2008 Toyota Matrix problems and complaints

Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Toyota Matrix. The most-reported areas: Vehicle Speed Control (11), Electrical System (8), Air Bags (6).

Key takeaways

  • 38 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 6 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 2 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Vehicle Speed Control1129%
Electrical System821%
Air Bags616%
Service Brakes513%
Steering411%
Electronic Stability Control (esc)38%
Power Train38%
Hydraulic38%
Engine25%
Tires25%
Unknown Or Other25%
Engine And Engine Cooling25%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2008 Toyota Matrix 4-DR.Not ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated
2008 Toyota Matrix 4-DR. w/SABNot ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Electrical System - filed 2020-03-03

2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TOYOTA COMPUTER SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER HAD NOT REPLACED THE ECM, BUT CLAIMED IT WAS REPLACED. *JS

Electrical System,engine - filed 2018-10-26

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON IN ORDER TO DRIVE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES, ESPECIALLY AT RED LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BENNETT TOYOTA (1951...

Tires - filed 2017-07-07

DANGEROUS, POOR TRACTION ON WET PAVEMENT SUMITOMO TOUR PLUS LS-H WHEN ON A STEEP ROAD IN SAN FRANCISCO, MY TIRES SKIDDED RATHER THAN GRAB THE ROAD ON A RAINY DAY IN THE WINTER OF 2016. THIS ALSO HAPPENED DURING THE WINTER OF 2017. IT IS DANGEROUS. I NEED TO CHANGE THE TIRES BEFORE SELLING MY CAR TO ANOTHER PERSO...

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More for the 2008 Toyota Matrix

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.