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2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix: problems, recalls and reliability

4 recalls and 88 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (81% of complaints); the 2003 and 2004 model years look more trouble-free.

Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2019

4
recalls
88
owner complaints
2
fire reports
100,000
typical failure mileage, mi

All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.

Problems tend to appear late (median 100,000 mi)One of the most complained-about Corolla Matrix years (#2 of 8, age-adjusted)Weak spot: air bags (81%)2 fire reports

Common problems

Computed from 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

Air Bags (airbags and crash sensors)81% · 67 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)6% · 5 complaints
Engine (engine mechanics)5% · 4 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)2% · 2 complaints
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)2% · 2 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling (engine, radiator, overheating)2% · 2 complaints
Received recall notice from toyota. Called local dealership where purchased - they took info and stated they would get parts and call to schedule. They never called back. We called toyota customer experience center to inform we were not getting our recall service. They stated they would contact the dealership to have them call within one business day to initiate service. No one called. I called toyota again, they put me on hold and after 12 minutes on hold I gave up. Toyota is not following through on this recall service which is a deadly condition.Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2020
My friend was driving down southside when his car began to uncontrollably accelerate and he lost all his power assist features like power steering and brakes it caused him to be t boned by a suv no airbags deployed and he almost died I just want this to be resolved I dont want this to happen to someone elseOwner report · Engine · Feb 2020
I just spoke with toyota regarding the remedy for the airbag recall problem. I was informed that I will be receiving a letter soon that states that they still don't have a remedy for this problem. How long can they get away with potentially endangering my passenger by not repairing this problem?Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v627000 (air bags) however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called kendall toyota located at (10943 s dixie hwy, pinecrest, fl 33156) and was informed part was not available. Contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Part distribution disconnect.Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2019
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 toyota matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v627000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2019
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota corolla matrix. The contact received a recall notice per NHTSA campaign number: 19v627000(air bags). The contact called NHTSA and was informed that the part was not available. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was unknown.Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2019
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota corolla matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v627000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to repair the vehicle. Maita toyota of sacramento (2500 auburn blvd, sacramento, ca 95821, (916) 481-0855) was contacted and confirmed that parts were not available. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2019
The airbag light turned on and stay there while driving and when the vehicle was stationary. It was recalled & replaced, but it's making the same thing.Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2019
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota corolla matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v627000(air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. Fremont toyota located at (5851 cushing pkwy, fremont, ca 94538) was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available for the recall remedy. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2019
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota corolla matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v627000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called fred beans toyota of flemington located at (174 us-202, flemington, nj 08822 (888) 379-1107) and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. VIN tool confirms parts not available.Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2019

When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 4 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.

Recalls - 4 campaigns

AIR BAGS15V285000 · May 2015

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag. The recall began on July 13, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-762-2737. NOTE: This recall supersedes recall 14V-312 in its entirety.

AIR BAGS15V286000 · May 2015

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe, and Toyota Tundra vehicles, as well the vehicles covered by the May 13, 2015 notification in the portions of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas that were not previously included. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag.

Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota began the recall on July 13, 2015. Pontiac Vibe owners may contact GM at 1-800-762-2737. GM began the recall on June 29, 2015. NOTE: This recacll supersedes recall 14V-655 in its entirety. For vehicles located in the U.S. states not listed above, please see Toyota recall 15V-285 which covers all other U.S. states.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE18V025000 · Jan 2018

On January 9, 2018, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 14,585 model year 2010-2012 Yaris vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. As of January 30, 2018, Toyota is additionally recalling 3,347 model year 2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles located in states listed above. Also included in this recall filing is 98,194 model year 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles, located throughout the U.S., that previously received a "like-for-like" interim air bag inflator replacement. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assemblies with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0R (Zone B), and H0A (Zone C), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A).

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE19V627000 · Aug 2019

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. The air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation under high temperature conditions, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly.

Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are K1Q and K0Q. Pontiac owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is N192273760.

How other years compare

Check your exact Corolla Matrix by VIN

Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix reliable?

NHTSA has 88 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The most complained-about area is air bags (81% of complaints).

At what mileage do 2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix problems usually appear?

Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 100,000 miles or less.

Does the 2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix have open recalls?

4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.