Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 170 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Toyota Matrix, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 46 | 27% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 18 | 11% |
| Tires | 15 | 9% |
| Power train | 12 | 7% |
| Suspension | 11 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 6% |
| Suspension | 7 | 4% |
| Engine | 2 | 1% |
| Equipment | 2 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota 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 local dealer was contacted. Th
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RUSTED RIGHT SIDE REAR STRUT. *LD *JS
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
HOW CAN I GET TOYOTA TO QUIT SENDING ME NOTICES. I'M GETTING ABOUT 1 A WEEK NOW FOR A CAR THAT WAS DEMOLISHED AT A JUNKYARD IN JANUARY 2017. I'VE PROVIDED THEM PROOF THAT THEY ARE SENDING TO ME BUT THEY WON'T STOP....P
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
YOUR WEBSITE WHERE I ENTER MY VIN RETURNS A "REQUEST WAS INVALID" MESSAGE. "ONE OR MORE PARAMETERS WERE INVALID." NOTHING IS EXPLAINED. WHY DID THIS MESSAGE SHOW?
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
MY CLOCK STARTED GOING OUT. SOMETIMES IT WOULD BE ON AND OTHER TIMES IT WOULD GO OFF AND NOW IT TURNS ON AND OFF IN ITS OWN TIME FACTOR WHEN I AM DRIVNG AND THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND WHEN I AM STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS..
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
LETTER FROM CONGRESSWOMAN CAPPS ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE WHY EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON REPLACING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS FIRST AND NOT THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS WHICH SEEMS MORE RELEVANT. *SMD
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION IN MAY OF 2016 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I JUST ARRANGED A 3RD APPOINTMENT TO HAVE REPAIRS ON MY TOYOTA MATRIX FOR MY SAFETY RECALL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PART TO ACCOMPLISH THE REPAIRS TWICE NOW. MY NEXT APPT IS SET FOR THE END OF AUGUST AND I AM
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2006 Toyota Matrix. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: 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 S
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PRODUCTION NUMBER OF THE ECM AND REPLACE THE ECM IF NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. TOYOTA WILL MAIL AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION THE MIDDLE OF SE
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 CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Risk: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT S
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 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPA
Risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECAL
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 EQUIPME
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
| Reliability raw | 64 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 53 | average |
| Efficiency | 46 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 170 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 46 of them (27%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 64/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2006 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.