Problems · NHTSA complaints

2007 Toyota Matrix problems

Owners filed 96 complaints about the 2007 Toyota Matrix with NHTSA between Jun 2007 and Dec 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (36).

Complaints
96
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags36
  2. Vehicle speed control12
  3. Electrical system12
  4. Engine and engine cooling12
  5. Tires6
  6. Structure4
  7. Power train4
  8. Fuel system, gasoline4
  9. Engine2
  10. Exterior lighting2
  11. Wheels2
  12. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  13. Fuel system, other2
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)1

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
20073
20083
20097
201031
20117
20121
20131
20142
201521
20169
20176
20183
20190
20201
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

36 reports6 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER TOYOTA WHITTIER LOCATED AT 14577 E, WHITTIER BLVD, WHITTIER, CA 90605, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG COIL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2020Air bagsODI 11352279

Vehicle speed control

12 reports6 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS EXITING A PARKING GARAGE AND WAITING AT A TOLL BOOTH, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A RETAINING WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 04/19/17 *LJ *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 13, 2017Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10945064

Electrical system

12 reports2 crashes1 fire
“THERE MULTIPLE TIMES WERE MY VEHICLE WILL LOSE ALL POWER AND NOT RESTART AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED TO BRAND NEW, PLUS A DIFFERENT ALTERNATOR INSTALLED WITH NO FIX TO THE ISSUE. I DO BELIEVE MY VEHICLE ECM HAS GONE BAD AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2016Electrical systemODI 10853132

Engine and engine cooling

12 reports1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) SEPTEMBER 2010. THE NOTICE ADVISED THAT A SECOND NOTIFICATION WOULD BE SENT TO INFORM VEHICLE OWNERS OF WHEN THE REPAIRS WERE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN. THE CONTACT HAD YET TO RECEIVE A SECOND NOTIFICATION AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT WAS FURTHER DOWN THE LIST FOR REPAIRS. THE BELIEVED THAT THE ESTIMATED TIME OF REPAIRS HAD EXCEEDED BEYOND A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 5, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10399183

Tires

6 reports
“2007 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE ROADMASTER TIRES ON VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED IN A SPAN OF 2 MONTHS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED 3 FLAT TIRES. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2018TiresODI 11029691

Structure

4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR, THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILTON RUBEN AUTO GROUP (3514 WASHINGTON RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30907) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE SHATTERED, CAUSING LACERATIONS TO THE DRIVER'S HAND. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2018StructureODI 11065803
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.