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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

170 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V286000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V286000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10735830

98,000 miles · May 13, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10716280

180,000 miles · Apr 9, 2014
Air Bags

PERIODICALLY THIS WINTER THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED AFTER STARTING. OFTEN IT WOULD GO AWAY IF YOU SIMPLY RESTARTED THE CAR. I ATTRIBUTED IT TO COLD WEATHER, BUT IN LIGHT OF TOYOTA'S MOST RECENT RECALL (TORRANCE, CALIF., APRIL 9, 2014 ? TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A VOLU…

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PERIODICALLY THIS WINTER THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED AFTER STARTING. OFTEN IT WOULD GO AWAY IF YOU SIMPLY RESTARTED THE CAR. I ATTRIBUTED IT TO COLD WEATHER, BUT IN LIGHT OF TOYOTA'S MOST RECENT RECALL (TORRANCE, CALIF., APRIL 9, 2014 ? TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL INVOLVING APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION VEHICLES, INCLUDING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, 2009-2010 MATRIX, 2008-2010 HIGHLANDER, 2009-2010 TACOMA, 2006-2008 RAV4 AND 2006-2010 YARIS VEHICLES. THE DRIVER?S AIRBAG MODULE IN THE INVOLVED VEHICLES IS ATTACHED TO A SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS THAT COULD BECOME DAMAGED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. IF THIS OCCURS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER?S AIR BAG COULD BECOME DEACTIVATED, CAUSING IT TO NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.) I AM LEFT TO WONDER IF THE SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY MAY BE THE ISSUE WITH MY 2006 MATRIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578474

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THE CAR INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE DRAGGED OVER A CLIFF. THE CONTACT STATED SHE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT HER EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED. A YEAR LATER THE CONTACT FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR WH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THE CAR INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE DRAGGED OVER A CLIFF. THE CONTACT STATED SHE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT HER EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED. A YEAR LATER THE CONTACT FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR WHICH SHE IS EXPECTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ UPDATED 4/30/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10562880

137,000 miles · Sep 11, 2013
EnginePower Train

I WAS ON A STEEP HILL AT A STOP SIGN. I HAD LET GO OF THE BRAKE TO STEP ON THE GAS BECAUSE IT WAS MY TURN TO GO AND MY CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS DRAMATICALLY TO THE POINT WHERE MY TIRES WHERE SCREECHING FOR A FEW SECONDS TILL I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE STEEP HILL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, I USUALLY AVOID STREETS THA…

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I WAS ON A STEEP HILL AT A STOP SIGN. I HAD LET GO OF THE BRAKE TO STEP ON THE GAS BECAUSE IT WAS MY TURN TO GO AND MY CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS DRAMATICALLY TO THE POINT WHERE MY TIRES WHERE SCREECHING FOR A FEW SECONDS TILL I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE STEEP HILL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, I USUALLY AVOID STREETS THAT HAVE A STEEP HILL BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I'M ON A STEEP HILL. I'VE NOTICED THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543155

142,000 miles · Dec 5, 2012
Power Train

BEARINGS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL/TRANSMISSION ARE MAKING NOISE. IT IS A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS IS WAY TOO EARLY FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS IS $2,500. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487496

5,000 miles · Jul 23, 2012
SuspensionTiresCrashInjury

JAN. 2007 ANCHORAGE, AK DRIVING 50MPH ON A HIGHWAY, AS THE ROAD BENDED TO THE RIGHT, WE WENT INTO THE TURN AND BEGAN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. IT WAS 30 DEGREES F, SO WE MUST HAVE HIT BLACK ICE. I TRIED TO CORRECT AND SENT THE CAR FISH TAILING TO THE OTHER SIDE. WE WHIPPED BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES, BEFORE THE CAR STARTED TO SPIN.…

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JAN. 2007 ANCHORAGE, AK DRIVING 50MPH ON A HIGHWAY, AS THE ROAD BENDED TO THE RIGHT, WE WENT INTO THE TURN AND BEGAN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. IT WAS 30 DEGREES F, SO WE MUST HAVE HIT BLACK ICE. I TRIED TO CORRECT AND SENT THE CAR FISH TAILING TO THE OTHER SIDE. WE WHIPPED BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES, BEFORE THE CAR STARTED TO SPIN. WE DID TWO FULL CIRCLES BEFORE WE GENTLY HIT A BURM OF SNOW AND CAME TO A STOP. NO OTHER CARS WERE ONCOMING SO WE DID NOT HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. I WENT AND BOUGHT STUDDED TIRED THE NEXT DAY. DEC. 2009 JUNEAU, AK I WAS A PASSENGER. SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. DRIVING 40 MPH ON STRAIGHT ROAD, SLUSHY SNOW CONDITIONS. THE CAR STARTED TO FISH TAIL AND SPUN 1.5 TIMES BEFORE IT STOPPED. NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OR INJURIES. NO STUDDED TIRES. (ALL-WEATHER TIRES) FEB. 2012 JUNEAU, AK I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SAME CAR AS ABOVE. DRIVING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, GOING STRAIGHT. WE MUST HAVE HIT BLACK ICE AND THE CAR STARTED TO FISH TAIL. WE SPUN TWO TIMES AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN LIKE IN PREVIOUS INCIDENTS AND WE HIT A GUARDRAIL GOING FULL SPEED (HIT IT BACKWARDS). I GOT WHIPLASH, FACE LACERATIONS, BROKEN NOSE, AND A MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE CRASH AND TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL. DRIVER WAS UNHARMED. (ALL-WEATHER TIRES). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467114

186,000 miles · Apr 24, 2012
Equipment

TL* 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.

NHTSA ODI #10456304

27,800 miles · Apr 18, 2012
Fuel System, Other

HEAT SHIELD BOLT CAME OUT OF PLASTIC PIECE CONNECTED TO THE FUEL TANK STRAP. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10455630

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2012
Electrical SystemVisibility

AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE THE VARIABLE SPEED WIPER ARM QUIT WORKING, ONLY THE VARIABLE SPEED FEATURE DOES NOT WORK WHICH TELLS ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS PART. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I HAVE EVER HEARD OF FAILING ON A VEHICLE AND CERTAINLY NEVER AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS. THE VEHICLE DID HAVE A LOT O…

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AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE THE VARIABLE SPEED WIPER ARM QUIT WORKING, ONLY THE VARIABLE SPEED FEATURE DOES NOT WORK WHICH TELLS ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS PART. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I HAVE EVER HEARD OF FAILING ON A VEHICLE AND CERTAINLY NEVER AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS. THE VEHICLE DID HAVE A LOT OF MILES ON IT AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT IN SOUTH TEXAS WE DON'T USE WIPERS THAT OFTEN SO THIS POINTS TO A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448843

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.