2009 Toyota PRIUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
502 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
30,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 402 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 109 of 502 complaints (21.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 247 | 49.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 28 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 2.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 109 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 80 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 67 |
| Service Brakes | 63 |
| Electrical System | 53 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 44 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 |
| Engine | 19 |
Exterior Lighting: 109; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 80; Vehicle Speed Control: 67; Service Brakes: 63; Electrical System: 53; Service Brakes, Electric: 44; Unknown Or Other: 21; Engine: 19
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 188 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 43 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 40 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 46 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 52 |
| 150,000 and above | 33 |
Under 25,000: 188; 25,000 to 49,999: 43; 50,000 to 74,999: 40; 75,000 to 99,999: 46; 100,000 to 149,999: 52; 150,000 and above: 33
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (188). 100 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 31 |
| 2010 | 198 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 34 |
| 2014 | 36 |
| 2015 | 32 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2018 | 34 |
| 2019 | 21 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2008: 2; 2009: 31; 2010: 198; 2011: 15; 2012: 8; 2013: 34; 2014: 36; 2015: 32; 2016: 18; 2017: 22; 2018: 34; 2019: 21; 2020: 11; 2021: 10; 2022: 5; 2023: 7; 2024: 9; 2025: 5; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 247 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 28 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10259676 · 2009-02-23 (February 23, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A LIGHTLY SNOW COVERED ROAD SURFACE, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CRASHED ONTO THE CURB IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS UNINJURED, BUT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS IN …
Owner-reported narrative. 480 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10263612 · 2009-03-30 (March 30, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GARAGE DOOR AND THE CONTACT REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THE BODY DAMAGE, NOT FOR THE BRAKES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,200.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10263699 · 2009-03-31 (March 31, 2009)
HI THERE, I HAVE A NEW 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPOT AT THE GARAGE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR STARTED ALL OF A SUDDEN MOVING VERY SMOOTHLY WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE REGARDLESS OF MY ATTEMPTS TO STOP IT. IT WAS HITTING THE WALL IN FRONT OF IT A COUPLE OF TIMES UNTIL I MANAGED TO POWER DOWN THE CAR. THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER TO CHECK BRAKES THOROUGHLY. THEY DID AND TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE WITH THE BRAKES. PE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10263699 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289459 · 2009-10-23 (October 23, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 10-15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FORCEFULLY SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE WHICH THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 2/26/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275395 · 2009-06-30 (June 30, 2009)
WE OWN A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS AND WE'RE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE PRIUS'S STEERING WHILE OPERATING THE CAR OVER 60 MPH. THE CAR WANTS TO SHIFTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY MOVING THE WHEEL , ATTEMPTING TO STEER THE CAR STRAIGHT . DURING ANY CROSS WINDS THE PROBLEM IS WORST. WE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER AND TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AND BOTH INDICATED, "THE CAR IS WORKING AS DESIGNED." INVESTIGATING MY CAR PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED PRIUSCHAT.COM . THERE I FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS OF DIFFERENT YEAR PRIUSES…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10304951 · 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)
WAITING FOR MY HUSBAND AT HIS MOTHER'S ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE, I PUT MY 2009 PRIUS IN PARK MODE. DECIDING TO RETURN TO THE BLDG ENTRANCE, I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE (OUT OF PARKING MODE) AND LET IT GO AT ITS OWN SPEED. MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS ABOUT TO TURN THE WHEEL TO REENTER THE ENTRANCE AREA, WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I QUICKLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. I THEN SAW A WOMAN IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, ABOUT A FOOT FROM ME STANDING ON THE CURB IN FRONT OF THE BLDG'S GLASS FAADE. I …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,222 miles reported. Look up ODI 10304951 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10308421 · 2010-02-10 (February 10, 2010)
2009 TOYOTA PRIUS ISSUE: DEALERSHIP: THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE/RECOMMENDATION DESPITE MULTIPLE VOICEMAILS AND EMAIL DATED 2/6/10 TO [email removed]. TOYOTA: AWAITING RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA CASE MANAGER AFTER TWO PHONE CALLS, ONCE ON 2/9/10 AND ONE ON 2/10/10. SUMMARY: 1. I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT I EXPERIENCED A STICKING ACCELERATOR PROBLEM SEVERAL WEEKS BACK, WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING IN REVERSE AND WOULD NOT STOP DESPITE THE BRAKE BEING PUMPED A FEW TIMES. THE CAR WAS FINALLY BROUGHT TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10322309 · 2010-03-26 (March 26, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON EIGHT DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND SPEED UP. AT TIMES, IT WOULD EVENTUALLY INCREASE IN SPEED AND THEN IMMEDIATELY STALL THEREAFTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10322309 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10253053 · 2008-12-29 (December 29, 2008)
UNABLE TO PROPERLY FILL THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL BLADDER COLLAPSES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10255399 · 2009-01-17 (January 17, 2009)
FUEL TANK CAPACITY DANGEROUSLY VARIABLE IN TOYOTA PRIUS. OUR 2009 PRIUS ROUTINELY IS UNABLE TO FILL TO FULL CAPACITY OF 11.9 GALLONS. WORSE IS COLD TEMPERATURES. WAS NOT TOLD OF THIS ISSUE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. HAVE SINCE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE FUEL BLADDER FROM CONSUMER CHAT FORUMS, BUT TOYOTA NEEDS TO DISCLOSE THE RANGE OF FUEL CAPACITY IN THEIR MANUALS, OR IMPROVE THE DESIGN TO *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10255399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10297382 · 2009-12-29 (December 29, 2009)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID (GAS/ELECTRIC) ON MARCH 31, 2009. THE CAR WORKED GREAT, BUT WITH ONLY 490 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, I DID A ROUTINE SHUT DOWN OF THE CAR ON MAY 20, 2009 WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE ANYTHING BUT ROUTINE. DURING THIS EVENT, I SHUT THE CAR OFF USING THE PROCEDURE TAUGHT TO ME BY THE DEALERSHIP SALESMAN, WHICH WAS THE SAME PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THE USER MANUAL. HOWEVER, AT THIS SHUT DOWN, A VERY DRAMATIC POWER SURGE WENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM, JOLTING THE ENGINES IN THEIR MOTOR MOUNTS (I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD SQ…
Owner-reported narrative. 490 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10304480 · 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)
AT ALL SPEEDS BELOW 15MPH, THE PRIUS' ELECTRICAL BRAKING SYSTEM "PULSES" THE BRAKES RESULTING IN A DECELERATION THAT IS NOT SMOOTH. THE EFFECT IS SIMILAR TO THAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT AS THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. BUT...THE TRANSMISSION EFFECT CAN BE ELIMINATED SINCE THE BRAKE PULSING EFFECT REMAINS AFTER THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE LOCAL ALBUQUERQUE PRIUS DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS PULSING IS "NORMAL" FOR THE PRIUS. ON SLIPPERY PAVEMENT, THIS EFFECT COULD BE DEADLY. THE BRAKING SHOULD BE S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10304480 at NHTSA ↗