CarComplaints.com Notes: The Toyota Matrix is the mechanical twin of the Pontiac Vibe.

Both models were a joint GM-Toyota venture, manufactured together at a NUMMI production facility in Fremont, CA. Only the heating & A/C systems are different.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,037 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Toyota Matrix seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2008 Toyota Matrix Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #27

Dec 062022

Matrix

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Unable to get remedy in a timely manner for air bag recall. Part has been unavailable for over a month and dealer has delayed ordering of part by two weeks. Dealer providing recall service is IRA Toyota of Danvers in Massachusetts

- Londonderry, NH, USA

problem #26

Dec 182020

Matrix

  • 184,000 miles
Someone pulled out in front of me and I hit them with the front of my car. I was driving 40 miles an hour on a city street. It crashed in the front end, radiator, fenders and hood. The airbags did not deploy. I had been sent a recall notice and scheduled an appointment at a local Toyota dealer immediately. The crash happened two weeks before the appointment. This is a known problem with the manufacturer. NHTSA recall no. 19V-627

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #25

Jun 112020

Matrix 4-cyl

  • 223,000 miles
My 2008 Toyota matrix was under recall since I was notified in October 2019. At that time I was told that my car was not safe to drive and I was provided with a rental car. My car was repaired with the Toyota air bag remedy on June 11, 2020 but it seems that the remedy has caused the cover to pop up and a crease is forming across the middle of the airbag cover. Also, the passenger airbag indicator light says off when a passenger seat is occupied. The passenger indicator light worked properly when I last drove my car in October of 2019.

- Fruit Cov, FL, USA

problem #24

Sep 012019

Matrix

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V627000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. Toyota of greer (13770 E wade hampton blvd, greer, SC 29651) was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed the part was not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Travelers Rest, SC, USA

problem #23

Nov 152019

Matrix

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla matrix. The contact was alerted through emissions that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 19V627000 (air bags). The contact was referred to NHTSA and the VIN tool confirmed the VIN was included. However, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer nor the dealer were made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

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problem #22

Aug 192019

Matrix

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V627000 (air bags), however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Koons arlington Toyota located at (4045 lee hwy, arlington, va 22207, (703) 522-6000) was contacted and it was confirmed that the remedy part was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #21

Sep 012019

Matrix

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota matrix. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V627000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact contacted florence Toyota 2300 w palmetto St, florence, SC 29501 and was informed that the parts was not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Dillon, SC, USA

problem #20

Aug 182019

Matrix 4-cyl

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla matrix. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19V627000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called jim coleman Toyota (10400 auto park ave, bethesda, md 20817, (301) 469-7100) and was informed that the parts were not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Kensington, MD, USA

problem #19

Sep 012019

Matrix

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla matrix. The contact received a recall notification in the mail for NHTSA campaign number: 19V627000 (air bags). The contact spoke with joe myers Toyota (19010 northwest fwy, houston, tx 77065, (281) 973-5306) and was informed that the part was not available for the repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #18

Nov 252019

Matrix

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla matrix. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 19V627000 (air bags). The contact called fred anderson Toyota of asheville (777 brevard rd, asheville, nc 28806, (828) 585-5825) and was informed that the air bags would be fine for ten years and to not worry about the recall. The manufacturer had not been notified of the recall. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Asheville, NC, USA

problem #17

Oct 272019

Matrix

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla matrix. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19V627000(air bags). The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- East Haven, CT, USA

problem #16

Oct 032019

Matrix

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla matrix. While the vehicle was undergoing an emissions test, the contact was informed that the vehicle was included in an unknown recall regarding the air bags. The contact spoke with earnhardt Toyota (6136 E auto loop ave, mesa, AZ 85206, 480-807-9700) and was informed that they were waiting to hear from the manufacturer to determine whether they would take action to find a remedy for this potential defect. The manufacturer was not notified directly by the contact. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #15

Sep 152013

Matrix

  • 5 miles
Sudden accelleration, brakes, battery, fuel injectors, shutting down suddenly, electrical

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #14

Jan 102018

Matrix

  • 94,000 miles
I was in an accident. My driver's side airbag deployed and then instantly collapsed. It offered no protection whatsoever. I experienced severe pain in my chest and right breast from where the seat belt locked. This pain lasted for 6 weeks. If the airbag had worked properly, it would have cushioned the impact and likely made it possible to lessen the need for the seatbelt to do all of the work. This must be fixed! (my vehicle was in motion on a city street when a person driving the opposite direction made a left turn in front of me and totaled my vehicle. I no longer have the car, but I have a photo of the defective airbag.)

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #13

Apr 222017

Matrix

  • 235,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 mph when the vehicle in front of the contact made an unexpected stop causing the contact to rear end the vehicle in front. There was front-end damage to the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was not towed and a police report was filed. The contact received injuries to their nose and needed medical attention. The vehicle was taken to a collision center however, was not repaired. The dealer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that their vehicle was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case regarding the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 235,000.

- Athens, GA, USA

problem #12

Dec 292016

Matrix

  • 102,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla matrix. While driving various speeds, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V285000 (air bags). While driving approximately 50 mph, the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine had a system leak, incorrect power fluid, and a cross leak that needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000.

- Dover, NJ, USA

problem #11

Jul 142016

Matrix

  • miles
I have visited and called kendall Toyota in miami five times (today included) to change the airbags in my matrix and the answer is always the same: We don't have them, they are in back order. What are we Toyota owners of recalled airbags causing deaths supposed to do?

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #10

Jan 012008

Matrix 4-cyl

  • miles
Takata recall the news reported the death of a woman driving a car with takata airbags. Why is nothing being done about Toyota not doing anything to fix this defect and allowing us to drive these death machines. I currently do not have any one in my passenger seat, this latest death was the driver.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #9

Jul 062016

Matrix

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V127000 (air bags). The part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #8

May 312016

Matrix

  • miles
"takata recall"? undated letter from Toyota in May 2016 advised vehicle subject to recall because of defective air bag inflators. Undated letter from Toyota later in May 2016 advised that parts preparation completed for our area and to schedule repair with dealer. On 06 June 2016 dealer inspected vehicle and advised that parts not available and had been ordered. On 14 June, 19 July, & 29 July checked with dealer & parts still not available. On 24 June & 24 August called Toyota customer experience center to complain that parts not available although advised by Toyota in may that they were. Told it was a major problem and they were doing the best they could. Problem(s): Toyota lied about the availability of parts; no one is to use passenger front seat of car until repaired(upset wife); ready to sell/trade car but don't want to endanger someone else; feel that Toyota is releasing parts to higher priority customers e.g. new car sale customers. Toyota needs to track parts for our vehicle and get it repaired now!

- Casa Grande, AZ, USA

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