← New search

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

Tires complaints

16 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2014
Tires

PURCHASED BRIDGESTONE TURANZA SERENITY PLUS TIRES THIS WEEK. I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE TIRES DOESN'T HAVE THE UTQG RATINGS ON THE SIDE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A ISSUE FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT SINCE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ANY RATINGS FOR THE TIRE ARE. I WAS INFORMED BY BRIDGESTONE THAT THIS IS LEGAL DURING THE FIRST PRODUCTION RUNS…

Read full complaint

PURCHASED BRIDGESTONE TURANZA SERENITY PLUS TIRES THIS WEEK. I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE TIRES DOESN'T HAVE THE UTQG RATINGS ON THE SIDE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A ISSUE FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT SINCE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ANY RATINGS FOR THE TIRE ARE. I WAS INFORMED BY BRIDGESTONE THAT THIS IS LEGAL DURING THE FIRST PRODUCTION RUNS. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632724

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2010
Tires

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX THAT WAS BOUGHT NEW. IT NOW HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF SEARCHING FOR MY FOURTH SET OF TIRES FOR IT. TWICE, I HAD THE STOCK CONTINENTAL BRAND AND BOTH TIMES THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT MY EXPENSE, AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES; SOMETIMES LESS. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS HUNDREDS OF …

Read full complaint

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX THAT WAS BOUGHT NEW. IT NOW HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF SEARCHING FOR MY FOURTH SET OF TIRES FOR IT. TWICE, I HAD THE STOCK CONTINENTAL BRAND AND BOTH TIMES THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT MY EXPENSE, AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES; SOMETIMES LESS. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING TIRES FOR THIS MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356062

79,000 miles · Apr 12, 2010
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE VEHICLE HAD GOODYEAR VIVA TIRES, SIZE P215/70/R15. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHICH CONSISTED OF AN OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC DETECTED THAT THE FOUR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT THE OWNER EXPENSE. THE THR…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE VEHICLE HAD GOODYEAR VIVA TIRES, SIZE P215/70/R15. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHICH CONSISTED OF AN OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC DETECTED THAT THE FOUR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT THE OWNER EXPENSE. THE THREE TIRES EXPLODED WITHIN A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR AFTER THE INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC STATED THE TIRES SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE TWO TIRES AT HALF THE COST, AND THE THIRD TIRE WAS CHARGED AT REGULAR COST DUE TO THE AIR PRESSURE LEVEL IN THE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 7/16/10 *CN ALL THREE TIRES HAD THE EXACT SAME DAMAGE. UPDATED 07/22/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10325115

20,000 miles · Apr 28, 2009
Tires

VEHICLE TIRE WEAR ON MATRIX XRS (2005). NO MATTER WHAT BRAND OF TIRES, EVEN WITH REGULAR ROTATION AND BALANCING/ALIGNMENTS, THE TIRES WEAR FROM THE INSIDE OUT WITH SEVERE CUPPING. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRES EVERY 20K MILES (I NOW HAVE 130K MILES ON THE CAR IN JUST 4 YEARS, I NEED TIRES TO LAST!). EACH OF THE MECHANICS I'VE SPO…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE TIRE WEAR ON MATRIX XRS (2005). NO MATTER WHAT BRAND OF TIRES, EVEN WITH REGULAR ROTATION AND BALANCING/ALIGNMENTS, THE TIRES WEAR FROM THE INSIDE OUT WITH SEVERE CUPPING. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRES EVERY 20K MILES (I NOW HAVE 130K MILES ON THE CAR IN JUST 4 YEARS, I NEED TIRES TO LAST!). EACH OF THE MECHANICS I'VE SPOKEN TO SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND JUST TO KEEP ROTATING THEM AND THAT IT IS A PROBLEM IN ASSEMBLY AT THE FACTORY LEVEL. I AM FED UP AND WILL NOT BE BUYING ANOTHER TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267151

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2008
Tires

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR HAS FORCED US TO BUY MULTIPLE NEW TIRES ON OUR 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249086

40,000 miles · Oct 5, 2008
SuspensionTires

I HAVE TO REPLACE TIRES DUE TO THEM WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE THAT THE TIRE COMPANIES SAY IS NOT A CONSEQUENCE OF THE TIRES BUT RATHER MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244440

76,663 miles · Sep 1, 2008
Tires

1. TIRE PURCHASED FROM SEARS BLEW-OUT DUE TO TIRE VALVE STEM FAILURE. 4/2008 2. TIRE PURCHASED FROM SEARS LOST AIR DUE TO DEFECTIVE TIRE VALVE STEM. 6/2008. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240520

17,200 miles · Jul 20, 2008
Tires

SEVERE CUPPING WEAR MAINLY ON FRONT TIRES ON THE INSIDE EDGES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235039

23,000 miles · Jul 13, 2008
Tires

MY TOYOTA MATRIX (2005) HAS A TERRIBLE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, THAT CAUSES PREMATURE WEAR ON THE TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234086

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2008
Tires

VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AT REPAIR FACILITY, TECHNICIAN ADVISED ALL 4 TIRES HAD SPLITS ON SIDEWALLS RENDERING THEM UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217066

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.