Model year record

2010 Toyota Matrix recalls & problems

The 2010 Toyota Matrix has 4 safety recalls and 45 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (28 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints45filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

2010 Toyota Matrix in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Air bagsMay 23, 2016

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 16V3400001,754,517 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2007-2008 Toyota Yaris, 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350 and 2007-2008 Lexus ES350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles of these model years and models that were not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are G1P (Toyota Zone A), G1R (Toyota Zone B), G2G (Lexus Zone A), and G2H (Lexus Zone B). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), GLG (Lexus Zone A), and GLH (Lexus Zone B).

EquipmentFeb 3, 2010

Other › Labels

Recall 10V035000271,417 vehicles

Problem: 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 CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
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 RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

EquipmentFeb 3, 2010

Other › Labels

Recall 10V036000153,418 vehicles

Problem: 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 SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

Vehicle speed controlJan 27, 2010

Accelerator pedal

Recall 10V0230001,126,915 vehicles

Problem: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, VENZA AND MATRIX PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT. THIS RECALL IS AN EXPANSION OF A CAMPAIGN OF 3.8 MILLION OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES ANNOUNCED IN 2009 FOR THE SAME ISSUE (SEE 09V-388).
Risk: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL MODIFY OR REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. FLOOR SURFACE MODIFICATIONS ARE ALSO BEING CONSIDERED AND WILL BE INCLUDED FOR ANY MODEL FOR WHICH IT IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE. INITIALLY, DEALERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO RESHAPE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR THE REPAIR. AS REPLACEMENT PARTS WITH THE SAME SHAPE AS THE MODIFIED PEDAL BECOME AVAILABLE, THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE DEALERS FOR THE REPAIR. CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE PEDAL RESHAPE REMEDY COMPLETED WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A NEW PEDAL IF THEY DESIRE, AFTER REPLACEMENT PEDALS BECOME AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, TOYOTA WILL REPLACE ANY TOYOTA ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT IN A SUBJECT VEHICLE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED MAT, FREE OF CHARGE. FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE THE PREVIOUS DESIGN ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT BUT DO NOT NEED OR WANT THE NEWLY DESIGNED ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT, TOYOTA WILL RECOVER THE PREVIOUS DESIGN ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT AND REIMBURSE ITS PRICE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN MARCH 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2010 Toyota Matrix 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	13.6%

2010 Toyota Matrix NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Matrix

28mpg combined

City / highway	25 / 31 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

Matrix

28mpg combined

City / highway	26 / 32 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

Matrix

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

Matrix

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

Matrix

22mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bagsFrontal; Side/window	28	4	1	69,186 mi
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	4	3	1	41,000 mi
Steering	3	1	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulic	2	0	0	—
Service brakes, electric	2	1	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	—
Service brakes	2	1	0	—
Engine	2	0	0	—
Equipment	1	0	0	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	0	0	—
StructureBody	1	0	0	—
Seat belts	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Steering
"ELECTRIC POWER STEERING" WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING DOES NOT CENTER CAUSING YOU TO HAVE TO RECORRECT CONSTANTLY. IT SEEMS LIKE A SAFTEY ISSUE BUT TOYOTA SWINDLED THEIR WAY OUT OF A RECALL.
Jun 10, 2019 · 116,000 miles
Air bagsCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO AN APARTMENT BUILDING. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED DURING THE FAILURE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED FOR BOTH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND AN UNKNOWN AIR BAG RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE…
Sep 28, 2018 · 40,000 miles
Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EMC VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Mar 27, 2018 · 160,000 miles
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedalCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PLACING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL IN THE PARKING GARAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE SIDE AND FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME TO BE RETRIEVED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE. THE INSURANCE CLAIM NUMBER WAS 372327J90. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TT
Dec 11, 2017 · 50,000 miles
Air bags
"TAKATA RECALL". I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 4/27/2017. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE APPROXIAMATELY 1 WEEK LATER. I CALLED THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT THROUGH, THEY TOLD ME WHEN I RECEIVE A LETTER FROM TOYOTA THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE AVAILABLE, TO CALL BACK. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 5 MONTHS AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. I REALLY WOULD LIKE MY CAR REPAIRED SOON, AS THE WEATHER HERE IN ROCHESTER IS GOING TO GET SNOWY IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. I WANT TO FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR, AS I TRANSPORT MY DAUGHTER THAT IS 3 1/2 YEARS OLD. CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME SOME GUIDANCE AS TO HOW I CAN GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED SOON?
May 8, 2017
Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V689000 (VISIBILITY) AND 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
May 15, 2017
Air bags
TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS IN MY AREA (BATON ROUGE, LA), SOME OF THEM MORE THAN ONCE. NONE OF THEM ARE ABLE TO DO THE AIRBAG RECALL, CLAIMING THEY DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PART AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR NOW. ONE OF THEM ACTUALLY SUGGESTED THAT THE REMEDY WAS TO PREVENT ANYONE FROM SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT. I HAVE A WIFE AND 2 SMALL CHILDREN; THAT IS NOT AN OPTION, AND IT WAS RIDICULOUS AND INSULTING TO SUGGEST IT. I BOUGHT A CAR WITH 4 DOORS AND (AT LEAST) 4 SEATS FOR A REASON, AND THAT'S WHAT I EXPECT TO HAVE. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE ANSWER THERE. ANYWAY, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE…
Aug 27, 2016
Power train
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE CITY DRIVING IN JULY 2016 MY 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX VCS LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING, BOTH THE SKID LIGHT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ACCELERATION HAD LITTLE TO NO RESPONSE.THOUGH IT HAS NOT RESOLVED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, I WAS ABLE TO RESET THE SYSTEM SO THE LIGHTS ARE NOW OFF. MY VEHICLE WILL THEN ACCELERATE AND WORK FOR A PERIOD BEFORE REPEATING THE SYMPTOMS. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS ISSUE IS A PROGRAM ERROR OR A PART DEFECT. BASED ON THE ERROR CODES WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE (AUG 2016) A CERTIFIED LICENSED TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ORIGINAL ECM MODULE WITH ONE THAT WAS PURCHASED AT A CERTIFIED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND PROGRAMMED IT. I HAD TO TAKE MY…
Aug 13, 2017 · 78,851 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…
EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021