Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Toyota Matrix owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
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.
After owning my new car for about a year (around 25,000 miles), I was informed that my tires were cupping and all needed replaced. This issue was blamed on alignment issues. I had the alignment fixed and tires replaced. I had read discussion boards of other Matrix owners, many of whom had similar tire/alignment complaints. A worker at the car dealership suggested this has been a common issue with the Matrix. I complained to Toyota, who blamed both my driving and driving conditions (I don't drive recklessly--typically all my driving is highway), as well as the tire manufacturer (but my warranty had already run-out). I've been getting my tires rotated on a regular basis, but about a year after the aforementioned repairs (May 2008), the tech rotating my tires noted one of my tires was cupping and to have my rear alignment checked. …
With only 24,707 miles on my 2006 Toyota Matrix, I was told that all four tires needed to be replaced. I have found many such complaints about these vehicles after doing an internet search. The problem was described as excessive cupping or wear to the inside of the tires. The sixteen inch continental tires standard on these have a tread life of 50,000 miles, but the customer service representative told me they have a tread life of about 25,000 miles. I have the records to prove that I brought the auto in every 5,000 miles for a scheduled maintenance. Each one called for a tire rotation. I am so angry that the dealership didn't mention this problem or make corrections to the alignment or balance of the tires, that I refuse to go back to them. …
Bought new Toyota Matrix 2 wheel drive in 2006. All four tires are worn excessively on the inside part of tire. Dealership says I drove the car therefore not their problem. Toyota says tires not their problem. Neither organization seems to think the car May have a manufacturing defect. After searching the internet I have found others reporting same troubles. I know am faced with buying 4 new tires having to get an alignment. And still not convinced the problem will go away. The problem May have been their when I bought the car. Both dealership and Toyota want to blame me and the tire company.
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!
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......
Vehicle was taken to dealer for service to investigate a loud vibration noise coming from the tires as long as vehicle was rolling. The car has about 18,000 miles on it. All four tires were severely cupped. The dealer contacted the factory reference the tires and the factory recommended the tires be replaced. All four tires were replaced and were aligned to spec. Upon leaving the dealer service center a new tire noise was noticed. It was not the same vibration noise but a loud roar as long as the tires were rolling.
2006 Toyota Matrix with alloy wheels and continental tires : at 5,000 mi rotation the steering wheel would move back and forth a bit, shimmy. At 10,000 mi rotation shimmy was worse and noise was noticed. At 14,000 mi dealer service said that noise was due to severe cupping and all tires needed replaced but that continental had no warranty (even though car came with a continental warranty paper). Replaced tires with yokohama at dealer.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated that under cold conditions or if the vehicle is parked for an extended length of time the tires would create a flat spot and produce a loud road noise when driving. After the vehicle has been driven for a while the noise and the flat spot would leave. The contact called the manufacturer , but no repairs were made. The current and failure mileage were 6,008.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Matrix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2006 Toyota Matrix?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2006 Toyota Matrix, 16% of the model year's 170 complaints. The component named most often is tread/belt (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota Matrix wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 2006 Toyota Matrix, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota Matrix wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 16,000 miles, and 76% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to wheels & tires 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.