Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 138 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Toyota Matrix, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 34 | 25% |
| Air bags | 28 | 20% |
| Visibility | 10 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 7% |
| Tires | 5 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 4% |
| Structure | 5 | 4% |
| Steering | 4 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RAISING OR LOWERING THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, THERE WAS A CLICKING AND RATTLING SOUND HEARD. THE WINDOW ALSO SEEMED TO LOOSER THAN NORMAL. THE CONT
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
TAKATA RECALL WILL SOMEONE GET TOYOTA TO REPAIR MY CAR? I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET MY AIRBAG HAZARD REPAIRED SINCE 2014 RECALL CAME OUT. NO SUCCESS TO DATE. MEANWHILE FORCED TO DRIVE POTENTIAL BOMB. IT APPEARS TOYO
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TAKATA RECALL - WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A SLOW UP, AND I BRAKED, BUT STOPPED RIGHT AT THE REAR BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. HOWEVER, ANOTHER CAR WAS COMING BEHIND ME AND COULDN'T STOP, OR DIDN'T NOTIC
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 APPOIN
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TAKATA RECALL NOT ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER IN A TIMELY MANNER. RECALL NUMBER: 08V162 FROM 2008, RECALL STATUS IS INCOMPLETE. LEADING TO POWER WINDOWS COMPLETELY IMMOVABLE. MANUFACTURER FAILED TO REMEDY THESE RECALLS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET A RECALL 15V043 DONE SINCE JAN/FEB THIS YEAR AND I KEEP CALLING THE DEALER AND GETTING TOLD THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN SENT THE PARTS EVER. I ALSO HAVE THE AIR BAG RECALL 15V285 AND THIS IS THE SECOND
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2004 Toyota Matrix. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 662,178 MY 2003-2004 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF, CAUSING THE DOOR GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BECOMING LOOSE AND PO
Risk: THE DOOR GLASS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR, BIND AND SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOWS, CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION AND/OR INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS WITH NEWLY DESIGNED BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2008 TO TOYOTA OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2008,
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPME
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
| Reliability raw | 75 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 53 | average |
| Efficiency | 46 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 138 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 34 of them (25%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 75/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.