Skip to content
Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2005 Toyota Matrix Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
23about this part
Share
11%of 213 total for the year
Median mileage
80,500miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 23 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2005 Toyota Matrix, 11% of the 213 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,500 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Took my car for check engine light, harsh shifting into reverse. I was told the ECM needed replacing. The ECM was replaced but the problems persist. When shifting into reverse the car lunges into gear after a few seconds. I am afraid of backing into someone in the parking lot.”

NHTSA complaint #10379584, filed 2011-01, 130,000 miles

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #10320342, filed 2010-03, 94,000 miles

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10557608, filed 2013-12, 145,000 miles

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10249329, filed 2008-11, 65,000 miles

“Clutch failure in 2005 Toyota Matrix xrs w/6 speed manual transmission. Failure occurred at 21,300 miles, and was accompanied by burning smell detectable in the car while driving at highway speed. Toyota refused to accept any responsibility for the failure. Toyota district manager refused to contact me to discuss the issue.”

NHTSA complaint #10138514, filed 2005-10, 21,300 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201012%
200932%
200838%
200744%
20061811%
20052311%
20043727%
20038331%

Other parts of the 2005 Toyota Matrix

Air bags
103 complaintsElectrical system
23 complaintsEngine cooling
17 complaintsVehicle speed control
17 complaintsTires
16 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsSuspension
7 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsSteering
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2005 Toyota Matrix

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology