There are 15 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2009 Toyota Matrixin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH UP THE MOUNTAIN AND MAKING A TURN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SPUN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE MOUNTAIN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS AT THE SCENE BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE THAT A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A IMPOUND LOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
INVESTIGATION RESULTS OF REPORT#-426903 GIVEN 2/12 OF UNINTENDED ACCELER: WAS INVESTIGATED BY SPX CORP. INVESTIGATOR HIRED FROM TOYOTA. AT MY APT. SETTING, IN MY RESERVED PARKING SPOT BECAUSE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE. I WAS GIVEN A MEMORY STICK WITH EDR DOWNLOAD INFO., TELLING ME TOYOTA WILL RESPOND. 22 PDF PAGES, 19 WERE BIZARRE MATH EQUATIONS, NEVER TO BE UNDERSTOOD. MY EVENT SHOWED WHEN IGNITION TURNED ON ENGINE AT 1600RPM, TO 800RPM, AS I BEGAN TO MOVE, THEN WENT TO 2000RPM, IN LESS THEN 60 SECONDS, WITHIN A SMALL LANE, PLUNGING ME INTO BRICK WALL. LETTER FROM TOYOTA ADMINISTRATOR SAID NO FAULTS WERE FOUND, SORRY CANNOT BE OF ASSISTANCE. IN THE 3RD PARAGRAPH WAS FALSE INFO. RE: EXTENSIVE TEST DRIVE DONE TO TEST BRAKES, ETC. EVERYTHING WORKING WELL. I CALLED HIS DIRECT # LEAVING A MESSAGE IN REGARD TO I HAD SERIOUS QUESTIONS "TEST DRIVE"? LEAVING MY NAME & #. HE CALLED NEXT DAY TO APOLOGIZE, "I MISSTATED THE TEST DRIVE", AT THE SERVICE CENTER IT WAS DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE, I SAID SERVICE CENTER? TM- YES!, I SAID STREET OUTSIDE MY APT. DOOR? TM- YES!. THEN SAID PARKING LOT? TM- WITH HESITATION, YES! ASKED IF HE WAS SURE OF THE OUTCOME, YES! NEXT DAY VIA FAX I WROTE TO HIM TELLING HIM THAT HE MADE MANY MISSTATEMENTS! THERE IS NO STREET BY MY APT., CAR NEVER WENT TO A SERVICE CENTER, HAVE LO JACK TELLING ME THE CAR WAS NEVER MOVED SINCE COLLISION.WHICH I KNEW SINCE FRAME IS SEVERELY BENT, BUMPER RESTS ON GROUND, ALL OIL LEAKED OUT. IF THIS IS HOW A ADMINISTRATOR OF TOYOTA CLAIMS RESPONDS WITH OUTRIGHT LIES, HOW MANY TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE BEEN DECEIVED. I TOLD HIM; LET'S CUT TO THE CHASE, I WANT A REPLACEMENT CAR THAT IS SAFE! 2000RPM- THAT IS HWY. SPEED, 1600RPM AT STARTUP WITH FOOT ON BREAK, TOYOTA CALLS THIS SAFE? HE NEVER KNEW THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN OR WHERE IT WAS INVESTIGATED, AM I TO TRUST HIS RESPONSE? NOT AT ALL! *JS
WE ARE A FIRST TIME CUSTOMER OF TOYOTA VEHICLE. WE BOUGHT A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX S AWD (VIN: [XXX]) WITH 22K MILES FROM CALDWELL TOYOTA IN JULY 2010. THE CAR NOW HAS 26K MILES AND ALL BRAKES ARE BROKEN. THE CAR IS USED ON A DAILY BASIS BUT FOR VERY CLOSE DISTANCE. THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CERTIFIED AND FULLY SERVICED AND REPAIRED BY THE DEALER WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. THERE HAS BEEN LESS THAN 1 YEAR AND 4K MILES ON THE CAR SINCE WE BOUGHT IT FROM THE CALDWELL TOYOTA. WE FEEL STRONGLY THERE IS A QUALITY ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT EXAMINED AND REPAIRED WITH NO CHARGES TO US. BUT BOTH THE DEALER AND TOYOTA REFUSED TO DO SO. WE WOULD LIKE TO JUST HAVE A WRITTEN RECORD OF THIS ISSUE IN CASE THERE ARE MORE AND MORE FATAL ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ENTERING A CIRCLE IN THE ROADWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED WITH NO POWER RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR OF THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL AND THEN CRASHED INTO THE STAIRWAY OF A HOUSE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS TRAPPED IN BETWEEN THE STAIRWAY AND SIDEWALK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD NOT INSPECTED OR DECLARED THE DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. UPDATED 11/9/10 UPDATED 11/16/10
