2009 Toyota Matrix Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about unintended acceleration and braking problems, frequently describing a surge or lurch while braking or pulling away from a stop, with many saying the dealer could not duplicate or fully resolve it. A second, smaller cluster involves engine stalling and electric power steering loss, and Takata airbag inflator campaigns account for a large share of airbag complaints. Many reports come at low mileage, often within the first few thousand miles.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration / surging and brake override

   • 57 complaints (30%)
   • median 16,350 mi at 1.4 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 25 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2017

   Complaints describe the car speeding up or lurching without a throttle command — while braking for a light, pulling out of a parking space, or releasing the brake in traffic. Several owners say pressing the brake does not slow the vehicle and report low-speed impacts. Many note the accelerator pedal felt sticky or that the car still surged after the accelerator pedal recall repair; dealers typically said they could not duplicate the condition. Most reports are at very low mileage, commonly well under 15,000 miles and many within the first few thousand.

   Recall 10V023000

   What to check: Ask whether the accelerator pedal recall 10V023000 was performed and whether the floor mat is the correct retained type. During a test drive, check that the pedal returns freely and that the car does not lurch when shifting from park to drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On several occasions I notice my accelerar /gas pedal sticking. Also at times hard to press the accelerator also.at 1 times I almost had an accident had I not been able to put the car in nuetral and stop,almost getting hit doing it.I didn't realise what it until I read about this recall and was never contacted to this day about it from Toyota or its dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10302637, filed 2010-01, 11,000 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 because of how slow I was going that saved me.”

   NHTSA complaint #10331295, filed 2010-05, 25,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalling while driving or at stops

   • 14 complaints (7%)
   • median 42,441 mi at 1.9 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2017

   Owners describe the engine cutting out without warning — at intersections, in city traffic and sometimes at highway speed — with several saying it restarts only after being shifted to park or neutral. Complaints frequently note the dealer could not recreate the stall; some mention it happening more in humid weather or after about 30 minutes of driving. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 90,000 miles, with several cases under 20,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether any stall codes or electronic control module work are documented, and whether the throttle body or ECU has been serviced. Test the car through stop-and-go driving and note any rough idle or hesitation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. This is a major safety issue. I am stalling on city roads, highways, turnpikes, and I risk an accident or being killed. This is a dangerous issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10849740, filed 2016-03, 60,000 miles

   “I have a 2009 Toyota Matrix xr. It stall intermittently , more frequently in humid weather. Can not recreate situation, but happens at least 5 times per week now that we are in a more rainy season. I first noticed this problem in november but it cleared up during the cold months and now is back with the fury. I took it to the dealership in december--again could not recreate for dealer. Yesterday it happened twice in city traffic. I have dropped off car at dealer and they looked at it today and couldn't find anything wrong. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10268305, filed 2009-05, 200 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Loss of electric power steering assist

   • 10 complaints (5%)
   • median 73,241 mi at 5.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2016

   Complaints describe the power steering cutting out, either with the warning light coming on or the wheel suddenly requiring heavy effort, sometimes along with dashboard warning lights and a dead speedometer. Owners report the dealer diagnosed the electric power steering motor or its control unit and quoted a replacement; a few say the car was not repaired or the symptom could not be duplicated. Mostly between about 70,000 and 85,000 miles, with a few much earlier reports.

   What to check: On a test drive, confirm the steering assist feels consistent at low speed and that no power steering warning light stays on. Ask whether the electric power steering motor or control unit has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car was parked. When I returned to the car, the power steering had ceased to function and warning lights were lit for the power steering, ABS and brakes. I understand there is a technical service bulletin on the power steering unit for this vehicle for issues related to the power steering locking up. Luckily I was not driving the car at the time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10556647, filed 2013-12, 70,000 miles

   “Warning light for electronic power steering came on, and I lost power steering. Dealer says car too hazardous to drive and I need a new electric power steering motor with cost of installation in excess of $800 - not covered by warranty, outrageous on a four year old,well-maintained vehicle. Now waiting for parts.”

   NHTSA complaint #10513524, filed 2013-05, 81,900 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Takata airbag inflator recall notices

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Many airbag complaints are recall-related rather than a described failure: owners say they received an interim notice advising against using the front passenger seat, and ask about loaner cars or reimbursement. Some report unclear timing of the replacement or that communication about the campaign was poor. A few describe an airbag warning light that stays on. Reports span the recall campaign period rather than a specific mileage range.

   Recall 16V3400005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the VIN against open recalls for the passenger-side inflator and confirm the remedy was performed. Ask for written proof of completed campaign work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I recently bought a 2010 Toyota camry and was never contacted by the dealership or Toyota about the two recalls on my car. When I called the dealership to make an appointment to fix my car, I was told by the service person that why did I need to fix it for, he acted like he didn't even know about the recalls. They made me wait two weeks for the appointment and then had to keep my car for a whole day. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10317819, filed 2010-03, 4,000 miles

   “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 was driving westbound on I-90 in westlake, ohio; it was snowing and the roads were wet, unsalted. As I was rounding a corner near the crocker bassett exit, my car began to skid. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10316409, filed 2010-03, 13,787 miles

Buying note. Have any used example inspected for open airbag inflator and accelerator pedal campaigns and ask for documentation that they were completed. A pre-purchase test drive should include stop-and-go braking, low-speed maneuvering to feel for steering assist, and an oil level check.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.