I WAS BACKING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED-THE BRAKES AND STEERING ALSO WENT OUT-I CRASHED INTO A BANK ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THEN THE CAR SWUNG AROUND AND I ENDED UP SUSPENDED OVER A DITCH. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SWITCH GEARS AND TURN THE CAR OFF
2004 Toyota Matrix
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Matrix do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 70.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Matrix years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
96 reports with mileage · 42 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
8 reportsMY DAUGHTER SAID THE STEERING TOTALLY LOCKED WHILE BEING DRIVEN. HER & HER BOYFRIEND COULD NOT GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN AT ALL. THEY WERE NOT SPEEDING BECAUSE IT WAS ON WET ROADS. THEY BOTH SUFFERED MILD CONCUSSIONS & MY DAUGHTER HAS A SEVERE NECK SPRAIN. AFTER SEEING THE CAR, IT WENT OFF THE ROAD & ROLLED 2 OR 3 TIMES I…
Read full complaint
MY DAUGHTER SAID THE STEERING TOTALLY LOCKED WHILE BEING DRIVEN. HER & HER BOYFRIEND COULD NOT GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN AT ALL. THEY WERE NOT SPEEDING BECAUSE IT WAS ON WET ROADS. THEY BOTH SUFFERED MILD CONCUSSIONS & MY DAUGHTER HAS A SEVERE NECK SPRAIN. AFTER SEEING THE CAR, IT WENT OFF THE ROAD & ROLLED 2 OR 3 TIMES IT'S TOTALED, I'M SURPRISED THEY'RE NOT IN ICU! I DID SOME RESEARCH & ALMOST 1000 MATRIX'S HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN!! I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. IT SEEMS TOYOTA ISN'T ALL THAT SAFE & DOESN'T CARE ABOUT IT'S CUSTOMERS AT ALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT OFF TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN UP THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT LOCKED UP AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE DRIVER AND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED M…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT OFF TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN UP THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT LOCKED UP AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE DRIVER AND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DECLARED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS GOING TO SEND AN AGENT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT WOULD SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS UNEVEN, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRES THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS UNEVEN, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRES THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000. UPDATED 04/12/11*LJ UPDATED 04/13/11
2004 MATRIX STEERING,THE STEERING LOCKED UP. WHEN I TRY TO TURN IT, THERE IS A HARSH JERK IT UNLOCKED,CAUSING THE CAR TO GO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THEN IT DID A 360 SPIN AND WENT INTO THE BUSHES,THIS ALL HAPPENED ON 07/07/07 ON THE NORTHERN STATE PARKWAY LONG ISLAND NEW YORK, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, …
Read full complaint
2004 MATRIX STEERING,THE STEERING LOCKED UP. WHEN I TRY TO TURN IT, THERE IS A HARSH JERK IT UNLOCKED,CAUSING THE CAR TO GO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THEN IT DID A 360 SPIN AND WENT INTO THE BUSHES,THIS ALL HAPPENED ON 07/07/07 ON THE NORTHERN STATE PARKWAY LONG ISLAND NEW YORK, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE WEEK BEFORE SHE TOLD ME ABOUT THE STEERING NOT WORKING WELL,SO I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BUT DID NOT MADE IT,SHE DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT ANY LONGER, SHE IS VERY SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *JB
FIANCE AND I WERE ON THE 210 FREEWAY HEADING EAST. HE SAID WE SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHEN I ASKED WHY HE SAID THE STEERING IS ACTING FUNNY. THE SECOND HE FINISHED HIS SENTENCE, THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. CAR DID 360 DEGREE TURNS ACROSS FREEWAY (FROM LEFT LANE TO RIGHT LANE) AND OVER THE EDGE, DOWN A HILL, OVER A FEN…
Read full complaint
FIANCE AND I WERE ON THE 210 FREEWAY HEADING EAST. HE SAID WE SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHEN I ASKED WHY HE SAID THE STEERING IS ACTING FUNNY. THE SECOND HE FINISHED HIS SENTENCE, THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. CAR DID 360 DEGREE TURNS ACROSS FREEWAY (FROM LEFT LANE TO RIGHT LANE) AND OVER THE EDGE, DOWN A HILL, OVER A FENCE, AND INTO A DITCH. MINOR INJURIES. WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN KILLED. CAR WAS TOTALED. ACCIDENT IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A MECHANICAL DEFECT.*JB
DT: 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XR, THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING YOKE, CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING DID NOT FEEL RIGHT, THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE THE SPLASH GUARD WAS DRAGGING, THE D…
Read full complaint
