goes out intermittently. Highway or back roads make no difference. Turning the wheel suddenly gets stiff, then can slip back into power steering and turn very quickly.

5 Steering problem

Failure Date: 05/03/2018

Steering shaft binding up while turning. There are no grease fittings or boot on universal joints.

6 Steering problem

Failure Date: 04/01/2018

Steering is stiff and jerky causing driving concerns at all speeds. Problem is intermittent making it an issue as can occur at any time. Not power steering related.

7 Steering problem

Failure Date: 03/28/2018

Steering is locking up when I turn very dangerous!!! should be a recall before someone is killed!!!!.

8 Steering problem

Failure Date: 02/05/2018

Steering was very stiff and steering wheel would not return after cornering causing the truck to continue in the wrong direction. The steering is stiffer in some positions than in others.

9 Steering problem

Failure Date: 08/02/2017

The welds lower control arm mount on the driver side failed when I applied the brakes at high speed and almost caused an accident and almost completely removed my wheel and the lower control arm from the car.

10 Steering problem

Failure Date: 05/10/2017

Problem with turning left and right, very stiff, like there was a problem with the power steering. Brought it to my mechanic, he had to install the lower steering shaft. He called are local dealer for the part, they said it is a common problem, they just sold 3 that day. My question is if this is a common problem, why isn't Toyota talking care of this! this is a safety issue! this ended up costing me $400. Very unfair, there needs to be a recall before someone gets hurt.

11 Steering problem

Failure Date: 04/15/2017

The lower steering linkage u joint (intermediate steering shaft) failed due to simple rust. It is unprotected and open to the elements and the failure nearly caused an accident. The symptoms were extreme hard steering and almost caused me to drive off the road going around a corner. This was a sudden issue, not a gradual problem and occurred at all driving speeds. My vehicle only had 100,000 miles on it.

12 Steering problem

Failure Date: 04/11/2017

Steering shaft bound up this am and I almost killed myself and another persn in the other car called dealer he said it is common problem and they change them daily. He said Toyota is aware but feels its not a problem vehicle was in motion when it happened as I was turning it locked up . This is a dangerous situation and idealer knew exactly what was wrong. I went online and typed in Tacoma steering binds and there are a lot of complaints. The service manager told me the ujoint og the steering shaft is exposed to all the elements and it is as common as the Toyota rusty frame recall. . Someone is going to get killed with this problem.

13 Steering problem

Failure Date: 04/05/2017

Steering is getting stiff, especially at lower speeds, tighter turns. Caused by corrosion getting into the u joint of the lower intermediate steering shaft. Poor design, does not protect from weather / road conditions.

14 Steering problem

Failure Date: 03/17/2017

Intermediate steering shaft problem seems like the power steering stops working. The problem seems to be less when there is weight in back of truck.

15 Steering problem

Failure Date: 03/01/2017

Stiff steering. Steering shaft knuckle is exposed and corrodes resulting in the stiff steering. Starts outs as intermittent. Occurs at any speed, turning right or left, all environmental conditions. Very unsafe. Widely known issue.

16 Steering problem

Failure Date: 02/06/2017

I was going into a turn all of a sudden the steering got very stiff I had a hard time steering the truck. I almost hit a guardrail. Had a mechanic check the truck. He found out the universal joint on the steering was very stiff. He was surprised Toyota has no boot covering this like gm does. He clean the universal and covered with a grease. Now when the stiffens comes back I spray with a penetrating oil then re-grease the steering universal. I have done a google search and this has been an ongoing problem with Toyota. I am surprised their is no recall or any major accidents yet.

17 Steering problem

Failure Date: 01/02/2017

The universal joint on the intermediate shaft became corroded, causing the joint to bind and cause steering to become extremely stiff.

18 Steering problem

Failure Date: 07/01/2016

Steering becomes intermittently 'stiff'. Complaint has been documented many times by owners on forums and other on-line sites. Apparently this is a design issue that allows the lower steering joint to suffer accelerated corroded by normal use. Dealers and Toyota do not acknowledge it is a manufacturing issue that can cause/create safety issues with the vehicle. Problem occurs intermittently at any speed of can also occur when attempting to turn steering wheel when vehicle is stopped. Problem is intermittent and various degrees of severity.

