2005 TOYOTA MATRIX Electrical System Problems

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.

Mileage: 155,000

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 *TR

Mileage: 81,000

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.

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.

Mileage: 114,000

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.

Mileage: 100,000

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.

Mileage: 150,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CLOCK AND RADIO FAILED TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK AUTOMATICALLY AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V286000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,500.

Mileage: 55,500

AIR BAG (SRS) STARTED GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, THEN CLOCK WENT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. NOW CLOCK RARELY COMES ON. THE IGNITION MUST BE TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO GO OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA CARMAX DEALER IN LAUREL, MD. THE REP SAID THERE WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING UNDER THE SEAT, AND FOUND AN EMPTY WATER BOTTLE. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON, THE LIGHT WAS GONE, AND HE PRONOUNCED THE CAR FIXED. TWO DAYS LATER IT CAME ON AGAIN AND HAS CONTINUED TO COME ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. THE ITEM UNDER THE SEAT STORY IS BOGUS AND ONLY WORKS BECAUSE THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON AND OFF, NOT BECAUSE ITEMS ARE UNDER THE SEAT. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY TOYOTA. I AM NOW READING MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE.

Mileage: 90,000

DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR IS INTERMITTENT SOMETIMES ON , SOMETIMES OFF. THIS SEEMED TO START AFTER THE 3-YR WARRANTY EXPIRED. BACK THEN, I MENTIONED IT TO A DEALER WHILE IN FOR A SEPARATE RECALL REPAIR AND THE DEALER SUGGESTED MAYBE I HAD STUFF UNDER OR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CHAIR WHICH COULD TRIGGER THE INDICATOR. I NEVER PAID FOR THEM TO CHECK THE CAR. INDICATOR GOES ON/OFF REGARDLESS OF PASSENGER/OBJECTS ON THE SEAT. BOTH FRONT SEATS DO NOT HAVE STUFF BENEATH THEM. MORE RECENTLY, CLOCK ILLUMINATION FADES IN AND OUT, MOSTLY OUT. THIS SEEMED TO START NO MORE THAN 3 YRS AGO. CAR HAS STILL HAS ORIGINAL AIRBAGS AND CLOCK. I'M AFRAID THAT MY AIR BAGS WON'T DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. I'M ANGRY THAT MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECENT RECALLS. *TR

THE MATRIX BEGAN HAVING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS TURNING OFF AND ON, AIRBAG WARNINGS, CLOCK AND HEADLIGHTS/BRAKELIGHTS TURNING OFF AND ON. WE HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS FOR CHECKS AND VARIOUS REPAIRS, TO NO AVAIL. MOST RECENTLY, A DEALER SHOP DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM IS LIKELY FAILING, AND IN LOOKING AT THE RECORDS FROM ANOTHER DEALER SHOP NOTICED THAT THE ECM WAS ON BACK ORDER IN 2011 TO INSTALL A NEW ONE AFTER A RECALL, BUT THAT A NEW ONE WAS NEVER INSTALLED. HOWEVER, MY SERVICE RECORDS SHOW THAT THE FIRST DEALER SHOP TOLD ME (FRAUDULENTLY?) THAT IT WAS IN FACT INSTALLED. THE CAR MAY NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL TO THIS POINT IN GETTING IT REPAIRED. THE SECOND SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THE FIRST DEALER SHOP IS RESPONSIBLE. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

CLOCK HAS BEEN FADING IN & OUT MOSTLY OUT SINCE PURCHASED. *JS

Mileage: 89,000

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE THE CAR IS ON. I WAS TOLD THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHILE THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAID THE AIR BAG WIRING IS SHORTING IN THE CLOCK MECHANISM AND CLOCK PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE AIR BAG TO WORK. WHY DO I NEED TO FIX THE CLOCK FOR THIS AIR BAG TO WORK? *JS

