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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

Tires complaints

27 reports
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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

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2009
Tires

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/.…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10263895

32,955 miles · Mar 28, 2009
Power TrainSuspensionTires

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

NHTSA ODI #10263348

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2009
Tires

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

NHTSA ODI #10262542

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2009
Tires

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

NHTSA ODI #10256168

16,000 miles · Dec 30, 2008
SuspensionTires

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

NHTSA ODI #10253163

32,000 miles · Dec 6, 2008
Tires

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

NHTSA ODI #10250923

20,000 miles · Oct 7, 2008
Tires

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

NHTSA ODI #10244680

47,000 miles · Sep 2, 2008
Tires

I HAVE OWNED 2 TOYOTA MATRIX CARS, 2005 & 2006. BOTH VEHS GAVE ME TIRE TROUBLE. PRE-MATURE TIRE WEAR ON THE EDGES IN THE FORM OF SCALLOPING AND FLAT SPOTS. NEW TIRES AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT BY THE CAR & TIRE DEALER DID NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM. ROAD NOISE IS ALMOST UNBEARABLE AT …

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I HAVE OWNED 2 TOYOTA MATRIX CARS, 2005 & 2006. BOTH VEHS GAVE ME TIRE TROUBLE. PRE-MATURE TIRE WEAR ON THE EDGES IN THE FORM OF SCALLOPING AND FLAT SPOTS. NEW TIRES AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT BY THE CAR & TIRE DEALER DID NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM. ROAD NOISE IS ALMOST UNBEARABLE AT TIMES DEPENDING ON SPEED. TOYOTA REJECTS ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE SITUATION AND PREFER TO BLAME THE DRIVER, THE TYPE OF DRIVING, ROAD SURFACE, TIRE PRESSURES, TIRE ROTATION FREQUENCY AND TIRE MANUFACTURER. I WON'T BE BUYING ANOTHER MATRIX!! OR FOR THAT MATTER, TOYOTA! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240607

29,500 miles · Aug 31, 2008
SuspensionTiresCrash

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR/MISALIGNMENT ON 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX: I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 2 AND 1/2 YEARS, ABOUT 35,000 MILES. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE TIRES THREE TIMES DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR, AND HAD SEVERAL FOUR-WHEEL ALIGNMENTS DONE. I'VE NOTICED ON THE CHAT BOARDS THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME CAR TYPE ARE HAVING S…

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EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR/MISALIGNMENT ON 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX: I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 2 AND 1/2 YEARS, ABOUT 35,000 MILES. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE TIRES THREE TIMES DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR, AND HAD SEVERAL FOUR-WHEEL ALIGNMENTS DONE. I'VE NOTICED ON THE CHAT BOARDS THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME CAR TYPE ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I SUSPECT THAT THE MISALIGNMENT AND SUBSEQUENT DRIFT WAS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES IN AN ACCIDENT I HAD LAST YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240487

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.