I have a 2005 Matrix in a place that is too salt-happy during the winter. The following rusted off and fell out from the inner side of the front wheel -- looks like a mud guard of some sort. Is it anything I should bother replacing before winter starts?
This appears to be a dust shield (or sometimes called a backing plate) for the rotor on the disk brake system. It would cover the back side of the rotor. You would be able to see it if you got under the car and looked at the rotor from the back side. I'm not positive about this, though, as this piece is pretty mangled.
