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U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Toyota MATRIX problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

138 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 96 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 138 complaints (23.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting3021.7%
Braking behavior1410.1%
Steering behavior118.0%
Electrical and battery issues32.2%
Engine operation10.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
33
Power Train:Manual Transmission
27
Vehicle Speed Control
15
Steering
8
Electrical System
7
Fuel System, Gasoline
7
Tires
6
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags33
Power Train:Manual Transmission27
Vehicle Speed Control15
Steering8
Electrical System7
Fuel System, Gasoline7
Tires6
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls6

Air Bags: 33; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 27; Vehicle Speed Control: 15; Steering: 8; Electrical System: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline: 7; Tires: 6; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
21
25,000 to 49,999
14
50,000 to 74,999
16
75,000 to 99,999
15
100,000 to 149,999
20
150,000 and above
10
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00021
25,000 to 49,99914
50,000 to 74,99916
75,000 to 99,99915
100,000 to 149,99920
150,000 and above10

Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 10

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 42 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2003
2
2004
10
2005
7
2006
5
2007
3
2008
15
2009
14
2010
23
2011
5
2012
3
2013
5
2014
7
2015
23
2016
9
2017
4
2018
1
2019
1
2021
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20032
200410
20057
20065
20073
200815
200914
201023
20115
20123
20135
20147
201523
20169
20174
20181
20191
20211

2003: 2; 2004: 10; 2005: 7; 2006: 5; 2007: 3; 2008: 15; 2009: 14; 2010: 23; 2011: 5; 2012: 3; 2013: 5; 2014: 7; 2015: 23; 2016: 9; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 30 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10056222 · 2004-01-31 (January 31, 2004)

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 TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056222 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10128312 · 2005-08-23 (August 23, 2005)

DT: 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XR, THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING YOKE, CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING DID NOT FEEL RIGHT, THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE THE SPLASH GUARD WAS DRAGGING, THE DEALER PUT TWO PINS IN THE SPLASH GUARD, BECAUSE THE PINS WERE MISSING, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN TO BE REPAIRED, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STEERING YOKE, PREVI…

Owner-reported narrative. 42,266 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128312 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10075243 · 2004-06-11 (June 11, 2004)

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED,CAME DOWN LONG WINDING HILL AT 55 MPH, HIT BRAKES AN STEERING WHEEL SHOOK LEFT TO RIGHT QUITE ALOT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 12,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075243 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10100061 · 2004-11-17 (November 17, 2004)

LOW SPEED BRAKING VEHICLE MOVES EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. SEVERAL SERVICE VISITS TO DEALER FOR BRAKE REPAIRS, REPLACED ABS SENSOR, BRAKE PADS, TURNED ROTORS, ALIGNMENTS AND TIRE ROTATIONS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 26,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100061 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10126721 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)

DT: WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRY CONDITIONS ON STRAIGHT ROAD VEHICLE DRIFTED TO LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY ,ATTEMPTED TO GAIN CONTROL, WENT TO RIGHT OF HIGHWAY, FELT LIKE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT, AND IT OVER CORRECTED. COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO GO STRAIGHT. INSURANCE INSPECTED IT, AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO INSPECT THE STEERING. TOYOTA SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A MECHANICAL DEFECT. *AK CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WENT INTO THE DITCH. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BECAME AIRBORNE, LANDED ON IT'S SIDE IN A …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126721 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10150485 · 2006-02-17 (February 17, 2006)

AT TWO YEARS AND ONE MONTH OLD, THE ORIGINAL BATTERY DIED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO HOLD A CHARGE. THIS OCCURRED ON 2/3/06 AT 31,229 MILES. A NEW BATTERY WAS PURCHASED FOR $ 68.06 AND WAS INSTALLED ON 2/6/06. TWO DAYS LATER THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY DIED. IT WAS RECHARGED AND RAN OK FOR A FEW DAYS. IT DIED AGAIN ON 2/12/06. JUST BEFORE THE ORIGINAL BATTERY DIED THE CD PLAYER STOPS WORKING AS DID THE CLOCK. NEITHER OF THESE HAS WORKED EVER SINCE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 31,229 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150485 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10564934 · 2014-02-19 (February 19, 2014)

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA, 19001 SOUTH WESTERN AVENUE, TORRANCE, CA ON A VEHICLE RECALL FOR MY 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX REGARDING A DEFECT, WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY. TOYOTA STATED THAT THE "ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) ... COULD HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH INTEGRATED CIRCUITS THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUITING... IF INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUITING OCCURS, THE FRONT AIRBAG(S) AND/OR SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS COULD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY. ANY AIRBAG THAT INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYS CAN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10564934 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10059205 · 2004-02-17 (February 17, 2004)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059205 at NHTSA ↗