ToyotaRAV4 Limited2009L4/toyota/rav4-limited/2009/l4/

2009 Toyota RAV4 Limited — L4

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 RAV4 Limited L4.

Body SUVEngine L4Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2009 Toyota RAV4 Limited L4 is a compact SUV powered by a four-cylinder engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA fuel economy of 22 city, 28 highway, and 24 combined mpg and requiring 4.6 quarts of 0W-20 or 5W-20 API motor oil at service. As a mid-cycle entry in the third-generation platform, this model year carries a notably heavy reliability burden — 327 owner complaints and 15 recalls place it among the more troubled years in the RAV4's history, with vehicle speed control issues standing out as the top complaint area, a signal that researchers should weigh carefully when evaluating this specific model year against the RAV4's otherwise strong long-term reputation.

Model year201120102009200820072006

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 / 5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy22/28/24 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9672335028. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnEHWOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-55R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9672335028 alt 9030179006
Engine air filter17801YZZ06
Spark plug9091901233
Battery2880028080 alt 2880054020
Front wiper blades852220R040 alt 852120R040
Serpentine belt99367K1550 alt 90916A2021
Thermostat90916A3002 alt 90916A3003
Cabin air filter8713950100 alt 8713902090

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length179.1 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height68.9 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight3444 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 61 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined22 / 28 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.6 qt of 0W-20 / 5W-20 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 9.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.1 Pints
Engine Oil0W-20 · API · 5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity4.6 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.4 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts184 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts184 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts61 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts72 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsLower: 15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Main Bearings16
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039
Spark Plug Torque18 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.25-1.38 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum44.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum50.0 psi
Residual Pressure21.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance0.3-100 ohms
Injector Primary Resistance0.3-100 ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle79 ft-lbs / 65 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in / 0.0059 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.984 in / 1.102 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.984 in / 1.102 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.866 in / 0.984 in / 0.413 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 127 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9018 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
127 ft. lbs.27 ft. lbs
290 degrees.90 degrees
390 degrees.; Bolts 9-10: 22 ft. lbs.90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30 ft. lbs., Step 3: 9015 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft Flange Yoke (torque) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2009 Toyota RAV4 Limited lead in one area — the vehicle speed control, 80 of 327 reports (24%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 15 recall campaigns target the vehicle speed control, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 52 of the reports describe a crash and 3 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the vehicle speed control pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

15
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
287
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
327
Owner complaints
52 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 327 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control80
Suspension43
Power Train24
Engine17
Unknown Or Other15
Steering15
Electrical System12
Service Brakes, Hydraulic12

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 15 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V096000Seat Belts:Rear/OtherReported 19/02/2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protector over both rear seat cushion frames, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota…

16V596000Suspension:RearReported 12/08/2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2005, to September 7, 2010, and 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured July 6… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will replace both rear suspension arms and encapsulate the locknuts, free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2016. Owners may…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 287 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0055-24 Rev22026-01-07Unknown Or OtherSome 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…
T-SB-0038-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureTo prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film…
T-SB-0039-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureThe condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the…
T-SB-0061-23 Rev22024-12-05StructureToyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RAV4 Limited. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2009 RAV4 Limited L4 take?

4.6 qt of 0W-20 API, 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2009 RAV4 Limited have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 15 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the L4 get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 28 highway / 24 combined mpg.