Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 192 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Matrix, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 72 | 38% |
| Vehicle speed control | 33 | 17% |
| Steering | 17 | 9% |
| Engine | 8 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 2% |
| Air bags | 4 | 2% |
| Power train | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 AI
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN DEUTCH ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING TOYOTA VEHICLE AIRBAGS: THIS WAS THE THIRD RECALL. *LD *JS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
"TAKATA RECALL" WE RECEIVED OUR RECALL NOTICE LETTER AND IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED OUR LOCAL AUTHORISED TOYOTA IN RHINELANDER WI AND WERE TOLD IT WOULD TAKE A FEW WEEKS FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO ARRIVE. AFTER NOT HEARING
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. HERITAGE TOYOTA OWINGS MILL (9801 R
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
"TAKATA RECALL" I AM WONDERING WHEN THE FIX FOR THIS RECALL WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MY AREA.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TH
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TAKATA RECALL THE NHTSA IS AWARE OF THIS RECALL BUT MAY NOT APPRECIATE THE FULL IMPACT ON THE OWNER OF THE CAR. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING IT DUE TO THIS RECALL BUT THERE IS NO REMEDY. I CAN'T GET IT FIXED. WHEN I WENT
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2009 Toyota Matrix. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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, 20
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag ass
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 CAPA
Risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECAL
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
Risk: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL MODIFY OR REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. FLOOR SURFACE MODIFICATIONS ARE ALSO BEING CONSIDERED AND WILL BE INCLUDED FOR ANY MODEL FOR WHICH IT IS DEEMED APPROPRIAT
| Reliability raw | 59 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 192 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 72 of them (38%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 59/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.