IllustrationWE HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AT 13,000 MILES. DEALER SAID IT WAS DRIVER ERROR. WE HAVE ANOTHER CAR WITH A CLUTCH THAT HAS 165,000 MILES WITHOUT ANY CLUTCH PROBLEMS. THE CLUTCH SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURING AGAIN AND THE DEALER SAID IT IS FROM THE OLD CLUTCH EVEN THOUGH THEY REPLACED IT.*AK
2004 Toyota Matrix
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Matrix do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 70.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Matrix years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
210–25K
1425–50K
1650–75K
1575–100K
20100–150K
10150K+
96 reports with mileage · 42 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.
- Power Train. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports2 fire reports12 injury reports
What owners actually said
138 reportsFRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED,CAME DOWN LONG WINDING HILL AT 55 MPH, HIT BRAKES AN STEERING WHEEL SHOOK LEFT TO RIGHT QUITE ALOT.*AK
2004 TOYOTA MATRIX PURCHASED 12/8/03 IS SUPPOSED TO GET AT LEAST 26 MPG IN CITY TRAFFIC. MINE CONSISTENTLY GETS NO MORE THAN 21 MPG. DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT SOMETHING IS, EITHER FALSE ADVERTISING FOR THE ENTIRE MATRIX LINE OR SOMETHING WITH THIS CAR. I WOULD NOT HAVE TRADED A PAID UP 99 COROLLA THAT GOT 26 MPG FOR THIS…
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2004 TOYOTA MATRIX PURCHASED 12/8/03 IS SUPPOSED TO GET AT LEAST 26 MPG IN CITY TRAFFIC. MINE CONSISTENTLY GETS NO MORE THAN 21 MPG. DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT SOMETHING IS, EITHER FALSE ADVERTISING FOR THE ENTIRE MATRIX LINE OR SOMETHING WITH THIS CAR. I WOULD NOT HAVE TRADED A PAID UP 99 COROLLA THAT GOT 26 MPG FOR THIS CAR, HAD I KNOWN IT WOULD COST ME FAR MORE TO RUN (AS WELL AS TO FINANCE). *LA
FRONT WHEELS VIBRATE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IF SNOW SLUSH FREEZES IN LOW PROFILE STEEL WHEEL RIMS. THIS HAPPENED TWICE THIS WINTER TO ME, I FIRST THOUGHT A WHEEL WEIGHT CAME OFF THE SHAKE WAS SO BAD, THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT OUT AN SAID IT WAS ICE INSIDE THE BACK OF THE WHEEL RIM, HE MELTED IT OUT AN IT WAS FIND. IT HAPPENED AGAIN L…
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FRONT WHEELS VIBRATE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IF SNOW SLUSH FREEZES IN LOW PROFILE STEEL WHEEL RIMS. THIS HAPPENED TWICE THIS WINTER TO ME, I FIRST THOUGHT A WHEEL WEIGHT CAME OFF THE SHAKE WAS SO BAD, THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT OUT AN SAID IT WAS ICE INSIDE THE BACK OF THE WHEEL RIM, HE MELTED IT OUT AN IT WAS FIND. IT HAPPENED AGAIN LATTER ON IN THE WINTER YOU ONLY FEEL THE SHAKING IF YOU BRING THE CAR UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED,I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH WHEEL RIMS BEFORE AN I LIVE IN UPSTATE N.Y. WHERE WE GET ENOUGH SNOW. WHEN THE ICE MELTS OR BREAKS OUT OF THE BACK OF THESE DEEP DISH RIMS THE WHEELS STOP SHAKING, I CONSIDER THIS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BE FORE SOME ONE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 TOYOTA 4WD MATRIX. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
CLUTCH FAILURE AT 5100 MILES; --- COMPLETE-- REPLACED BY DEALER AT 8600 MILES---- CLUTCH FAILURE. DEALER REFUSES TO DEAL WITH WARRANTY. TELLS ME THAT IT IS MY FAULT, " I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION". INDICATES THAT MY WIFE AND I ARE "RIDING" THE CLUTCH AND PERHAPS "RACING" MENTIONED VEHICLE. AFTER A COMBINED…
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CLUTCH FAILURE AT 5100 MILES; --- COMPLETE-- REPLACED BY DEALER AT 8600 MILES---- CLUTCH FAILURE. DEALER REFUSES TO DEAL WITH WARRANTY. TELLS ME THAT IT IS MY FAULT, " I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION". INDICATES THAT MY WIFE AND I ARE "RIDING" THE CLUTCH AND PERHAPS "RACING" MENTIONED VEHICLE. AFTER A COMBINED DRIVING EXPERIENCE OF NEARLY 3/4 OF CENTURY ON DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WITH ZERO PROBLEMS, I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT THE CAUSE OF MY CLUTCH FAILURES ARE MY DRIVING ABILITIES OR HABITS. DEALER SERVICE MENTIONS THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF HISTORY OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. INSTEAD WISHES TO PASS THE "BLAME" AND CAUSE ONTO THE CUSTOMER. *JB
I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX ON NOVEMBER 10, 2003. THE FIRST DAY I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHICH HAS A SLIGHT SLOPE, THE BUMPER DRAGGED ON THE DRIVEWAY. EVEN GOING VERY SLOWLY, I REALIZED THAT THE FRONT END OF THIS VEHICLE WAS ENTIRELY TOO LOW. ON NOVEMBER 17, PULLING OUT FROM A STORE, I NOTICED IT WAS STILL DRAGGING AND …
