Toyota Corolla Matrix Complaints (2004)

29 consumer complaints on file.

#11741233June 1, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car has over 290,000 miles, sole owner of car. Just learned the odometer will freeze at 299,999 miles based on issue known by Toyota for a few models. Odometer freeze was not disclosed even though Toyota has selectively repaired some cars odometers at no charge to customers or split costs with customers. Odometer freeze makes safe maintenance of car more difficult. Toyota apparently added a 9 year warranty extension because of its knowledge of problems but didn't notify owners. My 2004 vehicle would have been covered through 2013, but I was not given an opportunity to have the problem repaired under warranty. Toyota apparently knew this problem affected Corolla (up through 2008), Matrix & Vibe (1st generation) and 1st generation Prius cars. My car manual says that the odometer "shows the total distance the vehicle has been driven." My ability to continue safely using my car will be compromised when my odometer reaches 299,999 and Toyota chose not to warn and repair this defect which affects their customers, and our ability to safely operate our cars on the road. If I had known about the problem sooner I would have addressed it sooner. Toyota knew but chose to only address the issue on a case by case basis even though the cars were apparently designed with this defect which was hidden.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709268January 6, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Window not rolling up properly, drivers side
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11589513May 19, 2024
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, STRUCTURE:BODY
This safety problem pertains to all vehicles sold in the U.S., not only my make and model. I was horrified to learn that the crash ratings are inaccurate for most women and all short people, because they were developed only for average sized men. It should be no surprise that when collisions occur, more women than men are seriously injured. More women than men are injured when air bags deploy. More women than men are injured by their shoulder belts. I am afraid to purchase a new car, because the crash ratings that I have relied on in the past are unreliable for me as a short woman. I am very disappointed that my own government, to which I pay taxes, has been so misleading to the public on important safety issues. Please develop and implement collision ratings for various height groups. In the meantime, please include notices with crash ratings that explain which height ranges the ratings are most accurate for.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11569974February 5, 2024
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact called the dealer to inquire about a recall for the air bag and was informed there were 2 previous air bag recalls that were repaired in the past. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The approximate failure mileage was 159,086.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11543220September 7, 2023
SEAT BELTS
I have been unable to have my dealer repair the recalls on this car despite repeated times calling up Toyota and dealing with Larry H Miller Toyota dealership. They refuse to give me a replacement car while they fix it and won't say how long it will take. I also discovered that there are no child seat anchors in the back. I was told this is unlawful given the date of this car's manufacture. I hope NHTSA will help force Toyota to fix these recalls and install car seat anchors and give em a replacement vehicle to drive to work and for children while they fix it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11480453August 21, 2022
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL, TIRES:TUBE
A 205/55/R16 tire exploded when I was driving on the freeway at 9:15 am. I had driven less than 3 miles. The tire that exploded had less than 16,000 miles. I didn't run over an object or I would have also punctured my front tire too. At the time of the explosion I didn't know what happened, but heard a loud noise that I thought was from a car next to me. Once both cars moved ahead of me, I realized the loud noise was coming from under my car. I then was able to pull to the side of the freeway. Once I pulled over I saw the tire had exploded. I took photos of the tire and took both parts to the tire shop where my tires are under warranty. I had inspected my tires the prior Monday, two days prior and didn't see an issue with any of the tires. I've never had a tire blowout before. The tire shop threw the tire away even though I asked for a report of the incident to appropriate entities. The tire shop told me the tire was under inflated or that I hit a road hazard but couldn't prove that's what caused the explosion. Also the tire shop did not show me where a road hazard penetrated the tire. In the past if a tire had run over an object this tire shop would show me the object. I have 3 of the same tires on my car which I don't trust because my tire exploded without warning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11465175May 18, 2022
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2004 Toyota Matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaigns: 08V162000 (Visibility), 15V043000 (Air Bags) and 15V285000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The vehicle was destroyed several years ago. The contact stated that they have not owned the vehicle involved for many years.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11453102February 20, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
My daughter was driving as usual when she went to apply the brakes about 5 car lengths back and the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably despite braking. Her foot was not on the accelerator, she does not have floor mats that would cause anything to hit the accelerator. This has happened on 5-6 occasions which almost resulted in an accident. She barely got stopped mere inches away from the car in front of her despite braking earlier than normal because she encountered this once already during her trip. No check engine codes, the brakes are good, the car idles high. That is really it. This is a serious issue that seemingly cannot be diagnosed. After doing research to see what the problem may be, I have seen countless complaints of a similar nature. My daughters life is invaluable. This needs to be addressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11446731January 8, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
