TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX · model year

2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX

75 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2006TOYOTACOROLLA MATRIX carries 75 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 3 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2006 COROLLA MATRIX is air bags with 42 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (4) and power train (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2006 COROLLA MATRIX. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

75
Complaints
7
Crashes
3
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

75 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS42
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
POWER TRAIN4
ENGINE4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
SERVICE BRAKES2
SEAT BELTS2
TIRES1
SUSPENSION1
STRUCTURE1
WHEELS1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1

Recalls (4)

19V62700028/08/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. The air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation under high temperatur

15V28600013/05/2015

AIR BAGS

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf

15V28500013/05/2015

AIR BAGS

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, T

18V02500009/01/2018

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

On January 9, 2018, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 14,585 model year 2010-2012 Yaris vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, K

Recent Complaints

20250901AIR BAGS

Brought vehicle in three times, airbag was nothing at time, now the airbag lights all the time

20240810SEAT BELTS

Unlatching & False Latching back seat located in the middle of the seat. Incident was discovered after recent purchased from my little sister who also just got the vehicle as well and decided to sell it to me without being aware of the defective unlatching and false Latching buckle.

20230908UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Air bag light has been on for awhile and now the horn is not working. When the horn stopped working I took it in for repair again. Toyota repair department says it's a failure of the spiral cable. I found there was a recall to replace the spiral cable in Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles but 2009 - 2010 year models, not my year of 2006. The documentation I found was very clear in stating it was going to do a recall not because of a manufacturing defect but because of a design issue. I think my vehicle should have been included in the recall because it probably has the same or similar design.

20230907ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the check engine warning light and the battery warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and pull over on the side of the road safely where the vehicle shut off again and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the vehicle had experienced a similar failure as in NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V384000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 200,025.

Mileage: 200,025

20210211CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, HER VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER MOTORIST AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. DESPITE MINIMAL IMPACT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT. DUE TO THE SHOCK OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND JERKED THE WHEEL AND HER BACK PASSENGER TIRE HAD HIT A CURB. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE NEXT DAY, HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS TREATED AT A HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES TO HER NECK AND RIGHT ARM. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000(AIR BAGS). AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE AT POHANKA TOYOTA OF SALISBURY(2010 N SALISBURY BLVD, SALISBURY, MD 21801) WHERE AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE AIR BAG. AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT NO R

Mileage: 282,699

20201024VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I JUST BOUGHT A 2006 MATRIX (TOYOTA). IT ONLY HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT (OCTOBER, 2020). THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. I'VE TAKEN IT TO 2 SEPARATE QUALIFIED MECHANICS. THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHEN THE LIGHT IS OFF THE CAR RUNS PERFECT. WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE GAS PEDAL WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL ON A STRAIGHT AWAY FLAT ROAD. I WAS DRIVING 30MPH LEAVING TOWN. THE SPEED LIMIT INCREASED TO 40MPH BEFORE FURTHER INCREASING TO 65MPH HIGHWAY. IT'S A STRAIGHT FLAT ROAD. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR OVER 55MPH. WHEN I GOT TO A SMALL HILL THE CAR FINALLY MADE IT TO THE TOP 45 MPH WITH THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY DEPRESSED. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED AS I WAS COMING DOWN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL WITH THE GAS PEDAL STILL DEPRESSED COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I USED A HALF OF A TANK OF GAS TO DRIVE 15 MILES. I AM WRITING THIS AS I AM CONCERNED. WH

Mileage: 88,800

20200608AIR BAGS

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS TO HAVE THE AIRBAG REPLACED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. NOW WE ARE GETTING ANOTHER LETTER STATING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. COULD I HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT WHEN I GO OVER THERE I WILL NOT BE WASTING TIME AGAIN, BECAUSE OF PARTS BEING UNAVAILABLE? THANK YOU. *TR

20200520AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF*JB

20200504AIR BAGS

RECALL INCOMPLETE, REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. WHY THE DELAY? I WAS CALLED BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO BRING IN THE CAR. AFTER DROPPING OFF THE CAR THEY CALLED AND SAID THEY HAD MADE A MISTAKE AND THEY DID NOT HAVE THE AIRBAG UNIT TO REPLACE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT I FEEL IS BEING NEGLECTED .

