With 2 recalls and 170 complaints, the 2006 Toyota Matrix rates as elevated on the safety concern scale. Always run the VIN through NHTSA's lookup tool before signing.

Recalls

170

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

06E0230002006-13-03

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, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

View at NHTSA

10V3840002010-26-08

ENGINE AND 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 A CRACK MAY DEVELOP AT CERTAIN SOLDER POINTS OR ON VARISTORS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD.

THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WARNINGS AND CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT. THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP COULD BE ILLUMINATED, HARSH SHIFTING COULD RESULT, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START, OR THE ENGINE COULD SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. AN ENGINE SHUTOFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2006 Toyota Matrix's biggest weak point? AIR BAGS. It leads 170 total complaints spanning 1 years. Budget for a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially in that area.

01Air Bags46

02Engine And Engine Cooling18

03Tires15

04Power Train12

05Suspension,tires11

170 total across 1 model years (2006–2006)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Toyota Matrix Fuel Economy

25–29mpg combined

22-26city

29-33hwy

$2,350-$3,250/yr

Fuel economy for the 2006 Toyota Matrix ranges from 25 to 29 MPG combined across 4 setups. The table below breaks it down by trim so you know exactly what you're signing up for.

By Trim

Matrix - Manual 5-spd

29mpg

1.8L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

26 city33 hwy~$2,350/yr-1/10 Poor

Matrix - Automatic 4-spd

27mpg

1.8L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

25 city31 hwy~$2,500/yr-1/10 Poor

Matrix - Manual 6-spd

25mpg

1.8L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

22 city29 hwy~$3,250/yr-1/10 Poor

Matrix AWD - Automatic 4-spd

25mpg

1.8L 4-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

22 city29 hwy~$2,700/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2006 Toyota Matrix

26States

34%in top 3

The biggest cluster of inventory is in California (16%), but the remaining listings are spread across 25 other states nationwide.

CACalifornia

1316%

TXTexas

810%

WAWashington

68%

DCWashington DC

68%

MNMinnesota

45%

ILIllinois

45%

OHOhio

45%

FLFlorida

45%

MIMichigan

45%

MAMassachusetts

34%

COColorado

34%

IDIdaho

23%

INIndiana

23%

GAGeorgia

23%

OROregon

23%

NCNorth Carolina

23%

MD1

ME1

VA1

AR1

NE1

RI1

AZ1

NH1

OK1

TN1

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2006.

Buying a 2006 Toyota Matrix?

Answers to common buyer questions

Is the 2006 Toyota Matrix a good car to buy?

The 2006 Toyota Matrix has 2 recalls on record. There are 2 recalls on record, so check that they've been completed before buying. The most commonly reported issue area is air bags, which is worth inspecting during a test drive. Review the safety data and pricing breakdown above.

Are there recalls on the 2006 Toyota Matrix?

There are 2 documented recalls for the 2006 Toyota Matrix. Don't let that scare you; most are routine. Just make sure they're all resolved before you sign. Details in the safety overview.

What's the gas mileage of the 2006 Toyota Matrix?

Fuel economy ranges from 25 to 29 MPG combined. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, that gap is worth about $290 annually. See the fuel economy section for per-trim data.

What are common problems with the 2006 Toyota Matrix?

AIR BAGS is the number-one complaint area for the 2006 Toyota Matrix, based on 170 NHTSA filings. During a test drive, pay extra attention to this system. See the known issues section for the full breakdown.