Is the 2009 Toyota RAV4 a bad year?
327 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other RAV4 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Toyota RAV4 are in line with other RAV4 years. Speed control and suspension stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 RAV4 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 11,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 99 (30%) | 5k–21k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 55 (17%) | 40k–96k miles · ahead | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Brakes | 31 (9%) | 2k–64k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 34 (10%) | 26k–86k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 28 (9%) | 25k–101k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 26 (8%) | 33k–78k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 19 (6%) | 28k–80k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 17 (5%) | 22k–70k miles · ahead | — |
| Air bags | 13 (4%) | 46k–90k miles · ahead | — |
| Fuel system | 10 (3%) | 14k–85k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Wheels | 10 (3%) | 19k–66k miles · ahead | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (2%) | 38k–86k miles · ahead | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 11,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 327 complaints: 52 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 15 report an injury · 7 say the car was towed.
4 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in May 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I was coming to a stop at traffic light. As I slowed down with my foot on the brake the engine suddenly began to surge.
The brake was engaged in traffic when the car started to accelerate. I applied the brake more firmly and put the car in park.
Whenever we are traveling about 40 MPH and 1500 RPM, there is a rattle noise. The vibration holds for as long as 1-2 seconds.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 11,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Toyota RAV4: 15
The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing. As a result of being loose, the arm may have thread damage and may rust, possibly leading to the failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame. A cut seat belt may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts. If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor. Over time, the dripping water may cause corrosion and wear at the joint, potentially resulting in the separation of the wiper linkage.
The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring. 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.
If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. 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.
The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat. If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust, leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. 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.
These vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
These vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. This does not meet the standard requirements.
Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever may become smooth during vehicle operation. The accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.
These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 158
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Toyota RAV4. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
Some vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0138 (Oxygen Sensor Circuit High Voltage [Bank 1 Sensor 2])
Some vehicles may exhibit a growl type noise from the rear differential coupling when driving as a result of contamination to the front bearing
In certain 2006 to 2012 model year RAV4 4WD vehicles, Toyota has received some reports where the vehicle may exhibit a growl type noise from the rear…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Power Window Master Switch Fire
Power Window Master Switch Fire
Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration
Neighbouring years
2008 RAV4: 575 complaints, consider selling · 2010 RAV4: 400 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota RAV4 year
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Questions
Is the 2009 Toyota RAV4 a bad year?
327 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other RAV4 years. At 11,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Toyota RAV4?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: speed control (99), suspension (55), brakes (31), engine (34), transmission and drivetrain (28).
How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota RAV4 have?
15 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 16V-596), Seats (NHTSA 16V-396), Seat belts (NHTSA 16V-096), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 15V-689) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.