RoadVitals

2004 Toyota Matrix Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Aug 21, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 138 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Toyota Matrix submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Aug 21, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11018686
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Nov 18, 2014

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10659134
Incident
Nov 3, 2014
Mileage
98,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 13, 2009

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 88 AT ABOUT 70 MPH AND AT MILE MARKER 117 THE HOOD OF MY CAR FLEW OPEN AND SHATTERED MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS STUCK IN THE FAST LANE OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE I WAS IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND THE SHOULDERS WERE BLOCKED OFF. I HAD NOWHERE TO GO, AND IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. THE HOOD LATCH HAS NEVER FAILED BEFORE, AND THE LAST TIME I HAD MY HOOD OPEN WAS WHEN I HAD MY OIL CHANGED ABOUT TWO MONTHS BEFORE. I HAD DRIVEN ON THE INTERSTATE MANY TIMES SINCE THEN, AND THE HOOD WAS SECURELY LATCHED. I REPORTED MY DAMAGES TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THE HOOD, WINDSHIELD, ROOF AND GRILL OF MY CAR WERE REPLACED, TOTALING $4,800 IN DAMAGES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10265091
Incident
Mar 22, 2009
Mileage
96,557 mi
Body & structureDriver assistanceVisibility
Filed May 16, 2008
2 injuries reported

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX - WINDOWS, DOOR HANDLES AND SURGING ELECTRIC WINDOWS RATTLE, GRIND AND POP. DEALER COULD NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY THE WINDOW FELL OUT. ENGINE SURGES WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC. DEALER COULD NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE A "METALLIC" FINISH THAT PEELS AWAY. OCCUPANTS HAVE CUT THEIR FINGERS ON THE EDGE OF METAL/PLASTIC THAT WAS COMING AWAY. EVENTUALLY GOT WORSE TO WHERE YOU COULD SEE THE WHITE PLASTIC HANDLE UNDERNEATH SO I PEELED AWAY THE REMAINING SHARP EDGES AND CAUTION OCCUPANTS. DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR AT MY EXPENSE. CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE CENTER AND WAS REFERRED BACK TO A DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228027
Incident
Jun 25, 2006
Body & structure
Filed Aug 16, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX (NA). THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A BIKE RACK COULD BE PLACED ON HIS VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BIKE RACK PULLED APART THE BACK DOOR METAL AND LOOSENED THE BOLTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT TOYOTA CORPORATION WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO REPAIR THE DOOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,239 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,009.

NHTSA ID
10199854
Incident
Jul 20, 2007
Mileage
35,009 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 8, 2004

THE FRONT SPOILER ON THE MATRIX IS CONSTANTLY GETTING SCRAPED UP ON DRIVEWAYS. IT IS TOO LOW. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO PUT A WHOLE NEW BUMPER ON THE CAR, AT MY COST. THE SPOILERS ARE LISTED AS A OPTION, BUT WHERE I AM FROM IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A XR WITHOUT THEM INSTALLED. THE CAR IS LESS THEN A YEAR OLD, AND ALREADY LOOKS BAD. WHO WOULD THINK THEY WOULD DESIGN A CAR THAT WOULD CONSTANTLY GET ALL SCRAPED UP. IT WOULD BE NICE IF THIS "OPTION" WAS TRULY A OPTION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10090616
Incident
Apr 30, 2004
Mileage
50 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 23, 2003

I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX ON NOVEMBER 10, 2003. THE FIRST DAY I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHICH HAS A SLIGHT SLOPE, THE BUMPER DRAGGED ON THE DRIVEWAY. EVEN GOING VERY SLOWLY, I REALIZED THAT THE FRONT END OF THIS VEHICLE WAS ENTIRELY TOO LOW. ON NOVEMBER 17, PULLING OUT FROM A STORE, I NOTICED IT WAS STILL DRAGGING AND THE DRIVE WAS NOT AS MUCH OF A SLOPE AS MY DRIVE. I NOTIFIED CLASSIC TOYOTA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 17 ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WENT IN TO SPEAK WITH THEM ON NOVEMBER 22 SINCE I LIVED AN HOUR AWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT ONCE I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE FRONT BUMPER, THEY NOTICED THAT IT WAS COMING A PART. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I TOOK IT TO THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT. THE GENTLEMAN THERE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE BUMPER AND HE HAD REPLACED SEVERAL. HE SAID THEY EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE ONES ON THEIR OWN LEASE CARS AND BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT COMPLAINTS. THIS FRONT BUMPER IS BARELY 2 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. TOYOTA TOLD ME TO JUST PARK ON THE ROAD WHENEVER TO AVOID ANY SLOOPS. I AM 20 YEARS OLD AND WAS VERY PROUD OF PAYING FOR MY FIRST VEHICLE. TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING. I HAVE TAKEN ALL NECESSARY CARE TO USE MY VEHICLE IN THE MANNER IT WAS INTENDED, JUST DRIVE IT AND MY ABILITY TO DO THIS IS IMPAIRED BY THEIR DESIGN DEFECT. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT WILL CHANGE THE BUMPER OUT TO THEIR OTHER MAKE FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT THEY ARE CHARGING ME FOR IT. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047409
Incident
Nov 10, 2003
Mileage
25 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 5, 2003

DASHBOARD REFLECTS OFF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IMPAIRS VISIBILITY. *AK IMAGES REFLECTED ALL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY/NIGHT. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID
10040540
Incident
Sep 24, 2003

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .