NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Toyota Matrix Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2005 Toyota Matrix has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 213 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Toyota Matrix, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2005 Toyota Matrix owner complaints

Owners have filed 213 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Toyota Matrix, describing incidents dated June 14, 2004 to January 15, 2019.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 103 complaints
Engine 24 complaints
Electrical System 23 complaints
Power Train 23 complaints
Tires 17 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 17 complaints

Of the 213 complaints on file, 10 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 213 complaints, owners report 4 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11614208 · Filed September 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under an unknown recall however, the air bag warning light illuminated after the repair was made. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V627000 (Air Bags); however, the vehicle was not…
ODI #11289430 · Filed December 19, 2019
2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS
ODI #11165224 · Filed January 4, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. ALSO, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. PERRY MOTORS (310 S MAIN ST, BISHOP, CA 93514, (760) 872-4141) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD…

Read all 213 complaints

Owner-reported

2005 Toyota Matrix mileage at failure

122 of the 213 complaints on file for the 2005 Toyota Matrix give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Air Bags	Median 90,000 miles	Middle half 75,000–105,000 miles	Based on 37 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

ENGINE STALLING

NHTSA #10V384000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported August 26, 2010 · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 1,128,659 vehicles

Owners notified November 29, 2010 · Vehicles built April 19, 2004 – January 2, 2008 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

FMVSS 108/HEADLAMP/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR

NHTSA #06E023000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported March 13, 2006 · ANZO USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 292,000 vehicles

Owners notified May 9, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Safety consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED BY ANZO AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2005 Toyota Matrix 4-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 3, Passenger: 4

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

14% rollover risk

Safety Technology

213 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Toyota Matrix.

Air Bags

ODI #11614208

Incident: January 15, 2019 · Filed: September 12, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under an unknown recall however, the air bag warning light illuminated after the repair was made. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V627000 (Air Bags); however, the vehicle was not repaired, and the contact was informed that the failure was not related to the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Air Bags

ODI #11289430

Incident: October 1, 2017 · Filed: December 19, 2019

2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #11165224

Incident: June 1, 2015 · Filed: January 4, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. ALSO, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. PERRY MOTORS (310 S MAIN ST, BISHOP, CA 93514, (760) 872-4141) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER BELIEVED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

Air Bags

ODI #11120945

Incident: January 30, 2018 · Filed: August 19, 2018

TAKATA RECALL I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA FOR MONTHS WITH NOTHING BUT VERY GENERAL RESPONSES, NONE OF WHICH, ADDRESS MY ISSUE, EXPLAIN TOYOTA'S POSITION, AND NEGLIGENCE, OR ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO GET ALL THE DETAILS FROM THE PRIOR COMPLAINTS I'VE SENT OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS. PLEASE REVIEW AND ADVISE ASAP. THANK YOU, (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Air Bags

ODI #11093108

Incident: March 26, 2018 · Filed: May 10, 2018

2005 MATRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NHTSA RECALL 18V-025. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS

Air Bags

ODI #11052489

Incident: August 10, 2015 · Filed: December 5, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER (JAY WOLFE TOYOTA, PRAIRIE VIEW RD, KANSAS CITY, MO, 816-788-6877) WHERE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT DID NOT REMEMBER IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Engine

ODI #11011809

Incident: July 31, 2016 · Filed: July 31, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS HIGH SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE OVER A PERIOD OF 15-20 MINUTES ON EACH OCCASION. WARRENS AUTO REPAIR IN BISHOP, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

Engine

ODI #10937618

Incident: December 12, 2014 · Filed: December 27, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Air Bags

ODI #10936506

Incident: October 17, 2016 · Filed: December 20, 2016

AIRBAG RECALL. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET MY CAR FIXED SINCE OCTOBER. THE DEALER CANNOT GET THE PART. EACH TIME I CALL THE DEALER THEY SAY THE PART HAS NOT ARRIVED. CALLED THE TOYOTA SAFETY RESOLUTION TEAM ON 11/23 AND THEY HOOKED ME UP WITH DEALER. SAME STORY, PART IS ON ORDER BUT MAY BE MONTHS BEFORE WE GET THE PART.

Air Bags

ODI #10919926

Incident: October 1, 2016 · Filed: October 28, 2016

SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS DAMAGED. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. A RECALL FOR 2009-2010 MATRIX IS IN EFFECT (HTTP://WWW.AUTONEWS.COM/ARTICLE/20140409/COPY01/304099971/TOYOTA-RECALLS-MORE-THAN-6-MILLION-VEHICLES) BUT 2005 MATRIX AND OTHER YEARS ARE ACTUALLY ALSO AFFECTED BY THESE DEFECT. A RECALL FOR 2005 MATRIX TO REPLACE AIRBAG MODULE IS ANNOUNCED BY TOYOTA BUT NOT FOR DAMAGED SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY WHICH SHOULD BE RELATED TO THE AIRBAG MODULE DEFECT AS THE AIRBAG MODULE IS ATTACHED TO THE SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY

Other Toyota Matrix model years

Check your 2005 Toyota Matrix VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Toyota Matrix at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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