Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Toyota Matrix owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My Matrix 2009 has had intermittent sudden acceleration problems. I mention it at my regular maintenance check ups, but receive non-committal replies. I figure I must be losing it. Over the last 8 months or so, it got extreme: the car will lurch forward at different times: when I start up the car, idling at a light, or slowing to a stop. Today, Sunday morning, as I was pulling into a parking spot at walmart, I began to brake slowly when the trans roared and lurched forward. It jumped the curb and plowed into the front end of the car facing me. At first, I thought I must have hit the gas - but no. My foot was still on the brake - all the way to the floor. I still owe money on this car. I ruined the front end of another car. I am a single mom of 2 and a teacher. I don't know how I am going to be able to handle this. I do not intend to repair this car. It is not safe. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Toyota Matrix. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the accelerator pedal became stuck. Each time the brake pedal was applied, the vehicle accelerated. The contact drove over three curbs, a yield sign, and a stop sign. The contact sustained back pain and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact was treated and released the same day. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an impound yard. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,465. Updated 01/21/16
Toyota accident I drive a leased 2009 Toyota Matrix. At 8:24 am on November 16, 2009. Pulling into a parking space at the doctors office building boca raton. The car was almost stopped and my foot was on the brake, when the car revved up to the maximum, jumped the curb and hit a palm tree. I immediately switched off the engine. I was dazed, and after a couple of minutes I got out the car to see the damage. Having heard of car mat problems, I inspected the mats, but nothing was out of place. After a few minutes, I went to my doctors appointment , but had to leave before I saw the doctor, as I didn't feel well. Despite a lot of front end damage, the car was drivable, so I decided to drive the car to my home , but I was frightened all the way as I thought the car might do the same thing again in traffic. When I got home I called allstate and reported the accident. …
I recently bought a 2010 Toyota camry and was never contacted by the dealership or Toyota about the two recalls on my car. When I called the dealership to make an appointment to fix my car, I was told by the service person that why did I need to fix it for, he acted like he didn't even know about the recalls. They made me wait two weeks for the appointment and then had to keep my car for a whole day. Before the 2010 camry I had bought a 2009 Matrix through another dealership and I finally this past week received a safety recall on that vehicle, well unfortunately I don't have the car anymore since I had a car accident in March of 2009, where I almost lost my life. Had I known the vehicle had issues I would have immediately returned the car. I went through months of physical agony and medical appointments and today I am still not better a year later. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated while braking and slowing the vehicle to 5 MPH for a traffic stop, the vehicle abnormally accelerated and crashed into the rear of a truck. The air bags did not deploy upon impact and the contact sustained minor unknown injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local repair facility. The contact stated the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA recall campaign id number: (10V023000 ) for possible unintended acceleration failures in February 2010. The contact had complained about incidents of sudden abnormal acceleration following repairs and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer stated there were no failure if the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and would not provide any assistance. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota Matrix. The contact was driving approximately 45 MPH with a sudden increase in acceleration. The brake pedal was applied and the vehicle continued to accelerate and traveled off the roadway. The contact struck a reflector. The vehicle sustained moderate damages. There was no personal injury. A police report was filed of the incident. The vehicle was towed to an authorize dealer and remained at the facility for over a period of two and a half months under an investigation. The manufacturer had an independent engineer to perform further investigation regarding the acceleration failure. The authorized dealer was unable to locate the problem and informed the contact to pick up the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired for the body damages. …
On February 11, I took my 2009 Toyota Matrix to motorcars Toyota of cleveland heights, ohio, to have the car repaired in the gas pedal recall. While there, I was informed of another recall on the car, on its brakes. Both of these issues were address and I picked the car up on February 13th. On February 24 at 7:45 am, I was driving westbound on I-90 in westlake, ohio; it was snowing and the roads were wet, unsalted. As I was rounding a corner near the crocker bassett exit, my car began to skid. I immediately began to pump the brakes and attempt to straighten my car out, but the brakes did not engage. I firmly pressed down on the brakes and nothing happened; I then tried the emergency brake and the car still did not slow down. I was unable to regain control of the vehicle and it began to spin out and to the left. …
2009 Toyota Matrix first problem started stalling suddenly in traffic last year, but now very frequently stalls even on highways at high speeds. No warnings. When stalled all lights comes on in dash, including "check engine" light. Completely turn off ignition and restarting is the only way to fix this issue at that time. After restarting the check engine light goes out. Occurred several times in all sorts of weather, but more frequently in hot summer days. Yesterday stalled 4 times within 90 minutes drive. Restart cleared engine computer dealership had difficult time replicating failure. But, advised replacement of the engine control module at a cost of over $1000. Since this year model not recalled by Toyota yet. I do not know how or where to complain so that Toyota acknowledge that it is a safety issue and fix this at their expense.
Tl contact owns a 2009 Toyota Matrix. While the contact was driving approximately 20 MPH, entering a circle in the roadway, the brake pedal was engaged with no power response. The vehicle would not slow down and crashed into the passenger side rear of the proceeding vehicle. The vehicle continued to travel and then crashed into the stairway of a house. The front driver side tire was trapped in between the stairway and sidewalk. There were no injuries. A police report was filed for the incident. The vehicle sustained extensive front end damages. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer. The insurance company had not inspected or declared the damages to the vehicle at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000. Updated 11/9/10 updated 11/16/10
Tl contact owns a 2009 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated rapidly after she depressed the accelerator pedal to make a left turn. The vehicle crashed into another vehice. The air bags did not deploy. Both the contact and driver of the other vehicle sustained neck injuries; a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealership where it was repaired at the contacts expense. The manufacturer called the contact and requested to take the vehicle apart to repair the problem. The contact wanted reimbursement for the repairs and wanted to give the vehicle back ,as she was still experiencing sudden acceleration intermittently. The failure mileage was approximately 289. The current mileage was approximately 2,900.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
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.
Remedy: 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 appropriate.
Acceleration complaints in other Matrix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2009 Toyota Matrix?
NHTSA has 45 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2009 Toyota Matrix, 23% of the model year's 192 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Toyota Matrix acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 10V-023 (accelerator pedal, Jan 27, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Toyota Matrix acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 14,000 miles, and 64% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 22 crashes, 0 fires and 11 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.