VehicleVerdict

2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix carries two red flags at once: 38 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture). It is one of the Corolla Matrix years to avoid.

The trouble concentrates in one system: airbags issues account for 61% of all reports (23 of 38), far ahead of engine at 3.

38

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

2

Investigations · 1 open

6

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2008 compare to other Corolla Matrix years?

Corolla Matrix NHTSA complaints by model year, 2008 highlighted107 complaints2003: 39 complaints2004: 42 complaints2005: 107 complaints2006: 75 complaints2007: 57 complaints2008: 38 complaints2009: 88 complaints2010: 24 complaints2011: 6 complaints2012: 0 complaints2013: 1 complaints
Corolla Matrix NHTSA complaints by model year, 2008 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Corolla Matrix years to avoid →

What are the most common 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags2361%
Engine38%
Electrical System38%
Fuel System25%
Brakes25%
Body & Structure25%
Speed Control13%
Visibility & Wipers13%
Other13%

Does the 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19V627000AirbagsAugust 28, 2019 · 229,460 units

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.

Consequence

An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

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.

18V025000AirbagsJanuary 9, 2018 · 116,126 units

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, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. As of January 30, 2018, Toyota is additionally recalling 3,347 model year 2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles located in states listed above. Also included in this recall filing is 98,194 model year 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles, located throughout the U.S., that previously received a “like-for-like” interim air bag inflator replacement. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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).

16V127000AirbagsMarch 3, 2016 · 147,242 units

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 excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

16V128000AirbagsMarch 2, 2016 · 71,163 units

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, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA21002

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · December 18, 2020 · crash

ENGINE OVER-HEATED TO THE POINT WHERE THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS DUE TO CHRONIC OVERHEATING BUT TEMPERATURE GAUGES NEVER INDICATED ANY ISSUE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL 2 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR BROKE DOWN. POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE MONITORING SYSTEM. ROUTINE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 15, 2014

PLEASE SEE BELOW. DEALERSHIP FAILED TO INSTALL RECALLED PART. NOW I HAVE A NON-OPERATING CAR. I FEEL THIS WAS DONE ON PURPOSE TO SAVE PARTS AS IT IS NOW OBVIOUS THAT MY PART FAILED.2010 ECM RECALL [INCIDENT: [XXX]] I REVIEWED MY PAPERWORK AND NOTICED THAT THE ECM WAS ORDERED AND NEVER INSTALLED.…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · May 21, 2011

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE CHARCOAL CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO OCCURRED WITH A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA THAT HAD 120000 MILES ON IT. SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH TOYOTA COROLLAS AND POSSIBLY…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · September 1, 2014

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · December 18, 2020 · crash

2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix — common questions

Is the 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 38 complaints put the 2008 model at #7 of 11 Corolla Matrix years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Corolla Matrix years to avoid.

What are the most common 2008 Corolla Matrix problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (23 complaints), engine (3 complaints), electrical system (3 complaints).

Does the 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Toyota Corolla Matrix years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Corolla Matrix years to avoid are 2005, 2009, 2006, 2007, 2004, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2012.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.