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2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix, most often about the air bags (54% of complaints, typically around 57,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Corolla Matrix model year since 2000 and has 8 recalls.
Most common 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix problems
Air bags
40 complaints · 54%Half of these problems showed up before 57,500 miles.
I was involved in an accident where a driver t-boned my vehicle on the drivers side,the drivers side door took the worst damage along with the roof molding,fender and quarter panel,state farm declared the car a total. I called Toyota and open a case because the air bag sensor number 3 in the owners manual in the…
Takata recall 16v-340: I was notified by Toyota that my vehicle was subject to the takata airbag recall for passenger side airbags 3 months ago. The dealer indicated that a replacement part was not yet available and was unable to give me an estimated timeframe in which it would be available for replacement. I am…
Engine
14 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 110,000 miles.
Vehicle has stalled several times. All instances the vehicle stalls while driving. Problem is random and non-repeatable. I have had the vehicle stall while at various speeds ranging from 15 MPH to 55+ MPH (on highways or even local roads). Most recent stall was 09/17/2018. Making a right hand turn, vehicle stalled.…
On humid mornings, engine occasionally misses on start up then clears. Engine stalled with no warning and almost caused a rear end collision when it suddenly lost power on acceleration onto busy road. Next morning engine would not start until later in day after warming up. It started with extreme miss then cleared.…
Speed control
7 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Tl contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The contact had the first pedal replaced and one week later, the contact had another sudden acceleration occur while driving 5 MPH through a parking lot. The contact also had an incident while sitting at a traffic light. The vehicle started to make a roaring sound and…
While driving on the highway on february 23, 2012, I lost acceleration with no warning whatsoever. No other problems were encountered at that time. I was able to get off the highway and have my car towed to the dealership. Their diagnosis was as follows: "connected scan tool and found code p0121 throttle pedal…
Steering
6 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles.
Difficult to steer. I have to keep hands gripped on wheel, especially when turning. I'm almost landing in the oncoming lane. If I it a bump in the road, the vehicle leers.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix. When the vehicle was started, the electronic power steering indicator illuminated and the steering ability seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering shaft computer needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
Brakes
5 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: power assist.
I was driving on the road around the neiborhood at the t intersection ,I try to brake but my car was not stop .then I try to put on the brake all the time but my car still keep going and hit a stair brick in front of the house ..
I was crossing the bump on the road and after that I lost control. I hit a mail box in my community and I crashed in my one of my neighbor car in the lot. I contacted Toyota and sent pictures after the incident. They denied my claim. I had to pay for everything even thought Toyota knew about that acceleration problem.
Body and structure
4 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: body.
The contact has a 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The contact stated that after taking the back of the vehicle apart there was one vent found behind each wheel that allows small animals to get in a set up a nest. The contact found a mouse nest twice in the back of the vehicle and is worried that this can cause an accident…
I was involved in an accident where a driver t-boned my vehicle on the drivers side,the drivers side door took the worst damage along with the roof molding,fender and quarter panel,state farm declared the car a total. I called Toyota and open a case because the air bag sensor number 3 in the owners manual in the…
Electrical
4 complaints · 5%In motion with lights on, and when switching to high beam lights shut off and vehicle warning icons on dash light up; lights come back on momentarily.
Suspect faulty ECM (engine control module) as evidenced by recall on vehicles up to 2008. Vehicle randomly loses power, both in motion at various speeds and at rest. All lights and indications go dark. Dash lights may come back on momentarily including all warning indications in dash, and engine may resume running.…
Other or unspecified
3 complaints · 4%While driving home my car started burning. I pulled over with smoke pouring out of the engine area and the car just stopped. I opened the hood and there were flames coming up from behind the engine. The fire grew until it engulfed the front of the car. The fire department came and put out the fire. The 2009 matrix was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began november 20, 2019. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are j0a, j0b, and j0c. Lexus' numbers for this recall are jli, jlj, and jlk.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4runner, 2003-2006 tundra, 2003-2013 corolla, 2009-2010 corolla matrix, 2004-2005 rav4, 2002-2007 sequoia, 2011-2013 sienna, 2008-2012 scion xb, 2008-2009 lexus is-f, 2007-2012 yaris and lexus es350, 2010-2017 lexus gx460, 2002-2010 lexus sc430, 2006-2012 lexus is250 and is350 and 2010-2015 lexus is250c and is350c vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota, scion and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on january 29, 2018. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "zone a" toyota: g0p, lexus: glg; "zone b" toyota: g0r, lexus glh; "zone c" toyota: h0a, and lexus: hla.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2013 scion xb, toyota corolla, corolla matrix, sienna, 4runner, lexus is250, is350, is250c, is350c, is-f, and gx460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of al, ca, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, sc, tx, pr, as, gu, the mp (saipan), and the u.s. Vi or "zone a." toyota is also recalling certain 2010 scion xb, toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, 4runner, lexus is250, is350, is250c, is350c, es350, is-f, gx460, and pontiac vibe vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of az, ar, de, dc, il, in, ks, ky, md, mo, ne, nv, nj, nm, nc, oh, ok, pa, tn, va, and wv or "zone b." toyota is also recalling certain 2009 scion xb, toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, lexus is250, is350, es350, is-f, and pontiac vibe vehicles ever registered in the states of ak, co, ct, id, ia, me, ma, mi, mn, mt, nh, ny, nd, or, ri, sd, ut, vt, w
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota, scion and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on february 1, 2017. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are g0p (toyota zone a), g0r (toyota zone b), h0a (toyota zone c), glg (lexus zone a), glh (lexus zone b) and hla (lexus zone c).
