2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags4047.1%
- Engine1416.5%
- Driver assistance910.6%
- Steering67.1%
- Brakes55.9%
- Electrical44.7%
- Body & structure44.7%
- Suspension11.2%
- Fuel system11.2%
- Exterior lighting11.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE BEEN ON TOYOTA RECALL LIST FOR TWO YEARS AND EVERY TIME I GET ANOTHER CARD ABOUT RECALL , I CALL DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT ME ON A WAIT LIST . AS PART IS NOT AVAILABLE OR SUPPLY AND DEMAND . UNACCEPTABLE AND NOW IT SEEMS THERE IS ALSO A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE AND THE GAS PEDAL WILL REV AND ACCELERATE AND JERK FORWARD ON ITS ON WHILE I JUST BARELY GOT FOOT OF BRAKE . AND THEN IT WILL ACCELERATE UNTIL I PUT FOOT ON GAS AND IT WILL JERK FORWARD TRYING TO ACCERLELERATE AND THEN I GET CONTROL
I RAN INTO A LIGHT POLE IN A PARKING LOT ON JANUARY 13, 2013 IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, MAKING A TURN INTO PHARMACY PICKUP LANE BEHIND THE CVS STORE. THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED 8 FRACTURED RIBS AND NUMEROUS LACERATIONS. I SPENT 4 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL, AND @ 3 WEEKS IN REHAB. I LOST APPROXIMATELY 4 WEEKS OF WORK. I STILL HAVE SCARS AND NECROTIC BUMPS ON MY CHEST WALL. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. AS FAR AS I KNOW IT'S IN THE LANDFILL. I AM BEGGING ONLY FOR NO MORE RECALL NOTICES TO BE SENT TO ME.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Subject: Request to Consider Recall for 2009 Toyota Matrix Excessive Oil Consumption Dear Toyota Motor Corporation/NHTSA, I am writing to bring to your attention a persistent issue with my 2009 Toyota Matrix, which has been experiencing excessive oil consumption. Despite regular maintenance and oil changes, the vehicle continues to burn through oil at an alarming rate, posing potential environmental and safety hazards. After researching this issue, I found that numerous 2009 Toyota Matrix owners have reported similar problems, suggesting a possible design or manufacturing flaw. I believe it is essential for Toyota to acknowledge this issue and take corrective action to ensure the safety and well-being of drivers and the environment. I respectfully request that you consider adding excessive oil consumption to the list of recalls for the 2009 Toyota Matrix. I would appreciate it if you could look into this matter and take necessary steps to address this issue. Please find below the details of my vehicle: - Year: 2009 - Make: Toyota - Model: Matrix - Mileage: 92000 - Engine: 2.4L 2AZ-FE Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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 TOTALLY DESTROYED. I NOTICED NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) WAS BLINKING AND STAY ON YESTERDAY. TODAY IT DOES THE SAME. SO TWO DAYS IN A ROW THIS HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY BOTH DAYS.
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY, SINCE THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS BOUGHT OF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR FROM SUNNY SIDE TOYOTA SINCE MARCH 2009 ALL THE WAY UP TO THE PRESENT. NOW, I DIDN'T PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER, MY BUDDY WHO DID HAS CLAIMED THIS LIGHT -- CHECK ENGINE, ALONG WITH ABS AND VSC WOULD COME ON TOGETHER. ALTHOUGH, HE HAS SAID, IT'S NEVER AFFECTED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SAID VEHICLE -- I KNOW BETTER!! SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NOW UNDER MY OWNERSHIP AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THERE IS A TSB ON THIS EXACT SERVICE CODE P0607, WHICH INVOLVES CHANGING OUT THE PCM AND THE OTHER P CODE HAPPENS TO BE P0138, WHICH IS THE 02 SENSOR. SINCE THERE IS A TSB ON THIS SPECIFIC CODE - P0607, IT AFFECTS CERTAIN COROLLAS AND MATRIX FOR THE YEARS PRIOR TO MY VEHICLE -- SO WHAT A COINCIDENCE, WOULD YOU SAY? I WOULD SAY!! ALSO, ACCORDING TO REPAIRPAL.COM, THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND I THINK THIS SHOULD ALSO THEN BE A STANDARD RECALL, CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT MY 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX ONLY HAS 49K MILES. IT IS ALSO MENTIONED, UNDER THAT SERVICE CODE THAT THE PCM COMPUTER SHOULD BE REPLACED AND THUS, IT WOULD CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS THAT I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING. FUTHERMORE, IT'S LISTED IN THE TSB, THAT THIS IS ALSO COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY OF 96 MONTHS AND/OR 80K MILES. IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE ASSISTED WITH THIS MATTER AND HAVING TOYOTA, OUT OF GOOD FAITH, CORRECTING THIS ISSUE FOR ME. I HAVE THIS TSB DOCUMENT INFERRING SUCH ALONG WITH ANOTHER DOCUMENT WHICH STATES HOW CLOSELY SIMILAR MY ENGINE IS TO THE ENGINE IN QUESTION. THE P CODES STATED ABOVE WERE SUPPLIED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHEN I LAST BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL. I WOULD SINCERELY, APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE IN DEALING WITH THIS MATTER *TR
