The contact owns a 2009 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while pulling out of a driveway, the contact observed a grinding noise coming from the front end of the vehicle and the steering wheel violently yanked to the right. Additionally, the contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle pulled to the left inadvertently. The vehicle was stopped and inspected. The contact observed that the front passenger’s side tire was dangling by the rocker arm and the subframe. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s side subframe and the rocker arms needed to be replaced due to extreme corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 114,000.
The worst 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission10
- Electrical4
- Engine4
- Body3
- Airbags2
- Fuel system2
- Steering2
- Suspension2
- Acceleration1
- Seats1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER
Recalls 6
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler
- What is wrong
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
- Risk
- If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1‑866‑405‑4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
Recall number 16V396000 · Recall details
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler
- What is wrong
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
- Risk
- Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
- Remedy
- SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1‑866‑405‑4226.
Recall number 14V743000 · Recall details
Seats
- What is wrong
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
- Risk
- If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
- Remedy
- Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1‑800‑301‑6859.
Recall number 13V014000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
- What is wrong
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 lexus lx570, 2003 through 2009 toyota 4runner, and 2006 through 2010 rav4 vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
- Risk
- A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- The remedy is now available. The safety recall began early april 2011. The remedy will involve modification or replacement of the accelerator pedal and replacement of any toyota all-weather floor mat. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331 or lexus at 1‑800‑255‑3987.
Recall number 11V113000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
- Risk
- This does not meet the standard requirements.
- Remedy
- Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713‑580‑3300.
Recall number 10V035000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
- Risk
- A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1‑800‑301‑6859.
Recall number 10V036000 · Recall details
See all 6 recalls for the 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER
Defect investigations
Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration
On February 16, 2010, the federal safety agency's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V‑388, 10V‑017, and 10V‑023.the federal safety agency also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, the federal safety agency requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to the federal safety agency pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V‑112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V‑113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V‑388 and remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured floor mat.Recall 11V‑115: (1) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS300 (all wheel drive vehicles); and, (2) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS350 (all wheel drive vehicles). The total estimated population under this recall is 19,647 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by inadequate clearance between the pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded in the vehicle's carpet.II. Potential Electronic Causes of Unintended Acceleration.After the federal safety agency opened RQ10-003, the federal safety agency launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.the federal safety agency launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.the federal safety agency enlisted engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to assess whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.That study has concluded.Two reports are associated with the study and are available on the federal safety agency's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the federal safety agency on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).the federal safety agency's report is entitled Technical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems (Feb. 2011).Both reports should be read in conjunction with each other. As stated in its report, NASA did not find an electronic cause of large throttle openings that can result in unintended acceleration incidents. the federal safety agency did not find a vehicle-based cause of unintended acceleration incidents other than the physical pedal interference causes that are being addressed by Toyota's recalls. This RQ is closed.
RQ10003
Technical service bulletins for the 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER 247
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Condition in which a musty odor is present
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical...
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used...
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix...
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal...
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad...
- Condition in which a musty odor is present
- This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for...
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal...
- This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life...
2009 Toyota 4RUNNER fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6‑cyl | RWD | 16 | 21 | 18 |
| 4.7L 8‑cyl | RWD | 15 | 19 | 17 |
| 4.0L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 16 | 20 | 17 |
| 4.7L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 14 | 17 | 15 |
What 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
On 4/8/22, the rear window of our 2009 Toyota 4runner just shattered and fell apart for no reason. We took it to get replaced at Safelite on 4/13/22 and one of their techs asked if we knew what caused the glass to break and we told him we had no idea. We told him it just broke out of nowhere from some strange reason, and he told us that it looks like the window breaking was caused by the overheating of the rear defroster and that it was a common issue with 2009 4runners. We were in shock to find this out and are grateful that our son or dog was not in the back seat when this happened. I found out online that Toyota issued a recall for this issue (Warranty Program ZG7) and I spoke with a Toyota customer service rep to see if we could be reimbursed the $100 we paid out of pocket for this manufacturer's defect and they said the warranty program ended in 2018 so they couldn't help us. We were very disappointed to be told this because this is obviously still happening with these 4runners and it's a major safety issue as well.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota 4runner. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, they crashed into a cow which caused damaged to the front of vehicle. The contact was concerned the air bags failed to deploy. There were no reported injuries. A police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted.the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The manufacturer was contacted however no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 145,000.