Mileage: 61,993

I ALREADY TURNED IN AN INCIDENT BUT DID NOT GET AN E-MAIL OR ANY REPLY BACK SO AM DOING IT AGAIN TO MAKE SURE. MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR 1.5 YEARS. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IT WOULD COST $180 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND WAS NEVER TOLD THAT WHEN MY AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON THAT MY AIR BAG WOULD NOT GO OFF. I RECENTLY FOUND THIS OUT SO HAD IT CHECKED OUT. TURNS OUT IT IS A FAULTY CLOCK. TOYOTA HAS THE CLOCK AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR AIR BAGS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK BECAUSE OF A CLOCK. IT COST ME $560 TO FIX AS WELL. THERE WAS NEVER ANY ASSISTANCE ON TOYOTA'S PART TO ASSIST ME, LOWER THE COST. MY CLOCK BY THE WAY WORKS PERFECTLY FINE AND IT TOOK THEM 1.5 HOURS TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

CLOCK IS INTERMITTENT AND AIR BAG WARNING COMES ON FREQUENTLY .. HEATER CONTROL LIGHTS ARE ALSO INTERMITTENT .. HAVE ASKED DEALERSHIP TO FIX THESE ITEMS AND THEY HAVE NOT .. GAVE UP AFTER THE THIRD ATTEMPT. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS. ON 17MAR2011 TOYOTA DEALER DIAGNOSED TWO POSSIBLE CAUSES... COMPUTER OR CLOCK ASSEMBLY. COMPUTER WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. PROBLEM RETURNED THE NEXT DAY. CLOCK WAS REPLACED ON 30MAR2011 UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE SOLVED AS OF 12JUL2011. *KB

Mileage: 92,406

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS. ON 17MAR2011 TOYOTA DEALER DIAGNOSED TWO POSSIBLE CAUSES... COMPUTER OR CLOCK ASSEMBLY. COMPUTER WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. PROBLEM RETURNED THE NEXT DAY. CLOCK WAS REPLACED ON 30MAR2011 UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE SOLVED AS OF 12JUL2011. *KB

Mileage: 92,406

AFTER REACHING 94,000 MILES MARK LIKE WHAT SOME OTHER TOYOTA MATRIX OWNERS EXPERIENCED, THERE WAS A HARSH IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN YOU SHIFT TO REVERSE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. *TR

Mileage: 94,000

2005 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME AND IMMEDIATELY START SHIFTING HARD. NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS. CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE GAS CAP, I ASKED ARE YOU SURE IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TRANSMISSION BECAUSE WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON IT SHIFTS HARSHLY. NO PRETTY SURE IT IS GAS CAP IF IT COMES BACK ON YOU HAVE TO PAY $110 TO CHECK IT. AFTER IT CAME BACK ON DROVE FOR A WEEK TO SEE IF PROBLEM CONTINUED THEN TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO SAID IT HAD PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID OUT. TOOK IT FOR SECOND OPINION TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID IT IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA MATRIX AND COROLLA SIMILAR TO RAV4 PROBLEM THAT ECM IS BAD AND CAUSES TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHICH IN THIS CASE CAUSE DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION. CALLED TOYOTA AND POINTED OUT THAT TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN TC014-06 AND TC-015-07 STATE THAT IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS HARSH SHIFTING TO CHANGE THE ECM OUT WITH A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER. THEY AGREED THAT IF MY CAR HAD EXHIBITED THESE SYMPTOMS AT UNDER 80,000 MILES THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE ECM UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN IMPROVED TO NOT DO THIS. THEY SAID THE UNIT COULD BE REPLACE NOW AT 88,000 MILES AT A COST TO ME AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME WITH THE COST OF THE DEFECTIVE UNIT OR THE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE IT CAUSED. *TR

Mileage: 88,713

LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT. RE DIFFICULTIES WITH HER 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE ROTOR GETTING CAUGHT IN THE BRAKE PAD. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER THE SECOND BRAKE REPAIR. THE BRAKES MADE AN AUDIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE GEARS WERE ENGAGED. THE ABS DID NOT WORK ON AN IRREGULAR SURFACE. A DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TIRES. THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT BY THEMSELVES WHEN IT WAS DARK.*JB

