2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (20) · Engine (2) · Visibility/Wiper (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Corolla Matrix model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-08-28 · campaign 19V627000 · 229,460 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. The air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation under high temperature conditions, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly.
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are K1Q and K0Q. Pontiac owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is N192273760.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-01-09 · campaign 18V025000 · 116,126 vehicles
Defect: On January 9, 2018, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 14,585 model year 2010-2012 Yaris vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assemblies with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0R (Zone B), and H0A (Zone C), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A).
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2016-03-03 · campaign 16V127000 · 147,242 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured May 25, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce e
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 23, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. This recall expands recall 15V-285.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2016-03-02 · campaign 16V128000 · 71,163 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008 that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 8, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. This recall expands recall 15V-286.
Service bulletins (18)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · T-SB-0038-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · T-SB-0038-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:oil/Lubrication 2024-03-04 · T-PANT-2024-004- · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect toyota genuine motor oil and long life coolant, effective march 1, 2024. these products are ordered through the toyota complete maintenance care (tcmc) website.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2024-01-25 · Update · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
faq: customer frequently asked questions
Air Bags 2024-01-25 · Support Division · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dp: the subject vehicles are equipped with a front passenger airbag. a part inside the airbag could explode, shooting sharp metal fragments at vehicle occupants. this could cause serious injury or death. ? added dealer procedures for do no drive advisory ? updated bec contact information ? revise
Wheels 2022-01-12 · Toyota PRO19-02 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pol: this consolidated tire warranty guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by toyota. this information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. customers can find this information
Showing the 6 most recent of 18 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-12-14 · Unknown Or Other“the seller of this vehicle rolled back the odometer to 135,000 when the carfax reports in april of 2024 the car was at 200,000 miles…”
2022-12-06 · Air Bags“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…”
2020-12-28 · Structure:body · 184,000 mi · 💥 crash“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…”
2020-06-22 · Air Bags · 223,000 mi“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…”
2020-04-30 · Air Bags“tl* 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 manufactu…”
2020-04-03 · Air Bags“tl* 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 manufactu…”
2020-03-11 · Air Bags“tl* 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, arlingto…”
2020-02-14 · Air Bags“tl* 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 …”
2019-12-20 · Air Bags“tl* 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) a…”
2019-12-17 · Air Bags“tl* 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…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.