2011 Toyota Matrix recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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

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

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

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

Recent owner complaints

• Air bags

  TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED WEST KENDALL TOYOTA AT (786) 619-3668 (LOCATED AT 13800 SW 137TH AVE, MIAMI, FL 33186) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

  Dec 20, 2017
• Air bagsCrash1 injury

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM A TEAR IN HER ROTATOR CUFF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

  Nov 30, 2016 · 58,000 miles
• Air bags

  TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED IRA TOYOTA (468 MAIN ST TEWKSBURY, MA) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

  Mar 6, 2017
• Air bags

  TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (SLOANE TOYOTA OF MALVERN, PHONE NUMBER: 484-329-7300) DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

  May 23, 2016
• Air bags

  TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SAN FRANCISCO TOYOTA (3800 GEARY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118 (415) 750-8300) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

  May 23, 2016
• Air bags

  TAKATA RECALL: IN JULY 2016 I RECEIVED NOTICE FROM TOYOTA OF PASSENGER AIR BAG RECALL & TOLD NO ONE CAN RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE A DISABLED DAUGHTER WHO CANNOT SIT IN THE BACK. I CALLED TOYOTA CORP AND THEY ARRANGED WITH THE LOCAL DEALER TO PROVIDE ME WITH A RENTAL CAR. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE IN THE DESERT HEAT, BLOWING SAND AND SUN FOR A YEAR NOW. IN DECEMBER 2016 THE DEALER REFUSED TO PAY THE RENTAL BILL OF $1085 AND MY CREDIT CARD WAS CHARGED. I FOUGHT FOR A MONTH AND A HALF WITH THE DEALER, THE RENTAL COMPANY AND TOYOTA CORP AND FINALLY RECEIVED A CHECK FOR $1085. THE JANUARY 2017 BILL WAS PAID BUT NONE SINCE AND I NOW HAVE ANOTHER $1085 ON MY CREDIT CARD AND THE…

  Jul 28, 2016 · 70,000 miles
• Air bags

  TAKATA RECALL- THIS CAR HAS HAD A RECALL FOR THE FAULTY PASSENGER AIRBAG AND I USE THIS CAR FOR TRANSPORTING MY CHILD. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS I'M PUTTING MY CHILD'S SAFETY AT RISK IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. IF TOYOTA CAN'T RESOLVE THIS IN A TIMELY MANNER I NEED A RENTAL CAR UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO RESOLVE IT. THANKS

  May 23, 2016 · 75,000 miles
• Air bags

  TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS) AND HAD NOT RECEIVED THE SECOND NOTICE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS MAY BECOME AVAILABLE TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

  Jun 1, 2016

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