The Lemon Index2009 Toyota RAV4.
The 2009 Toyota RAV4 is worse than average by owner complaints: 152 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 127, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about speed control, it has 15 recalls, and it gets 21 to 24 mpg combined. The best Toyota RAV4 year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 327 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Toyota RAV4 year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 7K to 74K miles on the car (240 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- speed control complaints mostly came at 5K–21K miles
- suspension complaints mostly came at 15K–85K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 23K–110K miles
Recalls 15
- suspension 2016
The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing.
- seats 2016
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
- seat belts 2016
In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame.
Show all 15 recalls
- visibility 2015
During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
- wipers & visibility 2015
In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.
- seats 2014
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.
- suspension 2013
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.
- airbags 2013
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. This could increase the risk…
- visibility 2012
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.
- suspension 2012
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.
- speed control 2011
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 LEXUS LX570, 2003 THROUGH 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, AND 2006 THROUGH 2010 RAV4 VEHICLES.
- equipment 2010
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 S…
- equipment 2010
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 BETW…
- speed control 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 CAMRY, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX, RAV4, MODEL YEAR 2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SEQUOIA, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 …
- equipment 2009
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 27,080 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER CARS BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO MAY 4, 2009.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 287 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Multiple warning lights illuminated, vehicle not shifting from park to drive, and other…
- 2009-2011 rav4
- Growl noise, due
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedPower window master switch fire2012–2013
- ClosedPower window master switch fire2012
- ClosedUnintended and uncontrolled acceleration2010–2011
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2700–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Letter from senator burr on behalf of constituent concerning accelerator stick problems with his mother's Toyota RAV4
2009 Toyota RAV4 owner · NHTSA complaint 10355337
More owner reports
2009 Toyota rav 4. Consumer states the brakes ware out every 7000 to 9000 miles
NHTSA complaint 10382314
Quick answers
Is the 2009 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 127; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota RAV4 year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2009 Toyota RAV4 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are speed control (52%), brakes (12%) and transmission & drivetrain (7%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota RAV4 have?
15 safety recalls (latest: suspension). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Toyota RAV4 get?
21 to 24 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2009 Toyota RAV4 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 7,600 and 74,800 miles. The middle report was at 26,000 miles, from 240 complaints.
Does the 2009 Toyota RAV4 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 7% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2009 Toyota RAV4 cost in fuel a year?
About $2700 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2009 Toyota RAV4 have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota RAV4 year is better than the 2009?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2022 and 2015.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works