2009 Toyota COROLLA MATRIX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
74 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
66,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 74 complaints (54.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 12.2% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 8.1% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 8.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 40 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Air Bags: 40; Engine: 13; Steering: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Electrical System: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Structure:Body: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 43 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 27 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 13; 2017: 27; 2018: 9; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10297665 · 2009-12-31 (December 31, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. RECALL NUMBER 09V338000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM) EXCLUDES OTHER COLD WEATHER STATES SUCH AS PENNSYLVANIA AND OHIO. CONSEQUENTLY BRAKE FAILURE COULD OCCUR IN VEHICLES WHO OPERATE IN SUCH COLD CONDITIONS. THESE CONSUMERS WOULD BE INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THERE WERE NO FAILURES TO DATE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK. UPDATED 03/01/10.*JB UPDATED 03/08/10
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10297665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318174 · 2010-03-09 (March 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT HAD THE FIRST PEDAL REPLACED AND ONE WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT HAD ANOTHER SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCUR WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THROUGH A PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD AN INCIDENT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A ROARING SOUND AND MOVING FORWARD WHILE THE CONTACT HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKES. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SEEMED FINE. TOYOTA ALSO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE STATING THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE CONTACT DID NOT HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318174 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10443332 · 2012-01-10 (January 10, 2012)
VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY IN TRAFFIC. MULTIPLE CALLS TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT SOLVED PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE AS WELL AS IN BUSY INTERSECTIONS. SERIOUS ACCIDENT IS IMMANENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10443332 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10654102 · 2014-11-11 (November 11, 2014)
ON HUMID MORNINGS, ENGINE OCCASIONALLY MISSES ON START UP THEN CLEARS. ENGINE STALLED WITH NO WARNING AND ALMOST CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION WHEN IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER ON ACCELERATION ONTO BUSY ROAD. NEXT MORNING ENGINE WOULD NOT START UNTIL LATER IN DAY AFTER WARMING UP. IT STARTED WITH EXTREME MISS THEN CLEARED. THE 08 MATRIX HAS AN ECM RECALL FOR SAME REASON HOWEVER NO NOTICE WAS RECEIVED FOR THE 09 MODEL MANUFACTURED ON 5/08. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 131,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10654102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10308418 · 2010-02-10 (February 10, 2010)
THERE IS A SWAY IN THE DRIVING OF THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. STAYING IN A LANE IS DIFFICULT. STEERING IS UNEASY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10308418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10794370 · 2015-11-17 (November 17, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460446 · 2012-06-04 (June 4, 2012)
ON MAY 30,2012 WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH 27,000 MILES , WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, DOWN ROUTE ONE IN PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS IN HEAVY FAST LANE TRAFFIC THE AUTO, FOR NO REASON SLOWED TO ALMOST A STOP AND COULD NOT BE ACCELERATED. WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AS NO ONE SEEMED TO RECOGNIZE THE MEANING OF HAZARD LIGHTS.I LET THE CAR REST AND WHEN I STARTED IT EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE AND I DROVE TO REVERE WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I PARKED THE CAR IN THE NORTHGATE SHOPPING MALL AND WHEN I R…
Owner-reported narrative. 65 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11081465 · 2018-03-27 (March 27, 2018)
SUSPECT FAULTY ECM (ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) AS EVIDENCED BY RECALL ON VEHICLES UP TO 2008. VEHICLE RANDOMLY LOSES POWER, BOTH IN MOTION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND AT REST. ALL LIGHTS AND INDICATIONS GO DARK. DASH LIGHTS MAY COME BACK ON MOMENTARILY INCLUDING ALL WARNING INDICATIONS IN DASH, AND ENGINE MAY RESUME RUNNING. ALSO STALLS RANDOMLY UPON STARTING, AS WELL AS RANDOMLY WHEN SWITCHING HEADLIGHTS FROM LOW BEAMS TO HIGH BEAMS. RANDOMLY WILL NOT START EITHER, WITH ONLY ONE VERY DIM DASH INDICATION. BATTERY IS 3 MONTHS OLD AND HAS BEEN LOAD TESTED:…
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11081465 at NHTSA ↗