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2006 Toyota Matrix

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Matrix years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Toyota Matrix are substantially higher than the model-year median of 70.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

110 reports with mileage · 60 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

22 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE ENGINE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AT IDLE AND WOULD NOT RESTART AT TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE MASTER TECH DIAGNOSTIC SCANNER. HE ALSO FOUND NO ENGINE SPARK OR FUEL INJECTOR PULSE DUE TO ENG…

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2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE ENGINE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AT IDLE AND WOULD NOT RESTART AT TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE MASTER TECH DIAGNOSTIC SCANNER. HE ALSO FOUND NO ENGINE SPARK OR FUEL INJECTOR PULSE DUE TO ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. HE FOUND A MAJOR FUEL LEAK AT THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, FUEL INJECTOR, O-RINGS AND SEALS. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, A YEAR AFTER PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10396416

45,736 miles · Feb 28, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ALL THE SERVICE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD BEGAN ILLUMINATING BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME WH…

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ALL THE SERVICE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD BEGAN ILLUMINATING BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME WHERE THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE HAS SINCE RECURRED TWICE. AFTER EACH FAILURE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,736 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. SM.

NHTSA ODI #10384771

40,000 miles · Nov 19, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AS WELL AS WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE IGNITION MADE A BANGING SOUND WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT AND THE BATTERY WERE ALSO REPLACED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AS WELL AS WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE IGNITION MADE A BANGING SOUND WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT AND THE BATTERY WERE ALSO REPLACED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10366813

47,000 miles · Sep 23, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE OR WHENEVER DRIVING THE VEHICLE STUTTERS AND THEN IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR SERVICE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE OR WHENEVER DRIVING THE VEHICLE STUTTERS AND THEN IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR SERVICE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS. NHTSA RECALL#:10V384000; COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10357158

114,668 miles · Sep 20, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE VEHICLE STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING. MILEAGE 114,522 3 YEAR OLD CAR. ECM MODULE REPLACE. DEALER REPLACE THE UNIT. 871.46 DOLLARS CALL TOYOTA MAIN HEADQUARTERS SPOKE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE.THEY CLAIM THE VEHICLE IS A AWD ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND IT'S NOT ON THE RECALL. I HAVE CHECK TOYOTA MAIN WEB SITE REC…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE VEHICLE STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING. MILEAGE 114,522 3 YEAR OLD CAR. ECM MODULE REPLACE. DEALER REPLACE THE UNIT. 871.46 DOLLARS CALL TOYOTA MAIN HEADQUARTERS SPOKE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE.THEY CLAIM THE VEHICLE IS A AWD ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND IT'S NOT ON THE RECALL. I HAVE CHECK TOYOTA MAIN WEB SITE RECALL . ENGINE TYPE IZZ-FE WITH ECM FROM 2005-2008 IS ON THE RECALL . THEY ARE LYING TO ME . A THREE YEAR OLD CAR STALLING OUT AND TRYING TO GET REIMBURSE .TOYOTA IS GIVING ME A RUN AROUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356675

73,885 miles · Sep 9, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH 74K. MY A/C WENT IN AND OUT FIRST, THOUGHT IT WAS THE COMPRESSOR, THEN IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS NOT QUITE GETTING THE HORSEPOWER I HAD PREVIOUSLY. THEN ON THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND THE CAR DIES SUDDENLY ON THE HIGHWAY (TWICE), SCARED THE YOU KNOW WHAT OUT OF ME. BEEN DEALING WITH TOYOTA IN CALIFORNIA (NOT…

