2006 Toyota Matrix Reliability
The 2006 Toyota Matrix has 170 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and tires. Compared with nearby Matrix model years (2004–2008), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Matrix's typical year, while the 2008 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
170
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
17
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2006 Toyota Matrix complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 model year, filed between 2006 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 50 | 29% |
| Tires | 29 | 17% |
| Electrical system | 22 | 13% |
| Engine & cooling | 22 | 13% |
| Suspension | 20 | 12% |
| Speed control / throttle | 20 | 12% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 18 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 4% |
2006 Toyota Matrix recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2006 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06E023000 | Mar 13, 2006 | Exterior lighting — headlights | Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps,… |
| 10V036000 | Feb 3, 2010 | Equipment — other / labels | 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… |
| 10V035000 | Feb 3, 2010 | Equipment — other / labels | 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… |
| 10V384000 | Aug 26, 2010 | Engine & cooling | 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… |
How the 2006 compares with nearby Matrix years
Verdicts compare these Matrix model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 138 | 3 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
| 2005 | 213 | 2 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2006 (this page) | 170 | 4 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2007 | 96 | 2 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2008 | 38 | 2 | Speed control / throttle | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2006 Toyota Matrix
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Tires: check tread depth and date codes, and look for uneven wear that points to alignment problems.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2006 Toyota Matrix can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2006 Toyota Matrix reliability FAQ
Is the 2006 Toyota Matrix reliable?
The 2006 Toyota Matrix has 170 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and tires. Compared with nearby Matrix model years (2004–2008), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Matrix's typical year, while the 2008 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2006 Toyota Matrix problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Toyota Matrix are air bags (50), tires (29), electrical system (22), engine & cooling (22). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2006 Toyota Matrix have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2006 Toyota Matrix, including 06E023000 (exterior lighting — headlights) and 10V036000 (equipment — other / labels). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2006 Toyota Matrix compare with the 2005 and 2007 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2005 has 213 complaints and 2 recalls (caution); the 2007 has 96 complaints and 2 recalls (solid). The 2006 has 170 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2006 Toyota Matrix?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Matrix research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2006 Matrix, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.