VehicleVerdict

2006 Toyota Matrix engine problems

The 2006 Toyota Matrix has 26 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 12% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

26

Engine complaints

12%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Matrix engine complaints by model year34 complaints2003: 34 complaints2004: 10 complaints2005: 24 complaints2006: 26 complaints2007: 14 complaints2008: 4 complaints2009: 20 complaints2010: 3 complaints2012: 1 complaints
Matrix engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

10V384000EngineAugust 26, 2010 · 1,128,659 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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 SEPTEMBER 2010 TO ADVISE OWNERS OF THIS DEFECT AND RECALL. THIS INTERIM NOTIFICATION WILL INFORM OWNERS THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE A FUTURE NOTIFICATION WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO HAVE THE FREE REMEDY PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

What owners report

WAS DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY TO WORK AS I HAVE FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WITH A VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT. TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO ALLOW THE CAR TO ROLL FORWARD AND THE CAR TOOK OFF ABOUT 4-6 FEET INTO THE CAR IN FRONT. THE ONLY SIGN OF A PROBLEM WAS THE RPMS JUMPED…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · April 10, 2008 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2006 Toyota Matrix have?

NHTSA has 26 complaints about the 2006 Toyota Matrix engine — 12% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2006 Toyota Matrix engine?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the engine: 10V384000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.