2008 Toyota Matrix problems
NHTSA has received 56 complaints about the 2008 Toyota Matrix, and 20% of them involve cruise control. After that come electrical system (14%) and air bags (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 56 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Cruise control 20% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 9 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 30,000 miles 45 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 19 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 7 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 1 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 45 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 30,000 miles. For cruise control specifically, the median reported mileage is about 29,000 miles (10 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 9 complaints mention a crash; 2 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2008 ranks 7th most-complained-about out of 8 model years of the Toyota Matrix with enough data (43 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota matrix. The contact stated that while driving at approximate speeds of 35 MPH in rainy weather, a vehicle ahead of him applied the brakes. The contact attempted to depress the brakes; however, the vehicle continued to accelerate. The vehicle proceeded to crash into the preceding vehicle and also a third vehicle. One of the vehicle occupants was injured. The police were called to the scene. The contact was not given a copy of the police report.
Tl* 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.
On may 16th I was rear-ended while stopped at a red light. My 2008 matrix xr was pushed into the back of a school bus. The force of the impact crumpled the front end of my car, yet the airbag didn't deploy. Should it have? I can send you photos of the accident and the damage to my car.
On the evening of january 26, 2010, I was driving my 2008 toyota matrix and rear ended another driver. Prior to the crash, I had been traveling at roughly 35 MPH. There were no other people in my car at the time of the crash. The impact was great enough for the driver airbag to deploy. The rear seats are a 60/40 split; the 60 side held a child's booster seat and the 40 side held a child's carseat. Both sides were locked into place prior to the crash.
Several months ago I drove through a puddle of water in our parking lot at work. It was storming with the wind blowing as well. When I drove through the puddle, my battery light came on and I lost steering. Then engine never stopped. Once I traveled a few yards, the steering started working and the battery light went off. It happened another 3 more times before I ever left my work facility. I was able to drive to a toyota dealership for them to check it out. They found nothing wrong with the car.