← New search

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
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2016
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE …

Read full complaint

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10915901

192,200 miles · Oct 1, 2016
Service Brakes

I ENCOUNTERED A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED THE TIRE OFF AND PLACED THE SPARE ON. THE BRAKE DRUM CAME OFF THE CAR AND REMAINED HOUSED IN THE WHEEL WELL. AFTER PLACING THE SPARE ON, I DROVE ABOUT 30 MILES TO MY MECHANIC WITH NO BRAKE DRUM. I ENCOUNTERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY BREAK SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN CHANGING THE TIR…

Read full complaint

I ENCOUNTERED A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED THE TIRE OFF AND PLACED THE SPARE ON. THE BRAKE DRUM CAME OFF THE CAR AND REMAINED HOUSED IN THE WHEEL WELL. AFTER PLACING THE SPARE ON, I DROVE ABOUT 30 MILES TO MY MECHANIC WITH NO BRAKE DRUM. I ENCOUNTERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY BREAK SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN CHANGING THE TIRE AND IN MOTION WHEN BRAKE SYSTEM DAMAGE WAS DONE.

NHTSA ODI #10910944

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2016
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V286000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. …

Read full complaint

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V286000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10910734

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2016
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUF…

Read full complaint

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10909909

81,000 miles · Sep 16, 2016
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CLOCK FAILED TO WORK. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THE AIR BAGS. THE DEALER SCHEDULED THE RECALL REPAIR, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUM…

Read full complaint

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CLOCK FAILED TO WORK. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THE AIR BAGS. THE DEALER SCHEDULED THE RECALL REPAIR, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE CLOCK CONTINUED NOT TO FUNCTION. THERE WERE ALSO VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS THAT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AFTER THE REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INDICATED THAT THEY WERE BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/01/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI #10907277

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2016
Electrical SystemFire

HOW CAN I VERIFY THAT THE SAFETY RECALL A0J PHASE 1 ON MY 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX WAS REP[ACED BY A GOOD ECU? I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ECU WAS BAD. I THINK THEY ARE NOT BEING COMPLETELY HONEST AND DID NOT LOOK UP ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY INFORMATION ON IT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT EVEN MENTION THE RECENT AIR BAG ISSUES IN CE…

Read full complaint

HOW CAN I VERIFY THAT THE SAFETY RECALL A0J PHASE 1 ON MY 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX WAS REP[ACED BY A GOOD ECU? I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ECU WAS BAD. I THINK THEY ARE NOT BEING COMPLETELY HONEST AND DID NOT LOOK UP ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY INFORMATION ON IT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT EVEN MENTION THE RECENT AIR BAG ISSUES IN CERTAIN STATES.I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AND I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN PROPERLY FIXED BY THE ORIGINAL RECALLS / WARRANTIES.

NHTSA ODI #10901972

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2016
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE O…

Read full complaint

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10889039

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. TH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10881748

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2016
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE O…

Read full complaint

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 07/12/16*LJ UPDATED 07/19/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10873170

202,912 miles · May 13, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AUTOMATICALLY DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTUR…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AUTOMATICALLY DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,912.

NHTSA ODI #10864822

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.