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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags36
- Vehicle speed control12
- Electrical system12
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Tires6
- Structure4
- Power train4
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Engine2
- Exterior lighting2
- Wheels2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Fuel system, other2
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
3
7
31
7
1
1
2
21
9
6
3
0
1
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 31 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
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.
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.”
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”
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.”
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.”
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”
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”
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.