2009 Toyota Tacoma Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the 2009 Toyota Tacoma, 23% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 78,700 miles. The words owners use most often: “leaf spring” (24% of reports).
- 119suspension complaints
- 78,700median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 39%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Leaf spring: mentioned in 29 of 119 complaints (24%)
- Suspension updated: mentioned in 7 of 119 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical suspension repair on the 2009 Toyota Tacoma at $1,200, and half of them between $900 and $1,450.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2017), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 51 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 119 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Toyota Tacoma suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Tacoma | 9 | 8% | — |
| 2024 Tacoma | 5 | 3% | — |
| 2023 Tacoma | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2021 Tacoma | 3 | 4% | — |
| 2020 Tacoma | 1 | 1% | 2,527 |
| 2019 Tacoma | 4 | 2% | 12 |
| 2018 Tacoma | 6 | 3% | 2,700 |
| 2017 Tacoma | 6 | 2% | 2,000 |
| 2016 Tacoma | 14 | 4% | 30,000 |
| 2015 Tacoma | 4 | 4% | 38,000 |
| 2014 Tacoma | 8 | 9% | 20,500 |
| 2013 Tacoma | 14 | 11% | 38,423 |
| 2012 Tacoma | 21 | 7% | 55,000 |
| 2011 Tacoma | 60 | 32% | 96,193 |
| 2010 Tacoma | 95 | 32% | 44,946 |
| 2009 Tacoma | 119 | 23% | 78,700 |
| 2008 Tacoma | 124 | 28% | 78,000 |
| 2007 Tacoma | 118 | 22% | 96,234 |
| 2006 Tacoma | 154 | 20% | 95,000 |
| 2005 Tacoma | 137 | 19% | 102,000 |
| 2004 Tacoma | 84 | 20% | 120,000 |
| 2003 Tacoma | 66 | 18% | 136,000 |
| 2002 Tacoma | 82 | 25% | 131,000 |
| 2001 Tacoma | 81 | 20% | 168,418 |
| 2000 Tacoma | 52 | 25% | 155,000 |
| 1999 Tacoma | 35 | 14% | 133,000 |
| 1998 Tacoma | 28 | 9% | 167,276 |
| 1997 Tacoma | 24 | 18% | 189,000 |
| 1996 Tacoma | 87 | 34% | 137,345 |
| 1995 Tacoma | 90 | 51% | 180,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:leaf
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Toyota Tacoma Pre-Runner and 4x4 vehicles manufactured September 14, 2009, to October 11, 2010. In the affected vehicles, one of the leaf springs may fracture due to stress or corrosion. While being driven, the broken leaf could move out of position and contact surrounding components including the fuel tank, possibly puncturing the tank and causing a fuel leak.
Risk: If the fuel tank leaks fuel from being punctured, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will install new rear leaf spring assemblies. The recall began on January 29, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Frame is rusted out under engine above axle housing.
I have a 2009 Toyota Tacoma that has a significant amount of frame rust. I have recently learned that Toyota lost a class action lawsuit on this model of Tacoma because the frames would rot quickly. I was not aware of this recall, nor was I notified and because of that I missed the 12-year windows…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2009 Toyota Tacomas have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 119 owner complaints about suspension for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma (23% of the 519 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Toyota Tacoma suspension?
Yes: 1 safety recall list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do suspension problems start?
The median reported mileage is 78,700 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix suspension problems on the 2009 Toyota Tacoma?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,200 (half paid between $900 and $1,450), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the 2009 Toyota Tacoma?
The most frequent phrase is “leaf spring”, in 29 of 119 complaints, followed by “suspension updated” (7).
Other 2009 Toyota Tacoma problems
See all 2009 Toyota Tacoma problems or suspension problems across all Tacoma years.