Most common 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix problems
Share of the 64 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Corolla Matrix complaints by model year
Best Corolla Matrix years: 2012, 2013, 2003. Years to avoid: 2009, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2007. Compare all years →
2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix recalls (4)
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.
Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge.
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, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assemblies with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2018.
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.
Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory.
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 Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii,…
Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix:
Engine Stalling
On November 30, 2009, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation (PE09-054) to investigate alleged engine stalling, while driving in model year (MY) 2006 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles .In its response to ODI's information request submitted on March 2, 2010, Toyota indicated that it had identified two possible causes of production defects of the engine control units (ECU)…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Engine Stall
On August 26, 2010, Toyota submitted a Defect Information Report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding problems with Engine Control Modules that could result in engine stall while driving in certain model year (MY) 2005 through 2008 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive and manufactured between April 19, 2004 and…
What 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix owners say
Air bags all 42 →
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. …
Tamara recall called Toyota corporate office 12/8/15 to inquire why my local dealer is unable to get parts and local Honda dealership keeps calling me to bring in a car I no longer own and emphasized the urgency of this issue. I have not been able to transport passengers since July. Toyota corp told me I could have a loaner then told me I could not. Case # 1512080106. Corporate office suggested I disengage passenger side airbag. Dealership says it's illegal. Dealership showed me last printout they received stating parts should have arrived October 2015 (just a projection) I am very nervous driving this car reports state scrap metal can be projected throughout the interior of car. I don't feel Toyota corp is responding to this defect within a reasonable time. …
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.
My vehicle caught on fire in my driveway approximately 5-10 minutes after I returned home from from my job, which is 12 miles from my home. It was dark, and the only unusual thing I noticed was one of my headlights was out and the other seemed dim. I mentioned it to my husband and he said he'd replace the bulbs. Within minutes I heard sirens, but I wasn't in a room that faced the driveway and the fire department was already on scene when I realized the front end of my car was fully engulfed. The fire took approximately 20 minutes to fully extinguish and the heat damaged an adjacent vehicle. No one was injured and my home was not damaged. The car was stationary, parked and unoccupied when the fire broke out. The fire department determined the cause as mechanical and their report is pending. A police officer responded but did not file a report after ruling out criminal activity. …
Transmission & drivetrain
1. Had to change all automatic door locks at least twice at $400 a pop. 2. Had to replace all 4 coils to engine at a cost of $810.53 3. Had to have my transmission rebuilt do it failing while of i295 on my way home from work. At a cost of 3631.49 4. After transmission work had to have my transfer case internal sealed at a cost of $711.55 when we bought this car at Toyota in December 2005, we were LED to believe that this car was built longevity or for the long haul with only having to do routine maintance which I have kept up on every 5000 miles as recommended by Toyota. My biggest concern is the transmission cost. Firestone stated that Toyota recommends a transmission service every 50,000 miles but my maintance book says only do that if you either tow, off roading, or dirt roads for long period of the time. I did neither, so Toyota says no need to do service. …
My Toyota Corolla Matrix 2006 has a ECM under recall. When I bought this car from previous owner , I did not know that car was serviced under recall and ECM was replaced in January of 2011. In October of 2013, car has 54K miles and check engine light (p2716) is on. The transmission diagnostic was done and it shows that car has malfunctioning ECM. Transmission was rebuilt but not by Toyota dealer. Toyota dealer told me that my car has replaced ECM and doesn't qualify for any other ECM replacement. Now the car has 106K and still the same problem p2716 and ECM is malfunctioning.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix a good car?
Based on 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Corolla Matrix rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Corolla Matrix at the same age. It is one of the Corolla Matrix years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix?
The air bags — 42 complaints, 66% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (8) and transmission & drivetrain (4).
How many recalls does the 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix, the most recent from August 28, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Corolla Matrix?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2013 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009, 2010, 2008, 2006 and 2007. See the full Toyota Corolla Matrix years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 101,000 miles; 13% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.