all door handles broke off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11315700March 2, 2020
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
MOTOR VEHICLE SOME PROBLEMS VEHICLE MANUFACTURER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11302306January 27, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION CROSS-MEMBER (PART # 51206-12190) IN MY 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX IS ABOUT TO FAIL DUE TO RUST. WHILE DOING SOMETHING ELSE MY MECHANIC HAPPENED TO NOTICE THE ISSUE. HE SHOWED ME THE PROBLEM AND SAID IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE FOR BEING 16 YEARS OLD (ABOUT 8K A YEAR). THIS CAR WAS BUILT IN CANADA AND SOLD IN NEW YORK STATE SO IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO TAKE MANY YEARS OF WET/WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS. IF MY CAR HAD 16K MILES PER YEAR IT WOULD ONLY BE 8 YEARS OLD. SHOULD A PART THAT HOLDS THE DIFFERENTIAL UP (NOT LET IT DROP TO THE ROAD) GO BAD IN EVEN 20 YEARS ON THE ROAD? I ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BY CHANCE. OTHERWISE I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND POSSIBLY HAD A FATAL ACCIDENT DUE TO THE REAR PARTS OF THE DRIVE TRAIN DROPPING TO THE ROAD. THE CAR LOOKS FINE OTHERWISE. SO HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME CAR THAT IS THE SAME AGE, OR NEWER OR A BIT OLDER, HAVE NO IDEA THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS? IF EVEN ONE OWNER OF THIS CAR HAS AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM AND IS HURT OR KILLED THAT WOULD BE VERY BAD! AND THAT PERSON COULD HAVE BEEN ME - BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED INTENDED TO CHECK FOR THIS POTENTIAL FAILURE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH TOYOTA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY TOLD ME I AM ON MY OWN, THAT THEY COULDN'T/WOULDN'T HELP ME. THE TWO PEOPLE I TALKED WITH NEVER SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING TO BE SURE OTHER TOYOTA MATRIX OWNERS WERE INFORMED ABOUT THIS POSSIBLE RUST ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11121100August 20, 2018
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL TOYOTA IS ONLY REPLACING MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG, BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. BOTH AIRBAGS ARE TAKATA AIRBAGS. THEY ARE PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK AND I NEED TO HAVE BOTH AIRBAGS REPLACED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN GET BOTH AIRBAGS REPLACED UNDER THE TAKATA RECALL. THIS IS MY CONTACT INFORMATION: EMAIL:[XXX] PHONE:[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10969479March 30, 2017
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD A FEW WEEKS LATER THAT IT WAS COMPLETE. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR, HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS ONLY PARTIALLY DONE, BUT WAS "COMPLETELY SAFE". HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT THEY REPLACED THE ONE PART THAT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, SO NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY ANYMORE. I JUST RECEIVED THE RECALL AGAIN SAYING THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS ARE STILL NOT SAFE. I AM LIVID...I DRIVE THIS CAR DAILY, AND HAVE MY CHILDREN IN IT AS WELL. A YEAR AND A HALF LATER?!! COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10882486July 4, 2016
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL THIS CAR WAS A RECALL, IT WAS TAKING IN ON 02/11/2016 FOR THE AIR BAG NOW IT NEED TO BE FIX FOR OVER $500.DOLLARS TODAY DATE 07/01 2016 ON THE RECALL WAS THIS AIR BAG I WANT TO KNOW WAS THIS TAKING CARE OF AT THE TIME OF SERVICE?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10862548May 2, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10822257January 26, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819007January 8, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V286000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10809839December 12, 2015
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS MADE NOISE WHEN LOWERED AND RAISED SINCE SHORTLY AFTER THE TIME OF PURCHASE IN 2004. IN 2008, WE HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL ON 2003-04 MATRIX VEHICLES FOR DEFECTS WITH THE FRONT DOOR GLASS BOLT (WE ALSO HAVE A 2003 COROLLA, AND RECOGNIZED THAT THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED FOR THE COROLLA MATCHED THE PROBLEM WE WERE HAVING WITH THE MATRIX). WE TOOK OUR CAR IN 2008 TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DISTRIBUTOR, WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW, BUT WERE TOLD THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO OUR MATRIX, BECAUSE THE MATRIX VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE NOISE WHEN USING THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW CONTINUED TO BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED SINCE 2008, AND NOW THE NOISE HAS BECOME SO LOUD THAT WE ARE CONCERNED THE WINDOW WILL BREAK IF LOWERED. I'VE CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, AND THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN/WILL DO, BECAUSE THE CAR'S VIN INDICATES THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. IF WE WANT TOYOTA TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROBLEM TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT MIGHT BE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TOYOTA FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE WINDOW MAKES THE LOUD CLUNKING SOUND AT ALL TIMES WHEN BEING LOWERED, WHETHER THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. THE WINDOW NOISE HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR AT LEAST 7 YEARS, AND HAS WORSENED OVER TIME. SINCE THE SYMPTOMS MATCH THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE 2008 RECALL NOTICE, IT SEEMS VERY LIKELY THAT THE WINDOW BOLTS ON OUR 2004 MATRIX ARE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AS DESCRIBED IN THAT RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10790484November 15, 2015
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA ISTAKING TO LONG TO SEND PARTS FOR REPAIR TO SOUTH DAKOTA TOYOTA DEALERS FOR KNOW AND REPORTED FAULTS THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURY AND/OR DEATH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760547September 2, 2015
AIR BAGS
2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR MODULE RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO DISCONNECT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota Corolla Matrix