Menu

2009 Toyota Corolla MatrixProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 74 owner complaints about the 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 8 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-689 the manufacturer reports only 46% of affected cars repaired.

36
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.8× the Corolla Matrix median · #2 of 8 years by complaints
Safety recalls8Lowest repair rate 46%Owner complaints7415 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage58kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 4, 2025. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix has problems

74 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags405
Engine131
Vehicle speed control73
Steering61
Electrical system40
Structure42
Service brakes42
Electronic stability control (ESC)20
Service brakes, hydraulic10
4 other systems40

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

8 recalls

2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

65%repaired · 2021 Q3

Driver side: inflator module

Recall 19V-741 · Oct 17, 2019 · 928,220 vehicles · 600,429 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

77%repaired · 2021 Q3

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 18V-024 · Jan 9, 2018 · 628,018 vehicles · 481,268 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

74%repaired · 2021 Q3

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 17V-006 · Jan 9, 2017 · 577,875 vehicles · 427,891 repaired

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

46%repaired · 2017 Q1

Visibility: power window devices and controls

Recall 15V-689 · Oct 22, 2015 · 1,814,284 vehicles · 828,698 repaired

Risk. If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 4 more recalls
58%repaired · 2016 Q3

Driver side: inflator module

Recall 14V-168 · Apr 9, 2014 · 1,486,413 vehicles · 859,161 repaired

Risk. If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

67%repaired · 2015 Q1

Visibility: power window devices and controls

Recall 12V-491 · Oct 10, 2012 · 2,519,424 vehicles · 1,687,785 repaired

Risk. If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Recall 10V-017 · Jan 21, 2010 · 2,230,661 vehicles

Risk. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY BECOME HARD TO DEPRESS, SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION,…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.

Best & worst years

2009 vs. every other Corolla Matrix year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Corolla Matrix median. How we score

'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
  2. Steering Wander or DriftPE10008 · closed May 4, 2011
    No recall
In owners' words

What Corolla Matrix owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I HAVE BEEN ON TOYOTA RECALL LIST FOR TWO YEARS AND EVERY TIME I GET ANOTHER CARD ABOUT RECALL, I CALL DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT ME ON A WAIT LIST. AS PART IS NOT AVAILABLE OR SUPPLY AND DEMAND. UNACCEPTABLE AND NOW IT SEEMS THERE IS ALSO A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE AND THE GAS PEDAL WILL REV AND…
Complaint 11265814 · Oct 3, 2019
I RAN INTO A LIGHT POLE IN A PARKING LOT ON JANUARY 13, 2013 IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, MAKING A TURN INTO PHARMACY PICKUP LANE BEHIND THE CVS STORE. THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED 8 FRACTURED RIBS AND NUMEROUS LACERATIONS. I SPENT 4 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL,…
Complaint 11184635 · Mar 6, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED…
Complaint 11100431 · Jun 7, 2018 · 120,021 miles

Own a 2009 Corolla Matrix?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.