There are 17 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2009 Toyota Matrixin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
VEHICLE STALLED SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND ALSO STALLED MAKING LEFT HAND TURN AT INTERSECTION. SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. VEHICLE WAS ON SMALL HIGHWAY AT THE STOP LIGHT AND CITY STREET THE 2ND INCIDENT. WE JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN APRIL OF 2017
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NOTED AT 78,000 MILES, JUST NOT EXCESSIVE ENOUGH TO MEET TSB GUIDELINES. HAD ONE OIL CONSUMPTION PERFORMED SO FAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AS IF IT WOULD STALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
CONSTANTLY STATING IT IS NEED OF OIL FOR THE ENGINE. HAVE GONE TO TOYOTA DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND REPLACED OIL, FILTERS AND SENSORS WITH NO SUCCESS. ALSO NO KNOWN LEAKS ANYWHERE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECREASED TO 10 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
A NOISE STARTED TO COME FROM THE ENGINE. AS DROVE, NOISE GOT LOUDER, CAR MAKE A BREAKING NOISE, THEN COOLANT BEGAN TO LEAK FROM THE WATER PUMP AREA. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKES ALSO FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BREAK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THREE MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE HAD BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DECIDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN ENGINEER IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSES THE FIRE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
2009 TOYOTA MATRIX S STALLED WHILE STILL DRIVING, SOMETIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES THEN SUDDENLY STALLS AND IS UNABLE TO RESTART. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T RECREATE OR FIND PROBLEM. MAY BE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2005-2008 MATRIX. *TR
MY CAR IS A TOYOTA MATRIX S 2009, THIS VEHICLE HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS SINCE THE EIGHT MONTHS IT WAS PURCHASED WITH A MILEAGE OF 8000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC OFF, 4WD AND WARNING SLIP WAS SEIZED WITHOUT REASON, AND THE ENGINE MADE ME A VERY LOUD NOISE, LIKE A BIG TRUCK ENGINE, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN HAPPENING TO ME FOR 6 CONSECUTIVE TIMES LATELY I HAVE THIS PROBLEM 3 TIMES IN A ROW IN A MONTH, EACH TIME I REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR AND WATER PUMP, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, I TRANSPORTED DAILY TO MY CHILD IN THIS CAR AND I AM APPALLED EVERY DAY FEARING AN ACCIDENT, DO NOT WANT THIS CAR BUT NOW I'M IN THE PROCESS OF ARBITRATION RETURN, DO NOT I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE TOYOTA CORPORATION, HAS HAD MANY CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY IN THEIR PRODUCTS. *TR
2009 TOYOTA MATRIX STALLS RANDOMLY 3 TO 7 TIMES A DAY. STALLS OCCURRING RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING, INCLUDING SOME ON HIGHWAYS AND SOME IN INTERSECTIONS. CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF AN PUT INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO START CAR BACK UP. *TR
EXHAUST FUMES IN 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. LEAKAGE IS ESPECIALLY APPARENT AFTER WIDE-OPEN-THROTTLE (WOT) ACCELERATION. THE NOX EMISSIONS FORMED DURING WOT CAN BE SMELLED IN THE CAR. UNDER OTHER OPERATING MODS, THE FUMES ARE LESS NOTICEABLE OR NOT NOTICEABLE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM; SO "INCIDENT DATE" BELOW IS TODAY'S DATE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE WOULD MAKE A VERY LOUD NOISE, SIMILAR TO THAT OF A DIESEL TRUCK. ONCE THE NOISE CEASED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK SENSOR, FRONT ROTORS, AND COMPUTER ALL EXPERIENCED FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 09/28/2011 *LN
THE CONTACT THAT THE 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX STALLS EVERY TIME THE CONTACT STOPS AT AN ENTER SECTION. AND WHEN THE CONTACT TURNS THE CAR BACK THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER. THE CALLER HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN THE CONTACT TRIES TO PULL OFF FROM THE INTERSECTION. PROBLEM STARTED AT 3000 MILES CURRENT MILES IS 9000. UPDATED 12/30/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE STALLING WOULD OCCUR AFTER PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION AFTER IDLING AT A RED LIGHT. THE DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY RESET THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, HOWEVER THE STALLING CONTINUED. UPDATED 12/30/09.*JB
2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL ISSUES WITH VEHICLE AND SEEKS TO RETURN VEHICLE FOR REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO SEE ONCOMING VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM THE LEFT AND TRAFFIC (PARTICULARLY PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC) BLOCKED COMPLETELY FROM HER VIEW ON THE RIGHT BY THE LARGE SIDE MIRRORS. ADDITIONALLY, BACKING UP AND DETECTING APPROACHING VEHICLES FROM BEHIND CREATED AN ISSUE, BECAUSE THE PILLARS BY THE REAR WINDOW BLOCKED HER VIEW. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING SOUND WHILE IDLING, AND THE UNDER MOUNT SOUNDED AS THOUGH THERE WAS A METAL GRINDING ON METAL.
I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX XR. IT STALL INTERMITTENTLY , MORE FREQUENTLY IN HUMID WEATHER. CAN NOT "RECREATE" SITUATION, BUT HAPPENS AT LEAST 5 TIMES PER WEEK NOW THAT WE ARE IN A MORE RAINY SEASON. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER BUT IT CLEARED UP DURING THE COLD MONTHS AND NOW IS BACK WITH THE FURY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN DECEMBER--AGAIN COULD NOT RECREATE FOR DEALER. YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED TWICE IN CITY TRAFFIC. I HAVE DROPPED OFF CAR AT DEALER AND THEY LOOKED AT IT TODAY AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CAR HAD 60 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT IN NOVEMBER AND CURRENTLY HAS 6,300 MILES. I HAVE SERVICED IT ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. I HAVE DRIVEN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION EXCLUSIVELY FOR OVER 20 YEARS WITH NOT SIMILAR PROBLEMS. DEALER WILL LOOK AT IT BUT WILL NOT PROVIDE ME WITH LOANER CAR. *TR
2009 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH 1.8 L ENGINE STALLS AT INTERSECTIONS. DEALER VERY RESISTANT TO ADMITTING TO THE PROBLEM, BUT ALLEGEDLY "RESET" CONTROL MODULE, RESULTING IN LESS FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE. POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN STALL WILL OCCUR AND MORE LIKELY IN INTERSECTIONS. STALLING OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES, ESPECIALLY FROM 8000 TO 10000 MILES. VEHICLE CURRENTLY AT APPROXIMATELY 19000 MILES AND HAS OCCASIONAL STALLS. *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