2004 Toyota MATRIX: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 30 | 21.7% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 10.1% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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: 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10040540 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
DASHBOARD REFLECTS OFF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IMPAIRS VISIBILITY. *AK IMAGES REFLECTED ALL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY/NIGHT. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047409 · 2003-11-23 (November 23, 2003)
I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX ON NOVEMBER 10, 2003. THE FIRST DAY I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHICH HAS A SLIGHT SLOPE, THE BUMPER DRAGGED ON THE DRIVEWAY. EVEN GOING VERY SLOWLY, I REALIZED THAT THE FRONT END OF THIS VEHICLE WAS ENTIRELY TOO LOW. ON NOVEMBER 17, PULLING OUT FROM A STORE, I NOTICED IT WAS STILL DRAGGING AND THE DRIVE WAS NOT AS MUCH OF A SLOPE AS MY DRIVE. I NOTIFIED CLASSIC TOYOTA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 17 ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WENT IN TO SPEAK WITH THEM ON NOVEMBER 22 SINCE I LIVED AN HOUR AWAY. I WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047409 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 ↗
Owner report 10064544 · 2004-04-05 (April 5, 2004)
FRONT WHEELS VIBRATE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IF SNOW SLUSH FREEZES IN LOW PROFILE STEEL WHEEL RIMS. THIS HAPPENED TWICE THIS WINTER TO ME, I FIRST THOUGHT A WHEEL WEIGHT CAME OFF THE SHAKE WAS SO BAD, THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT OUT AN SAID IT WAS ICE INSIDE THE BACK OF THE WHEEL RIM, HE MELTED IT OUT AN IT WAS FIND. IT HAPPENED AGAIN LATTER ON IN THE WINTER YOU ONLY FEEL THE SHAKING IF YOU BRING THE CAR UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED,I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH WHEEL RIMS BEFORE AN I LIVE IN UPSTATE N.Y. WHERE WE GET ENOUGH SNOW. WHEN THE ICE MELTS OR BRE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074506 · 2004-05-30 (May 30, 2004)
2004 TOYOTA MATRIX PURCHASED 12/8/03 IS SUPPOSED TO GET AT LEAST 26 MPG IN CITY TRAFFIC. MINE CONSISTENTLY GETS NO MORE THAN 21 MPG. DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT SOMETHING IS, EITHER FALSE ADVERTISING FOR THE ENTIRE MATRIX LINE OR SOMETHING WITH THIS CAR. I WOULD NOT HAVE TRADED A PAID UP 99 COROLLA THAT GOT 26 MPG FOR THIS CAR, HAD I KNOWN IT WOULD COST ME FAR MORE TO RUN (AS WELL AS TO FINANCE). *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074506 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 10079084 · 2004-06-30 (June 30, 2004)
WE HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AT 13,000 MILES. DEALER SAID IT WAS DRIVER ERROR. WE HAVE ANOTHER CAR WITH A CLUTCH THAT HAS 165,000 MILES WITHOUT ANY CLUTCH PROBLEMS. THE CLUTCH SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURING AGAIN AND THE DEALER SAID IT IS FROM THE OLD CLUTCH EVEN THOUGH THEY REPLACED IT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079084 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V162000 · Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear
Reported: 2008-04-10 (April 10, 2008)
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 662,178 MY 2003-2004 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF, CAUSING THE DOOR GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BECOMING LOOSE AND POSSIBLY RATTLING, AN ABNORMAL NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHEN OPERATING THE POWER WINDOWS.
Consequence: THE DOOR GLASS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR, BIND AND SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOWS, CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION AND/OR INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS WITH NEWLY DESIGNED BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2008 TO TOYOTA OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2008, FOR PONTIAC OWNERS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA campaign record ↗