YearToAvoid

2013 Toyota Matrix Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

0/100

#4 most-complained of 4 Matrix years

The 2013 Toyota Matrix has 0 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall, giving it a complaint index of 0, the lowest among the four model years with data. It ranks best (4th, meaning least complaints) compared to 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Complaints
0
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
21 city / 28 hwy

Top 2013 Toyota Matrix problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

No component data.

2013 Toyota Matrix recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V024000Jan 17, 2020Airbags2,891,976 vehicles

    Air bags: air bag/restraint control module

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.

2013 Toyota Matrix fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other Matrix years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Caution6710224
2012Good335124
2013No verdict00124

All Toyota Matrix years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Toyota Matrix reliable?
NHTSA lists 0 complaints for the 2013 Toyota Matrix, the lowest complaint index (0) of the four model years with data, so it ranks as the best year based on owner complaints and recalls.
Does the 2013 Toyota Matrix have any recalls?
Yes, one recall covers the airbag electronic control unit, which Toyota says may not deploy airbags correctly in certain crashes on 2011-2013 Matrix vehicles among other models.
What year Toyota Matrix should I avoid?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2010 Toyota Matrix has the highest complaint index (100) and 4 recalls, making it the year to avoid, while 2013 has the lowest complaint index.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Toyota Matrix?
The 2013 Toyota Matrix is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined (21 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.