2009 Toyota Matrix Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2009 Toyota Matrix has 192 complaints and a complaint index of 100, the worst of the 9 model years with data, earning an Avoid verdict. Airbags (41%) and Engine (33%, including sudden acceleration reports) dominate complaints, backed by 3 recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 9 Matrix years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 192
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 34
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 21
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 29 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 21 / 0
Top 2009 Toyota Matrix problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags78 (41%)
- Engine64 (33%)
- Steering22 (11%)
- Brakes19 (10%)
- Electrical System9 (5%)
- Other9 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers7 (4%)
- Structure & Body5 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (3%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while braking or parking, sometimes ending in a collision with a wall, tree, or another vehicle.
- Some drivers say the accelerator pedal stuck or the engine revved to maximum on its own, even with the brake pedal depressed.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during crashes, including low-speed impacts and rear-end collisions.
- Steering has been described as pulling to the right at highway speeds, feeling like the car is being pushed sideways.
- A steel plate near the driver's seat headrest area has been linked to reported back injuries in a rear-end crash.
2009 Toyota Matrix recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V340000May 23, 2016Airbags1,754,517 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles of these model years and models that were not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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 (Lexus Zone B).
- NHTSA 10V035000Feb 3, 2010Other271,417 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
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.
Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 10V023000Jan 27, 2010Engine1,126,915 vehicles
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
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).
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.
Remedy: 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 available. In addition, toyota will replace any toyota all-weather floor mat in a subject vehicle with a newly designed mat, free of charge. For those customers who have the previous design all-weather floor mat but do not need or want the newly designed all-weather floor mat, toyota will recover the previous design all-weather floor mat and reimburse its price. The safety recall began march 30, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
2009 Toyota Matrix fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2009 compared with other Matrix years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Toyota Matrix reliable?
- Among the 9 Matrix model years with data, 2009 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst, with 192 complaints logged, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Matrix years.
- What problems does the 2009 Toyota Matrix have?
- Airbags account for 41% of complaints (78 total, 10 crashes) and Engine problems account for 33% (64 total, 22 crashes), often tied to unintended acceleration reports. Steering and brakes make up smaller shares.
- Does the 2009 Toyota Matrix have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2009 Matrix, covering airbags, tire/rim labeling, and an accelerator pedal that could get trapped in the wide-open position.
- What year Toyota Matrix should I avoid?
- 2009 has the worst complaint index (100) and is the top Avoid year, followed by 2005 (index 75) and 2006 (index 88), both also rated Avoid. 2012 has the lowest index (13) and is rated Best.
- At what mileage do 2009 Matrix problems appear?
- Median mileage at failure varies by system: airbags at 42,000 miles, engine at 22,160 miles, steering at 29,000 miles, and brakes at 16,500 miles.