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Toyota MatrixModel year report

2008 Toyota Matrix Problems

Compared with other Toyota Matrix years

Typical for this model

46/100 0.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
38filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
35,169miles, 30 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
29 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl FWD · 26 city / 33 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Toyota Matrix (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 38 consumer complaints for the 2008 Toyota Matrix. The part named most often is vehicle speed control, with 11 complaints (29% of the total), followed by electrical system (8) and air bags (6). 30 of the complaints include a mileage, and 63% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 35,169 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 141 technical service bulletins for this model year. Vehicle speed control complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 20 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 Toyota Matrix model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 46 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Tires (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Equipment (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seats (1), Body and structure (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Vehicle speed control: “I have a manual transmission car. When I started it in my driveway and put in reverse the car immediately when speeding backward out of control. I engaged the clutch while the car continued to speed in reverse then moved to 1 gear and the car started speeding forward out of control. I was able to put the car in neutral and turn it off to stop the acceleration of the car.”

NHTSA complaint #10794842, filed 2015-11, 156,000 miles

Electrical system: “Several months ago I drove through a puddle of water in our parking lot at work. It was storming with the wind blowing as well. When I drove through the puddle, my battery light came on and I lost steering. Then engine never stopped. Once I traveled a few yards, the steering started working and the battery light went off. It happened another 3 more times before I ever left my work facility. I was able to drive to a Toyota dealership for them to check it out. They found nothing wrong with the car. I told them something makes me lose steering associated with water. …”

NHTSA complaint #10311527, filed 2010-02, 48,000 miles

Air bags: “On may 16th I was rear-ended while stopped at a red light. My 2008 Matrix xr was pushed into the back of a school bus. The force of the impact crumpled the front end of my car, yet the airbag didn't deploy. Should it have? I can send you photos of the accident and the damage to my car.”

NHTSA complaint #10241400, filed 2008-09, 4,735 miles

Brakes: “I'm reading about the recent recall of the Toyota prius involving brake problems - a momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump. This has been happening in my 2008 Toyota Matrix since the day I bought it. I'd like to go on record that this problem extends to Matrix models. I have been fortunate to be able to regain control of the car on numerous occasions. I thought this was a something that happened with ibs brakes.”

NHTSA complaint #10305907, filed 2010-02, 100 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

63% of the 30 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,750 and 60,560 miles.

23%0–1013%10–2527%25–5013%50–757%75–1007%100–15010%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (30 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 35,169 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2010142012201520172020
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Toyota Matrix. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Matrix · sedan FWDnot rated5 / 4———
Matrix · sedan (side air bags) FWDnot rated5 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2008 Toyota Matrix version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Matrix FWD1.8L 4-cyl5-speed manual263329$2,300
Matrix FWD1.8L 4-cyl4-speed automatic253127$2,500

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2008 Toyota Matrix → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 141 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 141 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Matrix

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2012579,0001—27—Not enough data
20111070,0002—27—Not enough data
20104542,0004—2850 · TypicalStable
200919225,0003—28100 · MoreStable
20083835,1692—2946 · TypicalFalling
20079644,6502—29Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200617037,0003—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200521371,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200413870,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200326875,5001—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Toyota Matrix model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Toyota Matrix have?

NHTSA recorded 38 consumer complaints for the 2008 Toyota Matrix as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Toyota Matrix is reported most often?

Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 11 complaints (29% of the total), followed by electrical system with 8.

Has the 2008 Toyota Matrix been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Toyota Matrix get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Toyota Matrix (Matrix, 1.8L 4-cyl) at 29 mpg combined, 26 city and 33 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Toyota Matrix reported?

Among the 30 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 35,169 miles and the middle half falls between 10,750 and 60,560 miles; 63% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.