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2012 toyota 4runner, corolla, corolla matrix, sienna, yaris, scion xb, lexus es350, gx460, is-f, is250, is350, is250c, is350c, and lexus lfa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, toyota is recalling certain 2009 toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, yaris hb, scion xb, pontiac vibe, lexus, es350, is250, is350, and is-f vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsy
Visibility and wipers: power window devices and controls
Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the pwms circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin december 20, 2015. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is c0m.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor company (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 tundra, sequoia, corolla, corolla matrix and scion xb, 2008-2011 highlander and highlander hybrid, 2007 camry and camry hybrid, 2009 camry and camry hybrid, 2006-2011 rav4, 2006-2010 yaris, and 2009-2010 scion xd and pontiac vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the power window master switch (pwms), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: If the ffc is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically necessitates deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota vehicle owners, and general motors will notify the pontiac vibe owners. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in may 2014 to advise owners of the recall. Toyota will mail owners a second letter when remedy parts are available. General motors sent pontiac vibe owners an interim letter on june 20, 2014 notifying them that parts are currently unavailable. General motors sent notices to the pontiac vibe owners on september 15, 2014, that a remedy is available. The recall began on october 27, 2014. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Owners may con
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 rav4, 2006-2010 yaris, 2008-2010 highlander, and 2009-2010 tacoma, corolla, corolla matrix and general motors pontiac vibe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a flexible flat cable (ffc). Due to the shape and location of the ffc's retainer, the ffc could become damaged when the steering wheel is turned.
Visibility and wipers: power window devices and controls
Risk: If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their toyota dealer or the toyota customer experience center at 1-800-331-4331. General motors will contact the pontiac vibe owners affected by this recall and gm dealers will inspect and repair switches as necessary. Those owners may contact pontiac customer care at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 camry, camry hybrid, rav4, corolla, corolla matrix, tundra, sequoia, highlander, highlander hybrid, yaris, scion xb, scion xd and pontiac vibe vehicles. 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. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: The accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly. Gm will notify owners for the pontiac vibe please see 10v-018. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on february 5, 2010 and will be completed on march 15, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
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 tundra vehicles. Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever may become smooth during vehicle operation. In this condition, if condensation occurs on the surface, as may occur from heater operation (without A/C) when the pedal assembly is cold, the friction when the accelerator pedal is operated may increase, which may result in the accelerator pedal becoming harder to depress, slower to return, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position.
Brakes: vacuum
Risk: This could lead to an increase in vehicle stopping distance and a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a newly designed intake air connector which will relocate the brake system vacuum port. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on september 21, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 scion xd and my 2009-2010 corolla, and corolla matrix vehicles equipped with 1.8l engine and originally sold in or currently registered in the states of alaska, colorado, idaho, illinois, iowa, kansas, maine, michigan, minnesota, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new york, north dakota, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. When driving under certain unique conditions in extremely low ambient temperatures, the intake manifold suction port for the brake vacuum can become blocked due to the freezing of condensation resulting from positive crankcase ventilation.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Steering wander or drift
Summary
On february 18, 2010, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened preliminary evaluation pe10-008 to investigate complaints of steering wander or drift in model year (my) 2009 and 2010 toyota corolla and matrix vehicles.the complaint descriptions indicated dissatisfaction with the on-center steering feel in the subject vehicles. Some drivers (~25%) related the feel to driving in a strong crosswind and others indicated that the effort and attention required to maintain heading increased driver fatigue on long trips.these complaints all relate to the system operating as designed and do not involve failure of any steering system components.the subject vehicles are equipped with an electron
Questions about the 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (40 complaints, typically around 57,500 miles); engine (14 complaints, typically around 110,000 miles); speed control (7 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 17, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2009 a bad year for the Toyota Corolla Matrix?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Corolla Matrix model year since 2000, with 74 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.