Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Toyota Matrix problems

Owners filed 213 complaints about the 2005 Toyota Matrix with NHTSA between Aug 2004 and Sep 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (103).

Complaints
213
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags103
  2. Electrical system23
  3. Power train23
  4. Vehicle speed control17
  5. Tires17
  6. Engine and engine cooling17
  7. Engine7
  8. Suspension7
  9. Steering4
  10. Exterior lighting4
  11. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  12. Structure4
  13. Service brakes3
  14. Fuel system, gasoline3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20043
200511
200610
20079
200811
200910
201032
201116
20122
20139
201416
201550
201627
20172
20182
20192
20200
20210
20220
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

103 reports2 crashes
“The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under an unknown recall however, the air bag warning light illuminated after the repair was made. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V627000 (Air Bags); however, the vehicle was not repaired, and the contact was informed that the failure was not related to the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2024Air bagsODI 11614208

Electrical system

23 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. ALSO, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. PERRY MOTORS (310 S MAIN ST, BISHOP, CA 93514, (760) 872-4141) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER BELIEVED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2019Electrical system, EngineODI 11165224

Power train

23 reports
“I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING AND I HEARD A LOUD GRINDING AND WHINING SOUND COMING FROM WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE. I CAME TO A RED LIGHT AND GOT OUT TO SEE IF I COULD SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY BUT SAW NOTHING. I THEN GOT BACK IN AND PUT IT IN GEAR TO GO AND NOTHING I WOULD LET OUT THE CLUTCH AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I TRIED TO PUT IT IN REVERSE TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE STREET AND WHEN I WOULD LET OFF THE CLUTCH IT WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR IT WOULDN'T STAY IN REVERSE. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. EVIDENTLY TOYOTA MADE A BAD DESIGN WITH THE 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND ONE OF THE BEARINGS DOSE NOT GET LUBRICATED AND BURNS OUT FALLING APART AND RUINING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS AND WILL NOT FIX THIS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2013Power trainODI 10557608

Vehicle speed control

17 reports6 crashes
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2016Vehicle speed controlODI 10864822

Tires

17 reports
“PURCHASED BRIDGESTONE TURANZA SERENITY PLUS TIRES THIS WEEK. I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE TIRES DOESN'T HAVE THE UTQG RATINGS ON THE SIDE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A ISSUE FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT SINCE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ANY RATINGS FOR THE TIRE ARE. I WAS INFORMED BY BRIDGESTONE THAT THIS IS LEGAL DURING THE FIRST PRODUCTION RUNS. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. [XXX] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2014TiresODI 10632724

Engine and engine cooling

17 reports1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE MALFUNCTION WAS RELATED TO THE ECM, WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10449474
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.