Complaints
175
Crashes
26
Fires
3
Injuries
24
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2004 Toyota Matrix Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#133 complaints
Airbags
Avg mileage:114,174 mi
Crash-related:2
#227 complaints
Manual Transmission
Avg mileage:89,104 mi
#315 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:51,595 mi
Crash-related:6
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Toyota Matrix.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 33 | 2 | — | 114,174 mi | |
| Manual Transmission | 27 | — | — | 89,104 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 15 | 6 | — | 51,595 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 8 | 6 | — | 85,799 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 7 | — | 1 | 122,825 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 7 | — | — | 44,397 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 6 | 2 | — | 14,148 mi | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 6 | 1 | — | 51,250 mi | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 5 | — | — | 24,750 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | — | — | 27,610 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Bumpers | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Side/Rear Glass | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc) | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — |
Airbags
33
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
114,174
Manual Transmission
27
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
89,104
Unintended Acceleration
15
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
51,595
Steering Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,799
Electrical Faults
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
122,825
Gasoline Fuel System
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
44,397
Tire Defects
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
14,148
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
51,250
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
24,750
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
27,610
Engine Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Bumpers
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Side/Rear Glass
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Toyota Matrix. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Toyota Matrix Years
2004 Toyota Matrix — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Toyota Matrix reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2004 Toyota Matrix has 175 NHTSA complaints, 26 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 33 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Toyota Matrix?
Top reported problems: Airbags (33 complaints, avg 114,174 mi); Manual Transmission (27 complaints, avg 89,104 mi); Unintended Acceleration (15 complaints, avg 51,595 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Toyota Matrix?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 79,484 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Toyota Matrix?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Toyota Matrix include 26 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 24 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Toyota Matrix have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2004 Toyota Matrix as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2004 Toyota Matrix?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Matrix reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2004 Toyota Matrix
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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