2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix Owner Complaints

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

NHTSA ID

11684249

Incident

Sep 1, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11607668

Incident

Aug 10, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11543511

Incident

Aug 10, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11543175

Incident

Sep 4, 2023

Mileage

200,025 mi

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 REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE TO THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION WAS SETTLED. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 282,699.

NHTSA ID

11395839

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

Mileage

282,699 mi

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. WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE I FOUND THE PROBLEM I AM DESCRIBING WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST OTHER MATRIX OWNERS. I COULD ALSO SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS WHERE THE MATRIX ACCELERATED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE STOPPED. WHY HASN'T THE 2006 BEEN RECALLED? WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE MATRIX ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL ON ME AFTER THE PEDAL IS FLOORED WITH NO ACCELERATION? THE RISK SEEMS PRETTY HIGH CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I AM A MOTHER OF 2. ARE MY KIDS SAFE IN THIS CAR? ARE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD SAFE FROM THIS CAR?

NHTSA ID

11366164

Incident

Oct 23, 2020

Mileage

88,800 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11327828

Incident

Jun 12, 2017

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

NHTSA ID

11325277

Incident

Dec 1, 2019

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 .

NHTSA ID

11323263

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID

11311187

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID

11307770

Incident

Sep 16, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID

11307589

Incident

Feb 6, 2020

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?

NHTSA ID

11307089

Incident

Oct 22, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID

11298377

Incident

Jan 28, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID

11290961

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

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

NHTSA ID

11287835

Incident

Oct 28, 2019

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

NHTSA ID

11282977

Incident

Nov 30, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID

11276910

Incident

Oct 25, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID

11256178

Incident

Sep 30, 2018

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

NHTSA ID

11253456

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

178,000 mi

I EXPERIENCED A NEAR DEATH EPISODE LAST MONTH WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS GOING AT THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC IN MARIN COUNTY IN THE INNER MOST LANE IN THE EARLY MORNING. SUDDENLY, MY STEERING COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL AND DID NOT FUNCTION. IT WOULD NOT STAY IN MY LANE AND KEPT ERRATICALLY MOVED AND SWERVED INTO THE NEXT LANE THEN BACK AND FORTH BEFORE MAKING MULTIPLE 360 SPINS BEFORE HITTING THE GUARD RAIL ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR BRAKES WASN'T RESPONDING WHEN I BRAKED DURING THIS HORRENDOUS TRAUMA. THANK GOD NOBODY HIT ME DURING THIS CRAZY CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. RECENTLY, I DECIDED TO GOOGLE TO SEE IF OTHER 2006 MATRIX HAD THE SAME SITUATION AND WAS STUNNED TO FIND THAT THERE ARE DRIVERS WITH THE SAME CAR MODELS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING ! I WAS EVEN MORE STUNNED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE 2010 MATRIX THAT WERE IN CLASS ACTION SUITS. I AM INFURIATED AND DISGUSTED AT THE MANUFACTURER FOR NOT RECALLIGN THE VEHICLES!! THEY ONLY RECALLED THE 2010 AND BEYOND. WHAT ABOUT THE OLDER MODELS>??? I ALMOST DIED IN THAT ACCIDENT. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSLVES

NHTSA ID

11209897

Incident

Apr 24, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL I HAD MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG RECALLED AND REPAIRED. NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONTINUING TO STAY LIT. IF THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS RECALLED SHOULDN'T THE DRIVER SIDE ALSO BE RECALLED. THEY ARE BOTH THE SAME BRAND AIRBAG. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT NOW THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS COMING ON AND STAYING ON I AM VERY CONCERNED. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT IT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE WHICH WILL COST ME $135.00. IF THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IS PART OF A RECALL THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN NOTIFIED OF, WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC?

NHTSA ID

11051085

Incident

Nov 10, 2017

TAKATA INFLATES: EVER SINCE MY RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. IT. HAS BEEN ON AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND DISABLED. CAN U PLEASE TELL ME WHAT MAY BE THE PROBLEM OR TELL ME WHAT TO DO.. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11010146

Incident

Feb 2, 2016

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 *BF *AS

NHTSA ID

10959532

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

173,000 mi

TOW ON RIGHT REAREND IS OFF (-0.01). ONLY GET 20000 OUT OF ANY SET OF TIRES INSTALLED AND GARAGE TELLS ME IT IS DUE TO TOW BEING OFF.

NHTSA ID

10959531

Incident

Mar 3, 2016

Mileage

169,000 mi