What's Wrong with the 1st Generation (2003–2008) Matrix?

Matrix owners have made 119 complaints about the 2003–2008 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 60th out of 81 Toyota generations in overall reliability, with some engine and transmission concerns.

Compare With Other Matrix Generations

Common 2003-2008 Toyota Matrix Problems

Some of the worst issues 1st generation Matrix owners have to deal with.

  2. What Are We Missing?

    We know there's more problems than this. Let us know which one you'd like to see us cover next.

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What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

1st Generation (2003–2008) Matrix Key Numbers

  1. 6 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 119 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 60th in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 81 eligible generations.

Recent 1st Generation (2003–2008) Matrix News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  2. It's Friday, so in the immortal words of Loverboy I feel I can say that "everybody is working for the weekend."

    That is, unless you're one of the defective airbags in over 2.1 million vehicles. Those suckers don't work at all. The airbags have a nasty tendency of randomly deploying due to electrical noise and have been recalled. If that sounds familiar, it's because they've been recalled before. Unfortunately 40 of the recalled vehicles still had a random deployment after they were "fixed", according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That's unacceptable, even by government standards.…

    keep reading article "Electrical Noise Causing Random Airbag Deployments"

  3. Last April, Toyota was involved in a worldwide recall of over 3 million vehicles with defective airbag inflators from parts supplier Takata.

    The inflators have been rupturing and sending hot shrapnel all over the cabin, resulting in severe burns and cuts for owners. All affected cars were recalled and their inflator serial numbers were checked against a list of defective parts provided by the supplier. If the number was on the list, the inflator was replaced and it seemed like we could all get back to enjoying our summer.…

    keep reading article "Dangerous Takata Airbags Recalled Again"

  5. Toyota is taking part in a massive 3-million vehicle recall of inflators that can explode and send shards of metal throughout the cabin during an airbag deployment.

    Takata said the propellant wafers produced at a plant in Moses Lake, Washington, between April 13, 2000 and September 11, 2002, may have been produced with an inadequate compaction force. The propellant could deteriorate over time and cause too much combustion, which could cause the body of the inflator to rupture during air bag deployment.

    Toyota announced plans to recall the 2001-2003 Corolla, Matrix, Sequoia, and Tundra along with the Lexus SC 430.

    keep reading article "Recall of Exploding Airbag Metal Canisters"