RoadVitals

2006 Toyota Matrix Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Sep 17, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 170 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Toyota Matrix submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 17, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE THROTTLE HESITATED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10764583
Incident
May 13, 2013
Mileage
75,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 11, 2013

I WAS ON A STEEP HILL AT A STOP SIGN. I HAD LET GO OF THE BRAKE TO STEP ON THE GAS BECAUSE IT WAS MY TURN TO GO AND MY CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS DRAMATICALLY TO THE POINT WHERE MY TIRES WHERE SCREECHING FOR A FEW SECONDS TILL I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE STEEP HILL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, I USUALLY AVOID STREETS THAT HAVE A STEEP HILL BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I'M ON A STEEP HILL. I'VE NOTICED THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543155
Incident
Sep 10, 2013
Mileage
137,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 5, 2012

BEARINGS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL/TRANSMISSION ARE MAKING NOISE. IT IS A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS IS WAY TOO EARLY FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS IS $2,500. *TR

NHTSA ID
10487496
Incident
Dec 5, 2012
Mileage
142,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Oct 10, 2011

THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT BEYOND SECOND GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND NOT GO INTO REVERSE. GOT IT TOWED TO MY GARAGE AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *KB

NHTSA ID
10429321
Incident
Oct 6, 2011
Mileage
950,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Dec 28, 2010

AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON DECEMBER 28, 6:50 AM I GRADUALLY FELT MY CAR SLOWING DOWN SO I TRIED ACCELERATING WITH NO SUCCESS! WHEN I LOOKED IF I HAD FORGOTTEN TO LOWER THE SAFETY BRAKE, I CHECKED MY BOARD AND SAW A CHECK ENGINE SIGN SO I PULLED OF TO THE GAS STATION (LUCKY THERE WAS ONE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND NO TRAFFIC). I CALLED FOR A TOWING AND TURNED OF THE CAR. WHEN THE TOWING GUY CAME, HE TRIED MY VEHICLE AND NOTHING SEEMED TO BE WRONG EXCEPT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE SIGN THAT WAS STILL UP... WHEN I WENT TO THE GARAGE, MY CAR WAS SCANNED AND THE PO607 ERROR WAS FOUND IN THE COMPUTER'S HISTORY! THERE OBVIOUSLY IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR ON MY TOYOTA MATRIX 2006 AND THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM WHICH IS NOT NORMAL EITHER! THIS IS A CAR I BOUGHT ON AUGUST 2010 FROM A POPULAR DEALER SO ITS SECOND HAND AND I'M PRETTY SURE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SUCH A PROBLEM OCCURS WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10373181
Incident
Dec 28, 2006
Mileage
116,849 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 25, 2010

THEY NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY -- MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX HAS BEEN HARD SHIFTING WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON BUT I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT SERVICED BECAUSE I'M UNEMPLOYED. IT HAS 90K AND THE DEALER SAYS I MUST PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR, $1000-$1300 BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT YET. HAD I KNOWN THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH IT I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT IN -- AS IT IS I HAD TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN THE NEWSPAPER YESTERDAY! I AM AFRAID NOW TO DRIVE IT THAT IT MAY STALL AT A HIGH SPEED AS DESCRIBED IN THE NEWSPAPER!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10351693
Incident
Dec 1, 2009
Mileage
70,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 11, 2010

ON OCTOBER 3, 2008, WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX I HAD TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY TO MERGE ONTO A BUSY STREET. I IMMEDIATELY SMELLED A ODOR COMING FROM MY VENTS OF BURNING WIRING. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND MADE SOME CALLS TO SERVICE STATIONS AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WAS ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. DID. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEY DECIDED MY ECM WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT. WITH THE RECENT TOYOTA RECALLS, I FINALLY DECIDED YESTERDAY THAT I SHOULD CHECK INTO IF I AM INVOLVED. MY VEHICLE IS TOYOTA CERTIFIED AND THEY DO HAVE RECORD OF THE ECM FAILURE TO MY VEHICLE. I ALSO WANTED TO REPORT IT TO YOU FOLKS, JUST IN CASE IT IS IN FACT THE COMPUTERS THAT ARE FAULTY. IT IS UNKNOWN TO ME WHETHER THE REPLACEMENT COMPUTER THEY PUT IN MY CAR IS A 2006, OR WHAT YEAR ECM IT IS. MY ECM FAILED IMMEDIATELY AFTER RAPID ACCELERATION AND MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10319016
Incident
Oct 3, 2008
Mileage
30,093 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 25, 2010

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX AND THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHEN IT SHIFTED OUT OF 1ST GEAR. IT JERKED SO HARD THAT I HAD TO BE CAREFUL TO NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN I WOULD BE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE SHIFTING ISSUE OCCURRED EVERY TIME I DROVE IT AFTER THE PROBLEM STARTED. THE STALLING ISSUE OCCURRED AROUND 5-6 TIMES WHEN I WAS DRIVING. I RECENTLY TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE ECM FOR A COST OF OVER $700 SINCE I WAS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY. SO FAR, THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED HOWEVER, I NOTICED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2007 WHICH I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE INFORMED CUSTOMER'S. THIS WAS VERY SCARY WHEN IT OCCURRED AND LUCKILY I DIDN'T END UP IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314121
Incident
Jan 15, 2010
Mileage
113,000 mi
Powertrain (other)SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Mar 28, 2009

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...... *TR

NHTSA ID
10263348
Incident
Mar 25, 2009
Mileage
32,955 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 25, 2008

I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX XR AWD ON FEB. 2006. I'M GOING THROUGH A 'WHAT SEEMS TO BE' A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL MATRIX'S "AN AB-NORMAL TIRE WEAR PROBLEM". THE WEAR/CHOPPING STARTED AT AROUND 10K... IT CURRENTLY HAS 17K... I'VE ROTATED THE TIRES 3 TIMES ALREADY!!! THE DEALER IS TELLING ME IT'S A REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM... THEY'RE REPLACING IT UNDER WARRANTY... NOT SURE IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM??? THE TIRES ARE ALL CHOPPY AND WORN NOW (AT ONLY 17 MILES) ... THEY MUST BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10243456
Incident
Aug 25, 2008
Mileage
10,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .