99 of the 1,422 complaints filed about the Toyota Matrix are about the electrical system — 7% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2005.
99
Complaints
7%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
5
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TOYOTA COMPUTER SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER HAD NOT REPLACED THE ECM, BUT CLAIMED IT WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #11315318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #11165224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON IN ORDER TO DRIVE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES, ESPECIALLY AT RED LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BENNETT TOYOTA (1951 LEHIGH ST, ALLENTOWN, PA 18103), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
NHTSA complaint #11142863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EMC VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #11081961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CLOCK STARTED GOING OUT. SOMETIMES IT WOULD BE ON AND OTHER TIMES IT WOULD GO OFF AND NOW IT TURNS ON AND OFF IN ITS OWN TIME FACTOR WHEN I AM DRIVNG AND THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND WHEN I AM STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS.. I ASKED THE TOYOTA DEALER IF THEY COULD FIX MY CLOCK. I HAD THEM DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE CLOCK WHICH COST AROUND $110 APPROX.. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIX MY CLOCK FOR $416.31 AND THAT IS WAS CONNECTED TO MY AIR BAGS. MY TOYOTA DEALER SAID THEY REPLACED MY TAKATA AIRBAG ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ON 2-18-2016, AND TOLD ME THE OTHER AIRBAGS WERE NOT TAKATA. BUT I WONDERED IF MY CLOCK DOESN'T WORK AND IT'S TIED INTO MY AIRBAGS, IF I GET INTO A WRECK WILL MY AIRBAGS DEPLOY OR NOT DEPLOY BECASUSE I HAVEN'T FIXED MY CLOCK?
NHTSA complaint #11020675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CLOCK FAILED TO WORK. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THE AIR BAGS. THE DEALER SCHEDULED THE RECALL REPAIR, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE CLOCK CONTINUED NOT TO FUNCTION. THERE WERE ALSO VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS THAT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AFTER THE REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INDICATED THAT THEY WERE BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/01/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10907277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HOW CAN I VERIFY THAT THE SAFETY RECALL A0J PHASE 1 ON MY 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX WAS REP[ACED BY A GOOD ECU? I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ECU WAS BAD. I THINK THEY ARE NOT BEING COMPLETELY HONEST AND DID NOT LOOK UP ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY INFORMATION ON IT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT EVEN MENTION THE RECENT AIR BAG ISSUES IN CERTAIN STATES.I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AND I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN PROPERLY FIXED BY THE ORIGINAL RECALLS / WARRANTIES.
NHTSA complaint #10901972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,580.
NHTSA complaint #10861329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE MULTIPLE TIMES WERE MY VEHICLE WILL LOSE ALL POWER AND NOT RESTART AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED TO BRAND NEW, PLUS A DIFFERENT ALTERNATOR INSTALLED WITH NO FIX TO THE ISSUE. I DO BELIEVE MY VEHICLE ECM HAS GONE BAD AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #10853132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I JUST NARROWLY MISSED AN ACCIDENT WITH A TRAIN. MY CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF RIGHT OVER THE TRAIN TRACK TODAY. MY 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX FIRST PROBLEM STARTED STALLING SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC LAST YEAR, BUT NOW VERY FREQUENTLY STALLS EVEN ON HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEEDS. NO WARNINGS. WHEN STALLED ALL LIGHTS COMES ON IN DASH, INCLUDING "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT. COMPLETELY TURN OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTING IS THE ONLY WAY TO START THE CAR AGAIN. AFTER RESTARTING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OUT. OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN ALL SORTS OF WEATHER, BUT MORE FREQUENT ON HOT SUMMER DAYS. RESTART CLEARED ENGINE COMPUTER, DEALERSHIP HAD DIFFICULT TIME REPLICATING FAILURE. BUT, ADVISE TO REPLACEMENT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AS IT WAS A WELL KNOWN SAFETY RECALL FOR THE YEAR MODELS UP TO 2008. DEALER REFUSE TO ASSUME THE COST OF REPLACE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V384000
NHTSA complaint #10851993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR STALLS. EVERYTHING TURNS OFF AND I'M DEAD ON THE STREET, TURNPIKE OR HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TWICE, BUT TOYOTA HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS HAPPENING. SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT HAPPEN FOR A WHILE, AND THEN IT WILL START STALLING AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN AGAIN AFTER STALLING ON THE PA TURNPIKE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I AM STALLING ON CITY ROADS, HIGHWAYS, TURNPIKES, AND I RISK AN ACCIDENT OR BEING KILLED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE. I HAVE INFORMED THE TOYOTA CAR DEALERSHIP THIS WILL BE THEIR LAST TIME TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #10849740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT PROGRESSED INTERMITTENTLY FOR THREE YEARS. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FLICKERED, VARIOUS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL LIGHTS RANDOMLY ILLUMINATED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE EXTREMELY TIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE FIRST DEALER WHO THEN FLUSHED THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, REPLACED THE DRIVE BELT, AND INSPECTED THE ECU FOR AN INTERNAL FAILURE. THE FIRST DEALER REPLACED THE ECU AND RESTRUCTURED THE MAIN CONTROL PLUG ON THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RANDOMLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SECOND DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE JUNCTION CONTROL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,318.
NHTSA complaint #10821292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE STARTED BUT SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. AS TIME WENT ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER PERFORM ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE ANY REPAIR DECISION COULD BE MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10818759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CLOCK, HVAC SWITCHES BLINK ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE MOVEMENT. POWER LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY INCLUDING WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN GEAR. IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE A ELECTRICAL SHORT BUT IT COMES AND GOES. THIS PROBLEM RESEMBLES THE MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH ALSO RESEMBLES A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I AM SURPRISED AFTER READING THE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL COMPLAINTS THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT OFFERED A REMEDY OR RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10810830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V043000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10782210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ECM NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 262,000.
NHTSA complaint #10762101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT DATE OR MILEAGE BECAUSE I JUST DISCOVERED THIS SITE BUT MY DEALER WOULD KNOW. MY AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO A WEEK. I HAD DEALER LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM....JUST A FAULTY LIGHT OR SOMETHING AND NOTHING NEEDED TO BE FIXED. ALSO, CLOCK NOW WORKS OFF AND ON. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE AFTER READING INFORMATION AT OTHER SITES, THE INFORMATION SAYS THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK IF THE SENSOR LIGHT IS ON. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT AND THE CLOCK ARE CONNECTED. I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND OVER $400 TO REPLACE A CLOCK BUT IT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY IF MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING CLOCK THAT DOESN'T MESS UP THE AIRBAG SENSOR. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO TO ASK SINCE THE DEALER DOESN'T SEEMS TO REALIZE THIS EITHER.
NHTSA complaint #10749232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER READ 20 MPH. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE STARTED EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AS WELL AS, THE RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO START ON ITS OWN AND THEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASHED. THE FIREMEN ARRIVED AND UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY. A REPORT WAS FILED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #10748477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V286000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE REPAIR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED OFF WHEN A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON WHEN NO ONE WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE ELECTRONIC CLOCK FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10747558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V286000 (AIR BAGS) AND 10V384000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10745700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.