← New search

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 →

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.

18 crash reports2 fire reports12 injury reports

What owners actually said

138 reports
92,000 miles · Aug 15, 2008
Power Train

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS TRANSMISSION WEAR OUT IN 6TH GEAR. @ APPROX. 92,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238414

61,000 miles · Jun 6, 2008
Power Train

BOUGHT A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XR WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT DUE TO A FAULTY BEARING.... NO RECALL AND NO FAULT ACCORDING TO TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230129

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2008
StructureVehicle Speed ControlVisibilityInjury

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX - WINDOWS, DOOR HANDLES AND SURGING ELECTRIC WINDOWS RATTLE, GRIND AND POP. DEALER COULD NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY THE WINDOW FELL OUT. ENGINE SURGES WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC. DEALER COULD NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE A "METALLIC" FINISH THAT PEELS AWAY. OCCUPANTS HAVE CU…

Read full complaint

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX - WINDOWS, DOOR HANDLES AND SURGING ELECTRIC WINDOWS RATTLE, GRIND AND POP. DEALER COULD NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY THE WINDOW FELL OUT. ENGINE SURGES WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC. DEALER COULD NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE A "METALLIC" FINISH THAT PEELS AWAY. OCCUPANTS HAVE CUT THEIR FINGERS ON THE EDGE OF METAL/PLASTIC THAT WAS COMING AWAY. EVENTUALLY GOT WORSE TO WHERE YOU COULD SEE THE WHITE PLASTIC HANDLE UNDERNEATH SO I PEELED AWAY THE REMAINING SHARP EDGES AND CAUTION OCCUPANTS. DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR AT MY EXPENSE. CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE CENTER AND WAS REFERRED BACK TO A DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228027

40,000 miles · Apr 21, 2008
Visibility

ALL FOUR WINDOWS HAVE LOOSE BOLTS. PAID FOR REPAIR OF 2. REMAINING 2 ARE REAL LOOSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225252

32,000 miles · Apr 14, 2008
Visibility

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MADE CRACKING SOUNDS WHILE RISING AND THEN SHATTERED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224507

67,400 miles · Apr 9, 2008
Visibility

DUE TO CLOSING CAR DOOR WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF WINDSHIELD TAKING A CHUNK OF INTERIOR GLASS WITH IT. HAD TO REPLACE WHOLE WINDSHIELD AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223817

52,000 miles · Apr 1, 2008
Power Train

CLUTCH SLIPPING, WORN OUT AT ONLY 52,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223004

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2008
Visibility

PASSENGER POWER FRONT WINDOW MAKES A POPPING/CLICKING NOISE DURING OPERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218864

14,000 miles · Feb 8, 2008
Power Train

NUMEROUS CLUTCH FAILURES STARTING WITH #1 AT 14K REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP IN 04', FOUR MONTHS AFTER NEW PURCHASE. SECOND REPLACED AT 45K IN 05'. THIRD REPLACED AT 96K IN MAY OF 07'. FOURTH INSTALLED TREE MONTHS LATER WITH NEW FLY WHEEL. NOW SYNCRO'S ARE GOING. ALL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STEM FROM TRANSMISSION SINCE NEW. NO OTHER "M…

Read full complaint

NUMEROUS CLUTCH FAILURES STARTING WITH #1 AT 14K REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP IN 04', FOUR MONTHS AFTER NEW PURCHASE. SECOND REPLACED AT 45K IN 05'. THIRD REPLACED AT 96K IN MAY OF 07'. FOURTH INSTALLED TREE MONTHS LATER WITH NEW FLY WHEEL. NOW SYNCRO'S ARE GOING. ALL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STEM FROM TRANSMISSION SINCE NEW. NO OTHER "MAJOR" PROBLEMS NOTED OTHER THAN WHAT WOULD BE EXPECTED AS "NORMAL" WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217448

77,432 miles · Feb 4, 2008
Power Train

1.) PUTTING CAR INTO FOURTH GEAR AND HEARD A LOUD WHINING AND GRINDING METAL SOUND. NO INDICATION BEFORE THAT THERE WAS ANY ISSUES WITH CAR. CONTINUED HEARING GRINDING SOUND WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. 2.) TOOK TO DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 3.) TOOK TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AN…

Read full complaint

1.) PUTTING CAR INTO FOURTH GEAR AND HEARD A LOUD WHINING AND GRINDING METAL SOUND. NO INDICATION BEFORE THAT THERE WAS ANY ISSUES WITH CAR. CONTINUED HEARING GRINDING SOUND WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. 2.) TOOK TO DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 3.) TOOK TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED FOR EXTENT OF DAMAGE. BAD BEARINGS FOR SURE AND POSSIBLY NEED A REBUILD ON TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216897

Official recalls

1

08V162000 · 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

1

EA08004 · 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.