2009 Toyota Prius Reliability
The 2009 Toyota Prius has 502 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and exterior lighting. Compared with other Prius model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Prius's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
502
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
64
Complaints citing a crash
4
Complaints citing a fire
2009 Toyota Prius complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 model year, filed between 2008 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 199 | 40% |
| Exterior lighting | 111 | 22% |
| Speed control / throttle | 71 | 14% |
| Electrical system | 60 | 12% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 22 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 21 | 4% |
| Engine | 19 | 4% |
| Body structure | 19 | 4% |
2009 Toyota Prius recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2009 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09V388000 | Oct 5, 2009 | Speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal | Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger 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. |
| 10V036000 | Feb 3, 2010 | Equipment — other / labels | 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… |
| 10V035000 | Feb 3, 2010 | Equipment — other / labels | 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… |
| 12V537000 | Nov 14, 2012 | Steering | Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the… |
| 12V536000 | Nov 14, 2012 | Engine & cooling | Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2003, through March 30, 2009 and FCHV-adv vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, through September 13, 2011. During manufacturing, a scratch may have occurred inside of… |
| 13V014000 | Jan 16, 2013 | Air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive | 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… |
How the 2009 compares with nearby Prius years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Prius analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2,004 | 4 | Exterior lighting | Avoid |
| 2008 | 1,497 | 4 | Exterior lighting | Avoid |
| 2009 (this page) | 502 | 6 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2010 | 2,823 | 10 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2011 | 523 | 6 | Service brakes | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2009 Toyota Prius
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2009 Toyota Prius can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2009 Toyota Prius reliability FAQ
Is the 2009 Toyota Prius reliable?
The 2009 Toyota Prius has 502 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and exterior lighting. Compared with other Prius model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Prius's typical year.
What are the most common 2009 Toyota Prius problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Toyota Prius are service brakes (199), exterior lighting (111), speed control / throttle (71), electrical system (60). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2009 Toyota Prius have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2009 Toyota Prius, including 09V388000 (speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal) and 10V036000 (equipment — other / labels). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2009 Toyota Prius compare with the 2008 and 2010 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2008 has 1,497 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid); the 2010 has 2,823 complaints and 10 recalls (avoid). The 2009 has 502 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2009 Toyota Prius?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Prius research
Other Toyota Prius model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2009 Prius, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.