KnownCarProblems2009 Toyota Matrix Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 192 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Matrix, most often about the air bags (41% of complaints, typically around 42,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Matrix model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2009 Toyota Matrix problems
Air bags
78 complaints · 41%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Matrix. The contact was driving approximately 55 MPH on a mountainous road and unexpectedly fell asleep. The vehicle rolled down a ravine and crashed into two trees and boulders. The contact fractured his sternum and sustained bruises from the seat belt. A police report was filed of the…
Matrix rear ended a mercury mountaineer at about 35-40 miles per hour. The entire front end of the Matrix went under the mountaineer's bumper. The entire front end of Matrix was pushed back into the coolant system. Both head lights were pushed into the engine compartment. The bumper was almost detached and on the…
Speed control
45 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Tl contact owns a 2009 Toyota Matrix. The contact was driving approximately 65 MPH with the cruise control activated, suddenly the vehicle accelerated to 80 MPH or greater. The cruise .control was deactivated and the vehicle continued at the increased speed rate. There was pressure applied to the brake pedal twice…
On february 11, I took my 2009 Toyota Matrix to motorcars Toyota of cleveland heights, ohio, to have the car repaired in the gas pedal recall. While there, I was informed of another recall on the car, on its brakes. Both of these issues were address and I picked the car up on february 13th. On february 24 at 7:45am, I…
Steering
22 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 29,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist system.
When accelerating, the car veers sharply to the right. It's not an alignment issue but feels like the torque steering. I must have my hands firmly on the wheel to correct it. This happens at least twice weekly. According to my Toyota dealer there is no recall on this issue.
Steering wheel pulls to the right/left. Purchased car used from Toyota dealer noticed the steering pull during test drive. Dealer aligned car, but still pulls to the right & left.
Engine
20 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine.
2009 Toyota Matrix stalls randomly 3 to 7 times a day. Stalls occurring randomly while driving, including some on highways and some in intersections. Car must be turned off an put into park or neutral in order to start car back up.
While driving, the car stalls. Everything turns off and I'm dead on the street, turnpike or highway. I have taken the car in twice, but Toyota has no idea what is happening. Sometimes it does not happen for a while, and then it will start stalling again. I have taken the car in again after stalling on the pa turnpike.…
Brakes
16 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles.
Driving my 2009 Toyota Matrix - I was driving in back of a truck and he slammed his brakes on. I had to be driving one car away from him then all of a sudden he slammed on his brakes - I had to be going 25 mile per hour. My car accelerate up and by the time I put my brakes on I had slammed into his car gently. It was…
February 09 I was driving in back of a truck and staying far in advance not close to the truck. The truck went to put his brakes on and my car accelerated and I went to put my brakes on and the car hit the truck from the back.
Electrical
9 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 44,500 miles. Parts named most often: alternator/generator/regulator.
Power steering malfunction occurred and warning light (on the dashboard) was on. Steering wheel became very hard to turn. Luckily this happened on the parking lot, and not on my way back home (trip on the highway) which for sure would resulted in car accident with serious consequences. I have contact Toyota however at…
While driving, the car stalls. Everything turns off and I'm dead on the street, turnpike or highway. I have taken the car in twice, but Toyota has no idea what is happening. Sometimes it does not happen for a while, and then it will start stalling again. I have taken the car in again after stalling on the pa turnpike.…
Other or unspecified
8 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 19,500 miles.
I have a 2009 Toyota Matrix that has multiple issues including a steering issue that almost caused my family their life, now I am being told I need new brakes at 19,800 miles. The rear brakes are not adjusting at all which may be causing the steering issues. Car is having interment issues going into 1st and reverse…
My husband and I were on interstate 495 of the washington beltway sitting in a 3 mile backup where 5 lanes were merging into one. My foot was firmly on the brake leaving plenty of room from the car in front of me. All of a sudden I realized that the car was inching forward and the brake would not stop the…
Visibility and wipers
7 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: rearview mirrors/devices, glass, side/rear.
I noticed that when making a left turn the front view of where you are turning is block...worse when making u turn....because the left side mirror blocks the entire view... I was lucky enough that my nephew advise me to be careful with the pedestrians as I immediately hit the brakes and the saw the upset pedestrian…
The car has an unacceptable blind spot the side mirrors do not compensate for this. It resulted in me while backing up not seeing an elderly lady walking past my car, and I have had several close calls while backing out of spaces with cars behind me just in the blindspot or pedestrians. I am almost tempted to post a…
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 Matrix recalls
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 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 december 6, 2016. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are g1p (toyota zone a), g1r (toyota zone b), g2g (lexus zone a), and g2h (lexus zone b). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are g0p (toyota zone a), g0r (toyota zone b), glg (lexus zone a), and glh (le
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 scion xb and lexus is f, 2009-2011 toyota corolla and corolla matrix, 2006-2011 toyota yaris, lexus is250 and lexus is350, 2010-2011 toyota 4runner, lexus is250c, lexus is350c and lexus gx460, 2011 sienna, 2007-2011 lexus es350, and 2009-2010 pontiac vibe 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 model year 2008 scion xb and lexus is f, 2007-2008 toyota yaris, 2006-2008 lexus is250 and lexus is350 and 2007-2008 lexus es350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, distric
Equipment: labels
Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.
Fix: 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, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.
Full defect summary
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.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will modify or replace the accelerator pedals on the subject vehicles. Floor surface modifications are also being considered and will be included for any model for which it is deemed appropriate. Initially, dealers will be instructed on how to reshape the accelerator pedal for the repair. As replacement parts with the same shape as the modified pedal become available, they will be made available to the dealers for the repair. Customers who have had the pedal reshape remedy completed will have the opportunity to receive a new pedal if they desire, after replacement pedals become availabl
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 highlander, model year 2009-2010 corolla, venza and matrix passenger 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. This recall is an expansion of a campaign of 3.8 million other toyota vehicles announced in 2009 for the same issue (see 09v-388).
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
Questions about the 2009 Toyota Matrix
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Toyota Matrix?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (78 complaints, typically around 42,000 miles); speed control (45 complaints, typically around 14,000 miles); steering (22 complaints, typically around 29,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Matrix have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 23, 2016 (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 Matrix?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Matrix model year since 2000, with 192 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.