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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.

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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

Air Bags complaints

103 reports
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132,500 miles · Feb 16, 2015
Air Bags

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION: I RECEIVED THE UNDATED AIRBAG RECALL ON TOYOTA LETTERHEAD APPROXIMATELY 12-1-14. I TOOK TIME OFF WORK, MADE AN APPOINTMENT ON 12-15-14 WITH MOSSY TOYOTA, 4555 MISSION BAY DR., SAN DIEGO, CA 92019. THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART, ONLY FOR GULF STATE…

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TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION: I RECEIVED THE UNDATED AIRBAG RECALL ON TOYOTA LETTERHEAD APPROXIMATELY 12-1-14. I TOOK TIME OFF WORK, MADE AN APPOINTMENT ON 12-15-14 WITH MOSSY TOYOTA, 4555 MISSION BAY DR., SAN DIEGO, CA 92019. THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART, ONLY FOR GULF STATES. I RETURNED ON 1-9-15 TO HAVE MY AIRBAG DISABLED AND THE CYA WARNING SIGN INSTALLED. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE SAME AGENCY CALLED TO LET ME KNOW TOYOTA HAS SUSPENDED REMEDIES. IN FEB. 2015 NATIONAL NEWS REPORTS ANOTHER RECALL FOR A REPLACEMENT PART I HAVE YET NOT RECEIVED. I CALLED TOYOTA CORP. OFFICE TO GET A 2 HOUR RUNAROUND, HAVING ME REPEAT MY OWNERSHIP AND VIN#, WITH THEIR MAIN EMPHASIS ON ME NAMING THE ORIGINAL OWNER, NO REPLACEMENT PARTS IN THE FUTURE, NOT THEIR PROBLEM, LETTER COMES FROM DMV INFO. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM MOSSY NISSAN 2/2006 AND DO NOT HAVE THE ORIGINAL OWNER INFORMATION. I DID LEARN MY AUTO WAS BUILT IN TEXAS SO IT IS CONSIDERED GULF STATE. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS: I HAVE TAKEN UNPAID TIME OFF WORK TO REMEDY A NATIONAL RECALL. I AM DRIVING A CAR THAT I CANNOT CARRY FAMILY AND FRIENDS SAFELY. I HAVE NO REMEDY GIVEN BY TOYOTA. PLEASE ASSIST IN THE SOLUTION. THANK YOU, [XXX], REGISTERED OWNER FOR 9 YEARS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683727

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V350000 (AIR BAG SYSTEM) WAS RECEIVED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REMEDY THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V350000 (AIR BAG SYSTEM) WAS RECEIVED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10680508

92,000 miles · Jan 31, 2015
Air BagsEngineService Brakes

AIR BAG PANEL LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND OFF. THE MODEL YEAR IS 2005,BUT THE CAR WAS MADE POSSIBLY IN 2004. THE DEALER REFUSED TO INSPECT WITHOUT CHARGE THEN TELLING ME THAT RECALL IS FOR NOT THIS MODEL YEAR. THE BRAKE, WHEN THE ABS IS ON IN SNOW CONDITIONS, CAR TAKE TOO LONG TO STOP,KEEPS KIDDING. ALSO ENGINE REVS WITHOUT DR…

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AIR BAG PANEL LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND OFF. THE MODEL YEAR IS 2005,BUT THE CAR WAS MADE POSSIBLY IN 2004. THE DEALER REFUSED TO INSPECT WITHOUT CHARGE THEN TELLING ME THAT RECALL IS FOR NOT THIS MODEL YEAR. THE BRAKE, WHEN THE ABS IS ON IN SNOW CONDITIONS, CAR TAKE TOO LONG TO STOP,KEEPS KIDDING. ALSO ENGINE REVS WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT WHEN STOPPED OR IDLING. TOYOTA DEALER DENIED, TO BE THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680275

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2015
Air Bags

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V350000 (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 ISSUE. THE CONT…

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V350000 (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 ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. DJR

NHTSA ODI #10670731

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2015
Air Bags

2005 TOYOTA MATRIX SAFETY RECALL FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR MALFUNCTION. CW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DISABLED THE AIR BAG AND PLACED A DO NOT REMOVE SIGN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER, DID NOT GET HER PERMISSION, TO DISABLE THE AIR BAG. SHE WAS UNDER THE IMP…

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2005 TOYOTA MATRIX SAFETY RECALL FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR MALFUNCTION. CW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DISABLED THE AIR BAG AND PLACED A DO NOT REMOVE SIGN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER, DID NOT GET HER PERMISSION, TO DISABLE THE AIR BAG. SHE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION, THE RECALL WAS GOING TO BE PERFORMED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10661763

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2014
Air Bags

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA STATING THAT I NEED TO HAVE A SAFETY RECALL REMEDY PERFORMED IMMEDIATELY. THE ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONING. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CLOSE TO ME TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR. I CALLED SOON AFTER RECEIVING THE LETTER. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEA…

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I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA STATING THAT I NEED TO HAVE A SAFETY RECALL REMEDY PERFORMED IMMEDIATELY. THE ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONING. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CLOSE TO ME TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR. I CALLED SOON AFTER RECEIVING THE LETTER. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY ARE WAITING ON THE PART TO COME IN AND THEY WILL CALL ME WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. I HAVE BEEN WAITING AT LEAST 3-WEEKS. THIS IS A PROBLEM CONSIDERING TOYOTA SAID THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM BUT JUST FILLED IN THE DATE ABOVE SINCE I HAD TO IN ORDER TO SUBMIT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668596

40,000 miles · Nov 7, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER THE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DISABLED, BUT LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIM…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER THE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DISABLED, BUT LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10653479

94,200 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AND WHIPLASH, BUT NO MEDICAL …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AND WHIPLASH, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE AIR BAGS WERE INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DEEMED THE VEHICLE FIT TO DRIVE. THE AIR BAG LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED FOR BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,200. UPDATED 01/12/15*LJ UPDATED 6/3/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10650888

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2014
Air Bags

THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON SOON AFTER STARTING AND DRIVING. IT APPEARS TO COME ON WHEN THE CLOCK QUITS WORKING ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637705

90,000 miles · Jul 21, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

AIR BAG (SRS) STARTED GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, THEN CLOCK WENT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. NOW CLOCK RARELY COMES ON. THE IGNITION MUST BE TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO GO OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA CARMAX DEALER IN LAUREL, MD. THE REP SAID THERE WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING UNDER T…

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AIR BAG (SRS) STARTED GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, THEN CLOCK WENT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. NOW CLOCK RARELY COMES ON. THE IGNITION MUST BE TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO GO OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA CARMAX DEALER IN LAUREL, MD. THE REP SAID THERE WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING UNDER THE SEAT, AND FOUND AN EMPTY WATER BOTTLE. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON, THE LIGHT WAS GONE, AND HE PRONOUNCED THE CAR FIXED. TWO DAYS LATER IT CAME ON AGAIN AND HAS CONTINUED TO COME ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. THE ITEM UNDER THE SEAT STORY IS BOGUS AND ONLY WORKS BECAUSE THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON AND OFF, NOT BECAUSE ITEMS ARE UNDER THE SEAT. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY TOYOTA. I AM NOW READING MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10617524

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.