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I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX ON NOVEMBER 10, 2003. THE FIRST DAY I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHICH HAS A SLIGHT SLOPE, THE BUMPER DRAGGED ON THE DRIVEWAY. EVEN GOING VERY SLOWLY, I REALIZED THAT THE FRONT END OF THIS VEHICLE WAS ENTIRELY TOO LOW. ON NOVEMBER 17, PULLING OUT FROM A STORE, I NOTICED IT WAS STILL DRAGGING AND THE DRIVE WAS NOT AS MUCH OF A SLOPE AS MY DRIVE. I NOTIFIED CLASSIC TOYOTA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 17 ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WENT IN TO SPEAK WITH THEM ON NOVEMBER 22 SINCE I LIVED AN HOUR AWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT ONCE I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE FRONT BUMPER, THEY NOTICED THAT IT WAS COMING A PART. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I TOOK IT TO THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT. THE GENTLEMAN THERE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE BUMPER AND HE HAD REPLACED SEVERAL. HE SAID THEY EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE ONES ON THEIR OWN LEASE CARS AND BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT COMPLAINTS. THIS FRONT BUMPER IS BARELY 2 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. TOYOTA TOLD ME TO JUST PARK ON THE ROAD WHENEVER TO AVOID ANY SLOOPS. I AM 20 YEARS OLD AND WAS VERY PROUD OF PAYING FOR MY FIRST VEHICLE. TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING. I HAVE TAKEN ALL NECESSARY CARE TO USE MY VEHICLE IN THE MANNER IT WAS INTENDED, JUST DRIVE IT AND MY ABILITY TO DO THIS IS IMPAIRED BY THEIR DESIGN DEFECT. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT WILL CHANGE THE BUMPER OUT TO THEIR OTHER MAKE FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT THEY ARE CHARGING ME FOR IT. *LA
DASHBOARD REFLECTS OFF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IMPAIRS VISIBILITY. *AK IMAGES REFLECTED ALL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY/NIGHT. *PH *JB
Official recalls
108V162000 · Visibility:glass, Side/rear
Apr 10, 2008
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 662,178 MY 2003-2004 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF, CAUSING THE DOOR GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BECOMING LOOSE AND POSSIBLY RATTLING, AN ABNORMAL NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHEN OPERATING THE POWER WINDOWS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DOOR GLASS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR, BIND AND SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOWS, CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION AND/OR INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS WITH NEWLY DESIGNED BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2008 TO TOYOTA OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2008, FOR PONTIAC OWNERS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
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
1EA08004 · Side Front Power Window Shatters
Opened Feb 5, 2008 · Closed May 1, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility; Visibility:glass, Side/rear; Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RETENTION FORCE OF THE REGULATOR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE OF THE RETENTION NUT AND THE BOLT SHOULDER RADIUS.IN THIS CONDITION THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE TO BE GENERATED WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED OR LOWERED.IF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WINDOW ARE CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BOLT MAY COMPLETELY SEPARATE, CAUSING THE GLASS TO BECOME MISALIGNED, AND IN THE WORSE CASE, THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW.GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM) AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, INC. (TOYOTA) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Visibility:glass, Side/rear
FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RETENTION FORCE OF THE REGULATOR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE OF THE RETENTION NUT AND THE BOLT SHOULDER RADIUS.IN THIS CONDITION THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE TO BE GENERATED WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED OR LOWERED.IF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WINDOW ARE CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BOLT MAY COMPLETELY SEPARATE, CAUSING THE GLASS TO BECOME MISALIGNED, AND IN THE WORSE CASE, THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW.GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM) AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, INC. (TOYOTA) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RETENTION FORCE OF THE REGULATOR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE OF THE RETENTION NUT AND THE BOLT SHOULDER RADIUS.IN THIS CONDITION THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE TO BE GENERATED WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED OR LOWERED.IF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WINDOW ARE CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BOLT MAY COMPLETELY SEPARATE, CAUSING THE GLASS TO BECOME MISALIGNED, AND IN THE WORSE CASE, THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW.GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM) AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, INC. (TOYOTA) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Visibility
FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RETENTION FORCE OF THE REGULATOR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE OF THE RETENTION NUT AND THE BOLT SHOULDER RADIUS.IN THIS CONDITION THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE TO BE GENERATED WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED OR LOWERED.IF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WINDOW ARE CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BOLT MAY COMPLETELY SEPARATE, CAUSING THE GLASS TO BECOME MISALIGNED, AND IN THE WORSE CASE, THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW.GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM) AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, INC. (TOYOTA) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.