Toyota Matrix Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,177 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on file for the Toyota Matrix, across 12 model years (2002–2013). The 2003 model year has the most complaints (268). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
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Toyota Matrix years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Matrix year: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 Matrix: 268 complaints, 1 recall
- 2005 Matrix: 213 complaints, 1 recall
- 2009 Matrix: 192 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2002 Matrix: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2012 Matrix: 5 complaints, 1 recall
- 2011 Matrix: 10 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Toyota Matrix problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 406 | 10 | 42 |
| Power Train problems | 173 | 9 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 145 | 8 | 59 |
| Electrical System | 97 | 9 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 94 | 8 | 3 |
| Tires | 67 | 7 | 4 |
| Steering | 55 | 8 | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 42 | 8 | 9 |
| Engine | 41 | 9 | 0 |
| Suspension | 39 | 8 | 3 |
| Structure | 37 | 8 | 2 |
| Visibility | 37 | 8 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 17 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 14 | 5 | 4 |
| Equipment | 13 | 7 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 11 | 7 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Wheels | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Interior Lighting | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Seats | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Toyota Matrix problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Toyota Matrix model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Matrix | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2012 Matrix | 5 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2011 Matrix | 10 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2010 Matrix | 45 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 Matrix | 192 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Matrix | 38 | 2 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 Matrix | 96 | 2 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2006 Matrix | 170 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 Matrix | 213 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 Matrix | 138 | 1 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 Matrix | 268 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 Matrix | 2 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
More from Toyota: all Toyota models · Toyota VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Matrix years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2003 (268), 2005 (213), 2006 (170), 2009 (192) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Matrix year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Toyota Matrix?
Air Bags, with 406 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the Toyota Matrix have?
7 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.