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I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH 74K. MY A/C WENT IN AND OUT FIRST, THOUGHT IT WAS THE COMPRESSOR, THEN IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS NOT QUITE GETTING THE HORSEPOWER I HAD PREVIOUSLY. THEN ON THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND THE CAR DIES SUDDENLY ON THE HIGHWAY (TWICE), SCARED THE YOU KNOW WHAT OUT OF ME. BEEN DEALING WITH TOYOTA IN CALIFORNIA (NOT GREAT) BUT THEY OK'D IT TO A LOCAL DEALER IN UNION CITY GA,(VERY NICE). THEY TOLD ME TOYOTA HAD OK'D PUTTING IN A NEW ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE DUE TO RECALL THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT. THEY PUT IN THE MODULE 09/08/2010 BUT TELL ME THAT THIS MAY NOT BE THE CORRECT FIX AS TOYOTA HAVE NOT INFORMED THE DEALERS OF WHICH IS THE CURRENT RECALL FIXING MODULE. THEN THEY TELL ME THEY ARE UNSURE IF THEY WILL HAVE TO CHANGE IT AGAIN BECAUSE TOYOTA MAY BE GETTING A NEW PART AND I WILL GET A LETTER. THIS DOES NOT INSTILL CONFIDENCE AFTER 4 SUDDEN STALLS WHILE MOVING (TWO DYING SUDDENLY ON THE HIGHWAY). I NOW HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TOYOTA DEEMS IT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO LET ME KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. WHAT GALLS ME IS THEY SENT OUT A PRESS INFO THING AUGUST 26TH ACKNOWLEDGING 3 ACCIDENTS, 12 DAYS LATER MY 2006 MATRIX DIES TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY. I COULD'VE BEEN KILLED. THEY STILL HAVE NOT INFORMED ME THE CAR OWNER DESPITE HAVING MY PHONE NUMBER, E-MAIL AND HOME ADDRESS. TAKE THIS RECALL SERIOUSLY IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10354639

50,000 miles · Aug 27, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX, 50,000 MILES. HEAT SHIELD REARMOST HANGER ASSEMBLY FAILED. LOUD RATTLE AS SHIELD RESTED ON EXHAUST PIPE. TEMPORARY FIX: WIRE FROM TANK STRAP AROUND SHIELD TO KEEP SHIELD FROM RESTING ON PIPE. PLASTIC HANGER ASSEMBLY SPLIT, CAPTIVE NUT SEPARATED, SHIELD DROPPED TO PIPE. I REGARD IT AS A DESIGN FLAW. PLASTI…

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2006 TOYOTA MATRIX, 50,000 MILES. HEAT SHIELD REARMOST HANGER ASSEMBLY FAILED. LOUD RATTLE AS SHIELD RESTED ON EXHAUST PIPE. TEMPORARY FIX: WIRE FROM TANK STRAP AROUND SHIELD TO KEEP SHIELD FROM RESTING ON PIPE. PLASTIC HANGER ASSEMBLY SPLIT, CAPTIVE NUT SEPARATED, SHIELD DROPPED TO PIPE. I REGARD IT AS A DESIGN FLAW. PLASTIC WAS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE PRESSURE TO HOLD NUT IN PLACE AS WELL AS TO SUPPORT LOAD. EVIDENCE OF LONG TERM CRACKING, DIRT IN CRACK SURFACES. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR FROM DEALER, $100, POSSIBLY INCLUDES BOTH LABOR AND PARTS COST. OTHERWISE, IS A GOOD PRODUCT, TAKE TO DEALER EVERY 5000 MILES FOR APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352251

35,563 miles · Aug 26, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR STALLED WHILE PROCEEDING INTO AN INTERSECTION WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CAR WOULD THEN NOT RESTART FOR 10-15 MINUTES WHILE TRAPPED IN THE CENTER LANE OF A BUSY 4 LANE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352199

18,000 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE STALLED IN MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. FORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOW AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OUT. THE DEALER MADE A REPAIR AND TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351509

51,000 miles · Jul 19, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

1/2 HEAT SHIELD DROPPED ONTO TOP OF EXHAUST PIPE MAKING A LOUD HORRIBLE NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343966

Official recalls

3

10V384000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Aug 26, 2010

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 COROLLA AND COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FOR THE SUBJECT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE 1ZZ-FE ENGINE AND TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A CRACK MAY DEVELOP AT CERTAIN SOLDER POINTS OR ON VARISTORS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WARNINGS AND CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT. THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP COULD BE ILLUMINATED, HARSH SHIFTING COULD RESULT, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START, OR THE ENGINE COULD SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. AN ENGINE SHUTOFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PRODUCTION NUMBER OF THE ECM AND REPLACE THE ECM IF NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. TOYOTA WILL MAIL AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER 2010 TO ADVISE OWNERS OF THIS DEFECT AND RECALL. THIS INTERIM NOTIFICATION WILL INFORM OWNERS THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE A FUTURE NOTIFICATION WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO HAVE THE FREE REMEDY PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

10V035000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 3, 2010

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

10V036000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 3, 2010

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.