OVER HEATING BRAKE PADS. 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. FRONT DISC BRAKES PRODUCING A GRINDING SOUND CONSISTENT WITH A BRAKE PAD THAT'S WORN DOWN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BRAKE PADS STILL HAVE 40 % LIFE LEFT ACCORDING TO WORLD TOYOTA OF CHAMBLEE, GEORGIA. DEALER SAYS BRAKE PADS ARE OVER HEATING DEALER SAYS PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED IF PADS ARE REPLACED BUT WONT REPLACE PADS AT THEIR EXPENSE STATING PADS ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR
ON MY 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX THE ENGINE OVER SPEEDS WHEN BRAKING WITH MY RIGHT SHOE ( SIZE 10 ROCKPORT - FIVE INCHES WIDE) OVERLAPPING THE THROTTLE PEDAL WHICH JUST 2 AND 7/8 TH INCHES FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. TRY THIS IN AN EMERGENCY STOP. IT'S REAL EXCITING. *TR
I HAD MY 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX FIXED FOR THE RECALL AND JUST LAST WEEKEND EXPERIENCED A BRAKING INCIDENT THAT SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH. I WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STEPPED ON MY BRAKES BUT MY CAR SPED UP AND NEARLY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY I MOVED TO THE NEXT LANE. *TR
ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO (AND AGAIN, THIS MORNING, TWICE!), I EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHEN BRAKING: THE PEDAL WOULD GO MORE THEN USUAL, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AT THE SAME TIME AS IT WAS PRODUCING TERRIBLE GRINDING/SCRATCHING NOISES AS IF PARTS WERE COMING OFF. IT IS NOT DOING THIS CONSISTENTLY, BUT SINCE IT HAPPENED TWICE THIS MORNING, I AM CONCERNED. I DID FIND A RECALL NOTICE DATED AUGUST 2009 ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR 12 MORE NORTHERN STATES THAT EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS ON 09 AND 10 MATRIX AND COROLLA VEHICLES WITH 1.8 ENGINES DUE TO EXTREME COLD. I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS IF NW N-CAROLINA, AND OUR WEATHER IS VERY MUCH LIKE THAT IN MORE NORTHERN STATES. PRESENT, WE HAVE 4-5 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND, AND TEMPS WERE ABOUT 35-36 THIS MORNING (AWAITING ANOTHER WINTER STORM). WHEN IT HAPPENED LAST MONTH, IT WAS MUCH COLDER, BUT THERE ALSO WAS LOTS OF SNOW ON THE GROUND. *TR
IN VERY COLD WEATHER, WHICH WE HAVE HAD PLENTY OF RECENTLY, AND I MAKE A GRADUAL STOP FROM A SPEED OF 45+ MPH, THERE IS A SPLIT-SECOND SURGE FORWARD FOLLOWED BY A HARD STOP "BUMP" WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A FINAL STOP THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT, THE ROAD SURFACE IS NOT SLICK, NOR AM I MAKING A SUDDEN STOP. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN IN TEMPS ABOVE FREEZING, NOR DOES BRAKING SEEM IMPAIRED. I AM SOMEWHAT UNNERVED BY THE MOMENTARY SURGE FORWARD FOLLOWED BY THE SUDDEN BUMP THAT FEELS LIKE I HIT A CURB. *TR
I WOULD LIKE TO REPRT SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATOR (UNINTENDED ACCELERATION) AND BRAKE PROBLEMS (DON'T STOP WELL) OF MY TOYOTA MATRIX MODEL 2009. *TR
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. *TR
BRAKE FAILURE--ROLLED INTO PARKING SPOT, STEPPED ON BRAKE AND CAR DIDN'T STOP. PRE-RECALL FIX ON TOYOTA MATRIX. *TR
FEBRUARY 09 I WAS DRIVING IN BACK OF A TRUCK AND STAYING FAR IN ADVANCE NOT CLOSE TO THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WENT TO PUT HIS BRAKES ON AND MY CAR ACCELERATED AND I WENT TO PUT MY BRAKES ON AND THE CAR HIT THE TRUCK FROM THE BACK. *TR
