Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact called the dealer to inquire about a recall for the air bag and was informed there were 2 previous air bag recalls that were repaired in the past. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The approximate failure mileage was 159,086.
This safety problem pertains to all vehicles sold in the U.S., not only my make and model. I was horrified to learn that the crash ratings are inaccurate for most women and all short people, because they were developed only for average sized men. It should be no surprise that when collisions occur, more women than men are seriously injured. More women than men are injured when air bags deploy. More women than men are injured by their shoulder belts. I am afraid to purchase a new car, because the crash ratings that I have relied on in the past are unreliable for me as a short woman. I am very disappointed that my own government, to which I pay taxes, has been so misleading to the public on important safety issues. Please develop and implement collision ratings for various height groups. …
The contact owned a 2004 Toyota Matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaigns: 08V162000 (Visibility), 15V043000 (Air Bags) and 15V285000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The vehicle was destroyed several years ago. The contact stated that they have not owned the vehicle involved for many years.
I was traveling at approximately 35 MPH when I first started to apply pressure to my brakes. There was no tension what so ever. I was standing on them and the brake petal was hitting the floor. As a result, I ran though a stop sign and hit a concrete barrier. My steering wheel also locked up and my airbag never deployed. I lost my entire front bumper and the tank that holds the windshield fluid was cracked. The car was towed. I contacted Toyota's manufacturer and was told " it happens". I feel that there was a defect in the braking system and the airbag system. All I want is my car fixed but no one will give me the time of day. I bought the car in February of this year at a Toyota dealership. The car was pre-certified. Thank you.
Takata recall I took my car in for the recall and was told a few weeks later that it was complete. When I went to pick up my car, he told me that it was only partially done, but was "completely safe". He went on to explain that they replaced the one part that caused the airbags to deploy, so not to worry about the safety anymore. I just received the recall again saying that the parts were available, and that it was important to get it fixed because the airbags are still not safe. I am livid...I drive this car daily, and have my children in it as well. A year and a half later?!! Completely unacceptable.
Takata recall Toyota is only replacing my passenger side air bag, but they are refusing to replace the driver side airbag. Both airbags are Takata airbags. They are putting my life at risk and I need to have both airbags replaced. Please let me know how I can get both airbags replaced under the Takata recall. This is my contact information: email:[redacted] phone:[redacted]
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 15V286000 (air bags) but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the air bag warning light remained illuminated after the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.
Takata recall this car was a recall, it was taking in on 02/11/2016 for the air bag now it need to be fix for over $500.dollars today date 07/01 2016 on the recall was this air bag I want to know was this taking care of at the time of service?
My SRS light came on. It was diagnosed as a code b1181 for spiral cable assembly. A recall is in place or 1.7 million vehicles in the us, but doesn't cover the 2004 Matrix (does cover the Pontiac vibe though). Contacted Toyota customer service and filed a complaint, but they currently won't cover replacement as my model year isn't included in the recall and is out of warranty. I believe my car to be unsafe due to manufacturer's fault and believe repair should be covered by Toyota. Please help.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V285000 (air bags) and 15V043000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
On January 9, 2018, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 14,585 model year 2010-2012 Yaris vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assemblies with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2018.
Air bags
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004.
Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory.
Air bags
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii,…
Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory.
Air bags › Frontal
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, to December 20, 2004,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began on August 24, 2015.
Show 1 more recall
Air bags
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The supplemental restraint system (SRS) circuits are susceptible to internal shorting. The electrical short may create an abnormal current flow and increased heat which can damage the circuits.
Remedy: Toyota will re-notify their owners who have already had their vehicles repaired with a noise filter, but did not receive a new airbag control module, and General Motors will re-notify theirs.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other Corolla Matrix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, 69% of the model year's 29 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-025 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2018); NHTSA recall 15V-285 (air bags, May 13, 2015); NHTSA recall 15V-286 (air bags, May 13, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 147,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.