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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

213 reports
114,300 miles · Aug 27, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE YET THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE DI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE YET THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,300.

NHTSA ODI #10352290

34,665 miles · Aug 26, 2010
Air Bags

MY TOYOTA MATRIX 2005'S AIR BAG'S LIGHT TURNS ON AND DEALER IS UNSURE HOW TO FIX IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351997

92,000 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. MOST RECENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE ECM WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. MOST RECENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE ECM WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000.

NHTSA ODI #10351485

94,000 miles · Aug 16, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

AFTER REACHING 94,000 MILES MARK LIKE WHAT SOME OTHER TOYOTA MATRIX OWNERS EXPERIENCED, THERE WAS A HARSH IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN YOU SHIFT TO REVERSE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349748

42,000 miles · Jul 29, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

TOYOTA MATRIX 2005 MODEL PURCHASED ON OCT 2004 AND EXPORTED TO CANADA ON FEB 2009, ABOUT 42K MILES. ECM PROBLEM. WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TURNED ON AND KEPT ON AFTER THEN. THE CAR "JERKS" FROM TIME TO TIME WHILE MOVING. SENT TO DEALER, DIAGNOSED AS ECM PROBLEM, WHICH IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346168

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2010
Fuel System, Other

I PULLED INTO MY PARKING LOT AT WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THIS "LOAD" NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY CAR. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT ONE OF THE STRAPS HOLDING UP MY GAS TANK HAD BROKE, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. MY CONCERN WAS IF I WAS DRIVING ON OUR THRUWAY AND THE GAS TANK FELL OFF! I BELIEVE A…

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I PULLED INTO MY PARKING LOT AT WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THIS "LOAD" NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY CAR. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT ONE OF THE STRAPS HOLDING UP MY GAS TANK HAD BROKE, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. MY CONCERN WAS IF I WAS DRIVING ON OUR THRUWAY AND THE GAS TANK FELL OFF! I BELIEVE AN ACCIDENT OF SOME SORT WOULD OF OCCURRED. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344262

88,713 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

2005 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME AND IMMEDIATELY START SHIFTING HARD. NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS. CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE GAS CAP, I ASKED ARE YOU SURE IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TRANSMISSION BECAUSE WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON IT SHIFTS HARSHLY. NO PRETTY SURE IT IS GAS CAP IF I…

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2005 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME AND IMMEDIATELY START SHIFTING HARD. NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS. CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE GAS CAP, I ASKED ARE YOU SURE IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TRANSMISSION BECAUSE WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON IT SHIFTS HARSHLY. NO PRETTY SURE IT IS GAS CAP IF IT COMES BACK ON YOU HAVE TO PAY $110 TO CHECK IT. AFTER IT CAME BACK ON DROVE FOR A WEEK TO SEE IF PROBLEM CONTINUED THEN TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO SAID IT HAD PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID OUT. TOOK IT FOR SECOND OPINION TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID IT IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA MATRIX AND COROLLA SIMILAR TO RAV4 PROBLEM THAT ECM IS BAD AND CAUSES TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHICH IN THIS CASE CAUSE DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION. CALLED TOYOTA AND POINTED OUT THAT TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN TC014-06 AND TC-015-07 STATE THAT IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS HARSH SHIFTING TO CHANGE THE ECM OUT WITH A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER. THEY AGREED THAT IF MY CAR HAD EXHIBITED THESE SYMPTOMS AT UNDER 80,000 MILES THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE ECM UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN IMPROVED TO NOT DO THIS. THEY SAID THE UNIT COULD BE REPLACE NOW AT 88,000 MILES AT A COST TO ME AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME WITH THE COST OF THE DEFECTIVE UNIT OR THE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE IT CAUSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342899

118,000 miles · Jun 22, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339441

55,269 miles · Jun 6, 2010
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON IN MY 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX - I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLEARED THE CODE, BUT "FOUND NO PROBLEM." THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND OFF AND HAS BEEN RESET SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER NOTING SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED BY OTHERS AT WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM, I EMAILED TOYOTA REGARDING A SOLUTION. …

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THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON IN MY 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX - I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLEARED THE CODE, BUT "FOUND NO PROBLEM." THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND OFF AND HAS BEEN RESET SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER NOTING SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED BY OTHERS AT WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM, I EMAILED TOYOTA REGARDING A SOLUTION. THEIR RESPONSE IS TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. IT IS OF CONCERN TO ME THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT AS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS, AND IT MAY BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT FOR WHICH TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334909

80,744 miles · May 3, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 55MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLES COMPUTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 55MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLES COMPUTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS AVAILABLE DESCRIBING THE FAILURE (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10019673: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE). THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ANY REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,744.

NHTSA ODI #10328665

Official recalls

1

10V384000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.