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
What owners actually said
213 reports
65,000 miles · Nov 19, 2008
Power Train
THE CAR IS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX,5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE CAR IS SERVICED BY A TECH AT SCHEDULED SERVICE TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WERE REBUILDS AVAILABLE BUT STATED THE TOYOTA REPLACEMENT WAS THE WAY TO GO, I AGREE. TOYOTA SAYS THERE ARE NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS…
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THE CAR IS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX,5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE CAR IS SERVICED BY A TECH AT SCHEDULED SERVICE TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WERE REBUILDS AVAILABLE BUT STATED THE TOYOTA REPLACEMENT WAS THE WAY TO GO, I AGREE. TOYOTA SAYS THERE ARE NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HOWEVER IF YOU LOOK ON LINE ONE WILL SEE A RASH OF 5 SPEED TOYOTA MATRIX TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH A BEARING ALWAYS BEING BLAMED, I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS MANY PEOPLE BEAT THERE 5 SPEEDS TO DEATH IN A 4 DOOR STATION WAGON. ALSO NOTED WAS TOYOTA HAD 15 TRANSMISSION WAITING WHEN MINE WAS ORDERED-- PERHAPS THEY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. NO ONE WILL SAY IF THE NEW TRANSMISSION HAS BEING IMPROVED OVER THE OLD UNIT,BECAUSE THAT WOULD MEAN THERE WAS A PROBLEM TO START WITH. THANKS TO TOYOTA I HAVE A CAR WITH A TRANSMISSION THAT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IT STARTED WITH AT A COST OF 3,400.00 MORE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249329
Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2008
Tires
EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR HAS FORCED US TO BUY MULTIPLE NEW TIRES ON OUR 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249086
82,000 miles · Nov 12, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOLLOWED BY HARSH SHIFTING AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOLLOWED BY HARSH SHIFTING AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,000.
NHTSA ODI #10248623
50,000 miles · Oct 15, 2008
Fuel System, Other
MY CAR HAD BIG NOISE COME FROM UNDERNEATH, I HAD THE DEALER CHECK AND THE DEAL FIND THE FUEL TANK FELL DOWN FROM THE CAR BECAUSE METAL STRIP WHICH HOLD IT WAS BROKEN. THE PROBLEM SHOW UP WHEN I HAVE NORMAL DRIVING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10245591
40,000 miles · Oct 5, 2008
SuspensionTires
I HAVE TO REPLACE TIRES DUE TO THEM WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE THAT THE TIRE COMPANIES SAY IS NOT A CONSEQUENCE OF THE TIRES BUT RATHER MY CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10244440
76,663 miles · Sep 1, 2008
Tires
1. TIRE PURCHASED FROM SEARS BLEW-OUT DUE TO TIRE VALVE STEM FAILURE. 4/2008 2. TIRE PURCHASED FROM SEARS LOST AIR DUE TO DEFECTIVE TIRE VALVE STEM. 6/2008. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10240520
17,200 miles · Jul 20, 2008
Tires
SEVERE CUPPING WEAR MAINLY ON FRONT TIRES ON THE INSIDE EDGES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10235039
23,000 miles · Jul 13, 2008
Tires
MY TOYOTA MATRIX (2005) HAS A TERRIBLE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, THAT CAUSES PREMATURE WEAR ON THE TIRES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234086
700,000 miles · Mar 14, 2008
Power Train
CLUTCH-WAS ALWAYS VERY HARD TO PUT CAR INTO FIRST AND FROM FIRST INTO SECOND. AFTER ONE YEAR, TOOK IT INTO DEALER, WAS TOLD OKAY. AFTER SECOND YEAR, TOOK IT INTO DEALER, TOLD FLOOR MAT TOO THICK. TOOK FLOOR MAT OUT, SAME PROBLEM. AT THIRD YEAR, COULD NOT GET POWER (DIDN'T 'CATCH') IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. TOLD CLUTCH FAILED, MY…
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CLUTCH-WAS ALWAYS VERY HARD TO PUT CAR INTO FIRST AND FROM FIRST INTO SECOND. AFTER ONE YEAR, TOOK IT INTO DEALER, WAS TOLD OKAY. AFTER SECOND YEAR, TOOK IT INTO DEALER, TOLD FLOOR MAT TOO THICK. TOOK FLOOR MAT OUT, SAME PROBLEM. AT THIRD YEAR, COULD NOT GET POWER (DIDN'T 'CATCH') IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. TOLD CLUTCH FAILED, MY FAULT (DRIVING STANDARDS FOR 25 YEARS), NOW QUOTED $1,760. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10221149
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2008
Tires
VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AT REPAIR FACILITY, TECHNICIAN ADVISED ALL 4 TIRES HAD SPLITS ON SIDEWALLS RENDERING THEM UNSAFE. *TR
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.
2005 Toyota Matrix Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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