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. I PARKED MY TOYOTA MATRIX WHICH WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY. I STAY UP TO DATE ON TUNEUPS AND OIL CHANGES AND ANY OTHER MAINTENANCE ISSUES THAT ARISE. WHEN I CAME BACK TO MY PARKED CAR I NOTICED A RED EXCLAMATION LIGHT ON WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE THE WARNING LIGHT FOR ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. WHEN I TURNED ON MY CAR I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING ASSIST. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANICS AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE FUSE THINKING IT WAS A BROKEN FUSE, BUT NOTHING. THEY CALLED TOYOTA AND EVEN TOYOTA HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS. AS I DID MORE RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH TOYOTA MATRIX' BASED ON SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT SOME THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONS HAPPEN WITHIN FOUR YEARS OF A HEALTHY CARS LIFE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING AS THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT IT HAPPENED WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED BUT IF IT HAD OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING (WHICH IVE SEEN IT HAS) IT COULDVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND NEARLY KILLED MYSELF 149,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THIS IS SUPER DANGEROUS. FROM WHAT I READ, PLENTY OF OTHER MATRIX DOING THE SAME. BRAKES, WINDOWS ALL WENT OUT AS WELL
FRONT OF VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND CAME TO A STOP.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND NEARLY KILLED MYSELF 149,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THIS IS SUPER DANGEROUS. FROM WHAT I READ, PLENTY OF OTHER MATRIX DOING THE SAME. BRAKES, WINDOWS ALL WENT OUT AS WELL
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. TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, WENT TO TURN BACK ON, STALLED AGAIN. TURNED OFF, WAITED FOR A MOMENT, STARTED THE MOTOR AND VEHICLE RAN WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ISSUES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. IN DOING READING, I SEE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODAL HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE TOYOTA MATRIX UP TO AND INCLUDING 2008 MODELS. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO 2009 MODELS. I HAVE ALSO DONE SOME READING THAT THERE WAS OVERLAP BETWEEN PRODUCTION YEARS OF 2008/2009 WHERE PARTS WERE USED FROM THE 2008 MODELS IN THE 2009 MODELS WHICH FURTHERS MY EMPHASIS TO EXPAND THE RECALL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 TOTALLY DESTROYED. I NOTICED NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS.
THE PAINT ON MY MATRIX IS BUBBLING AND PEELING, NOW MY CAR IS RUSTING. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, SO NO SALT ISSUES, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A 5 YEAR OLD CAR. READING ONLINE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA'S THAT ARE BUILT IN THE USA AND WITH SILVER PAINT. MY CAR IS METALLIC DARK SILVER. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT OF VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND CAME TO A STOP.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Known well issues, faulty thank getting water to canister. Car Scanner ELM OBD2 Version: 1.99.2/1.99.2/iOS DTC report Connection profile: Toyota 2006-2009 OBD-II / EOBD + CAN busDate: [XXX] VIN: [XXX] ============================ OBD-IIOBD-II DTCs: 5 ---------------------------- P043E [0x043E] Evaporative emission (EVAP) leak detection reference orifice - low flow Status: Confirmed ---------------------------- P043F [0x043F] Evaporative emission (EVAP) leak detection system reference orifice - excessive flow detected Status: Confirmed ---------------------------- P2401 [0x2401] Evaporative emission (EVAP) leak detection pump, control - circuit low Status: Confirmed ---------------------------- P2402 [0x2402] Evaporative emission (EVAP) leak detection pump, control - circuit high Status: Confirmed ---------------------------- P2419 [0x2419] Evaporative emission (EVAP) switching valve - circuit low Status: Confirmed ============================ Engine control unit #1Engine control unit #1 DTCs: 5 ---------------------------- P043E [0x043E] Evaporative emission (EVAP) leak detection reference orifice - low flow Status: Confirmed ---------------------------- P043F [0x043F] Evaporative emission (EVAP) leak detection system reference orifice - excessive flow detected Status: Confirmed ---------------------------- P2401 [0x2401] Evaporative emission (EVAP) leak detection pump, control - circuit low Status: Confirmed ---------------------------- P2402 [0x2402] Evaporative emission (EVAP) leak detection pump, control - circuit high Status: Confirmed ---------------------------- P2419 [0x2419] Evaporative emission (EVAP) switching valve - circuit low Status: Confirmed INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND NEARLY KILLED MYSELF 149,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THIS IS SUPER DANGEROUS. FROM WHAT I READ, PLENTY OF OTHER MATRIX DOING THE SAME. BRAKES, WINDOWS ALL WENT OUT AS WELL
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .