Info on 2009?

09 owner. 80k miles. Have beaten the shit out of the truck. Rocks, loose gravel, desert, even snow. I didn't buy the truck for the stereo or by where it was made..... I have 4% suspension stock components though.
Buy the truck. Nobody knows the future.
Not sure? Go buy new.

 

Under the truck. No amount of rust is acceptable when you are looking at a truck that is part of the frame recall years.

 

Very Well Put!!!

 

You guys have been a lot of help... at keeping me from being able to sleep tonight!

I did the homework. It's one of the few Tacoma's (not 200 miles away) that has under 100k miles, no accident reports, no recalls, and at my price point. I like used vehicles because all of the infant mortality issues have all been worked out and fixed. Plus, I don't freak out about every stone chip or dent in the bed on a used truck like I would if I just dropped $35k (or more) on a new one. Life is easier lived when you accept it is imperfect.

I did check out the chart and clicked around. The number of NHTSA reports worry me more than the complaints on the site. I'm still having difficultly reconciling that Consumers Report is high on the 09's but the data on that web-site seems to contradict that. It could be that shortly after the 2009 Tacoma was released Toyota had the issues with safety, was fighting recalls, and was even called in front of Congress. The huge up tick in complaints (that don't show up in the CR data) may be a piling on effect. People get that mob mentality and love to kick someone when they are down.

I have nearly 400k of fairly trouble free miles, between the wife and I, when we follow CR's recommendations. Not to mention nearly 20 years of washer & dryer, microwave, dishwasher, and fridge that have needed maybe 3 repairs in total. I will do a more detailed rust check and if all is well probably buy the truck.

I'll be hitting the seat cover, nerf bar, and tires threads in the next few weeks to months to see what everyone has to say about those.

Thanks again for the help. If you think of anything else please post it. I will keep my eye on this thread.

 

Funny how there's no mention of the failing head gaskets in the 05-06 models.

 

I don't know, but I can tell you the radio in my '09 Tundra crapped out after 3 years. Maybe Toyota just had a bad batch of radios in 2009 or something. That's minor though, you can always get a dash kit and go aftermarket, that's what I did with my Tacoma and both of my Tundras.

 

I recommend looking on toyota owners.com to check service history done at toyota dealerships. You can go online and create an account and then add the vin number in for the truck youre looking at.

 

09 TRD here! strong and reliable and first year to introduce some new goodies. worst year my ass...

 

Most of what i've seen about radio issues in the 09 were the JBL amps producing feedback and the bass sounding like crap. Mine had this and the amp was replaced with an updated version that was called out in a TSB within the first year. I believe the 09's were also the main ones that started having melting/cracking DRL lenses. Those were also replaced on mine with an updated headlight assembly.

 

Okay, so I found a little flaw in the whole vehicle report / recall system. The truck I'm looking at (an many others I have looked at) was sold new in Canada, so Carfax and NHTSA show no recalls. However, I went to Transport Canada and searched the VIN. I found two recalls, the leaf spring and the floor mat. Just a heads up for any of you who might be buying used. Check recalls for the country in which it was sold new.

 

I had an 09 sr5 ac mt
It was a great truck till I wrecked it w 140000 on it
Other than possessed radio (quit doing that after a while on its own lol) , a chirping burble in the blower when set on low, and squeaking ass leaf springs that is

 

You better check every inch of that frame underneath. Very important!

 

Yep check the frame, keep in mind some shady dealers will paint over rust to hide it. I've got an 09 with 75k on and had the radio problem, no big deal, put an aftermarket in. Also had the melting lenses from the daytime running lights. Dealer said I was SOL so instead of replacing the entire headlight assembly I just cut the wire to the dtrls and haven't looked back, who needs them anyway. I've had a few things besides the radio here and there that make me question the electrical in the truck, like windshield wipers not acting right then fixing itself. the leaf springs are pathetic but that's not an 09 specific thing. Others have complained the compass going out regularly but mines still good. I have all the faith in the world in the engine and drivetrain. Its the frame and electrical I'm keeping an eye on..

 

Oh yeah I also had to take the starter out and replace the contacts at 45k or so which was kind of annoying, apparently it's not uncommon for Toyotas. My TRD wheels also started flaking paint around 30-40k which seemed ridiculous to me so I repainted them. Currently, my AC compressor needs replaced but that may be in part because i never use my AC so the seals may have gone bad, etc. All minor annoyances, nothing major has been an issue with my truck at all and it sees a lot of use and abuse.

 

I'd bet a dollar I know the guys who engineered that compass. And $100 I know the guy who has the patent on the design. If it does ever go wonky on you just find an empty parking lot and drive in a circle for a couple of minutes. It should square it's self away.

 

My '09 is great!

Gremlins in the radio yes.... non-JBL
the radio comes on by itself when the dashboard gets really hot from sitting in a parking lot.
that's all... a small transmission seal leak at the driveshaft. just one drop. resolved, and that issue
is specific to 4 cylinders

That's few miles for an 09, you should be happy-happy!

 

Okay, so now that I'm back from the north woods and hitting the internet I have a question. Did all the 09's have bad frames and some were treated early enough that there are no issues? The frame material was spec'ed out wrong? Or, was this a quality spill by Dana and there were only batches of 09's (or any other year for that matter) that were effected?

 

Yeah I've been driving this thing hard since I got it and keeping tabs on common problems everyone else is running into. At this point I feel pretty confident I've worked out the kinks for my truck and can expect it to go for hundreds of thousands of miles as long as I keep treating the frame for these Ohio winters.

 

My 09 had a rusty ass #2 intermidiate shaft. (search the forum or my posts to find it)

 

@CharlieCafe your girlfriend is so hot!