CarBrief

The 2009 Yaris gets up to 32 mpg combined[1], but it has 10 recalls on file with NHTSA[2]. Five of them involve air bags and one involves seat rails[3], so check recall status before you buy or keep one.

103owner complaints[4]
10recalls[2]
31–32MPG combined (EPA)[1]

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 103 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Yaris[4]. Of those, 25 mention a crash, 2 a fire and 15 injuries[4]. No deaths are reported[4]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several parts.

Complaints by component group:

Component group Complaints
Air bags[5] 48
Speed control[6] 13
Electrical system[7] 12
Brakes[8] 11
Seats[9] 11
Structure[10] 8
Suspension[11] 7
Engine[12] 5

Air bags. This is the biggest group by far, with 18 crashes and 13 injuries[5]. In the sample of complaint texts we read, 7 of 10 describe air bags that did not deploy in a crash[5]. One more describes a dealer who could not supply a recall part[5]. Remember that a complaint is one person's account. It does not prove the cause.

Speed control. In a sample of 12 complaint texts, 7 describe the car speeding up or revving without the driver asking for it, or the pedal not responding[6]. This group has 4 crashes and 2 injuries[6].

Seats. In a sample of 11 texts, 6 describe waiting for seat recall parts or being told they were not available[9]. No crashes or injuries are listed for this group[9]. The seat recall is covered below.

Electrical system. In a sample of 10 texts, 3 describe the engine stalling or losing power and 2 describe a key that stuck or would not turn to start[7]. This group has 2 fires[7].

Brakes, structure, suspension and engine each have 11 or fewer complaints[8][10][11][12]. We do not call any of them a common problem.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2009 Yaris[2]. Newest first:

Several of these recalls apply only to certain states or build dates, so one recall may cover a car and another may not[13][14][15][18]. Owners also describe repair waits. In the complaint texts we read, some say recall parts were not available when they called a dealer[5][9].

Fuel economy

EPA rates the 1.5L 4-cylinder Yaris at two levels:

Version City / highway / combined Annual fuel cost
Manual 5-speed[1] 29 / 36 / 32 mpg $2,100
Automatic 4-speed[22] 29 / 35 / 31 mpg $2,150

Both use regular gas and front-wheel drive[1][22]. EPA's annual cost uses its current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Safety ratings

In NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings, the 4-door front-wheel-drive 2009 Yaris is not rated[23]. That means there is no star score to compare. The air bag complaints and recalls above are the safety information we have.

Engine and size

The EPA ratings above are for a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine[1][22]. We do not have a horsepower figure for this page.

Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models[24][25][26].

Body Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
2-door hatch[24] 151 in 67 in 60 in 97 in 2,315 lb
4-door hatch[25] 151 in 67 in 60 in 97 in 2,315 lb
4-door sedan[26] 169 in 67 in 57 in 100 in 2,315 lb

How 2009 compares with other years

2007: 296 complaints, 10 recalls20072008: 247 complaints, 10 recalls20082009: 103 complaints, 10 recalls10320092010: 90 complaints, 9 recalls20102011: 25 complaints, 3 recalls20112012: 35 complaints, 5 recalls20122013: 9 complaints, 1 recalls20132014: 3 complaints, 1 recalls20142015: 15 complaints, 4 recalls20152016: 5 complaints, 2 recalls20162017: 31 complaints, 3 recalls20172018: 12 complaints, 1 recalls20182019: 26 complaints, 3 recalls20192020: 10 complaints, 1 recalls2020
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Yaris model year. The 2009 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
200729610
200824710
200910310
2010909
2011253
2012355
201391
201431
2015154
201652
2017313
2018121
2019263
2020101

NHTSA has 103 complaints and 10 recalls for the 2009 model year[2]. Among the Yaris years on file:

So 2009 ranks third for complaints, behind 2007 and 2008. It ties 2007 and 2008 for the most recalls[2]. Each year from 2011 to 2020 has 35 complaints or fewer and 5 recalls or fewer[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so treat the comparison as rough.

Should you buy a used 2009 Yaris?

EPA rates the 2009 Yaris at 31 to 32 mpg combined, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,100 to $2,150[1][22]. The concern is its recall history. It has 10 recalls, and five involve air bags[3][13][14][15][17]. If you are shopping, ask for proof that the air bag inflator, seat rail and window switch recalls were done. For 14V168, ask a dealer whether the remedy is available yet[17]. Merge the two sentences about 14V168 and the owner reports, or drop the sentence beginning "If you are shopping" into the one before it.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Toyota Yaris?
Air bags have the most complaints at 48 of 103 on file with NHTSA[4][5]. Speed control has 13 and electrical problems 12[6][7].
How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Yaris have?
NHTSA lists 10 recalls, including air bag inflators, the driver air bag cable, front seat rails and the power window switch[2][3][17][18][16].
What gas mileage does the 2009 Toyota Yaris get?
EPA rates the manual at 29 city, 36 highway and 32 combined mpg[1]. The automatic is 29, 35 and 31[22].
Is the 2009 Toyota Yaris a good year?
It has fewer complaints than 2007 (296) and 2008 (247) but ties them at 10 recalls[2]. Check that the recalls were completed.
How big is the 2009 Toyota Yaris?
The sedan is 169 inches long[26] and the hatchbacks are 151 inches long[24][25]. Curb weight is 2,315 lb for each[24][25][26]. These are Canadian-market specifications[24][25][26].

Facts and sources

  1. EPA rating for Yaris, 1.5L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 36 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Toyota Yaris model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. Recall 19V741, filed October 17, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  4. NHTSA has 103 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Toyota Yaris (25 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 15 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  5. 48 complaints name the air bags component group (18 crashes, 0 fires, 13 injuries, median mileage at failure 47,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 13 complaints name the speed control component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 7,600). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 12 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 37,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 11 complaints name the brakes component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 47,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 11 complaints name the seats component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 8 complaints name the structure component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 95,630). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 7 complaints name the suspension component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 108,261). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 5 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. Recall 18V024, filed January 9, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 17V006, filed January 9, 2017: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  15. Recall 16V340, filed May 23, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  16. Recall 15V689, filed October 22, 2015: Visibility › Power Window Devices And Controls. NHTSA recall database
  17. Recall 14V168, filed April 9, 2014: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  18. Recall 14V169, filed April 9, 2014: Seats. NHTSA recall database
  19. Recall 10V036, filed February 3, 2010: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
  20. Recall 10V035, filed February 3, 2010: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
  21. Recall 09V223, filed June 15, 2009: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
  22. EPA rating for Yaris, 1.5L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 35 highway / 31 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  23. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  24. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, YARIS 2DR HATCH FWD CE/RS: length 151 in, width 67 in, height 60 in, wheelbase 97 in, curb weight 2,315 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  25. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, YARIS 4DR HATCH FWD LE/RS: length 151 in, width 67 in, height 60 in, wheelbase 97 in, curb weight 2,315 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  26. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, YARIS 4DR SEDAN FWD: length 169 in, width 67 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 100 in, curb weight 2,315 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.