20200224AIR BAGS

I GOT THE RECALL NOTICE IN OCTOBER AND STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN A REPAIR NOR ANOTHER LETTER TO LET ME KNOW THEY HAVE A FIX. I'D REALLY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PASSENGER RIDE IN MY CAR AND NOT HAVE TO RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT.

20200207AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V027000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. HADDAD TOYOTA LOCATED AT 130 PITSFIELD-LENOX RD, PITSFIELD, MA 01240, WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20200206AIR BAGS

TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG AUGUST 28, 2019. HOWEVER, THEY STILL HAVE NOT PROVIDED A REMEDY OR TIMELINE FOR A REMEDY, OVER 5 MONTHS LATER. TOYOTA REFUSES TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION WHEN I CONTACTED THEM. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO BE UNABLE TO USE MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.

20200204AIR BAGS

IN OCTOBER 2019 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ADVISING ME THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WHICH WAS REPLACED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL MAY BE DAMAGED AND COULD CAUSE INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. I WAS ADVISED NOT TO ALLOW PASSENGER TO SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE AIRBAG IS REPLACED. I WAS ALSO ADVISED "THE REMEDY IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE" AND THAT I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE REMEDY IS AVAILABLE. AFTER WAITING 3.5 MONTHS THE REMEDY IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE. IT IS UNREASONABLE NOT TO BE ABLE TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF MY VEHICLE FOR AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SIMPLY TELL ME THERE IS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE YET AND I JUST HAVE TO WAIT. IS THIS LEGAL??? DO AUTO MANUFACTURERS HAVE TO REPAIR SAFETY RECALLS WITHIN A SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD? IF NOT, WHY NOT?

20200110CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER HUSBAND WHO OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND DRIVING AT 5 MPH AT A YIELD, ANOTHER VEHICLE BEHIND WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO BOTH HIS LEGS BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE WIFE WHO WAS THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED RIGHT KNEE, BACK, NECK, AND SHOULDERS INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WAS SEEN AT A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE WHERE AN ADJUSTER WAS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. A DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20191223AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN TOYOTA DEALER IN HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA WHO REFERRED HER TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20191209AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. CHECKERED FLAG TOYOTA (5301 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23462, (757) 490-1111) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF*JB

20191130AIR BAGS

OPEN RECAL NO SOLUTION,3 MONTHS LATER NO NOTIFICATION OF SOLUTION.

20191029AIR BAGS

I RECEIVED AN EMAIL NOTICE AND LETTER IN THE MAIL NOTIFYING ME OF THE TAKARA RECALL, THAT TOYOTA HAS THE PARTS BUT DOESN'T YET KNOW HOW TO PROCEED. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON OCT 25, AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE THE PARTS AND WANTED TO SCHEDULE REPAIR. UPON FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ISSUE, SHE THEN CHANGED THE STORY AND SAID THEY COULDN'T DO IT YET AND WOULD CALL ME AGAIN AT AN UNDETERMINED FUTURE DATE. TOYOTA IS FAILING TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, AND THEIR ADVICE THAT NO ONE SHOULD SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

20190917AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V025000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED PALM BEACH TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 200 SOUTH CONGRESS, WEST PALM BEACH, FL, 33406, 561-701-9306) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20190905AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V286000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF NATCHEZ (601-446-5588, LOCATED AT 335 U S 61 BUSINESS, NATCHEZ, MS 39120) WHERE THE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED IN 2017 AND AGAIN IN 2018 AND NOW 2019 TOYOTA SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN BUT NO AIR BAG EXISTS. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ALSO AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME DEALER BACK AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 178,000. *JB

Mileage: 178,000

Compare 2006TOYOTACOROLLA MATRIX to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX have?
The 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX has 75 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 3 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX?
Yes, the 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX?
The most-complained component for the 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX is AIR BAGS with 42 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.