CarComplaints.com Notes: The Toyota Matrix is the mechanical twin of the Pontiac Vibe.

Both models were a joint GM-Toyota venture, manufactured together at a NUMMI production facility in Fremont, CA. Only the heating & A/C systems are different.

3.0

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
45,800 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Toyota Matrix body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2004 Toyota Matrix Owner Comments

problem #5

May 192024

Matrix

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #4

Nov 182021

Matrix

  • miles
all door handles broke off.

- The Woodlands, TX, USA

problem #3

Jan 212020

Matrix

  • 131,000 miles
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.

- Bath, NY, USA

problem #2

Jan 012004

Matrix

  • miles
Takata recall. I've been receiving recall notices for this vehicle for years. I have been attempting to have three issues resolved, only one of which is the takata airbag problem. I have attempted to make an appointment for the repairs at the nearest Toyota dealer to me (about a 2.5 hour-rt drive from my home) for the past year+, but I am repeatedly told that they are awaiting the part(s) for the takata airbag repair. To make things worse, I constantly receive flyers from Toyota urging me to have the repairs done asap. I would like to. But apparently, Toyota is having problems getting the parts to their dealerships. In the meanwhile, I'm driving a potentially dangerous car.

- Mariposa, CA, USA

problem #1

Nov 032014

Matrix 4-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
Metal part that window regulator attaches to came loose from driver window. Toyota claim that they replaced the bolt that passes through the metal part that came detached, and refuse to repair the problem. This failure results in the same issue underlying the recall for the bolt replacement.

- Tampa, FL, USA

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