DT: 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XR, THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING YOKE, CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING DID NOT FEEL RIGHT, THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE THE SPLASH GUARD WAS DRAGGING, THE DEALER PUT TWO PINS IN THE SPLASH GUARD, BECAUSE THE PINS WERE MISSING, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN TO BE REPAIRED, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STEERING YOKE, PREVIOUSLY THE TRANSMISSION HAD WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HAVE A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM IT. THE CONSUMER TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CASE AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR A YOKE REPLACEMENT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT IT IS ON BACK ORDER, ALL THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE STEERING WAS NOT STILL UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY NOW, THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MAY 2003. *NM THE CLICKING NOISE IS STILL PRESENT WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. *SC
2004 TOYOTA MATRIX DRIFTED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER LOSING CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPING OVER.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED ONCE MORE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT, HIT A DITCH, WENT AIRBORNE AND FLIPPED. TOYOTA DETERMINED THAT THERE…
Read full complaint
2004 TOYOTA MATRIX DRIFTED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER LOSING CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPING OVER.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED ONCE MORE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT, HIT A DITCH, WENT AIRBORNE AND FLIPPED. TOYOTA DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS STEERING PROBLEMS. *SC *JB
Official recalls
108V162000 · Visibility:glass, Side/rear
Apr 10, 2008
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 662,178 MY 2003-2004 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF, CAUSING THE DOOR GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BECOMING LOOSE AND POSSIBLY RATTLING, AN ABNORMAL NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHEN OPERATING THE POWER WINDOWS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DOOR GLASS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR, BIND AND SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOWS, CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION AND/OR INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS WITH NEWLY DESIGNED BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2008 TO TOYOTA OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2008, FOR PONTIAC OWNERS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA08004 · Side Front Power Window Shatters
Opened Feb 5, 2008 · Closed May 1, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility; Visibility:glass, Side/rear; Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RETENTION FORCE OF THE REGULATOR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE OF THE RETENTION NUT AND THE BOLT SHOULDER RADIUS.IN THIS CONDITION THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE TO BE GENERATED WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED OR LOWERED.IF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WINDOW ARE CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BOLT MAY COMPLETELY SEPARATE, CAUSING THE GLASS TO BECOME MISALIGNED, AND IN THE WORSE CASE, THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW.GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM) AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, INC. (TOYOTA) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Visibility:glass, Side/rear
FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RETENTION FORCE OF THE REGULATOR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE OF THE RETENTION NUT AND THE BOLT SHOULDER RADIUS.IN THIS CONDITION THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE TO BE GENERATED WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED OR LOWERED.IF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WINDOW ARE CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BOLT MAY COMPLETELY SEPARATE, CAUSING THE GLASS TO BECOME MISALIGNED, AND IN THE WORSE CASE, THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW.GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM) AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, INC. (TOYOTA) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RETENTION FORCE OF THE REGULATOR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE OF THE RETENTION NUT AND THE BOLT SHOULDER RADIUS.IN THIS CONDITION THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE TO BE GENERATED WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED OR LOWERED.IF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WINDOW ARE CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BOLT MAY COMPLETELY SEPARATE, CAUSING THE GLASS TO BECOME MISALIGNED, AND IN THE WORSE CASE, THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW.GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM) AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, INC. (TOYOTA) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Visibility
FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RETENTION FORCE OF THE REGULATOR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE OF THE RETENTION NUT AND THE BOLT SHOULDER RADIUS.IN THIS CONDITION THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE TO BE GENERATED WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED OR LOWERED.IF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WINDOW ARE CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BOLT MAY COMPLETELY SEPARATE, CAUSING THE GLASS TO BECOME MISALIGNED, AND IN THE WORSE CASE, THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW.GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM) AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, INC. (TOYOTA) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Illustration