CarComplaints.com Notes: The Toyota Matrix is the mechanical twin of the Pontiac Vibe.

Both models were a joint GM-Toyota venture, manufactured together at a NUMMI production facility in Fremont, CA. Only the heating & A/C systems are different.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,288 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2007 Toyota Matrix engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2007 Toyota Matrix:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2007 Toyota Matrix Owner Comments

problem #12

Jun 242020

Matrix 4-cyl

  • 143,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a transmission center and the contact was informed that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V384000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was confirmed that the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was contacted and the contact was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was 143,000.

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #11

Aug 012020

Matrix

  • 81,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Corolla matrix. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle stalled while attempting to accelerate and approximately 20 seconds later, the engine suddenly operated as normal and the driver was able to drive normally. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer hoffman Toyota located at 36 albany turnpike, West simsbury, ct 06092 and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V384000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact indicated the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 81,000.

- Simsbury, CT, USA

problem #10

Sep 122010

Matrix

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 10V384000 (engine and engine cooling) September 2010. The notice advised that a second notification would be sent to inform vehicle owners of when the repairs were scheduled to begin. The contact had yet to receive a second notification and the manufacturer advised that the vehicle was included in the recall but was further down the list for repairs. The believed that the estimated time of repairs had exceeded beyond a reasonable time frame. The current mileage was 60,000.

- Sante Fe, NM, USA

problem #9

Apr 012011

Matrix 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2007 Toyota Matrix. Consumer states problem with engine control module when the consumer received the recall notice, he immediately took the vehicle to the dealer. It was determined the ECU was faulty and it was replaced. The consumer stated he experienced shifting problems with the vehicle. The dealer informed him, the clutch had worn out prematurely. The consumer believed the faulty ECU may have been the reason for the worn out clutch.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #8

Nov 072009

Matrix

  • 16,000 miles
There have been two instances of this problem. The first time, I was completely stopped just back of an intersection, after coming out of my employer's parking lot, preparing to make a right turn on a two lane urban thoroughfare, when all of a sudden I felt the engine rev and my car surge forward, although my foot was on the brake. I pressed hard on the brake to no avail; I thought I was going to be propelled into the intersection into traffic. At the last moment, I managed to stop, I'm not sure now, if I applied the emergency brake or what, because although I relayed this incident to several people, including my brother-in-law, my aunt, and some coworkers, I later dismissed the incident as, other than what it was, possibly due to road conditions (a large building was being built alongside the road at the time). Today, however, while completely stopped waiting for the light to change in front of the exit from the lower parking lot this time, the same exact thing happened again: The engine suddlenly revved, and the car surged forward. I instinctively pressed on the brakes as hard as I could, but the car wouldn't stop until grabbed the gear shifter and put it in neutral.

- Rockville, MD, USA

problem #7

Apr 152010

Matrix

  • 67,201 miles
2007 Toyota Matrix. Consumer states that vehicle stalled out while entering a highway. This issue almost caused her to be in an accident. She states that two days prior to the vehicle stalling out she was at the dealership getting maintenance work done and service of the engine due to it puttering. After 20 minutes of sitting, the consumer was able to restart the vehicle and drove it to the dealership. The consumer was charged an additional $1,197.28 after just having paid $ $606.94 for maintenance work. The consumer believed the stalling problem occurred because of something they dealer did when they first had the vehicle, or the problem was a part of a recall.

- Sun City, CA, USA

problem #6

Dec 062010

Matrix 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving the car on the night of December 6th it suddenly stopped. I waited for a while, and the car started again; after a mile or so it stopped again. The car stopped a total of 4 times before I was able to get home. The next day I took it to a mechanic who indicated that it had a "recall" problem. I took the car on the 7th to the Toyota dealership. On the 8th they confirmed that indeed was a "recall" problem and that they would probably will need to keep the car for two weeks, because they did not have the parts at hand to fix it. I had to rent and borrow a car in order to move around. Toyota should have had the parts readily available and not keep the consumer suffer for their total lack of preparation. I did not get any correspondence from Toyota in regards to this specific recall.

- Bayamon, PR, USA

problem #5

Apr 122010

Matrix

  • 67,000 miles
2007 Matrix bought new, having stalling and puttering engine problems when it had only 67,000 miles on it and regular maintenance. Early April, 2010, car stalled out when I was entering on-ramp to freeway 15 in California. A car almost hit me in the rear as a result. Managed to get car over to shoulder, where it died. Couldn't restart it for 20 minutes. Got it to Toyota dealership where I purchased it. Explained the weird stalling problem. They charged me $1,197.23 and only two days earlier had charged me $606.94 for a total of $1,804.22. I told them I thought it was something they had done; or part of the recall or a related safety issue of Toyota, but dealership wouldn't listen. Argued with me, poor customer service. I am now writing to Toyota to request reimbursement, as I've seen articles (cnn time article dated 8/10/10, saying there have been thousands of complaints on 2007 matrixes for stalling problems. Toyota wouldn't even acknowledge this, and made me pay this outrageous amount.

- Menifee, CA, USA

problem #4

Aug 192010

Matrix

  • 32,800 miles
TL- the contact owns a 2007 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated that while traveling 70 mph the vehicle stalled with out warning. This was the only time the failure occurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the electronic control module had to be replaced. The failure mileage and current mileages was

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #3

Aug 192010

Matrix

  • 32,800 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Matrix. The contact was driving 70 mph when the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that it was the first instance of the failure. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the electronic control module was replaced. The failure and current mileage was 32,800.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #2

Feb 052010

Matrix

  • 44,650 miles
I was driving home from work when I noticed the door light was on the display console in my car. I was at a red light and checked to see if my door was open, it wasn't, the door light remained on. I continued driving, but smelled plastic burning. I looked down, saw orange flickers and realized my car was on fire. The fire was burning in the drivers side dash, it was contained behind a small storage compartment. I tried desperately to put the fire out, threw water and left over soda on it, but I think I actually made it worse. I screeched into a gas station, put the fire out, and called 911. The fire department came out and said I did everything right. I am now having difficulty getting my car into a body shop. The insurance company I am with has yet to tow the vehicle and now I find it is costing me out of pocket expenses, due to my insurance not rolling over to cover a rental. I am extremely frustrated. I did call Toyota, who said I could tow my car in, but the car is "no longer under warranty" per the service guy. I would like advice as to what to do. I am waiting for my insurance company to tow the car to a local bodyshop, but am extremely wary of having a car that has been on fire repaired.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #1

Jan 112010

Matrix

  • 47,000 miles
I was driving down a very busy 45mph highway when I suddenly lost the ability to accelerate in my 2007 Toyota Matrix. The rpms dropped to approximately 1000. I had to coast in to a parking lot where my vehicle was then towed to a Toyota dealer and the engine computer was replaced.

- Lansing, MI, USA

Not what you are looking for?