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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.

About this comparison →

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

17 reports
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80,000 miles · Feb 27, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 A…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10449474

83,200 miles · Apr 26, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO A LACK OR AVAILABLE PARTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR OV…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO A LACK OR AVAILABLE PARTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR OVER FOUR MONTHS TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT ONLY TWO ENGINE CONTROL MODULES WERE DELIVERED PER MONTH MEANING ONLY TWO VEHICLES PER MONTH COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE A CRASH AND HE NO LONGER FELT SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,200.

NHTSA ODI #10397510

275,000 miles · Apr 6, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND WITHIN 30 MILES OF DRIVING, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SECOND DEALER WHERE THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND WITHIN 30 MILES OF DRIVING, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SECOND DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THERE POSSIBLY COULD BE MORE FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE OTHER THAT THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 275,000.

NHTSA ODI #10394408

76,839 miles · Apr 1, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

MY CAR DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SATURDAY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM, THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS DUE TO THE RECALL ON THE ECM [1ZZ-FE], YET I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. THEY SAID THEY WOULD RUN TEST TO CONFIRM THAT WAS THE PROBLEM THEN FIX IT. 3 HOURS LATER THEY CALLED AND SAID THAT CHANGING THE COMPUTER PAR…

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MY CAR DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SATURDAY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM, THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS DUE TO THE RECALL ON THE ECM [1ZZ-FE], YET I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. THEY SAID THEY WOULD RUN TEST TO CONFIRM THAT WAS THE PROBLEM THEN FIX IT. 3 HOURS LATER THEY CALLED AND SAID THAT CHANGING THE COMPUTER PART THAT WAS RECALLED COULD FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY - I ASKED FOR A LONER CAR SINCE IT WAS NOT MY FAULT I WOULD BE WITHOUT A CAR, THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. THEY WOULD DO AN EMERGENCY ORDER AND THE PART WOULD BE IN ON TUESDAY - THEY WOULD CALL ME IN THE MORNING. ON TUESDAY THEY DIDN'T CALL I HAD TO CALL, I HAD TO CALL MULTIPLE TIMES TO REACH ANYONE, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART, IT WAS BACK-ORDERED AND COULD BE UP TO A FEW WEEKS. I AGAIN PUSHED FOR A LONER CAR, THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEE IF THEY COULD AUTHORIZE IT AND CALL ME IN THE MORNING. IN THE MORNING THEY HAD SOMEHOW MANAGED TO FIND A PART, PUT IT IN, I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION BEFORE THIS, THERE IS NO WAY THE FUEL SYSTEM MIRACULOUSLY WENT BAD AT THE EXACT SAME TIME THAT THE RECALLED PART WENT OUT - IT HAD TO BE CAUSED BY THE COMPUTER FAILURE. BESIDES THAT I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER PART WAS THE ONLY THING WRONG WITH MY CAR. THEN THEY TRIED TO OVERCHARGE MY BY $600 FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, ALL THE WHILE STILL NOT GIVING ME A LONER CAR. IN SUMMARY MY CAR DIED ON MY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, I HAD TO PAY FOR MY TOWING, MISS HOURS OF WORK, BE CARELESS FOR 6 DAYS AND PAY FOR A NEW FUEL SYSTEM ALL THANKS TO THE RECALLED PART. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED BY THE RECALL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #10394921

114,300 miles · Aug 27, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE YET THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE DI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE YET THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,300.

NHTSA ODI #10352290

92,000 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. MOST RECENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE ECM WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. MOST RECENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE ECM WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000.

NHTSA ODI #10351485

80,744 miles · May 3, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 55MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLES COMPUTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 55MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLES COMPUTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS AVAILABLE DESCRIBING THE FAILURE (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10019673: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE). THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ANY REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,744.

NHTSA ODI #10328665

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT. RE DIFFICULTIES WITH HER 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE ROTOR GETTING CAUGHT IN THE BRAKE PAD. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER THE SECOND BRAKE REPAIR. THE BRAKES MADE AN AUDIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE E…

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LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT. RE DIFFICULTIES WITH HER 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE ROTOR GETTING CAUGHT IN THE BRAKE PAD. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER THE SECOND BRAKE REPAIR. THE BRAKES MADE AN AUDIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE GEARS WERE ENGAGED. THE ABS DID NOT WORK ON AN IRREGULAR SURFACE. A DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TIRES. THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT BY THEMSELVES WHEN IT WAS DARK.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10326334

25,000 miles · Mar 24, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED AS THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED AS THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NINE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH CONCERNS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY LONGER DUE TO CONCERNS FOR HIS SAFETY WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 5/12/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE SPEED WAS SET AT 55 MPH, THE SPEED WOULD FLUCTUATE FROM 51 MPH UPHILL TO 59-60 MPH DOWNHILL. WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE WOULD EITHER STALL OR SPIN THE WHEELS. AT TIMES, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN TRYING TO INCREASE SPEED. DURING VERY COLD WINTER DAYS, THE ENGINE WOULD STUMBLE AND AT TIMES BUCK LIKE A BRONCO WITH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS WARMED UP. UPDATED 06/18/10

NHTSA ODI #10321698

80,500 miles · Sep 28, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

ECM FAILURE ON 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. CAUSED LURCHING,ACCELERATION CHANGES DURING AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFTING., CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING BY DRIVER. DEALER SAID VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY AND MILEAGE TOO HIGH (80,500) FOR THEM TO REPLACE AT THEIR COST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285531

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.