Illustration2005 TOYOTA MATRIX, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED FOR PANIC STOP WHILE AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING, CAR WILL NOT STOP QUICKLY AND ROLLS INTO OBJECTS. THIS IS SECOND ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE DOING THIS. *TR
2005 Toyota Matrix
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Matrix years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Toyota Matrix are substantially higher than 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
280–25K
2225–50K
1350–75K
3275–100K
16100–150K
14150K+
125 reports with mileage · 88 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 103 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
4 reportsLETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT. RE DIFFICULTIES WITH HER 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE ROTOR GETTING CAUGHT IN THE BRAKE PAD. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER THE SECOND BRAKE REPAIR. THE BRAKES MADE AN AUDIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE E…
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LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT. RE DIFFICULTIES WITH HER 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE ROTOR GETTING CAUGHT IN THE BRAKE PAD. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER THE SECOND BRAKE REPAIR. THE BRAKES MADE AN AUDIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE GEARS WERE ENGAGED. THE ABS DID NOT WORK ON AN IRREGULAR SURFACE. A DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TIRES. THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT BY THEMSELVES WHEN IT WAS DARK.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX XR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS AND THE PADS NUMEROUS TIMES; HOWEVER, THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX XR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS AND THE PADS NUMEROUS TIMES; HOWEVER, THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NEVER CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,700.
MY WIFE BOUGHT A NEW 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX ON JULY 24, 2004. FIVE DAYS LATER, WITH ONLY ABOUT 85 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AS SHE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. WHAT WAS WORSE, SHE WAS ON A HILL AND THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. *AKWE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THAT DAY AND THEY FOUND THAT T…
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MY WIFE BOUGHT A NEW 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX ON JULY 24, 2004. FIVE DAYS LATER, WITH ONLY ABOUT 85 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AS SHE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. WHAT WAS WORSE, SHE WAS ON A HILL AND THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. *AKWE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THAT DAY AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ACTUATOR HAD FAILED AND WAS LEAKING. WE DON'T MIND WAITING FOR THE SPARE PART TO COME IN AND EVERYTHING IS UNDER 100% WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE 2004 COROLLA THEY GAVE HER AS A LOANER, WITH ABOUT 1,200 MILES ON IT, ALSO HAD THE SAME FAILURE ON JULY 30TH. WE RETURNED THAT CAR TODAY ALSO. *AK
Official recalls
110V384000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Aug 26, 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 COROLLA AND COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FOR THE SUBJECT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE 1ZZ-FE ENGINE AND TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A CRACK MAY DEVELOP AT CERTAIN SOLDER POINTS OR ON VARISTORS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WARNINGS AND CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT. THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP COULD BE ILLUMINATED, HARSH SHIFTING COULD RESULT, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START, OR THE ENGINE COULD SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. AN ENGINE SHUTOFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PRODUCTION NUMBER OF THE ECM AND REPLACE THE ECM IF NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. TOYOTA WILL MAIL AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER 2010 TO ADVISE OWNERS OF THIS DEFECT AND RECALL. THIS INTERIM NOTIFICATION WILL INFORM OWNERS THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE A FUTURE NOTIFICATION WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO HAVE THE FREE REMEDY PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.