Sign inCreate free garage
Research · Small Station Wagons

2009 Toyota MatrixRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 192 owner complaints for the 2009 Toyota Matrix. Most complaints involve air bags (78) and vehicle speed control (45). The EPA rates it 22–28 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
22–28mpg
EPA · 5 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest May 2016
Owner complaints
192
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$2,300est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Remedy pending

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.

Air bagsReported May 23, 2016NHTSA 16V340000

Equipment: labels

Free remedy

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.

EquipmentReported Feb 3, 2010NHTSA 10V035000

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Free remedy

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).

Vehicle speed controlReported Jan 27, 2010NHTSA 10V023000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

192 complaints filed with NHTSA · Sep 2008 – May 2019
  1. Air bags78
  2. Vehicle speed control45
  3. Steering22
  4. Engine11
  5. Electrical system9
  6. Engine and engine cooling9
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic9
  8. Service brakes5
  9. Visibility5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Matrix model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2003268
2004138
2005213
2006170
200796
200838
2009192
201045
201110
20125
Crashes reported
34
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
21
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

78 reports10 crashes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2019Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11210602

Vehicle speed control

45 reports22 crashes
“MY MATRIX 2009 HAS HAD INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. I MENTION IT AT MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK UPS, BUT RECEIVE NON-COMMITTAL REPLIES. I FIGURE I MUST BE LOSING IT. OVER THE LAST 8 MONTHS OR SO, IT GOT EXTREME: THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD AT DIFFERENT TIMES: WHEN I START UP THE CAR, IDLING AT A LIGHT, OR SLOWING TO A STOP. TODAY, SUNDAY MORNING, AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT WALMART, I BEGAN TO BRAKE SLOWLY WHEN THE TRANS ROARED AND LURCHED FORWARD. IT JUMPED THE CURB AND PLOWED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR FACING ME. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE HIT THE GAS - BUT NO. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE - ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS CAR. I RUINED THE FRONT END OF ANOTHER CAR. I AM A SINGLE MOM OF 2 AND A TEACHER. I DON'T KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS. I DO NOT INTEND TO REPAIR THIS CAR. IT IS NOT SAFE. THANK GOD THE OTHER CAR WAS EMPTY. THIS CAR COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. AND, NO: NO TICKETS/ACCIDENTS/AGEISM. JUST A REGULAR MIDDLE-AGE LADY WHO BOUGHT A USED CAR 4.5 YEARS AGO, TOOK GOOD CARE OF IT, AND AM NOW SERIOUSLY STUCK AND STRESSED. SO, THANK YOU TOYOTA. I SAW ON OTHER BLOGS TODAY THAT THIS IS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2017Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10968536

Steering

22 reports2 crashes
“I STARTED MY CAR, AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ON. I TRIED TO TUN THE WHEEL, AND NOTED THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I GOT THE CAR HOME, AND CALLED FOR SERVICE AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME AN APPOINTMENT". RESEARCHED THE WEB, AND NOTED THIS ISSUE WAS A WIDE SPREAD COMPLAINT. I CHECKED THE FUSES (NOTED THEM OKAY), THE STEERING RESUMED.... HOWEVER, THIS IS A REAL CONCERN, BEING THAT THE STEERING APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE FOR THESE CARS. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS REPAIRED?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2016SteeringODI 10916186
All 2009 Matrix problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

5 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Station Wagons
Engines
1.8L 4-cyl · 2.4L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd · Automatic (S5)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Matrix
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
253128$2,300317
Matrix
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
263228$2,300317
Matrix
Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212924$2,700370
Matrix
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212824$2,700370
Matrix AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202622$2,900404
  • Matrix
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L
    25 city · 31 hwy · $2,300/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Matrix
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L
    26 city · 32 hwy · $2,300/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Matrix
    Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 29 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Matrix
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 28 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Matrix AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    20 city · 26 hwy · $2,900/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Toyota Matrix as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 2844
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2009 Matrix questions

How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Matrix have?

3 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2009 Toyota Matrix problems?

Owners filed 192 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (78), vehicle speed control (45), steering (22). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2009 Toyota Matrix get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Toyota Matrix at 22–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026