Reliability & cost of ownership
Toyota Matrix Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Toyota Matrix? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Toyota Matrix problems by model year
27 recall entries across 11 model years and 1,177 owner complaints across 12 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining model year — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Matrix | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2012 Matrix | 1 | 5 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2011 Matrix | 2 | 10 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2010 Matrix | 4 | 45 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2009 Matrix | 3 | 192 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2008 Matrix | 2 | 38 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2007 Matrix | 2 | 96 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2006 Matrix | 4 | 170 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2005 Matrix | 2 | 213 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2004 Matrix | 3 | 138 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2003 Matrix | 3 | 268 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2002 Matrix | Not confirmed | 2 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Toyota Matrix, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- air bags406 complaints
- power train173 complaints
- vehicle speed control145 complaints
- electrical system97 complaints
- engine and engine cooling94 complaints
- tires70 complaints
- steering55 complaints
- service brakes, hydraulic42 complaints