Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Toyota Matrix owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
The car is a 2005 Toyota Matrix,5 speed manual transmission, the car is serviced by a tech at scheduled service times. The transmission locked up and needed to be replaced,the mechanic said there were rebuilds available but stated the Toyota replacement was the way to go, I agree. Toyota says there are no transmission problems however if you look on line one will see a rash of 5 speed Toyota Matrix transmission problems with a bearing always being blamed, I cannot believe this many people beat there 5 speeds to death in a 4 door station wagon. Also noted was Toyota had 15 transmission waiting when mine was ordered-- perhaps they know something about the transmission problem. No one will say if the new transmission has being improved over the old unit,because that would mean there was a problem to start with. …
I was driving to work one morning and I heard a loud grinding and whining sound coming from what sounded like the engine. I came to a red light and got out to see if I could see anything out of the ordinary but saw nothing. I then got back in and put it in gear to go and nothing I would let out the clutch and it wouldn't move. I tried to put it in reverse to move it out of the street and when I would let off the clutch it would pop out of gear it wouldn't stay in reverse. I had to get it towed and found out that it was my transmission. I did some research and found many people with the same problem. Evidently Toyota made a bad design with the 5 speed transmission and one of the bearings dose not get lubricated and burns out falling apart and ruining the entire transmission. Toyota claims that they know nothing about this and will not fix this.
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.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 65 MPH on the interstate, there was a loss of all vehicle power, and the engine stalled without warning. The contact maneuvered the vehicle to the side of the road. The engine could not be restarted, and the vehicle was towed to a dealer who determined the clutch of the manual transmission failed, and needed to be replaced. After the initial replacement, the problem later persisted. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who determined the clutch assembly needed to be replaced again. The manufacturer was alerted.
2005 Matrix xrs, 6 speed manual. Clutch began to go at 35,000 miles, completely burned out at 37,000 miles with a horrid burning/sulfur smell. Also, sunroof will not close all the way, stays open at the front about 1/2". It will open from there, but will not close properly. Nothing is stuck or in the way, just won't close. I am replacing my clutch on Monday for $900.00, and the mechanic I am seeing just replaced a clutch on the same make/model/year/trim as my car. I've also seen various other complaints about this same issue. Clutch is defective.
My 2005 Toyota Matrix 4wd started to making whining noise at 69000 miles. Took the car to nearby mechanic and found that the rear differential unit needs to be replaced. The differential fluid was fully-replaced at 50,000 miles and the car has been properly maintained accordingly by manufacturers guidance. The cost is more than $ 1500 to replace rear differential. . For any car equipped with AWD system should never have this issue and I fee that it's very unsafe to drive.
Our car has developed very harsh shift of the gears and has a check engine light. Went to car shop and they said it was error code p2716 and a known problem but only covered upto 80000 miles or 96 months. Our vehicle is 2005 with 94,000 miles. The ECM needs to be replaced - cost ~ 900 $ - our complaint is that since this is a mechanical problem with the vehicle itself and not the driver, we should not need to pay for this and should be replaced by Toyota - please help us.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated that the clutch pedal was obstructed by the carpet and foot rest which made if difficult to shift gears. There also was not enough space between the foot and brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. The contact has experienced the failure since the vehicle was purchased in 2004. The failure mileage was 102,000.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Toyota Matrix. While driving approximately 65 MPH on normal road conditions, pressure was applied to the accelerator pedal followed by harsh shifting and excessive vibration. The check engine warning indicator illuminated intermittently on the instrument panel. The vehicle has not been repaired. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure and current mileages were 82,000.
Transmission complaints in other Matrix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2005 Toyota Matrix?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2005 Toyota Matrix, 11% of the model year's 213 complaints. The component named most often is clutch assembly (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Toyota Matrix transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2005 Toyota Matrix, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Toyota Matrix transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
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.