2007 Toyota MATRIX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
96 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
44,650 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 59 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 96 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 10.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 5.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 32 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 10 |
| Tires | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Air Bags: 32; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Electrical System: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Tires: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 37 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 31 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 7; 2010: 31; 2011: 7; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 21; 2016: 9; 2017: 6; 2018: 3; 2020: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 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 10304165 · 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)
I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX THAT WAS EXPERIENCING UNEXPLAINED SURGING AND ACCELERATION WHILE AT A STOP AND AT IDLE. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED WHILE SITTING AT A STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I TOOK THE MATRIX TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR FINALLY GO TO A POINT WHERE IT WOULD REV UP BY ITSELF TO AS MUCH AS 4000 RPM. IT FINALLY GOT TO A POINT WHERE IT WAS UNDRIVABLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND AFTER 2 DAY…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10304165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310797 · 2010-02-16 (February 16, 2010)
I WAS IN A GIANT FOOD STORE PARKING LOT GOING 5 TO 10 MPH. I WAS PULLING UP IN THE PICKUP LANE TO GET MY GROCERIES. UPON COMPLETING A SHARP LEFT TURN AND GETTING READY TO STOP MY ENGINE REVVED UP AT A VERY HIGH RATE WITHOUT PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR DOWN HARD. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED A HIGH ACCELERATION RATE. I TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT NEAR THE ACCELERATOR. I HAD ONLY BEEN GOING 5 TO 10 MPH. THIS HAPPENED FEB 14, 2010. THE ONLY THING UNUSUAL LATELY WAS THAT MY VEHICLE COMPUTER …
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294944 · 2009-12-08 (December 8, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE ECU WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88676.
Owner-reported narrative. 87,676 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10295731 · 2009-12-15 (December 15, 2009)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND TACH WOULD JUMP ALL OVER- DIAGNOSTIC TOOL READ BANK ONE LOW PRESSURE. LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AND ON BY ITSELF. SHORTLY AFTER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAR ALMOST STALLED AND WOULD ONLY GO AROUND 20MPH THEN CORRECTED ITSELF. THIS BECAME A DAILY EVENT - TOOK CAR INTO DEALER FOR SERVICE THIS SPRING THEY HAD TO REPLACE ECM - CAR HAD 55000 OR SO MILES ON IT. CAR NOW HAS 64000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206893 · 2007-10-25 (October 25, 2007)
IN AUGUST 2007, I BEGAN TO SMELL GAS INSIDE MY CAR WHEN DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX . THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR HAD FAILED, CAUSING THE SEALS ON THE FUEL INJECTORS TO FAIL. MY SERVICE CENTER REPLACED THE FUEL RAIL AND INJECTOR SEALS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OTHER MATRIXES HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, LEADING ME TO WONDER WHETHER THIS HEALTH AND SAFETY PROBLEM RESULTS FROM FAULTY DESIGN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 52,799 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310377 · 2010-02-14 (February 14, 2010)
SINCE I BOUGHT MY TOYOTA MATRIX 2007 EVERY TIME I FILL THE GAS TANK NO MATTER WHICH GAS STATION I USE, THE GAS ALWAYS SPILLS ALL OVER FROM THE GAS TANK. I THOUGHT I IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE CAR REACHED 50,000 MILES LAST MONTH THAT I CONTACTED BALISE TOYOTA IN WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA AND BERNADI TOYOTA IN FRAMINGHAM, MA WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR TO INFORM THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR ISSUE SINCE THE CAR IS NO MORE UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I HAD TO PAY 200 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOS…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294024 · 2009-11-30 (November 30, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 MPH AND 78 MPH THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL. ALSO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL REMAINS APPLIED, EVEN AFTER APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE REGIONAL MASTER TECH SENT BY THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AGAIN, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILED DRIVING, SHE COU…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318288 · 2010-03-09 (March 9, 2010)
SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER AFFECTING STEERING AND BRAKING. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER I READ THE TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED IN SEP 2007 THAT SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT WARRANTY REPAIR ONLY IN THE EVENT A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS. TOYOTA HAS LEFT MANY DRIVERS OF COROLLAS AND MATRIX WITH DEFECTIVE COMPUTER WHICH CAUSES LOSE OF POWER WHICH INCLUDES LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY ON A TURN OR WITH AN ELDERLY DRIVER. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL AND PROACTIVELY REPAIRED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10396288 · 2011-04-12 (April 12, 2011)
2007 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH ENGINE CONTROL MODULE *TGW WHEN THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE, HE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THE ECU WAS FAULTY AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SHIFTING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM, THE CLUTCH HAD WORN OUT PREMATURELY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FAULTY ECU MAY HAVE BEEN THE REASON FOR THE WORN OUT CLUTCH. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10396288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10683845 · 2015-02-17 (February 17, 2015)
I BROUGHT MY MATRIX TO TOYOTA OF BELLEVUE WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION SHORTLY AFTER ITS PURCHASE. I WAS BRUSHED OFF SAYING THIS IS JUST HOW TOYOTA'S DRIVE. WELL I GUESS THEY WEREN'T LYING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I AM AMONG MANY OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THEIR BEARING IN THEIR TRANSMISSION FAIL PREMATURELY. I WAS GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND CAME SAFELY TO A STOP BUT THIS COULD HAVE EASILY ENDED BADLY FOR MY PASSENGER AND I. TO TOP IT OFF …
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10748477 · 2015-08-13 (August 13, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER READ 20 MPH. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE STARTED EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AS WELL AS, THE RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO START ON ITS OWN AND THEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASHED…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10748477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10853132 · 2016-04-03 (April 3, 2016)
THERE MULTIPLE TIMES WERE MY VEHICLE WILL LOSE ALL POWER AND NOT RESTART AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED TO BRAND NEW, PLUS A DIFFERENT ALTERNATOR INSTALLED WITH NO FIX TO THE ISSUE. I DO BELIEVE MY VEHICLE ECM HAS GONE BAD AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE.
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10853132 at NHTSA ↗