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. ON 10/29/09 THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE COMPUTER SYSTEM. MECHANIC SAID THAT THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH ALOT OF THE MATRIXS AND COROLLAS. COST ME ABOUT $1000.00 TO REPLACE. MY CLOCK HAS BEEN COMING ON EVERY SO OFTEN,BUT MOSTLY STAYS OFF.THE DOORS ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO LOCK IF KEY IS IN IGNITION OR RUNNING. THREE TIMES IT HAS LOCKED ME OUT. THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS ARE MEDDED UP ONLY HALF LIGHT UP,THIS HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR WELL OVER A YEAR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHEN I HAD THE WORK DONE THEY NEVER FIXED IT. I THINK THAT SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BECAUSE IF THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER ON SO MANY CARS THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. ALSO, MY PEDAL GOT STUCK AND CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO A SNOW BANK AND MESS UP MY FRONT FENDER. *TR

Mileage: 1,000

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. ON 10/29/09 THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE COMPUTER SYSTEM. MECHANIC SAID THAT THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH ALOT OF THE MATRIXS AND COROLLAS. COST ME ABOUT $1000.00 TO REPLACE. MY CLOCK HAS BEEN COMING ON EVERY SO OFTEN,BUT MOSTLY STAYS OFF.THE DOORS ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO LOCK IF KEY IS IN IGNITION OR RUNNING. THREE TIMES IT HAS LOCKED ME OUT. THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS ARE MEDDED UP ONLY HALF LIGHT UP,THIS HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR WELL OVER A YEAR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHEN I HAD THE WORK DONE THEY NEVER FIXED IT. I THINK THAT SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BECAUSE IF THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER ON SO MANY CARS THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. ALSO, MY PEDAL GOT STUCK AND CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO A SNOW BANK AND MESS UP MY FRONT FENDER. *TR

Mileage: 1,000

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH 88K MILES. THE ECM IN THE VEHICLE(MODEL 89661-01132) DIED. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SERIES OF ECM PARTS AND THEY WILL INSTALL A NEW "UPDATED" VERSION (MODEL 89661-02K41) FOR A MERE $650. FROM SEARCHING ONLINE IT APPEARS TO BE A FAIRLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONG TOYOTA MATRIX OWNERS AND YET TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THESE FAULTY ECMS AND THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPLACE ECM OUTSIDE OF THE FEDERALLY MANDATED WARRANTY PERIOD. ALL AUTO MANUFACTURERS ARE REQUIRED BY THE EPA TO WARRANTY ECMS TO 80K MILES BUT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE PROBLEM AND TOYOTA IS FAILING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A SHODDY BATCH OF ECMS. *TR

Mileage: 87,000

I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT AFTER I START MY 2005 MATRIX XR UP AT NIGHT AND BEGIN TO DRIVE AWAY THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS. I HAVE NOTICED A DELAY IN SOME OF THE DASH LIGHTS COMING ON, BUT WAS UNAWARE OF THE TAIL LIGHT SITUATION UNTIL IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. THIS HAPPENS EACH TIME THAT THE CAR IS STARTED. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED EACH TIME. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. *AK UPDATED 12/26/2006 - THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY BUT THE DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER NOTICED A LONG CRANK TIME WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE MOUNT TO ALLEVIATE THE VIBRATION. *NM

Mileage: 16,500

DT: THE CLUTCH WAS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS/TO ENGAGE THE STARTER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO WORK THE CLUTCH BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM IN THE FLOOR AREA ,AND THE WHEEL WELL MADE A HUMP IN THIS AREA. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITH A FOOT REST THAT THE CONSUMER HAD REMOVED BECAUSE IT MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE STALLED. TWICE IT PUT THE CONSUMER IN DANGEROUS SITUATION ALTHOUGH, THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN AUGUST 2004. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER 2004. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER THEY BASICALLY TOLD HIM THEY COULD NOT FIND THE STALLING PROBLEM. WHEN HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HIM BASICALLY THE SAME HING. THE CONSUMER STATED HE BELIEVED THAT THE AREA PROBLEM WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

Mileage: 300