IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WOULD BLOW WARM AIR AS OPPOSED TO COOLER AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONDENSER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 186,000.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Matrix years →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
390–25K
3025–50K
1850–75K
875–100K
10100–150K
5150K+
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
Equipment complaints
3 reportsENGINE STALLS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, DIAGNOSIS VIA COMPUTER LEADS YOU TO DIFFERENT FIX'S. MY 2006 MATRIX HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT (VIA THE COMPUTER), AND SAID IT WAS TWO BURNT COILS ($560.00). PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, SO THEY CHEC…
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ENGINE STALLS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, DIAGNOSIS VIA COMPUTER LEADS YOU TO DIFFERENT FIX'S. MY 2006 MATRIX HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT (VIA THE COMPUTER), AND SAID IT WAS TWO BURNT COILS ($560.00). PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, SO THEY CHECKED IT AGAIN AND SAID IT WAS A VACUUM LEAK (FIXED FOR FREE) PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THEN THEY SAID IT WAS A PINCHED WIRE, ETC. THEY FINALLY HAD TO CALL A TOYOTA DEALER AND SEEK HELP. THEY WERE THEN TOLD OF THE COMPUTER PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THE COMPUTER IS UNDER WARRANTY TO 80,000 MILES, I HAVE 88,000. MY MECHANIC IS PRESSING THEM TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY
MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX HAS DEVELOPED EXTREME CUPPING OF THE TIRES AT 21, 000 MILES DESPITE REGULAR ROTATIONS AT 5,000, 10,186, AND 14,722 MILES. I HAD BEGUN TO NOTICE A CHANGE IN THE SOUND OF THE TIRES AT 21,500 MILES. MY MECHANIC REFUSED TO ROTATE THE TIRES AT 21,981 MILES SAYING SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STRUTS THUS CAUSING …
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MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX HAS DEVELOPED EXTREME CUPPING OF THE TIRES AT 21, 000 MILES DESPITE REGULAR ROTATIONS AT 5,000, 10,186, AND 14,722 MILES. I HAD BEGUN TO NOTICE A CHANGE IN THE SOUND OF THE TIRES AT 21,500 MILES. MY MECHANIC REFUSED TO ROTATE THE TIRES AT 21,981 MILES SAYING SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STRUTS THUS CAUSING EXTREME WEAR ON THE TIRES. I WENT TO THE LAS CRUCES TOYOTA IN NEW MEXICO WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR BUT THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND REFUSED TO REPLACE STRUTS OR PROVIDE NEW TIRES. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM RELATED TO THE TOYOTA MATRIX HAS BEEN POSTED ON THE CONSUMER REVIEW SITE FOR EDMUNDS.COM. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *TR
Official recalls
310V384000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.