NHTSA vehicle safety data

2009 Toyota Matrix Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2009 Toyota Matrix has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 192 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2009 Toyota Matrix, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2009 Toyota Matrix owner complaints

Owners have filed 192 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Matrix, describing incidents dated May 1, 2008 to February 1, 2018.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 78 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 45 complaints
Steering 22 complaints
Engine 20 complaints
Service Brakes 19 complaints
Electrical System 9 complaints

Of the 192 complaints on file, 34 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 192 complaints, owners report 21 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11210602 · Filed May 29, 2019
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND METAL FRAGMENTS PASSED THROUGH THE AIRBAG CUSHION MATERIAL. AS A RESULT, THE METAL FRAGMENTS ENTERED THE CONTACTS EYE…
ODI #11091768 · Filed May 2, 2018
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN DEUTCH ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING TOYOTA VEHICLE AIRBAGS: THIS WAS THE THIRD RECALL. *LD *JS
ODI #11078796 · Filed March 12, 2018
"TAKATA RECALL" WE RECEIVED OUR RECALL NOTICE LETTER AND IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED OUR LOCAL AUTHORISED TOYOTA IN RHINELANDER WI AND WERE TOLD IT WOULD TAKE A FEW WEEKS FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO ARRIVE. AFTER NOT HEARING FROM THEM IN THAT TIME WE PHONED AGAIN, AND AFTER ONCE AGAIN GIVING OUR VIN AND…

Read all 192 complaints

Owner-reported

2009 Toyota Matrix mileage at failure

113 of the 192 complaints on file for the 2009 Toyota Matrix give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Vehicle Speed Control	Median 14,000 miles	Middle half 6,000–30,000 miles	Based on 39 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2009 Toyota Matrix in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

NHTSA #16V340000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported May 23, 2016 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 1,754,517 vehicles

Repair completion: 87.67% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Toyota campaign TG1P/G1R L:G2G/G2H · Owners notified November 18, 2016 · Vehicles built December 12, 2007 – December 8, 2011 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer 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).

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS

NHTSA #10V035000 · Equipment — Other — Labels · NHTSA notice

Reported February 3, 2010 · GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC.

Potentially affected: 271,417 vehicles

Owners notified May 27, 2010

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

PEDAL ENTRAPMENT

NHTSA #10V023000 · Vehicle Speed Control — Accelerator Pedal · NHTSA notice

Reported January 27, 2010 · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 1,126,915 vehicles

Toyota campaign 90L · Owners notified March 30, 2010

Defect description

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).

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

TOYOTA RECALL NO. 9LG/90L.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

2009 Toyota Matrix 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 4

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

14% rollover risk

Safety Technology

1 investigation

192 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Toyota Matrix.

Air Bags

ODI #11210602

Crash 1 injury

Incident: May 1, 2012 · Filed: May 29, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND METAL FRAGMENTS PASSED THROUGH THE AIRBAG CUSHION MATERIAL. AS A RESULT, THE METAL FRAGMENTS ENTERED THE CONTACTS EYE AND CAUSED A LONG TERM INJURY. THE CONTACT ALSO SUSTAINED A FRACTURED UPPER JAW AND NOSE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED HAVING CONTINUAL DOCTOR VISITS FOR HIS EYE INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO JUNK YARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V024000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. *DT*JB *DT RECALLS INCOMPLETE 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

Air Bags

ODI #11091768

Incident: December 5, 2017 · Filed: May 2, 2018

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN DEUTCH ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING TOYOTA VEHICLE AIRBAGS: THIS WAS THE THIRD RECALL. *LD *JS

Air Bags

ODI #11078796

Incident: February 1, 2018 · Filed: March 12, 2018

"TAKATA RECALL" WE RECEIVED OUR RECALL NOTICE LETTER AND IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED OUR LOCAL AUTHORISED TOYOTA IN RHINELANDER WI AND WERE TOLD IT WOULD TAKE A FEW WEEKS FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO ARRIVE. AFTER NOT HEARING FROM THEM IN THAT TIME WE PHONED AGAIN, AND AFTER ONCE AGAIN GIVING OUR VIN AND INFORMATION , WE WERE TOLD WHO EVER TOOK THE CALL HAD NOT SUBMITTED THE ORDER . SO ONCE AGAIN WE ARE TOLD IT'S ON BACKORDER AND THEY WILL CONTACT US WHEN IT COMES IN SO THEY CAN SET UP A APPOINTMENT TIME TO FIX IT. THE RECALL NOTICE RECOMMENDED NOT HAVING A OCCUPANT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WE SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH A SAFE VEHICLE BY TOYOTA TO USE WITH THE LENGTH OF TIME THIS IS TAKING UNTIL THIS IS FIXED.

Air Bags

ODI #11052593

Incident: December 5, 2017 · Filed: December 5, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. HERITAGE TOYOTA OWINGS MILL (9801 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117, 844-202-9429) CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Air Bags

ODI #11031758

Incident: October 4, 2017 · Filed: October 4, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" I AM WONDERING WHEN THE FIX FOR THIS RECALL WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MY AREA.

Air Bags

ODI #11022853

Incident: May 23, 2016 · Filed: September 12, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED TOYOTA OF RIVER OAKS AT (708) 862-0700 (1970 RIVER OAKS DR, CALUMET CITY, IL 60409) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Engine

ODI #11020302

Incident: August 15, 2017 · Filed: August 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IN DETROIT MICHIGAN. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

Air Bags

ODI #11019836

Incident: March 20, 2017 · Filed: August 26, 2017

TAKATA RECALL THE NHTSA IS AWARE OF THIS RECALL BUT MAY NOT APPRECIATE THE FULL IMPACT ON THE OWNER OF THE CAR. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING IT DUE TO THIS RECALL BUT THERE IS NO REMEDY. I CAN'T GET IT FIXED. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER AND ASKED WHEN REMEDY IS AVAILABLE NO ONE KNOWS. SO I SAID FINE LET ME TRADE IT IN AND BUY A NEW CAR. HOWEVER, SINCE THERE IS A RECALL THE DEALER SAID HE COULDN'T OFFER FULL TRADE IN PRICE BECAUSE HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO SELL IT UNTIL THE REMEDY IS MADE. SO I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND I CAN'T SELL IT WITHOUT A LOSS IN VALUE. NEITHER ARE MY FAULT. TAKATA HAS ME STUCK IN A VERY POOR POSITION AND I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA'S RESPONSE

Air Bags

ODI #11019328

Incident: May 31, 2017 · Filed: August 24, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GROSSINGER TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 7225 N CICERO, IL 60712), BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PART NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags

ODI #11019262

Incident: August 24, 2017 · Filed: August 24, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. SAFETY RECALL NOT REMEDIED.

Other Toyota Matrix model years

Check your 2009 Toyota Matrix VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Toyota Matrix at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Toyota VIN