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2009 Toyota 4Runner Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 2009 Toyota 4Runner, and owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
22
owner complaints to NHTSA
4 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
15–18
MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 2009 Toyota 4Runner

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Seat heater/cooler (seats)

    NHTSA 16V396000 Reported 7,749 vehicles potentially affected Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and…

    Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer…

  2. Seat heater/cooler (seats)

    NHTSA 14V743000 Reported 3,233 vehicles potentially affected Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression…

    Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January…

  3. Seats and air bags: sensor/control module-inactive

    NHTSA 13V014000 Reported 3,235 vehicles potentially affected Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

    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 Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model…

    Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota…

  4. Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 11V113000 Reported 1,363,244 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 lexus lx570, 2003 through 2009 toyota 4runner, and 2006 through 2010 rav4 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.

    Remedy: The remedy is now available. The safety recall began early april 2011. The remedy will involve modification or replacement of the accelerator pedal and replacement of any toyota all-weather floor mat. Owners may…

  5. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 10V035000 Reported 271,417 vehicles potentially affected GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC.

    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 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.

    Remedy: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27,…

  6. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 10V036000 Reported 153,418 vehicles potentially affected SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, LLC

    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 capacity modification labels.

    Remedy: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at…

22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2009 Toyota 4Runner have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 53,256 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 8 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2009 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while pulling out of a driveway, the contact observed a grinding noise coming from the front end of the vehicle and the steering wheel violen”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 13, 2024 · Structure

“On 4/8/22, the rear window of our 2009 Toyota 4runner just shattered and fell apart for no reason. We took it to get replaced at Safelite on 4/13/22 and one of their techs asked if we knew what caused”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 19, 2022 · Unknown or other

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2009 Toyota 4Runner (4Runner 2WD, 4Runner 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined15–18 mpg
City / Highway14–16 / 17–21
FuelRegular
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine6/8 cyl, 4/4.7 L
TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd

Compare Toyota 4Runner model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota 4Runner model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1984 Toyota 4Runner02
1985 Toyota 4Runner02
1986 Toyota 4Runner08
1987 Toyota 4Runner05
1988 Toyota 4Runner19
1989 Toyota 4Runner16
1990 Toyota 4Runner178
1991 Toyota 4Runner143
1992 Toyota 4Runner153
1993 Toyota 4Runner151
1994 Toyota 4Runner112
1995 Toyota 4Runner147
1996 Toyota 4Runner272
1997 Toyota 4Runner1139
1998 Toyota 4Runner1130
1999 Toyota 4Runner0220
2000 Toyota 4Runner0379
2001 Toyota 4Runner1154
2002 Toyota 4Runner1192
2003 Toyota 4Runner3527
2004 Toyota 4Runner2612
2005 Toyota 4Runner5410
2006 Toyota 4Runner5381
2007 Toyota 4Runner5154
2008 Toyota 4Runner596
2009 Toyota 4Runner622
2010 Toyota 4Runner12145
2011 Toyota 4Runner10163
2012 Toyota 4Runner896
2013 Toyota 4Runner636
2014 Toyota 4Runner777
2015 Toyota 4Runner986
2016 Toyota 4Runner879
2017 Toyota 4Runner536
2018 Toyota 4Runner558
2019 Toyota 4Runner465
2020 Toyota 4Runner133
2021 Toyota 4Runner136
2022 Toyota 4Runner339
2023 Toyota 4Runner132
2024 Toyota 4Runner19
2025 Toyota 4Runner159
2026 Toyota 4Runner27

Checking a specific 2009 Toyota 4Runner

How do I know if my 2009 Toyota 4Runner has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 2009 Toyota 4Runner; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 10V035000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Toyota models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.