Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
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 [phone], 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.
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.
Takata recall hello. On my 2006 Toyota Matrix xr, my airbag light has been on for over a year. Recently I brought it into jim coleman Toyota in bethesda, and they told me that the assembly, the clockspring assembly, which is triggering the code is not covered in the recall. However, from what I am reading online including NHTSA, the clock spring is part of the assembly of the airbag and should be replaced. The cost to replace this part is over $1000, and not fixing it prevents me from selling the car. The airbag has never been deployed, and according to Toyota of bethesda, they are not responsible for replacing the assembly, per the recall, but just the airbag, which I did not think was under recall.
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.
A have a Toyota recall notice for my 2006 Matrix. The recall is dated June 16 2015, but as of yet (end of October) there are no parts available to fix the problem. In the notice under "what should I do?" it states: until the remedy becomes available in your location, we recommend that you do not operate the vehicle with an occupant in the front passenger seat. That's quite inconvenient! I feel that Toyota has failed to remedy the defect within a reasonable time.
Takata recall. My vehicle became part of the recall in mid-June 2015. It has now been five months and I am still unable to put a passenger in the front seat of my car. I went to Toyota's website and my vehicle is not yet even on the schedule. Can I expect some compensation from Toyota and/or Takata for this continuing inconvenience? I had a similar issue with the driver side airbag on my 2001 Honda accord, and it was resolved in less than a month.
The passenger side airbag light stays on while driving even when there is no passenger in the seat and the seat is empty. Is this related in any way to the Takata inflator recall? The replacement was done for the Takata recall and the light still stays on at all times when the car is running.
Driver airbag light on. No crash or deployment of bag. My question: why should I pay to replace as must be a factory defect? Is not on recall "im told". I do not feel I should have to replace this bag. Im told this is dangerous as could deploy. ...updated 04/11/17
Related recalls
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 investigations
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.
Airbag complaints in other Corolla Matrix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix, 66% of the model year's 64 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-627 (inflator module, Aug 28, 2019); NHTSA recall 18V-025 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2018); NHTSA recall 15V-285 (air bags, May 13, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 101,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.