Less than 80k miles and frame is completely rotting apart. While driving approximately 40 MPH I lost control because the control arm completely separated from the frame! Completely unsafe and death traps
Steering was very hard to do and really jerky.took it to dealership and was told that the rack and pin needed to be completely corroded and needed to be replaced. Yet another part I have to eat the cost due to corrosion. I have read multiple complaints about the same problems. Why is nothing being done?
Excessive rust on frame with jeopardized integrity at joins connecting brakes, fuel lines and suspensions system.
Upon acceleration, the vehicle hesitates for 2-3 seconds. This happens on starting off, driving down the road, pulling into traffic. I have had it to the dealer 15-20 times and they can't find the cause. They said it had to fail for at least 5 seconds for it to register on the computer module. It never lasts more than 2-3 seconds and, I consider it 'very dangerous'. Dates above are appx. It does it every day.
Driving along a two lane u.s. Highway at the posted speed, I noticed that my fuel gauge was showing fully empty, and the warning light was flashing. Pushing the odometer trip button, I noticed that I had not yet reached the mileage for a "normal" fill up, where I routinely get 20-21 mpg. At the end of that trip,when I turned the vehicle off and restarted it, the fuel gauge showed half full. Using the trip odometer, I drove an additional estimated 30 miles to home. The fuel gauge continued to display half full. The next morning, I drove approximately 3 miles to the gas station, and was surprised when it took almost 15 gallons to fill the tank. The needle on the gauge then went to full. Since then it has only come down to one half, yet my mileage now is at the point (261-270) where I normally fill up when the needle near the empty line. I believe this problem is no doubt widespread.
I was driving in the left/fast lane on a toll road when another vehicle who was speeding in excess of 55mph entering the toll road crossing and cutting off the other lanes of traffic running into me on the passenger side forcing me into the concrete wall/barrier head on. His vehicle swung into again into my passenger rear side then bounced off. I was stunned, in shock, unable to exit on my side and didn't see it coming. I was thrown left into the frame and window and jerked around even though I had my seat belt fastened. The air bags did not deploy. I had front and side curtain airbags and had only just purchased the 4runner a few months prior. It was declared to be totaled. I permanently injured my neck, back and broke my nose. In addition, I have anxiety and panic attacks about driving. The other driver was cited at fault for failure to control speed and unsafe lane changes and his insurance paid for my totaled vehicle and what little insurance coverage he had for my personal injuries. I was just now notified that there was a problem with my vehicle's air bags and sensors (a recall), now that it is almost exactly 4 years from the accident, there is nothing I can apparently do to hold toyota at fault due to statute of limitations. This very upsetting. I am fully disabled now and will be on pain management and periodic physical therapy for the rest of my life, and can no longer even perform simple chores.
When my wife stepped on the gas to pull into a parking spot,the 4runner just lurched forward into a fence. Luckily no one was in front of the 4runner. The bumper and fence was damaged. She is now very scared to drive the 4runner.
Compare the 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER
Is the 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER reliable?
Owners have filed 22 complaints about the 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER, fewer than a typical 4RUNNER model year.
What is the 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER year score?
The 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER scores 80 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Toyota 4RUNNER: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 10 complaints, typically around 20,000 miles. Next is electrical (4).
How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER have?
6 recalls, covering seats, vehicle speed control and equipment.
What year does the Toyota 4RUNNER have bad transmission?
The Toyota 4RUNNER model years with the most transmission complaints are 2000 (42 complaints), 2003 (39 complaints) and 2004 (36 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER get?
Official estimates for the 2009 Toyota 4RUNNER range from 15 to 18 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.0L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 16 city and 21 highway.
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