Illustration46,686 MILES AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACES AS IT WAS A DEFECTIVE GASKET- HARD WITH BUBBLES- I HAVE THE GASKET. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL, BUT TOYOTA WOULDN'T REIMBURSE COSTS OF REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
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
What owners actually said
170 reportsABNORMAL TIRE WEAR ON 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. LESS THAN 45,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF LONG LIFE TIRES. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE AND TIRES PROPERLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. SEE HERE FOR MORE: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.…
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ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR ON 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. LESS THAN 45,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF LONG LIFE TIRES. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE AND TIRES PROPERLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. SEE HERE FOR MORE: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0EEECE/154. *TR
PURCHASED CERTIFIED PRE OWNED - (LEASED) 2006 MATRIX 27940 MILES 7/26/08 - ON 11/12/08 32955 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE DEALER WROTE : "TIRES ARE WEARING FUNNY - ALIGNED AT N/C DID NOT ROTATE RHT REAR CUPPING - 3/25/09 OIL CHANGE 38632 - DEALER WROTE - ROTATE TIRES IF NEEDED - LAST TIME IN HAD TIRE WEAR ISSUE NEEDS TIRES HAS 1 GO…
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PURCHASED CERTIFIED PRE OWNED - (LEASED) 2006 MATRIX 27940 MILES 7/26/08 - ON 11/12/08 32955 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE DEALER WROTE : "TIRES ARE WEARING FUNNY - ALIGNED AT N/C DID NOT ROTATE RHT REAR CUPPING - 3/25/09 OIL CHANGE 38632 - DEALER WROTE - ROTATE TIRES IF NEEDED - LAST TIME IN HAD TIRE WEAR ISSUE NEEDS TIRES HAS 1 GOOD TIRE ON CAR ON LF. APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA - HAVEN'T CONTACTED DEALER YET BUT WILL AFTER READING COMPLAINTS. I DON'T KNOW IF THE AFTER MARKET SHIM FIX WILL VOID MY EXTENDED WARRANTY OR NOT...... *TR
FAULTY CAMBERING OF WHEELS ON TOYOTA MATRIX 2006 (XRS FWD). IT CAUSES UNEVEN AND PREMATURE WEAR OF TIRES. AT 12000 MILES TIRES BECAME NOISY WITH ALMOST NO THREAD ON THE EDGES. *TR
MY TIRES WORN UNEVENLY AND CUPPED AFTER 25000 MILES ON MY BRAND NEW 06 TOYOTA MATRIX. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE OF ROTATION. BUT WHEN I CHECKED ONLINE, I SAW THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME CAR. I HAD TO CHANGE MY TIRES AND DO AN ALIGNMENT. TOYOTA HAS TO RECALL, FIX AND REIMBURSE THOSE TIRE…
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MY TIRES WORN UNEVENLY AND CUPPED AFTER 25000 MILES ON MY BRAND NEW 06 TOYOTA MATRIX. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE OF ROTATION. BUT WHEN I CHECKED ONLINE, I SAW THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME CAR. I HAD TO CHANGE MY TIRES AND DO AN ALIGNMENT. TOYOTA HAS TO RECALL, FIX AND REIMBURSE THOSE TIRES. *TR
2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. TIRES WEAR OUT EVERY 16,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE REAR AXLE. TOYOTA HAS CONSISTENTLY TOLD ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM. TODAY I AM ON A DISCUSSION BOARD AND FIND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE MATRIX/VIBE. THE SOLUTION IS AN AFTERMARKET REAR WHEEL SHIM KIT COSTING $50 PLUS LABOR. WHY IS TOYOTA ALLOWED T…
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2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. TIRES WEAR OUT EVERY 16,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE REAR AXLE. TOYOTA HAS CONSISTENTLY TOLD ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM. TODAY I AM ON A DISCUSSION BOARD AND FIND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE MATRIX/VIBE. THE SOLUTION IS AN AFTERMARKET REAR WHEEL SHIM KIT COSTING $50 PLUS LABOR. WHY IS TOYOTA ALLOWED TO CONTINUE DENYING THE PROBLEM EXISTS AND NOT RECALL AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
MY WIFE AND I OWN 2 TOYOTA MATRIX'S. A 2005 AND A 2006. BOTH ARE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. FOR SOME REASON THE CAR WEARS THROUGH TIRES VERY FAST. WE CAN ONLY GET 25,000 MILES MAX OUT OF A 60,000 MILE TIRE. WE MAKE IT A POINT TO ROTATE EVERY 5,000 MILES AND KEEP PRESSURE AT 35PSI AS RECOMMENDED, BUT THE CAR JUST WEARS TIRES SO QUIC…
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MY WIFE AND I OWN 2 TOYOTA MATRIX'S. A 2005 AND A 2006. BOTH ARE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. FOR SOME REASON THE CAR WEARS THROUGH TIRES VERY FAST. WE CAN ONLY GET 25,000 MILES MAX OUT OF A 60,000 MILE TIRE. WE MAKE IT A POINT TO ROTATE EVERY 5,000 MILES AND KEEP PRESSURE AT 35PSI AS RECOMMENDED, BUT THE CAR JUST WEARS TIRES SO QUICKLY FOR SOME REASON. *TR
HAD A FLAT TIRE, WHEN THEY TOOK MY TIRE OFF, THEY ASKED IF MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, WHICH IT HAS NOT, THE TIRE WAS CUPPING REALLY BAD. THEY ALSO SAID THEY WERE VERY WORN FOR THE AMOUNT OF MILES ON MY VEHICLE. *TR
FIRST AND ONLY OWNER. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON ALL 4 TIRES AT ONLY 20,000 MILES. ALL TIRES HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR AT THE INSIDE RIM. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ACCIDENT AND MY DRIVING WAS NEVER AGGRESSIVE. THE TIRES HAVE TO REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES. THE CONCERNS ARE THE NEW TIRES WILL BE GONE IN ABOUT ANOTHER 20,000 MILES. TOYOTA SHOULD…
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FIRST AND ONLY OWNER. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON ALL 4 TIRES AT ONLY 20,000 MILES. ALL TIRES HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR AT THE INSIDE RIM. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ACCIDENT AND MY DRIVING WAS NEVER AGGRESSIVE. THE TIRES HAVE TO REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES. THE CONCERNS ARE THE NEW TIRES WILL BE GONE IN ABOUT ANOTHER 20,000 MILES. TOYOTA SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. *TR
I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX XR AWD ON FEB. 2006. I'M GOING THROUGH A 'WHAT SEEMS TO BE' A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL MATRIX'S "AN AB-NORMAL TIRE WEAR PROBLEM". THE WEAR/CHOPPING STARTED AT AROUND 10K... IT CURRENTLY HAS 17K... I'VE ROTATED THE TIRES 3 TIMES ALREADY!!! THE DEALER IS TELLING ME IT'S A REAR DIFFERENTIAL PR…
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I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX XR AWD ON FEB. 2006. I'M GOING THROUGH A 'WHAT SEEMS TO BE' A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL MATRIX'S "AN AB-NORMAL TIRE WEAR PROBLEM". THE WEAR/CHOPPING STARTED AT AROUND 10K... IT CURRENTLY HAS 17K... I'VE ROTATED THE TIRES 3 TIMES ALREADY!!! THE DEALER IS TELLING ME IT'S A REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM... THEY'RE REPLACING IT UNDER WARRANTY... NOT SURE IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM??? THE TIRES ARE ALL CHOPPY AND WORN NOW (AT ONLY 17 MILES) ... THEY MUST BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY!! *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.