19 Steering problem

Failure Date: 04/30/2016

Lack of alignment during Toyota safety recall e02 / NHTSA recall id 14v 604 I am concerned with the lack of vehicle alignment as an included part of e02 post replacement of the rear spring packs. When the rear springs are removed from the vehicle, the rear axle often shifts such that is it no longer in the same position as it was previously installed. Thus the vehicle is no longer properly aligned, as front toe is set based on the thrust angle of the rear axle. The thrust angle is derivative of the alignment of the axle relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and creates a moment about the yaw axis of the vehicle. Re-alignment of the front of the vehicle provides corrective measure by setting front wheel toe to account for the position of the rear axle, thus ensuring the vehicle tracks correctly and is stable during dynamic maneuvers. When the Tacoma first entered the servicing dealer it was confirmed to be correctly aligned. However, the pre-alignment numbers on the hunter expressalign sheet show that the rear axle position after performing e02 has shifted -0. 15° [iso] about its vertical axis relative to the position prior to rear spring replacement. Failure to have the Tacoma realigned would have resulted in the need to counter-steer the vehicle to maintain a straight trajectory during normal operation. It is unacceptable that the customer should be expected to bear the burden of cost for the alignment, when it is necessitated by the corrective actions prescribed by Toyota during e02. Failure to re-align vehicles becomes a safety concern, namely due to uneven tire wear and the potential for instability of the vehicle due to misaligned axles causing the vehicle to increase tendencies to over-steer. I am disappointed in Toyota's apparent disregard for owner safety and feel this is an issue that should be addressed with urgency.

20 Steering problem

Failure Date: 04/17/2016

Vehicle has 91k mileage 4x4 all highway miles. Backed out of my driveway and could not turn wheel. Checked fluid but it was fine. Attempted again and got on local road only to find truck uncontrolable at any speed. Saw another complaint on this after I got vehicle towed back to my house and decided to file complaint. My truck never had an issue like this before now. It is definitely unsafe to drive and Toyota appears to have other Tacoma owners with the same issue that could be fatal if it happens when driving at 65 mph let alone at slower speeds on curves. I will not let my family drive the truck because the steering is so unreliable. Please let me know if Toyota will repair this under a recall or other camps in. VIN is 3tmmu52n19m012213.

21 Steering problem

Failure Date: 03/23/2016

Steering , I bought a new 2009 Tacoma with the platnum warranty and the steering is now not working, I feel that this is unsafe and is difficult to drive. I called the number to tell them that I brought it to a dealer (vanderstyne Toyota rochester NY) to see what the problem was and that I was told I needed to pay 130. 00 for diagnostic fees to see what the problem was with it and that they would not even look at it to see what the problem is. This vehicle does not seem safe to drive. I see there are many recalls on Toyota steering problems and I am forced to contact an attorney to see if this is legal action.

22 Steering problem

Failure Date: 04/22/2013

I was coming into a right handed corner on dry pavement doing 45mph (less than the suggested speed for the corner). As I let off the throttle and turned into the corner the vehicles stability control kicked in causing the truck to go straight. I had to fight aginst the steering wheel and managed to overpower the stability control but by then I was in the on-comming lane.

23 Steering problem

Failure Date: 04/15/2012

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that he was driving 40 mph and lost control of the vehicle, causing him to crash into a guard rail. The steering wheel broke off before the air bag deployed. The contact suffered head injuries and was the only occupant in the vehicle. He was taken to the hospital by another person. The police were notified and a report was available if needed. The vehicle was then towed to an auto body shop. The insurance company was also notified. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 28,000.

24 Steering problem

Failure Date: 01/01/2010

My Tacoma has a constant shimmy in the steering wheel. My mechanic and Toyota service have tried balancing, alignments and road-force testing, but nothing works to eliminate the shake. It is at it's worst when I first accelerate to cruising speed after the truck has sat for eight hours. At these times it is an approximately a 1/4 inch shimmy in the wheel, and is quite a violent shake. It seems to dissipate after a while, but the shimmy never goes away completely. It exists with both my all-season tires, and my snow tires.

25 Steering problem

Failure Date: 09/01/2009

In addition to a rusted frame, my 2009 Tacoma has 1. A rusty air condition system with rusted components. 2. A rusted u joint for steering that was extremely difficult & expensive to replace. 3. A rusted power steering component with a hole in bottom. It can't be fixed until the frame is replaced. I can't safely drive the vehicle. 4. A rusted 4-wheel drive actuator � to be replaced. It doesn't g into 4 wheel drive. 5. Brake line rusted thru. Will these repairs be covered by Toyota as well during the frame replacement?.

26 Steering problem

Failure Date: 01/09/2009

Front end wobbles. Dealer has tried to fix this at least 3 times.



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