I SIGNED UP A LEASE WITH HUDSON TOYOTA FOR A MATRIX 2009 PRESUMABLY A BRAND NEW ONE. I SIGNED THE PAPERS AND BROUGHT IT HOME ON SEPT.3,2008. I DRIVE IT TO NYC ON SEPT.4,5,6 THEN IT WAS PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY THE WHOLE DAY ON SEPT.7. ON SEPT.9,IT WAS DEAD. I CALLED SERVICE AND DESCRIBED THEM THE PROBLEM,THE SERVICE PERSON SAID "THE BATTERY IS DEAD ,GO GET A JUMPER AND START AS SOON AS IT STARTS BRING IT TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA SERVICE". AND I DID JUST THAT,I FOLLOWED HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO A TEE. I BRING IT TO THE TOYOTA ROCKLAND SERVICE,THEY TESTED IT THEY SAID ITS WEAK,THEN ITS DEAD. THEY DID SOME MORE TESTS AND THEY SAID ITS THE ABS MOTOR THAT IS DEFECTIVE,THEY HAVE TO ORDER IT SO THEY SAID THEY WILL REPLACE THE BATTERY BUT EVERY NIGHT WHEN I TURN OFF THE ENGINE,YOU TAKE OFF THE SWITCH INSIDE,"YOU OPEN THE FRONT TO EXPOSE THE ENGINE AND YOU TAKE OUT THAT PART,IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU ARE READY TO GO YOU PUT THE THING BACK ON"THE ABS MOTOR WILL COME ON THURSDAY BUT THURSDAY MORNING IT WAS NOT YET THERE IT CAME LIKE IN THE AFTERNOON ALREADY SO THEY PUT IT IN. THE FOLLOWING DAYS THE ABS SIGN WILL STILL TURN ON BUT IT WILL TURNED OFF AFTER AWHILE. NOW ITS THE AWD SIGN IS ON SO I BRING IT TO HUDSON TOYOTA BUT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK TO ME ON THE PHONE SO I CAME THERE EVEN IF ITS LATE. I SAW XX AND XX AND I SHOWED THEM THE LIGHTS AND TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED THEY SAID THEY'RE SORRY AND I ASKED THEM ABOUT MY REGISTRATION AND THE PLATES THEY SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE PLATES ONLY REGISTRATION. XX SAID I CAN SAVE A LOT OF MONEY BY USING THE SAME PLATES FROM MY OLD CAR AND IN THAT WAY I DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ONE REGISTRATION'S TALKED TO MR??,WELCOMING ME TO THE LEASE PROGRAM BUT WHEN I STARTED TELLING HIM MY DISAPPOINTMENT,HE OFFERED TO PAY 1ST MO.LEASE BUT DECLINED. HE SAID YOU'RE SMART YOU KNOW YOU CAN NEVER GET ANOTHER CAR NOR CAN YOU GET YOUR MONEY BACK. I PAID $6246 THAT DAY. AND ITS STILL NOT RIGHT. NOW THE AWD LIGHT IS STILL ON AND WHEN I PARKED THE CAR SMELLS BURN UP. THE END. *TR
I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX AND IT CONTINUES TO HAVE ISSUES. TOYOTA HAS NEVER SENT NOTIFICATION OF RECALLS AND THIS CAR HAS A FEW. WHEN I BRING IT UP TO THE DEALER THEY ACT AS IF I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. MY TIRES NEED REPLACEMENT AT 20,000 MILES AND THE BRAKES GRIND WHEN STOPPING EVEN AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED AT THE DEALERS EXPENSE AFTER THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM TWICE! I HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AS THE PARTS PEOPLE SENT THE WRONG PARTS TWICE!! THE TIRE WARNING LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY COMING ON EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG. I AM TOLD THAT THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE MAKES THE LIGHT COME ON. I AM TO THE POINT I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE TIRES AND BE DONE WITH IT. THE LAST THING I NEED IS A TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE INTERSTATE. THE ENGINE GETS SLUGGISH AND BOGS DOWN WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE INTERIOR FEATURES KEEP HAVING TO BE SLAMMED BACK INTO PLACE BECAUSE THEY COME OUT OF PLACE. I WAS TOLD BY A SALESMAN AT A CAR SHOW THAT IT HAPPENS WITH THE MATRIXS AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY. EACH TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP I AM TREATED AS A WOMAN WHO KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT CARS. MY FATHER IS A MECHANIC AND I KNOW MY WAY AROUND A CAR. COBB COUNTY TOYOTA IN KENNESAW, GEORGIA IS THE WORST DEALERSHIP. I AM GOING TO TRY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP OR JUST HEAD TO AN INDEPENDENT. I SAVED FOR 2 YEARS TO BUY IT AND NOW I FEEL VERY UPSET THAT TOYOTA CARES SO LITTLE ABOUT THE CUSTOMER. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A FEW MORE RECALLS OUT ON THE 2009 MATRIX, YET I HAVEN'T BEEN NOTIFIED OF THEM BY TOYOTA. WHEN I BROUGHT UP THE NEW RECALLS TO THE DEALER HE LOOKED SHOCKED AND TRIED TO TELL ME THAT WASN'T TRUE. WHY ARE NEW TOYOTA BUYERS GETTING FREE SERVICE WHEN OUR CARS ARE THE PROBLEM. I'M GOING BACK TO HONDA! TOYOTA USE TO BE GREAT. THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY SHOULD BE ASHAMED AND COMMIT SEPPUKU OR AT LEAST PROVIDE CURRENT OWNERS FREE SERVICE TOO. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026